The browned butter in these layered brownies makes a good brownie great by changing the frosting into a creamy layer with depth and richness.

Are you familiar with the magical effect that happens when butter undergoes a simple transformation and changes from everyday yellow to tantalizing brown?

Oh yes, I’m talking about browned butter, and it just might be the next best thing since sliced bread.

Fudgy brownies with layers of white and chocolate frosting stacked on top of each other.

Take for instance these brownies.

Without the browned butter, they would be your everyday layered brownie. Not necessarily a bad thing. Would I eat them? Well, that’s a silly question. Of course I would. But add in a middle layer of browned butter frosting and here’s the difference: I can’t stop eating them.

Seriously, the browned butter makes such a glorious difference – changing a too-sweet frosting into a creamy layer with depth and caramelly richness.

Browned butter is in, people, and trust me, after tasting the magic, you’ll never go back to plain old softened room temperature butter for a frosting like this.

And as your friend, I must tell you, yellow butter is, like, so last summer. So stay hip and use browned butter today!

Three fudgy brownies with a middle layer of white frosting and topped with chocolate ganache.

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Magical Layered Brownies

Yield: 24 Brownies (9X13-inch pan)
Prep Time: 3 hrs 15 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
Total Time: 4 hrs
4.52 stars (31 ratings)
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Ingredients

Brownies:

  • ½ cup (113 g) butter
  • 6 ounces (170 g) unsweetened chocolate
  • 2 cups (424 g) sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (142 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Browned Butter Frosting:

  • ½ cup (113 g) butter
  • 2 cups (228 g) powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Glaze:

  • 3 tablespoons (42 g) butter
  • 4 ounces (113 g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9X13-inch aluminum pan with nonstick cooking spray and cut parchment paper to fit the bottom of the pan. Lightly grease the parchment paper. Set the pan aside.
  • For the brownies, in a small saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate, stirring until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.
  • In a large bowl, combine the sugar, eggs and salt. Mix with a handheld mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer for 3-4 minutes, until the mixture has lightened in color and is very thick.
  • Fold in the warm (not hot!) chocolate/butter mixture. Stir in the flour and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing evenly.
  • Bake the brownies for 25-30 minutes until the sides pull away from the pan just slightly. Remove the brownies from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack (about 1 1/2 hours).
  • For the browned butter frosting, place the stick of butter in a small saucepan and set it over low heat. It is best to not use a non-stick or dark coated pan in this step because it will be difficult to tell when the butter has turned brown. Let the butter melt over low heat and turn a caramel brown color, about 15 minutes. Watch carefully so the butter doesn’t burn. Once it has turned a nice medium-brown color, remove it from the heat.
  • Pour the butter into a medium bowl. Immediately add the powdered sugar, heavy cream and vanilla. Mix well with an electric mixer until the frosting is smooth and thick.
  • Spread the frosting over the cooled brownies.
  • For the glaze, melt the butter and chocolate together in the microwave or on the stovetop until it is smooth. Pour the warm glaze over the frosted brownies. Tip the pan from side to side to even out the glaze over the frosting (or carefully spread with a knife or offset spatula).
  • Chill the brownies until the glaze is set and the brownies are chilled through, about 1-2 hours. The brownies taste best cold.
Serving: 1 Brownie, Calories: 287kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 59mg, Sodium: 120mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 28g

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Recipe Source: adapted slightly from Ann Hodgman

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