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    Home » Recipes » Cookies, Brownies & Bars

    Triple Chocolate Brownies with Frosting

    Published: Jan 30, 2022 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    triple chocolate brownies
    triple chocolate brownies

    Triple chocolate brownies are everything chocolate lovers crave -- gooey brownies loaded with cocoa and two kinds of chocolate chips, and slathered in chocolate frosting. An easy frosted brownie recipe that's better than any box mix.

    Triple chocolate brownie with a bite taken out of it and brownies in the background.

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    If you're a fan of ooey gooey chocolatey desserts, you're in for a treat. These fudgy brownies with frosting are super rich and fudgy and so easy to stir together anytime you have a chocolate craving.

    These brownies are also a great dessert to bring to a potluck or family gathering, like these nostalgic Hello Dolly Bars, light and fluffy Strawberry Angel Food Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze, and thick and chewy Chai Spice White Chocolate Chip Cookies.

    You're going to Love these

    THREE different kinds of chocolate. These triple chocolate brownies are a triple threat with dark cocoa powder, dark chocolate chips, and white chocolate chips. The rich, dark chocolate glaze on top of these frosted brownies takes them a step beyond. 

    Easy 30-minute brownies. Make and bake homemade brownies in about a half an hour. The triple chocolate brownies come together in just one bowl and the chocolate frosting takes just a minute to stir together. 

    Frosted brownie recipe. This easy recipe for scratch brownies wouldn't be complete without a decadent chocolate glaze that stirs together with 5 simple ingredients.

    Simple ingredients. These frosted brownies come together with basic ingredients you probably already have. The only one that’s a little out of the norm is espresso powder, but it's optional, and you most likely have an easy substitution for it. 

    Brownie Ingredients

    Ingredients for triple chocolate brownies.

    Brown sugar. Brown sugar adds moisture and richness to these triple chocolate brownies because it contains molasses. 

    Canola oil. Canola oil is in this recipe because it is a very versatile oil for cooking and baking. 

    Dark cocoa powder. Dark cocoa powder is much richer and — I think — chocolatier than regular unsweetened cocoa powder. And it results in the best brownies with an intensely dark color and rich, deep flavor. 

    Espresso powder. Espresso powder is optional, but it makes chocolate taste even chocolatier. 

    Dark chocolate chips and white chocolate chips. Since we eat with all our senses, two kinds of chocolate chips provide an infusion of flavor, contrasting color, and two kinds of texture — gooey chocolate when they’re warm and crunchy chocolate chips when they're cooled.  

    Frosting Ingredients

    This frosted brownie recipe adds another layer of chocolate on top of the already-decadent triple chocolate brownies. It’s a simple chocolate glaze that stirs together in minutes. 

    Ingredients for frosting for brownies.

    Espresso powder. Just a little bit of espresso powder in the chocolate glaze ups the intensity of the chocolate flavor.

    Dark cocoa powder. To achieve that dark rich color and flavor, I used dark cocoa powder in the frosting.

    Brownie Recipe Substitutions

    The best part about making these triple chocolate brownies is that you probably already have the ingredients — or a good swap-out — right in your pantry. 

    Brown sugar. You can swap white granulated sugar for brown sugar in triple chocolate brownies, but you may end up with a less fudgy brownie. Or you can try making your own brown sugar by mixing 1 cup of white sugar with 1 tablespoon of maple syrup. 

    Canola oil. Canola oil is a neutral-tasting oil, so you can substitute it with any vegetable oil that won’t add flavor to the batter. You can also use the same quantity of melted butter. 

    Unsweetened almond milk. I used unsweetened almond milk for a little added moisture in these triple chocolate brownies because that’s what I always have in the refrigerator. You can use any kind of milk, water, or even coffee. 

    Flour. I have only made these frosted brownies with all-purpose flour. If you would like to try alternative flours as a substitute, here are some suggestions that will help you decide the best way to do that. 

    Dark cocoa powder. You can use regular unsweetened cocoa powder in these triple chocolate frosted brownies. You just won’t end up with the same deep color or rich chocolate flavor. But they will still be delicious!

    Espresso powder. If you don’t have espresso powder, but you still want to cash in on the chocolatey flavor it adds to these triple chocolate brownies, you have options. You can use instant coffee crystals, but the flavor won’t be quite as intense. You can also use strong coffee in place of the unsweetened almond milk. You can also leave it out and your frosted brownies will still be yummy. 

