Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Brownie Batter Cupcakes

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If you’ve ever used your fingers to scrape the last bit of brownie batter from the bowl, these to-die-for Brownie Batter Cupcakes are as close to dessert heaven as you can get.

If you've ever used your fingers to scrape the last bit of brownie batter from the bowl, these to-die-for Brownie Batter Cupcakes are as close to dessert heaven as you can get.

A few weeks back, I had the opportunity to make a birthday cake for a friend’s daughter’s surprise sweet 16 party. The daughter also happens to be a former student, one of my kids’ favorite people, and a great babysitter, so I knew I had to make a cake worthy of her awesomeness.

If you've ever used your fingers to scrape the last bit of brownie batter from the bowl, these to-die-for Brownie Batter Cupcakes are as close to dessert heaven as you can get.

I was pretty proud of the strawberry layer cake with chocolate ganache, but as a lifelong chocolate-lover, the Brownie Batter Cupcakes I made to supplement the cake were, to me, the real star.

I know I’m not the only person who puts an inordinate amount of effort into scraping every.last.bit of batter from the bowl when I make brownies. It’s just irresistible, and it was my inspiration for these Brownie Batter Cupcakes. With brownie mix in both the cupcakes and the frosting, these cupcakes are every chocoholic brownie-lover’s dream.

If you've ever used your fingers to scrape the last bit of brownie batter from the bowl, these to-die-for Brownie Batter Cupcakes are as close to dessert heaven as you can get.

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Double Chocolate Brownies with Salted Caramel Frosting

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Double chocolate brownies with salted caramel frosting are a rich, decadent homemade treat that’s perfect for an indulgent dessert or weekend gathering.

Double chocolate brownies with salted caramel frosting are a rich, decadent homemade treat that's perfect for an indulgent dessert or weekend gathering.

One of my favorite ways to show people love and appreciation is through food. I’m sure this is at least partly due to my own love for food, but it’s also because food is universal. You don’t have to know someone’s preferred lotion scent or shirt size to express gratitude with food.

I made these double chocolate brownies with salted caramel frosting a few weeks ago for two special coworkers. The first, a fellow English teacher, is currently fighting cancer. My mother-in-law was planning to bring her family supper one night and asked if I’d like to make something sweet to go with it. Naturally, I jumped on the offer because I’d had this recipe in mind to try and because I wanted to show love to the family.

Double chocolate brownies with salted caramel frosting are a rich, decadent homemade treat that's perfect for an indulgent dessert or weekend gathering.

Also, I’d been planning for quite some time to bake something chocolate for another coworker. His planning period is the last period of the day and he’s always quick to volunteer to cover classes for J and me when we have to leave early (usually for children’s doctor-related reasons). His wife, G’s kindergarten teacher, told me he loves anything chocolate, so I figured I couldn’t go wrong with this recipe.

Like my triple chocolate frosted brownies, this recipe starts with my double chocolate brownies. It’s a homemade brownie recipe that’s thick, fudgy, and ten times better than a boxed mix. While the brownies are cooling, make a simple caramel on the stove, leave it to sit for a couple minutes, and then beat it with powdered sugar for a rich frosting.

Double chocolate brownies with salted caramel frosting are a rich, decadent homemade treat that's perfect for an indulgent dessert or weekend gathering.

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Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Brownies

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What happens when you combine two of the richest, most decadent desserts? You get Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Brownies.

What happens when you combine two of the richest, most decadent desserts? You get Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Brownies.

When I set out to use up the flat of strawberries in my fridge, I knew at least one of my recipes had to include chocolate. Chocolate-covered strawberries have to be one of my all-time favorite treats. They’re seriously the way to my heart. Posting a “recipe” for those would be way too boring, though, so I decided to take the concept and use it to top my homemade brownies.

My original brownie recipe has chocolate chips thrown in, but I skipped those in this version. Instead, I melted a few cups of them to spread over the sliced strawberries on top. I thought my homemade brownies couldn’t get any better, and I thought I’d never top chocolate-covered strawberries, but then I made Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Brownies.

I might as well stop now, y’all. I don’t think I’ll top this one.

What happens when you combine two of the richest, most decadent desserts? You get Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Brownies.

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Triple Chocolate Frosted Brownies

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A rich brownie recipe is packed with chocolate chips and smothered in a fluffy homemade buttercream to make mouthwatering triple chocolate frosted brownies.

A rich brownie recipe is packed with chocolate chips and smothered in a fluffy homemade buttercream to make mouthwatering triple chocolate frosted brownies.

I have a recipe for double chocolate brownies. They’re pretty much everything you could want in a brownie: rich, fudgy, and studded with chocolate chips. They’ve got that delectably chewy crust. I didn’t think the recipe could get much better, but then I added homemade buttercream and turned them into triple chocolate frosted brownies.

My homemade chocolate buttercream was the perfect addition to a recipe I didn’t think could get any better. The frosting, which is the same one you’ll find on my triple chocolate cupcakes,  is whipped for several minutes until it’s light and fluffy. On their own, the brownies are a delightful treat; with the addition of the frosting, they become a mouthwatering dessert you’ll be asked to make again and again.

A rich brownie recipe is packed with chocolate chips and smothered in a fluffy homemade buttercream to make mouthwatering triple chocolate frosted brownies.

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double chocolate brownies

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These double chocolate brownies are seriously the best ever: rich, fudgy, moist, and everything you could want in a brownie. Plus they’re easy to make!

These double chocolate brownies are seriously the best ever: rich, fudgy, moist, and everything you could want in a brownie. Plus they're easy to make!

Are words really necessary?

I fear a drawn out explanation of why I made these brownies would be superfluous. You have eyes; you can see the photos. I made them for the same reason you should make them: because they’re freaking amazing.

If you need more, how about this: they’re rich and fudge-like, not like those sissy boxed cake brownies. These double chocolate brownies bake up with that delightfully chewy crust- my personal favorite part- and magically crinkly top. If you pause long enough to admire them before digging in, you’ll notice they’re actually quite pretty.

In the event you devour them before you have a chance to look, you can always consult my photos for evidence.

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