With no ritual initiation into adulthood, it can be hard to know when you've definitely made it. Figuring out your go-to, awesome-every-time brownie recipe is a pretty good sign you're there, though. Forget saving for retirement; your future depends on knowing your exact ratio of gooey to cakey or sweet to fudgy. And there's only one way to truly know your heart when it comes to brownies. You have to make a bunch of different kinds and try them. You've got to be sure. This is important.
1. Gluten-Free Brownies Topped with Caramel and Peanuts
If peanut brittle died and went to gluten-free brownie heaven, you'd get these delicious squares of perfection. Total chocolate transcendence awaits.
Get the recipe on Beard and Bonnet
2. The Best Chewy Brownies
The world of cookies and bars divides most people into two distinct categories: cakey or chewy. If you like cakey cookies or bars, so be it. If you like 'em chewy, then these are the brownies for you.
Get the recipe on An Edible Mosaic.
3. Dried Cherry and Cacao Nib Brownies
Cacao nibs — raw, unprocessed bits of cocoa beans — are like the delicious evil twin of chocolate. They've got a hint of chocolaty bitterness and satisfying crunch. Pair them with chewy, tart cherries and you've got something special.
Get the recipe on Brooklyn Supper.
4. Two-Ingredient Nutella Brownies
If this is your first foray into making your own brownies, it doesn't get much easier than these brownies made from just Nutella and eggs. And while they're really easy, they're also really delicious.
Get the recipe on Diethood.
5. Peanut Butter Cup Brownies
As far as candy goes, few confections are as beloved as peanut butter cups, so it's not surprising in the least that brownies inspired by everyone's favorite candy are off-the-hook amazing.
Get the recipe on Texan Erin.
6. Gluten-Free Blueberry Citrus Marble Brownies
Blueberries and chocolate may seem like an unlikely combination, but take one bite of these rich brownies with the tang of fresh fruit and you'll be a believer.
Get the recipe on Eat the Love.
7. Garbanzo Bean Brownies
Behold, gluten-free brownies that rock. Just maybe mention the whole garbanzo bean thing after everyone's taken their first bites.
Get the recipe on Fit Foodie Finds.
8. Bakery-Style Frosted Brownies
There's almost nothing these super delicious frosted brownies can't do. Consider them your secret weapon when asking for a raise, winning hearts, or convincing your roommate that you should get the bigger bedroom in your new place.
Get the recipe on An Edible Mosaic.
9. Skinny Brownies
All the brownie, none of the butter. To make these fluffy bites of chocolate heaven, just combine brownie mix and Sprite. Sounds a little crazy, but it totally works.
Get the recipe on Diethood.
10. Cherry Lambic Brownies
Lambic is a wonderfully sweet and sour Belgian beer that happens to be the perfect complement to chocolate. And when you add it to your brownies? You get rich, fudgy, cherry-chocolate awesome.
Get the recipe on Oh My Veggies.
11. One-Bowl Brownies
I think we can all agree that the very best brownies are the ones with the very shortest time from batter to in your mouth. Not only are these one-bowl brownies fast as all get-out, they have a quick clean up too.
Get the recipe on Jen's Favorite Cookies.
12. Julia Child's Best-Ever Brownies
These squares of perfection are crisp on the edges and totally gooily delicious on the inside. Clearly, Julia Child does not mess around.
Get the recipe on This Week for Dinner.
13. Nutella Swirled Peanut Butter Bars
It's a common dilemma: your peanut butter isn't Nutella-y enough, and your Nutella isn't peanut butter-y enough. Guess what? These brownies have a swirl of each, so you can finally have it all.
Get the recipe on Jen's Favorite Cookies.
14. Salted Caramel Pretzel Brownies
The inclusion of salty, crunchy pretzels makes this savory-sweet brownie recipe totally snack-worthy; caramel makes it insanely awesome.
Get the recipe on Foodness Gracious.
15. Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies
Super dark chocolaty brownies team up with creamy pumpkin-infused cheesecake for a little taste of autumn you can enjoy any time of year.
Get the recipe on Eat the Love.
16. Best Brownies Ever
Yep. Best-ever. If you're going to go to the trouble of making brownies, they may as well be the best-ever brownies.
Get the recipe on Happy Food Healthy Life.
17. Hazelnut Liqueur Dark Chocolate Brownies
Wanna show off? Start by making your own hazelnut liqueur (bonkers, right?), then make brownies with said liqueur. Boozy brownies. I think you see where this is going.
Get the recipe on Vintage Kitchen Notes.
18. Raw Brownie Chews
These are not technically brownies, as you may have figured out by the fact that they're raw. But they're brownie-like in flavor, relatively healthy, and work well for people who are bad bakers (because there's no baking). Hey, you've got to start somewhere.
Get the recipe on Fit Foodie Finds.
Elizabeth Stark is a food writer with a passion for seasonal food, great desserts, and inadvisable wine pairings. Read more on her blog, Brooklyn Supper.
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Elizabeth Stark
Elizabeth Stark is a food writer with a passion for seasonal food, great desserts, and inadvisable wine pairings. Read more on her blog, Brooklyn Supper.