    Dark chocolate chips and white chocolate chips. You can use chocolate chunks, milk chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips… heck, you can even use peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, or those really yummy Andes Mint baking chips to make mint triple chocolate brownies!  

    Frosting Recipe Substitutions

    I always say the best ingredients are the ones you actually have. When an emergency craving for frosted brownies hits, there’s no time to run to the store. 

    Powdered sugar. All out of powdered sugar? Look at this nifty trick from Good Housekeeping! You can just whiz up 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in a blender or food processor and make your own! Genius!

    Espresso powder. If you don’t have espresso powder for these frosted brownies, you can use instant coffee crystals instead of the espresso powder -- or substitute strong coffee for the almond milk. 

    Unsweetened almond milk. Milk, water, or strong coffee are all great substitutes. 

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 square baking dish with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper.

    Step 1

    In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, canola oil, and milk. Beat the egg into the sugar mixture. Add the vanilla extract and whisk until fully incorporated. 

    Clear bowl with a whisk and brown sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla whisked together.

    Step 2

    Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder, and salt. Whisk until just combined, being careful not to overmix.

    Clear bowl with sifted flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder, and salt.

    Step 3

    Stir in the dark chocolate chips and white chocolate chips. 

    Brownie batter with dark chocolate chips and white chocolate chips.

    Step 4

    Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake for approximately 18-22 minutes, but start checking on them a few minutes early so you don't overbake them. 

    How to Tell if Brownies are Done

    To test for doneness, you can use a toothpick or thermometer.

    Toothpick test: If the toothpick still has wet batter on it, it needs a few more minutes. If it has some batter and moist, sticky crumbs, it will be fudgy in the center. If it has moist crumbs, the brownies will have a cakey consistency.

    Thermometer test: Brownies should be cooked to an internal temperature between 165 and 210. At 165, you'll have super gooey brownies and at 210, you'll have cakier, chewy brownies. I've found 195 to be the perfect temperature.

    Cool triple chocolate brownies in the pan on a wire rack for about two hours.

    Step 5

    When the brownies are completely cool, make the chocolate icing for your frosted brownies.  

    In a medium-sized bowl, add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and espresso powder. Stir to remove any lumps.

    Powdered sugar and cocoa powder mixed together in a white bowl.

    Add the vanilla. Stir in 2 tablespoons of milk, adding more as needed, a little bit at a time, until it reaches a thick, yet spreadable, consistency.

    If you add too much milk, you can add more powdered sugar to thicken it again. 

    White bowl with chocolate frosting with a spoon of cocoa powder and bowl of almond milk in background.

    Step 6

    Spread the chocolate frosting evenly over the cooled brownies. The frosting will harden as it sets. 

    Frosted triple chocolate brownies cut into squares.

    For a super indulgent dessert, slightly warm the frosted brownie and serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

    Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or in the refrigerator for up to one week.

    Expert Tips

    Check your brownies early. To ensure fudgy brownies, check them a few minutes before the earliest recommended baking time. You can use a toothpick or thermometer.

    Toothpick test: If the toothpick still has wet batter on it, it needs a few more minutes. If it has some batter and moist, sticky crumbs, it will be fudgy in the center. If it has moist crumbs, the brownies will have a cakey consistency.

    Thermometer test: Brownies should be cooked to an internal temperature between 165 and 210. At 165, you'll have super gooey brownies and at 210, you'll have cakier, chewy brownies. I've found 195 to be the perfect temperature for fudgy center pieces and chewier edge pieces.

    Sift dry ingredients. Sifting flour, cocoa powder, and all dry ingredients is a sure-fire way to avoid lumps in your triple chocolate brownie batter. If you don't have a sifter or mesh strainer, you can stir the dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl

    Mix the brownie batter until just combined. Overmixing the batter will add air to the batter and result in cake-like brownies. For dense, fudge brownies, mix in the dry ingredients until they are just combined.

    Cut clean lines. If you would like your frosted brownies cut into clean squares with no ragged edges, let them cool completely, cover them in the chocolate frosting and let it set, then cut them with a plastic knife.

    Use room temperature ingredients. Let the egg and milk come to room temperature before making these brownies. Adding cold ingredients to warm ingredients can cause the batter to curdle and result in not-so-great textures in your brownies.

    Recipe FAQs

    How to tell if brownies are done?

    There are two ways to check if your brownies are done: with a toothpick or a thermometer.
     
    Toothpick: If the toothpick has wet batter on it, the brownies are undercooked. If the toothpick has some batter and some moist crumbs, they should be gooey and fudgy when they cool. If the toothpick has moist crumbs, the brownies will be chewier. If the toothpick is completely clean, they are overbaked.
     
