Yes, That’s What I Said. Party Brownies!
My sister Kristin has been making these fudgy, sprinkly, crowd-favorite brownies all summer, and I’ve sent her 100 texts to get all the info on this recipe over the last few weeks because I am obsessed with these babies.
Kids love them, adults love them, they’re easy, they’re fun, and they disappear alarmingly fast. They’re PARTY BROWNIES!
The base: a box of brownie mix. I don’t feel bad about this in the slightest. It makes these perfect “party brownies” because you can throw them together at a moment’s notice with minimal effort.
The top layer: an old-fashioned-style chocolate fudge frosting. The kind with the dry, crackly exterior, the kind my mom puts on my dad’s birthday cake every year, the kind that everybody’s grandma has a recipe for somewhere in an old stained church cookbook. It’s so good and it’s the exact top layer I never knew my brownies needed.
I call these party brownies because there is an event to bring them to nearly every weekend.
A pool party at my parents’ house, Bjork’s extended family reunion, an impromptu hangout with friends – the answer to all scenarios is a pan of Party Brownies. ♡
How To Make This Recipe
1
Make Brownie Mix.
I give you permission to use a box of brownie mix. Ghirardelli Double Chocolate is our house favorite. (affiliate link)
2
Make The Frosting / Icing / Fudge Top Layer.
Boil your butter, milk, and sugar for a good 60 seconds. SET A TIMER! We don’t want to over (or under) cook this.
3
Pour Frosting On Brownies.
Add chocolate chips to the boiled frosting and pour immediately over the brownies. It’s going to want to set fast, so let’s go, chop chop, no checking Instagram right now!
4
Add Sprinkles!
Add them to the frosting immediately before it sets!
5
You’re Done. Yum.
LIKE SERIOUSLY REALLY YUM.
Party Brownies
Total Time: 55 minutes
Yield: 12–16 brownies 1x
Description
Brownies covered with a thick layer of fudge frosting and rainbow sprinkles. The best way to jazz up a box of brownie mix!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 box brownie mix (usually 16–18 ounces)
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- rainbow sprinkles
Instructions
- Make the brownies: Bake the brownies according to package directions in a 9×13 pan or slightly smaller rectangular pan (see note 1).
- Make the frosting: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the milk, sugar, and vanilla; bring to a consistent boil over medium heat and cook for one minute (it should be at a rolling boil for the full minute). Set a timer so you don’t overcook it!
- Mix in the chocolate: Add chocolate chips and stir to combine (if there are stubborn lumps, just whisk it for a minute).
- Frost the brownies: Working quickly, pour the frosting over the brownies and spread evenly and add sprinkles. The frosting will start to set immediately, so don’t be a slow poke with this part (see note 2)!
- Rest and serve: Let the frosting rest for 15-30 minutes, depending on how clean you want your slices to be! Cut, serve, PARTY TIME!
Notes
1. A 9×13 is what my sister always uses – but I also love to use a smaller rectangular pan if you have one (mine is 10.5 x 7.5) to make the whole thing just slightly thicker. A square pan will make the frosting too thick, so I would not recommend that.
2 – If you are scrambling to find your sprinkles when the frosting starts to set on top (been there), just add the sprinkles to the dry-ish top and use the back of a spoon to gently tap them into the frosting a bit so they will hold in place.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: brownies, brownie mix, boxed brownies, easy brownies
