21 Brownie and Blondie Recipes to Bake Up Right Now

One Piece Just Won't Be Enough

Written by
Lily Kip
Updated 07/24/20
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.

  • 01 of 21

    Blonde Brownies With Chocolate Chips and Walnuts

    Blonde brownies

    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

    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

    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

    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!

    Continue to 5 of 21 below.
  • 05 of 21

    Butterscotch Brownies Recipe

    Butterscotch Brownies

    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

    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

    Instant Pot brownies sliced on a plate.
    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

    Cream Cheese 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.

    Continue to 9 of 21 below.
  • 09 of 21

    Christmas Tree Brownies

    Christmas tree brownies on a sheet of parchment paper

    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

    One-Bowl Cocoa 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

    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

    Three peppermint brownies stacked on each other on a serving plate

     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.

    Continue to 13 of 21 below.
  • 13 of 21

    Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl "Brownies"

    Pumpkin 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

    Mint chocolate chip brownies pareve recipe

    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

    Molasses 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

    Chocolate brownie

    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.

    Continue to 17 of 21 below.
  • 17 of 21

    Sweet Potato Brownie Fudge

    Sweet potato brownies

    vaaseenaa / Getty Images

    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

    Brownie cake 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

    Two glasses of rum with brownies in background

     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

    Gluten free brownies

    Lowe, Cath / Getty Images

    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.

    Continue to 21 of 21 below.
  • 21 of 21

    Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

    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.