These Refrigerator Bakery Brownies are everything you love about your favorite bakery brownie!
If you love thick, frosted bakery brownies, you’re in for a real treat!
I’ve always loved bakery brownies. They’re firm and cold from sitting in the refrigerated case and taste of deep, intense chocolate.
I couldn’t believe how much these refrigerated brownies tasted like this treat from my local food co-op. It turns out making your own at home isn’t hard at all!
Fridge brownies are best enjoyed straight out of the refrigerator, like their real-life bakery cousins. Seriously though, who can wait for brownies to cool before eating one?
Enjoy one gooey and delicious right after frosting, then tuck them away in the refrigerator for the next day. The frosting will firm up and the flavors will develop.
Here you can see a brownie freshly frosted. It is still dense but the frosting is soft and melty. Totally edible. Of course you don’t have to frost the brownies at all, but I’m kind of insisting that you do.
Tips for customizing your refrigerator bakery brownies:
- Add a dash of instant coffee to the mix
- Fold chopped walnuts into the batter
- Replace the semi-sweet chocolate chips in the brownie batter with white or dark chocolate chips
- Use a gluten-free flour mix to make them gluten-free
If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!
Refrigerator Bakery Brownies
Ingredients
Brownies
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) butter
- 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
Frosting
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and place a rack in the upper third of the oven. Grease and flour an 8 inch square baking pan and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, bring 2 inches of water to a boil. In a medium, heatproof bowl, add butter and unsweetened chocolate. Place the bowl over, but not touching, the simmering water and allow to melt, stirring occasionally to incorporate. Once the butter and chocolate have melted, remove the bowl from the simmering pot and whisk in the brown and granulated sugar. Whisk in the egg, yolk, and vanilla. Add the flour mixture all at once and fold into the chocolate mixture with a spatula until well incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before frosting.
- To prepare the frosting, place chocolate chips and butter in a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 20 second increments, stirring in between, until melted. Whisk in the vanilla and salt, then stir in the powdered sugar. Add the milk a few drops at a time, whisking briskly, until the frosting is smooth and shiny. Spread immediately on the cooled brownies. Refrigerate until the frosting is set and you are ready to serve. Brownies will keep wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to 5 days.
Notes
, frosting adapted from An Edible Mosaic
Kat says
That looks ridiculously good!!!
olive says
I can’t even believe you said “hostage”. I feel like that all the time! Honesty + chocolate = awesome post. 🙂
Lindsay Moe says
Haha, glad I’m not alone! Thanks Olive!
Judi W says
Those brownies have my mouth watering!! Just want to check that it’s only 1/4 cup flour. Please answer quickly as I must make these pronto!! Thanks!
Lindsay Moe says
It is only 1/4 cup! I couldn’t believe it either, but its part of what makes these brownies so deliciously fudgy!
Liz says
Happy Mother’s Day! These brownies look scrumptious…saved to my Recipe Box 🙂
Kathy says
Wow! These look incredible! I don’t know if I have ever had a refrigerator brownie before but I love my desserts to be cold so I’m sure I would love these!
Lindsay Moe says
Thanks! I usually enjoy my brownies straight out of the freezer, but the refrigerator is perfect for this frosting!
DessertForTwo says
These are so, so SO gorgeous. I keep seeing them on Pinterest, and my waist line tells me not to pin them, but I fought back! Pinned! And these will be made! Very soon!
ps I hide desserts in the freezer from my husband inside bags of frozen vegetables…busted.
Lindsay Moe says
Thanks Christina! I’m glad you pinned them, I’m sure you’ll love them! I saw your post about hiding the brownies in the asparagus bag, sneaky sneaky! My husband doesn’t really like sweets so I’m always stuck eating the leftovers, I’m not sure which is worse!
Heather @ French Press says
I have not thought about refrigerator brownies in FOREVER -holy deliciousness, NEED to make these…pinning
Hannah @ Not From Concentrate says
Wow these look incredible – I love your photos! I almost feel like I can taste the brownies through them! Definitely saving this recipe 🙂
Sandra Fiel says
I’ve been a mom for 29 years and a grandma for 4. I’ve felt all the feelings you described, and my children and grandchildren are my greatest blessings. Thank you for sharing honestly. For all these years, I’ve wondered why my brownies didn’t have that dense, compact texture I love. Thanks for the info and the recipe. This is one recipe I really intend to try.
ETinMT says
Love, love, love these! I will never ever venture away from this recipe during my brownie cravings. Nope, won’t do it. 😉
Liz says
I made these yesterday for visiting family and all night I could not stop thinking about the left over piece in the fridge. Total deliciousness!! This is the best brownie recipe I have ever ever ever come across!! Thank you !!
Lindsay Moe says
I’m so glad you liked them! They are one of my favorites too!
Laura says
I baked a bunch of these for my boyfriend’s birthday, unfortunately it was a monday so he was at a different school to me so I got them delivered to him at lunch. His friends and hime absolutely loved them. They told him that I am definitely a keeper 🙂 haha this is such a great recipe thank you so much for sharing XX
Lindsay Moe says
I’m so glad everyone liked it!
[email protected] says
Made them, loved them, posted them!! http://www.fransfavs.com/2014/08/refrigerator-bakery-brownies/#more-7799
Liz says
We added a pinch of salt and a pinch of cinnamon! In the oven now! I have been looking for a refrigerator bakery brownie recipe. They are my absolute favorite, and when they put sugar on the bottom!! Thank you.
Lindsay Moe says
What a great idea! I’m so glad you enjoyed them.