    Thermometer: Brownies should be cooked to 165-210 degrees. Know that brownies will continue to cook as they cool. Brownies baked to 165 will be quite gooey when cooled. 210 degrees will result in a firmer brownie. I like mine right around the 195 mark.

    Can I put undercooked brownies back in the oven?

    You sure can. Just put them back into a 350-degree oven and keep an eye on them. In fact, there are some recipes that even call for the method of baking for 15 minutes, taking them out, and baking them again.

    Can brownies be frozen?

    Yes! For these frosted brownies, I would recommend freezing them without the chocolate glaze and then frosting them once they're thawed. You can freeze either the entire pan of brownies or individual brownies.

    To freeze the whole slab, cool it completely and remove it from the pan. Wrap it in plastic wrap and again in foil.

    To freeze individual brownies, place brownies in a freezer-safe container with wax paper or parchment in between layers and over the top layer. Store them in your freezer for up to three months.

    How do you store frosted brownies?

    Triple chocolate brownies with chocolate glaze can be stored at room temperature for up to three days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.

    What if I overcook the brownies?

    If you overcook your triple chocolate brownies, you might be able to soften them up by storing them overnight with a couple of slices of soft white bread. Or you can turn them into crumbs, and use them to make a crust for a cheesecake or ice cream cake. Or mix the crumbs with some frosting and make brownie pops!

    Eye-level view of a triple chocolate brownie with frosting.

    Hungry for more chocolate desserts? 

    If you love this frosted brownie recipe, you have to try these next! 

    • chocolate angel food cake with chocolate ganache on a white plate.
      Chocolate Angel Food Cake
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    • Red Velvet Cheesecake Bites
      Red Velvet Mini Cheesecake Bites
    • Easy Chocolate Coconut Balls (No Bake)

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    📖 Recipe

    triple chocolate brownies recipe

    Frosted Triple Chocolate Brownies

    Cara Lanz
    Frosted Triple Chocolate Brownies are everything chocolate lovers crave -- gooey brownies loaded with cocoa and two kinds of chocolate chips, and slathered in chocolate frosting. An easy frosted brownie recipe that's better than any box mix.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16
    Calories 190 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup brown sugar
    • ¼ cup canola oil
    • 6 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
    • 1 egg
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 1 cup flour
    • ¾ cup dark cocoa powder
    • ½ teaspoon espresso powder, optional
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ cup dark chocolate chips
    • ¼ cup white chocolate chips

    Chocolate Frosting for Brownies

    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 3 tablespoons dark cocoa powder
    • ½ teaspoon espresso powder, optional
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 3-5 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk, milk, or water
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    Triple Chocolate Brownies

    • Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 square baking dish with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, canola oil, and milk. Beat the egg into the sugar mixture. Add the vanilla extract and whisk until fully incorporated.
    • Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder, and salt. Whisk until just combined. Stir in the dark chocolate chips and white chocolate chips.
    • Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake for approximately 18-22 minutes.
    • Cool brownies in the pan on a wire rack for about two hours.

    Chocolate Frosting for Brownies

    • In a medium-sized bowl, add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and espresso powder. Stir to remove any lumps. Add the vanilla.
    • Stir in 2 tablespoons of milk, adding more as needed, a little bit at a time, until it reaches a thick, yet spreadable, consistency. If you add too much milk, you can add more powdered sugar to thicken it again.
    • Spread the chocolate frosting evenly over the cooled brownies. The frosting will harden as it sets.
    • Store frosted brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or in the refrigerator for up to one week.

    Video

    Notes

    Check your brownies early. To ensure fudgy brownies, check doneness a few minutes before the earliest recommended baking time. You can use a toothpick or thermometer.
    Toothpick test: If the toothpick still has wet batter on it, it needs a few more minutes. If it has some batter and moist, sticky crumbs, it will be fudgy in the center. If it has moist crumbs, the brownies will have a cakey consistency.
    Thermometer test: Brownies should be cooked to an internal temperature between 165 and 210. At 165, you'll have super gooey brownies and at 210, you'll have cakier, chewy brownies. I've found 195 to be the perfect temperature for fudgy center pieces and chewier edge pieces.
    Sift dry ingredients. Sifting flour, cocoa powder, and all dry ingredients is a sure-fire way to avoid lumps in your triple chocolate brownie batter. If you don't have a sifter or mesh strainer, you can stir the dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl
    Mix the brownie batter until just combined. Overmixing the batter will add air to the batter and result in cake-like brownies. For dense, fudge brownies, mix in the dry ingredients until they are just combined.
    Cut clean lines. If you would like your frosted brownies cut into clean squares with no ragged edges, let them cool completely, cover them in the chocolate frosting and let it set, then cut them with a plastic knife.
    Use room temperature ingredients. Let the egg and milk come to room temperature before making these brownies. Adding cold ingredients to warm ingredients can cause the batter to curdle and result in not-so-great textures in your brownies.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 190kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 112mgPotassium: 136mgFiber: 2gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 16IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Comments

