There’s almost no better way to end a meal than with a warm-from-the-oven brownie, unless it’s with a chocolaty dessert that uses a brownie as its foundation. Brownie bits added to ice cream, tossed into pie filling, or layered into a torte open up a world of possibilities. Add dozens of flavor variations such as peanut butter, mint, or caramel, and the sky’s the limit on the kinds of brownie desserts a clever cook can create.
Every child loves a piece of brownie cake, and every adult does too A minty version can be made from scratch or created in less time using grocery-store shortcuts. Either way, the mint’s in the icing, courtesy of a few drops of mint extract. Whether the cook prefers icing a pan of brownies with a cream cheese frosting, a glaze made of confectioner’s sugar, or a can of premade frosting, this one is a winner.
Among brownie desserts, one standout features peanut butter, chunks of dark chocolate, and puffed rice cereal as well as brownie batter. The result is a chewy, crunchy delight reminiscent of Rice Crispy marshmallow treats. In fact, adding mini-marshmallows to the brownie batter heightens the nostalgia.
There are any number of ways to create frozen brownie desserts that will shiver anyone’s timbers with pleasure. The simplest approach is to break a pan of fresh-baked brownies into pieces to stir them into slightly softened ice cream. No one can argue with vanilla, but experimenting with flavors such as orange or coffee makes it a bit more interesting. Of course, going whole hog by stirring slightly warm bits of brownie into a decadent ice cream base brimming with chunks of chocolate, nuts, and marshmallows, will be enough to make anyone melt.
Pudding pies made with brownie batter as the pie crust turn things inside out. The batter should be baked in a larger pan to produce a thinner brownie. It’s important to pull the pan before the brownie is completely done. After it’s cooled, the cook will find it’s easy to press broken bits of brownie into a pie pan, pour in any flavor pudding filling, and set it in the refrigerator. Crumbling some brownie into the pudding adds texture and even more flavor.
In the world of brownie desserts, nothing beats a do-it-yourself treat. All the cook needs do is provide skewers, a plate of bite-sized brownie bits, and sweeties that are squishy enough for piercing such as marshmallows, gummies, or fresh fruit like peaches or pears. A bit of warm caramel dip and some whipped cream means instant success.
