5 Minute Decadent Brownie Frosting
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to take your brownies up a notch, then you must try this 5 Minute Decadent Brownie Frosting recipe. This rich chocolate frosting is smooth, velvety, and absolutely delicious! It takes just 5 minutes to make, and it will add a layer of wow to your brownies that everyone will love.
I love enjoying a good homemade brownie- especially a super fudgy one. But sometimes they need a little something extra to take them over the top.
That’s where this insanely delicious brownie frosting comes in. It’s the perfect finishing touch to any brownie recipe. Of course if you’re making brownies, you should make these one bowl brownies! This is the recipe I used for these pictures!
You could also top this icing on top of red velvet brownies, or sandwich it between chocolate brownie cookies. Ok I am drooling now!
This brownie icing will give your brownies a beautiful glossy sheen and a delicious chocolate flavor that will take them to the next level. As a trained pastry chef– trust me when I say it’s the perfect addition to any brownie recipe!
The great thing about this is that you can make this as thin or thick as you want.
Learn how to thicken frosting quickly to make it any way you want. If you have a bit more time and want something closer to buttercream then you can make this chocolate ganache frosting.
Ingredients you need
What I love about this recipe is that you don’t need to melt any chocolate.
It’s so frustrating when you have to melt chocolate in the microwave and it over-heats. I know I can make a double boiler but I find that annoying sometimes, especially when I’m trying to make a quick frosting!
How to make brownie frosting in 5 minutes
Use it to frost cooled brownies immediately. The frosting will harden on the top as it sets leaving a creamy texture underneath.
Cutting and Serving
Wait 5-10 minutes before cutting the brownies after frosting, so that the icing hardens and you can make clean cuts.
The best way to cut brownies is to use a large sharp knife. Dip it in hot water, then wipe off the excess and slice the brownies. Clean the knife and repeat with the water. The residual warmth of the knife from the hot water will make nice clean cuts!
Recipe Tips
- Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to smooth the frosting on brownies
- When melting the butter, make sure it’s not too hot. Use 30-second intervals in the microwave and whisk in between each interval.
- If your brownie frosting is too thick, add a little more milk until it reaches the desired consistency.
- If your brownie frosting is too thin, add a little more cocoa powder or confectioners sugar until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Be sure to use unsalted butter in this recipe so the brownie frosting doesn’t end up too salty.
- When frosting your brownies, make sure they are fully cooled before frosting. This will make sure that the frosting doesn’t melt off of the brownie from the heat.
5 Minute Decadent Brownie Frosting
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted, 56g
- ⅓ cup cocoa, 35g
- 2 cups confectioners sugar, 227g
- 3 tbsp milk
Instructions
- In a large microwavable safe bowl melt the butter 30 seconds at a time until fully melted.
- Add in the ⅓ cup cocoa powder and whisk until smooth.
- Add in the 2 cups of confectioners sugar and 3 tbsp milk.
- Whisk until smooth and frost right away otherwise it will harden.
- Use it to frost these one bowl brownies!
Mine came out a little gritty… what did I do wrong?
Such a smooth tasting chocolate frosting and just the right amount for a well frosted 9×9 brownie pan. And it was ready in 5 minutes and I whisked it well to be sure it was smooth. Definitely a keeper!
YAY! Thank you so much for the 5 star rating and for letting me know how you liked the recipe!
Quick, easy & delicious love it!!!
Thank you so much for the 5 star rating Lori!!
Going to use this to frost and decorate my heart shaped brownies to send to my grand kids
Awww I love that Karen, best grandma ever!
Sidestory: a lady at work wouldn’t give me her brownie recipe. I have spent a while trying to recreate the brownie. This frosting is the exact same delicious frosting. !! Thank you!
New story- that lady at work can suck it! So glad you found the recipe. If she ever brings in a recipe again that you cant find, lemme know, Ill help! 🤣
Mine tasted so strongly of powdered sugar. Is there anything I can add to dull that taste?
Hi Gigi, you could add more cocoa and more liquid but I would make sure the ingredients were also measured correctly. 🙂
I only have heavy cream on hand – can I use this instead of milk?
You sure can!
I used buttermilk for the 3 tbsp of milk, and I’ve never tasted a delicious homemade frosting. Thanks for the simple recipe!
Youre so sweet thank you so much for letting me know and the 5 star rating!
Excellent and so easy!
Thank you so much Tammie!
Super yummy but hardened right away. Waste of ingredients.
Hey Jason, yes you need to frost right away as I mentioned in the post under the storage section. Your brownies need to be ready for this and you cannot make it in advance.
Very nice👌 not super sweet, but tastes great on brownies. Mixes up well, and hardens quick. I heated the butter on the stove, so I just set it back on for a few seconds to heat it back up again. Very velvety and so easy to spread . Great recipe!
