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This recipe for Fudgy Brownies is my favorite – one bowl and so easy! Topped with Orange Frosting made with mandarine oranges, these are The Best Orange Frosted Brownies you’ll ever eat!
Happy Easter everyone! I hope you’re having a relaxing Sunday with your family.
We got back last night from a couple of days in San Diego, visiting family. Another word for this trip: the Eating Extravaganza of 2013.
Let me give you a rundown:
We were traveling, so eating a danish at the airport was perfectly acceptable.
So was the bagel sandwich I scarfed at Einstein’s. {Why oh why is there no Einstein’s in Rocklin, CA?}
Then there were hamburgers and chips for dinner.
Friday – now that took the cake. We went out to breakfast with Mel’s dad.
We went to Il Fornaio for lunch.
And I was still hungry for a sandwich at dinner. And frozen yogurt.
We celebrated early Easter Saturday morning with cinnamon rolls and eggs. Which I washed down with two pork carnitas tacos at Old Town.
All interspersed with handfuls of Cadbury Mini Eggs.
Oh, and we went for brunch this morning.
My new name: Fatty McBuffet Pants.
I wore leggings for a reason. None of my pants fit.
So I’m going on a fast for the next week.
As long as the fast includes brownies, I’m good.
I am totally eating crow with these brownies, BTW. I have scoffed at the orange-and-chocolate combo for years. I remember seeing one of those orange chocolate shaped thingies at Christmas when I was like, 12 and thinking EW OMG NO WAY.
People. I was wrong. So very, very wrong.
Orange and chocolate are totally BFFs. Like, they need to get broken heart-shaped necklaces and wear matching color hair ties on their wrists because OMG they can’t live without each other and they have to proclaim their love to everyone.
Orange + Chocolate = Heaven.
This brownie recipe isn’t new. It’s my favorite Fudgy Brownie recipe, the one I paired recently with Coconut Frosting. The same brownies I stuffed truffles inside.
These brownies are rich and fabulous and sinful and the best ever. I use two kinds of melted chocolate and cocoa powder in these brownies for a richness you wouldn’t believe. They are pretty much one bowl and are better than a box. Yes, I said it. They are better than a box brownie.
They’re good even by themselves with a fork, but they are even better with Orange Frosting.
You can use any kind of orange for this frosting, but I used Cuties (mandarin oranges). I had a bag and they were going to go to waste since Jordan decided she won’t eat them. The juice is so fragrant my mouth waters every time I juice them. I don’t like eating oranges (I have texture issues and pulp is a #1 offender) but I like peeling Cuties just so my fingers will smell like them.
The frosting is a basic one: butter and powdered sugar and flavoring. I added orange juice and zest to flavor the frosting. And, my secret for the best frosting ever? Heavy cream. Not milk. Certainly not non-fat milk. The real deal: heavy whipping cream. Just a tablespoon or two makes the frosting rich, creamy, and oh-so-good.
Meh. I’ll start the fast on tomorrow. What’s one more day? 😉
The Best Orange Frosted Brownies
Ingredients
For the Brownies
- 2 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate , coarsely chopped
- 2 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate , coarsely chopped
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
For the frosting:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13” pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
- Place the two baking chocolates and butter in a large, microwave safe bowl. Heat on HIGH power for 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until chocolate is smooth. Stir in sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, and cocoa and stir well. Add flour and stir carefully.
- Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake about 25 minutes, until a toothpick 2 inches from the outside of the pan comes out clean. Let cool before cutting.
- To make the frosting, beat butter in a large bowl with a hand mixer until smooth. Slowly beat in powdered sugar until crumbly. Beat in orange juice, then heavy cream (not together).
- Spread frosting over the top of the cooled brownies.
Recipe Nutrition
Other brownie love:
Fudgy Brownies with Coconut Frosting
Sweets from friends:
Layered S’mores Brownies by Shugary Sweets
Microwave Brownie in a Cup by No. 2 Pencil
Better than Anything Caramel Stuffed Brownies
Ohhhhh yummm Dorothy!! I love orange and chocolate together….this frosting looks delectable and I would probably ask for double 🙂
I know I ate double, so totally a possibility. 🙂 Thanks Cathy!
Thank you…I needed a good laugh on this Monday! I must must must try your fudge brownies asap. Although I fear I may be next in line for some stretch pants. 😉 Have you ever tried your fudge brownie recipe in a smaller pan? I was just curious if you preferred the 9 x 13.
You can totally do them in a 9×9 – but they’ll be thicker. Thicker is sometimes better. 🙂 Check the bake times too – it’ll be longer. I just naturally gravitate towards the bigger pan. 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
Wow I love your eating extravaganza!! That sounds like so much fun! Tomorrow is always the better day to start a fast – lol! I have to say I have always loved orange and chocolate and I would for sure love these brownies too! Thanks for sharing the recipe! 🙂
Thanks so much Jen!
I love citrus desserts but have to say I have reservations when they are combined with chocolate. Your amazing pictures have me salivating though and I am totally reconsidering.
It’s a great sweet/tart combo! I’m slowly warming to them. 🙂
Never thought of having orange frosting on brownies, but this sounds amazing. I know what you mean about eating too much over Easter. I didn’t even go out of town, but I baked a lot of treats and felt like I should truly celebrate, but now I’m regretting it just a bit.
Thanks Megan! I still want to celebrate, lol. It’s so hard to stop the chocolate!
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