Skillet brownies topped with vanilla ice cream, then drizzled with caramel and chocolate sauce take fudgy brownies to the next level of goodness. They become a skillet brownies sundae!
If you were to have the impression that I cook a lot, you would be right. And through all most of my experiments, recipes, failures, and success, Handsome sits and eats without saying a word. I ask if it was good, and he may nod, or say yes, but there is rarely any excitement in his voice. After a while, you just come to terms with it. He wouldn't care if I fed him macaroni and cheese for weeks on end, he would nod and say it was good. Which may be something I considered for a while, just to see if I could ignite some sort of reaction from him. I wasn't even aware that my curried pot pies were one of his favorite meals until almost a year after I made them, when he asked for them again. The closest thing I've gotten to a compliment is a request for a repeat.
The other night we were killing time and prepping for the weekend by having a few drinks, an appetizer, and dessert out at some restaurants. After a fail at one place, we packed up our rodeo and headed over to one of our favorite spots. Another martini for me and a brownie for him.
A brownie.
A $10.50 plain chocolate, old fashioned brownie. With a scoop of vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup and caramel.
"The best brownie ever," he proclaimed.
Of course, I considered that a challenge to bake him skillet brownies and make him a brownie sundae he'd remember forever.
...
(Look at all that chocolatey awesomeness before baking)
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour - spooned and leveled
- ¼ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder - spooned and leveled
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons ½ stick unsalted butter
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate - coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine the sugar and eggs until fully incorporated. In another bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, and salt.
- In an ovenproof skillet (I used an iron skillet), bring butter and cream to a simmer over medium and butter is melted. Reduce heat to low and stir in the chocolate for one minute. Remove from heat, let stand 5 minutes and stir. Let sit another 5 minutes to cool.
- Pour the chocolate chocolate mixture into sugar mixture, whisking until blended. Fold in the flour. Pour batter back into skillet, and using a rubber spatula scrape down sides if needed.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 40-45 minutes. Slice and serve warm from the skillet, with a scoop of plain vanilla ice cream, a drizzle of caramel and chocolate sauce.
Nutritional informations provided as a courtesy and is only an approximatation. Values will changes based on ingredients used.
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Really? The best brownie ever? It's been sitting in a freezer for days waiting to be zapped in a microwave and handed to you. I make countless desserts and this is what you finally say is good??? One human hands didn't even bake....
As you can imagine, I said no brownie would ever be created in my house again.
"But this one has caramel and chocolate sauce." Because we don't keep either in the house....
Ahem...
And then I had to show him up.
Karma? Him walking in from work an hour early, just as I washed the caramel and chocolate from the platter. And what.
So, if you would like to impress your sweetie for Valentine's day, or any day rather, skip the tireless work put into a fancy dessert, no need to bust out the ever faithful Kitchenaid, nope. One whisk, two bowls and a skillet. Prep, 5 minutes. Cook 40. Plop down some Ben and Jerry's and there you have it. You can thank me later for the time you will save trying to come up with something spectacular.
Just make skillet brownies.
Tes says
Man... I can see why he said it's the best brownie ever! I can't wait to try it 🙂
Belinda @zomppa says
How did you know I have no resistance when it comes to sundae brownies?
Camille says
Hey Kita!
Damn your brownie looks awesomely delicious. Haha I loved the post too, but don't stop making great dessert, I'll come to compliment here if you want:)
PS: love that you have a "fat kid friendly" section.
Blog is the New Black says
Looks terribly delicious. WANT!
Toby says
Like you, I cook constantly - except I'm cooking for someone with (at best) serious dietary restrictions... I never know if its any good, and I get tired of asking..."how was it"?
I'm all-in for your chocolate brownie, except I need a way to make it without butter...sugar... oh, and chocolate.....
I'll have to save this one for some of my greedy, fat friends 🙂
ping says
I can easily say that's the best brownie I've seen for awhile! All that gooeyness inside ... oh maaannnn, I am so drooling here.
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time says
I totally agree with you. Hubby ends up liking the most simple desserts over the fancy schmancy stuff as well. Even I think those look amazingly decadent. Need to pour a whole lot more of that caramel stuff on them though.
Erin says
Yay and I just bought an iron skillet recently. Love the ice cream on top of course 😉
Kiri W. says
Ooooh. That looks amazing! I've never made a skillet brownie, but if it's a brownie and has caramel... I am all yours.
RavieNomNoms says
Sure does look like the best brownie ever! These look amazing...
Patrick is very similar to handsome, he is more of a just kinda grumble (in a good way) while he eats boy haha.
Liam Gibbons @ "Is butter a carb?" says
Fantastic recipe! I'm craving it right now.. Added to my ever-growing list of things that I have to make. Great job! 😉
diane says
OMG This looks so amazing!!!!!!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
Ha I completely would have done the same thing if my husband proclaimed another dessert the best [blank] ever! You definitely showed him:-)
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
I want to dive head first into that first pic!
jean @ lemons and anchovies says
Your skillet brownies have me drooling.
BTW, I suspect that your guy loves everything you make if we were to judge by what you share here. I would. 🙂
Lacy @ NYCityEats says
Oh man this sounds soooo good! You make some of the most amazing recipes, I'm sure Handsome likes them more than he's showing! Totally making this as soon as possible!