    1. Kristina says

      February 28, 2022 at 6:35 pm

      Can I use Vegetable oil if I don't have canola? Light or dark brown sugar? We don't use almond milk. So I'm guessing regular will be fine, using the same amount. I'll skip the white chocolate, as it's not technically chocolate.
      I've been wanting a nice fudgy brownie. 🙂

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        February 28, 2022 at 9:21 pm

        Hi, Kristina! Thank you so much for your questions! Yes, canola is a type of vegetable oil, so you should be all good to go there. I always use dark brown sugar because I like the rich molasses flavor, but either will work. I've only made these brownies with almond milk, but regular milk should work just fine! I get it on the white chocolate ... just a thought, if you like milk chocolate, it might be a nice sweet add-in to counter balance with all the deep, rich, dark chocolate. These are definitely fudgy brownies, alright, just a reminder to keep an eye on the baking time so they don't go over so they're nice and gooey. Thank you, again, for your note! I hope you enjoy these brownies :). Cara

        Reply
    2. Sue says

      February 20, 2022 at 7:10 pm

      5 stars
      Your photos are so tempting, I love that deep dark chocolate 🙂

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        February 20, 2022 at 11:03 pm

        Hi, Sue, thank you so much, I'm also in love with anything dark chocolate! It's easy to take good photos when you have a good model -- and these brownies are lookers, alright :). Thank you, again, Sue! Cara

        Reply
    3. Tracy says

      February 20, 2022 at 7:05 pm

      5 stars
      Triple the chocolate and triple the deliciousness! These are so decadent and rich! Plus that frosting? SO good!

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        February 20, 2022 at 10:58 pm

        Hi, Tracy! Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed these brownies. I couldn't quite stop adding chocolate to them :). Thanks again! Cara

        Reply
    4. Heather Johnson says

      February 20, 2022 at 7:05 pm

      5 stars
      wow - these are definitely the most chocolatey brownies i've ever had - so fudgy which I love - the best!!!!!!

      Reply
      • Heather Johnson says

        February 20, 2022 at 7:05 pm

        and love the tip about making your own powdered sugar!!!!

        Reply
        • Cara Lanz says

          February 20, 2022 at 10:59 pm

          Crazy, right? I guess those folks at Good Housekeeping know what they're doing, lol!

      • Cara Lanz says

        February 20, 2022 at 10:56 pm

        Hi, Heather, thanks so much for your nice note, I'm so happy that you loved them! Yes, these are seriously chocolatey and fudgy -- the way a brownie should be,if you ask me :). Thanks again! Cara

        Reply
    5. Kim says

      February 20, 2022 at 5:34 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, these were delicious! I loved the deep chocolate flavors. So good and definitely a go-to recipe now!

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        February 20, 2022 at 10:52 pm

        Hi, Kim! Thank you so much! Yes, these are definitely dark and decadent -- and I'm thrilled that you enjoyed them :). Cara

        Reply
    6. Beth Sachs says

      February 20, 2022 at 1:41 pm

      5 stars
      I could dive straight into that gorgeous chocolate frosting! These brownies look delicious

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        February 20, 2022 at 10:49 pm

        Hi, Beth! Thank you, they really are delicious. So dive on in and enjoy :). Cara

        Reply
    7. Eliza says

      February 17, 2022 at 2:33 pm

      5 stars
      What an incredible recipe -- chocolate, coffee, two kinds of chips, and luscious frosting! I love that some of the ingredients are healthier, too. Thanks for another winner from Midwestern HomeLife.

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        February 17, 2022 at 6:41 pm

        Thank you, Eliza! Yes, it's definitely a chocolate-lover's brownie -- and fairly easy to work into a healthy diet. I'm so glad that you enjoyed the recipe and I appreciate your kind comments :). Cara

        Reply
    5 from 8 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Cara!

    I love sharing easy, delicious everyday recipes from the heartland.

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