Wohooo! Thanks so much Kayla! So appreciate you making this and for the 5 star rating!!
I bake a lot. Usually for brownies I do a 7 min frosting, ganache, or buttercream. Let me tell u the grandkids LOVED THIS. And so easy! Definitely a keeper!!
If the grandkids loved it, I know it’s a win! They are the ultimate taste testers! I’m so glad it was a hit and that it’s earned a spot in your rotation. Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and leave a review Cindy. I really appreciate it.
Delicious frosting! I normally don’t frost my brownies but this is spectacular!
Woohooo! Thanks Rachel! So glad we got you over to the frosted brownies side haha
This frosting came together easily and we loved the taste and creamy texture! Added a teaspoon of instant coffee to the melted butter and it is totally delicious!
Ohhh yess!! That totally levels up the game, thank you so much for making this!
Great recipe! Made it!
YAY so glad, thank you Martha!
I added this frosting to a fairly boring boxed brownie mix that I had made and this frosting made them taste next level delicious!
YESSS this is the vibe!!! Thanks so much for letting me know!
Very easy to make & delicious!
Just the right texture for brownies.
Thank you so much Angela, glad you loved the recipe!
Is the powdered sugar and cocoa powder sifted before measuring?
You dont have to but its best to do it so that there are less lumps!
Thank you…I did sift and it was perfect!
Do you think it would still work if I added a little peanut butter? =)
Totally! You would have to thin it out with a little more milk, I would add a tsp at a time. Sounds so good to me!
Frosting is a winner!
Made a 8×8 pan of brownies & didn’t use all of the frosting. Can I refrigerate the leftover frosting?
WOHOOOO love hearing this! The frosting hardens quick as im sure you have already figured out lol, so I wouldnt store in the fridge, just pile more frosting onto the brownies haha. Thank you so much for the 5 star rating and review!
I used this on a cake and it it came out great big hit in my house!!
So happy Ash, thank you!
Usually, when I see a recipe saying how long it takes to make, I figure it’s going to be an additional half hour. This recipe really was ready in five minutes!! It’s very simple to prepare, spreads well, and tastes great! My new favorite icing!!!
So happy this lived up to your expectations Chantal yay!
Very good. Perfect for brownies. Frosting went on smooth and shiny. Taste so good. Easy to make.
Thank you so much Mary!
Quick, easy, and very rich. Had all the ingredients on hand. Will be a go to for me.
Hooray! Thank you Carol!!
Got bored with premade frosting, so tried this. Easy, tasty, looks good! My mom used to make cooked frosting, but I’m not finding many of them to my liking. Suggestions ?
I made the frosting too soon after the brownies were done, and they were not cooled enough, so it melted some, when I applied it to the surface. Popped it into the fridge…..all was good.
Keep up the good work!
Thank you Lyle! Glad this worked out for you- for a cooked frosting that is a little nostalgic, try this 7 minute frosting. Hope it is what you are looking for!
Quick. , easy and delicious!
Amazing! Just what I was going for here! Its such a quick but decadent frosting!
Super simple and perfect for the brownies I made. Was enough to ice an 8×8 pan. Firm to the touch but velvety when you eat it.
Thank you Courtney! I love that about this frosting, it hardens quickly but so good when you bite into it! Thanks so much for the 5 star rating and review!
Great tasting frosting. Love that it is so simple. Printed it out to keep!
ahh thank you Dayna!!
This frosting looks delish. I am making sheet pan brownies (1/2 sheet pan) and wondering how much frosting I should make? Also, does it set up enough that I can stack the brownies?
Hi Martha, I would double the recipe just to be sure. You can definitely stack the brownies after the frosting has hardened but I wouldnt pack them hard on top of each other.
I have a question before trying the recipe, but giving it 5 stars because it definitely sounds great. I always cut my brownies and then put them back in the pan after individually wrapping each one with plastic wrap. I’d like to try icing them; i.e. I would apply icing to the whole pan, then cut the brownies, and individually wrap them. Would this icing work? I’m worried the icing will crack as I’m cutting the brownies, or will come off on the plastic wrap.
Hi Diane, I wish I could say for sure, what would happen but I havent tried. The icing definitely hardens but it doesnt harden like a rock. I would probably ice the brownies and cut immediately, then let the frosting harden and then wrap them in plastic.
when I add the sugar the cocoa/butter suddenly clump and there are all these bits of cocoa butter throughout the frosting. tried it twice but no success. had to sprinkle with the icing sugar to cove up the failed frosting. looks nothing like the photos
Hi Lynn, the butter just probably needed to be more melted, or the cocoa could have needed to be sifted. Theres almost 2 reviews on here so it must have been something going on with your ingredients.