22 Great Brownie Recipes for Desserts by the Panful

Bourbon Brownies
Photo: Janet Pittman

Whether you like your brownies fudgy, cake-like, or covered in toppings, this collection of our best recipes has it all. Try a classic buttermilk brownie or opt for the ultimate chewy version. If you want a recipe with a twist, try a fruit topping that adds a bit of tartness, or a splash of bourbon to pump up the richness. It's time to get baking.

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Dulce de Leche Fluff Brownies

Dulce de Leche Fluff Brownies
Blaine Moats

Jars of purchased dulce de leche and marshmallow fluff make a decadent—and easy—addition to this otherwise homemade brownie recipe. The sweet toppings swirl together for a marbled effect, making this recipe chewy, gooey, and sweet. For a little crunch, top the brownies with toasted chopped pecans.

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Malted Brownies

Malted Brownies
Blaine Moats

It's not just the malted milk balls topping that gives this frosted brownie recipe its signature flavor. Vanilla malted milk powder and a homemade malted milk frosting add to the toasty and buttery flavors of these chocolatey brownies. The mini malted milk balls are optional, but if you can find the candy-coated versions, they add a colorful finishing touch.

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Gluten-Free Fudgy Brownies

Gluten-Free Fudgy Brownies
Blaine Moats

Make your own gluten-free flour mix, or buy it prepared for an easy brownie recipe that everyone can enjoy. These gluten-free brownies are delicious on their own, but the chocolate-cream cheese frosting makes them extra fudgy. Try them with a sprinkle of peanut-butter baking chips for a nutty twist that totally works.

Buy It: King Arthur Gluten-Free Flour ($9, Target)

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Inside-Out S'mores Brownies

Inside-Out S'Mores Brownies
Blaine Moats

Bring the flavors of your favorite dessert indoors with this fudgy s'mores brownie recipe. Real graham crackers and marshmallows are baked into the batter to create a mess-free version of this campfire classic. Make these for a summer picnic or cozy up with a batch on a winter evening—they're delicious year-round.

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Bourbon Brownies

Bourbon Brownies
Janet Pittman

These southern-inspired brownies add the bold flavor of bourbon with the nutty and sweet flavors of freshly toasted pecans. Although it's just a splash of bourbon in the batter, the flavor makes these simple brownies stand apart. Top them with a bourbon frosting and a drizzle of chocolate for an extra boost of sweetness.

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Orange-Kissed Chocolate Brownies

Orange-Kissed Chocolate Brownies
Staci Scheurenbrand

This recipe with a twist marries the flavors of chocolate and orange with the chewiness of a classic brownie. A teaspoon of shredded orange peel and a few tablespoons of orange juice add tangy citrus flavor to the frosting, which sits between two layers of chocolate. Best of all, this recipe makes 32 brownies, so there'll be plenty to go around.

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Red Velvet Buttermilk Brownies

Red Velvet-Buttermilk Brownies
Andy Lyons

These vibrant red velvet brownies are topped with a buttercream frosting. The buttermilk in the recipe creates a cake-like texture, while rich cocoa flavors are packed into each bite. You can freeze these brownies up to three months. so you'll always have a treat on hand.

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Marbled Chocolate-Pumpkin Brownies

Marbled Chocolate-Pumpkin Brownies
Jason Donnelly

You don't have to wait for fall to enjoy the taste of pumpkin. Canned pumpkin puree gives a sweet-tart boost to this gooey brownie recipe, adding a gorgeous layer. For a nice crunch, top them with crushed walnuts.

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Sweet Potato Brownies

Sweet Potato Brownies
Andy Lyons

No one has to know there's a vitamin-rich tuber in this healthy brownie recipe. The mashed sweet potato gives the brownies a dense interior texture, with a flaky, crispy crust, and the vitamins and minerals loaded within may even warrant these lightly sweet brownies a spot on the dinner table. OK, maybe only after dinner is over.

