21 Best Blondie and Brownie Recipes

Mexican Brownies — The Spruce / Leah Maroney

Brownies are always welcome, whether as an after-school treat or as a nice surprise tucked into a lunch box. And there are so many things you can do with them! As with most baked goods, the key to making the best brownies is to measure the ingredients correctly, make sure your oven temperature is accurate, and cook them until just done. From classic chocolate brownies to jazzed-up bars, there's a recipe here that's sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Easy Desserts Kids Can Make

Hands making ice cream sundaes on a blue-and-white checkered tablecloth

01 of 21

Blonde Brownies With Chocolate Chips and Walnuts

The Spruce

They say blondes have more fun and we think that's definitely true with these blondies. Amped up with brown sugar, chocolate chips, and walnuts, this is the blondie recipe that will change the minds of anybody who says that chocolate brownies are better.
02 of 21

Mexican Brownies

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

Latin American cooking has a long history of spicing up desserts with an extra kick. These Mexican brownies use a little cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and cocoa powder to form fudgy treats with a hint of spice.
03 of 21

Fudgy Microwave Brownies

The Spruce

Mug cakes are the solution to fast desserts. If you're looking for a fast fix for your chocolate cravings, this microwave brownie recipe is a lifesaver. In under two minutes, you'll have a serving of warm fudgy brownie.
04 of 21

Peanut Butter Turtle Bars

The Spruce / Linda Larsen

These brownies are an awesome way to jazz up a bake sale with something unexpected. A combination of caramel candies, peanut butter, and semisweet chocolate chips, they're best cut into small squares because nobody can handle a bigger piece—they're just that rich!

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05 of 21

Butterscotch Brownies Recipe

Mark Thomas / StockFood Creative / Getty Images

This wonderful recipe is for butterscotch lovers. The rich and chewy brownies are topped with a caramel frosting for an extra layer of decadence. Be sure not to overbake these butterscotch brownies because they're prone to losing moisture and becoming dry.
06 of 21

Easy and Fresh Apple Brownies

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

For brownies with a taste of fall, try this apple-studded recipe. With chopped pecans and walnuts added for brunch and some brown sugar for some light caramel flavor, you won't even miss the chocolate!
07 of 21

Instant Pot Brownies

Diana Rattray

Almost more of a decadent chocolate cake than a brownie, this recipe made in the Instant Pot is sure to become a favorite. All of the typical brownie ingredients are mixed together, but instead of baking in the oven in a square pan, they are cooked in the pressure cooker in a round cake pan. The finished dish is covered with a glossy ganache and chopped pecans.
08 of 21

Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Try your hand at these completely indulgent cream cheese swirl brownies for your next party or event. You won't believe how easy they were to make — it takes under an hour and the impressive swirled effect isn't difficult at all.

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09 of 21

Christmas Tree Brownies

The Spruce / Anita Schecter

When the holidays roll around, bake up a batch of Christmas tree brownies for fun with the kids. They start with homemade or store-bought-mix brownies that are frosted with green buttercream and sprinkles and have a built-in handle—a pretzel rod.
10 of 21

One-Bowl Brownies

Jessie Sheehan

These brownies are both chewy and sophisticated. What makes this recipe different is the addition of espresso powder into the batter and sprinkling of sea salt at the end.
11 of 21

Halva Brownies

The Spruce / Anita Schecter

Halva is a sweet candy that's popular in the Middle East. For something off the beaten path, this recipe incorporates nuggets of the nutty treat into the batter.
12 of 21

Peppermint Brownies

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

Turn all those leftover Christmas candy canes into minty, chocolatey peppermint brownies. No canes on hand? No problem. You can make these year-round by using the round striped peppermint candies individually wrapped in cellophane.

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13 of 21

Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl "Brownies"

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

While these sweet treats may not be "brownies" in the strictest sense, they sure are amazing. Pumpkin and cheesecake are a winning combo and these brownies are perfect as an indulgent autumn snack.
14 of 21

Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

This recipe is so simple, you'll wish you thought of it first. The key to these mint chocolate chip brownies is peppermint extract and just a little bit of sea salt for an extra kick and advancement of flavor.
15 of 21

Molasses Walnut Brownies

Flavia Morlachetti / Getty Images

If you think molasses is old-fashioned, you'll definitely change your mind after trying just one of these walnut-studded brownies. Don't have walnuts? You can easily trade them out for pecans.
16 of 21

Creamy Brownies

AnnaPustynnikova / Getty Images

These wonderful brownies are creamy and velvety because the sugar is boiled with butter and water so it dissolves completely. The frosting is even easier to make — simply melt peanut butter and chocolate chips together.

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17 of 21

Sweet Potato Brownie Fudge

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Looking for the guilt-free solution to your brownie craving? Here it is! These brownies made with sweet potato puree are so delicious, you'll forget all about regular high-calorie fudge.
18 of 21

Brownie Pops

ALLEKO / Getty Images

If you've been meaning to try your hand at cake pops, here's a recipe that'll convince you to test them out. Brownie pops are fudgier than their cake counterparts, which also make them easier to mold. Decorate with some sprinkles or nuts and you've got an adorable and tasty dessert.
19 of 21

Easy Boozy Brownies

katerinabelaya / Getty Images

This brownie recipe is a simple way to jazz up boxed mix. When you're short on time, but want to make a splash, just whip up a batch and slather on an alcohol-infused frosting to turn it into an adults-only treat.
20 of 21

Gluten Free Brownies

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Don't forget gluten-free family or friends as you put together your dessert table. Make sure everybody feels included by making a plate of these gluten-free brownies, which—dare we say it—might be even more delicious than their flour-y counterparts.

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21 of 21

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

The Spruce / Anita Schecter

The peanut butter brownie recipe to end all peanut butter brownie recipes is here! Make these treats in just an hour and try and stop yourself from having more than just one.