Life Changing Brownies sounds a little dramatic.  I guess that’s the effect I’m going for though.  The original title of this recipe was “Frosted Fudge Brownies.”  After making them for myself, I feel this title is grossly unrepresentative of how amazing they actually are.  “Life Changing Brownies is much more accurate.

For the last, like, 5 years, I have maintained that no homemade brownie recipe is any better than Betty Crocker’s Fudge Brownie mix, which is my go-to for brownies because it is so easy and so good.  I have tried dozens of homemade brownie recipes.  Betty Crocker’s were better.  The end.  For the past, like, 5 years, I have been wrong.

Heed this warning.  Seriously.  Don’t make these brownies for any person unless you want said person to fall in love with you.  Don’t make them for your new mother-in law, for she will take one bite and think “Hmmm, I better watch this one.  She’s tricky.”  Don’t bring them to a party, because everybody will assume you are one of those people- the kind who go to a fancy bakery, buysomething delicious, and then transfer them into your own dish to try and pass them off as your own.

For your own sanity, trust me, these are best enjoyed in the warm embrace of your own home, with somebody who already is in love with you.

Plus, you won’t want to share these ridiculously chocolatey, fudgy, freaking amazing brownies with anybody anyway.

Enjoy.

Recipe adapted from Gonna Want Seconds

Ingredients:

Brownies:
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon instant coffee or espresso powder
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
5 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Frosting:
6 tablespoons milk
6 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°.  Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray and line with a parchment paper sling.

Over a double broiler, melt the butter, chocolate chips, and instant coffee/espresso, stirring occasionally until butter and chocolate are melted and smooth.  Remove bowl from heat.  Add sugars and mix until well combined.

Whisk in 3 of the eggs to the chocolate mixture, and mix until just combined.  Add the other two eggs, and the vanilla, and mix until just combined.  Do not overbeat the batter at this stage or your brownies will be cakey instead of fudgy.

Add the flour, cocoa powder, and salt, and mix until just barely combined.  Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.

Begin making the frosting as soon as the brownies come out of the oven.  Combine the butter, milk, and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil.  Allow the mixture to cook at a rolling boil for 30 seconds.  Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate chips and vanilla, mixing until smooth and glossy.

Spread over the just out of the oven brownies.  Allow brownies to cool completely in the baking pan before cutting.