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Fudge Ripple Turtle Brownies

Fudge Ripple Turtle Brownies
Jason Donnelly

Adding a thick layer of melted caramel is only the first step to loading this fudge brownie recipe with delicious decadence. Drizzled chocolate and crunchy toasted pecans top the dense brownies. The end result is something that tastes almost exactly like a homemade candy turtle.

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Buttermilk Brownies

Buttermilk Brownies
Andy Lyons

If you're from the South, you probably know this cake-like brownie recipe better as Texas Sheet Cake. A creamy chocolate-buttermilk frosting makes these cake-like brownies even better. Serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

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Dark Chocolate Brownies

Dark Chocolate Brownies
Scott Little

This brownie recipe is for lovers of fudgy dark chocolate. The batter is thick, but it spreads easily into the pan. For the finale, top each bar with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge.

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White Chocolate Brownies

White Chocolate Brownies
Blaine Moats

White chocolate and crunchy macadamia nuts give classic brownies the best kind of makeover. This recipe includes light frosting in a layer of melted white chocolate. Bonus: These brownies take just 15 minutes of hands-on time.

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Crème de Menthe Brownies

Creme De Menthe Brownies
Jason Donnelly

The flavors of an after-dinner mint come together in this decadent, fudgy brownie. We recommend using a fork to cut through the layers, where fresh mint filling is spread between a dark chocolate brownie and a creamy dark chocolate ganache. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to create a brownie sundae twist on mint chocolate chip ice cream.

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Cream Cheese-Marbled Brownies

Cream Cheese Marbled Brownies
Scott Little

This cream cheese brownie recipe is marbled for a showstopping finish. A swirl of cream cheese makes pecan-topped chocolate brownies beautiful and tasty. Toasting the pecans brings out their rich flavor.

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Coffee and Cookie Brownies

Coffee and Cookie Brownies
Blaine Moats

This buzzy brownie recipe definitely deserves a seat at your brunch table. A fudgy brownie layer is sandwiched between a crisp sugar cookie crust and melted chocolate pieces. These taste fancy, but they're a cinch to pull together.

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Caramel-Swirl Brownies

Caramel-Swirl Brownies
Jason Donnelly

These bake-and-slice brownies are a crowd-pleasing treat. Swirls of caramel add a buttery sweetness to the rich cocoa in the recipe. Make a batch for your next bake sale, or serve them as an after-dinner treat the whole family will love.

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Chocolate-Chipotle Brownies

Chocolate-Chipotle Brownies
Blaine Moats

These brownies give off some heat even after they've cooled. Warm chipotle spice kicks up chocolate's smoothness in this recipe, for a match that will delight. Sprinkle extra cinnamon over some vanilla ice cream to help cool things down.

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Espresso Brownies

Espresso Brownies
Mike Dieter

Coffee enhances the flavor of the chocolate in this chewy brownie recipe. A splash of coffee liquor and a sprinkle of espresso powder give these brownies just the right jolt of flavor. Go over the top with a finishing sprinkle of chopped chocolate-covered coffee beans.

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Shortbread Brownies

Shortbread Brownies
Kim Cornelison

This from-scratch recipe is a brownie and cookie combo (a brookie) that totally works. Make and bake these two-layer treats in about an hour. Classic shortbread provides a sweet and simple base; a buttery chocolate layer caps it off.

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Cake Brownies

Cake Brownies

If fudgy and gooey aren't the way you'd like to describe your brownies, this cake brownie recipe is for you. These are soft and airy and are best when topped with a no-cook chocolate frosting and a scoop of vanilla ice cream (nuts are optional). Bake them in a sheet pan for an easy-to-tote dessert.

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Ultimate Brownies

Ultimate Brownies
Andy Lyons

Your search for the best brownie recipe can stop here. Two kinds of chocolate and a fudge drizzle take this recipe over the top. Add the optional chopped nuts for extra texture, or play around with the stir-in suggestions listed below the recipe to add your own spin.

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