Steph@stephsbitebybite says
Make him eat his words!! 🙂 The Hubs loves the blog because of the things I make, but hates it, because I never repeat anything LOL. But, I could easily see myself making this brownie over and over again!
Janet@FCTC says
Yep... brownies are always a win win situation. You get people drooling plus you also get to eat brownies. I think that men are still kids in their eating most of the time. Something as simple as brownies will get them going... go figure.
I really really want these brownies now... covered in extra sauce. Ok ok, so maybe I'm still a kid too 😀
Renee says
Sometimes simple is best. Looks delicious.
Peggy says
He'll never say that about any restaurant brownie again - you definitely are tops girl!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
I totally relate! Silly men. But um yes this is delicious. Comfort food in sugar form!!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
Men kind of suck sometimes!
I want this now! Looks amazing - gooey, caramel, chocolate, yum!!!!
unkown says
Steph you said it right I only expect to see a meal once. I'm pretty simple I could survive on Kraft cheese or mre.
Kita says
Don't you mean Velveeta? 😉
Claire says
i want to make this asap, omg perfection
Gerry @Foodness Gracious says
Ha ha, my wife is kinda the same. I think she's a little spoiled now since I began blogging, she even asks for the meal I might use for pictures although I rarely take pics at meal times now, that was a recipe for disaster with everyone screaming for their food 🙂 That caramel sauce is the bomb!!
kitchenarian says
Ha ha,love this story although it is kinda hard to top a gooey brownie with sauce and ice cream, but oh how I try!
Jeff says
Handsome needs to learn how good dishes taste like apparently! Does he know how lucky he is?
Stephanie says
Oh men. My husband is the same, I know it's good when he asks for it again or when he gets up for seconds! This brownie looks amazingly good and no doubt, better than a frozen brownie!
Stephanie says
I never thought to make brownies in a skillet. This looks absolutely amazing - I love your photos. Sometimes simple is just the way to go.
Also, I say you make him mac and cheese every day until he realizes how good he's got it 😉
Dionne Baldwin says
The first time I saw a photograph of these brownies I knew it was you. Then I thought maybe you had read my mind because I have been thinking of a good skillet brownie for the past week. I NEED this.
Sometimes I wish i had you for a neighbor so I could get that understanding from you. The need for at least an honest critique if not pure blissful excitement at something delicious and custom-made! (sigh)
Maggie @ Vittles and Bits says
Oh my goodness, I can see why he would be smitten with such a brownie! Your post had me laughing though, I deal with the same indifference from my husband on a regular basis. It drives me crazy not to get any kind of reaction! But then again I guess it's tough for them because we are always trying something new 🙂
Emily @ Life on Food says
This is my all time favorite dessert. It pains me how much it costs in restaurants. My husband is always quick to tell me when there is a fail. But when it is good I never know if it is a good or a great.
Sandra says
Way too tempting!
Liz says
I can avoid a pan of brownies easily. But give me a wedge with ice cream and caramel sauce and my will power is GONE. These look fabulous, Kita!!
Villy @ For the love of Feeding says
The amazing close-up of the photo in Food Porn Daily brought me here, and I like it! I need to make more brownies!
Elizabeth says
I've been having some brownie cravings lately. And as a pregnant lady- that is no laughing matter. These would do the trick. YUM!
Thanks for sharing!
I know what I'm having for dessert-- I mean dinner tonight!
Kim in MD says
I stumbed upon your blog today through TasteSpotting, and I am so excited that I found your blog! I've been exploring for a few minutes, and your recipes look incredible, and your photos are stunning! I am planning to make this brownie recipe for a party this weekend. Can you please tell me what size cast iron pan you used?
Thanks so much, and I look forward to stopping by on a regular basis! 🙂
Kita says
Hi Kim, glad you found PtS 😀 I used a 12" skillet for these and have made them several times since (that skillet being declared the brownie skillet by the BF). Hope to see you back on here. Let me know how these turn out 🙂
Molly Canter says
Pinned this a couple of days ago and have been thinking about ever since. Made them tonight even though I didn't have caramel or chocolate sauce but Oh. My. Goodness. Esp lovely when still warm from the pan. I'm thinking it would be great with coffee ice cream...or mint. Thanks for the perfect recipe!
Kita says
These are the kinds of comments that make what food bloggers do awesome. When someone really loves a recipe and lets us know! Thank you so much and Im glad you gave it a try. I may even need to whip a batch of these up this weekend now that you reminded me of them ;D
Angela @ Cottage Magpie says
Oh my goodness, these look sooooao good!!!
Mallory @ Because I Like Chocolate says
Don't worry, I am sure all of the desserts you made are about 100x better than the generic brownie at that restaurant.
Tinisia says
So my hubby is also very much the type who doesn't have many comments when it comes to my cooking. I don't know he likes my meals until he requests me to make them when he has his friends over. Well this brownie changed all of that. After his first serving, he immediately said - BABE, that brownie was the BEST ever!!!! Totally out of character for him. So thanks for this recipe.
Kita says
I'm glad he enjoyed it! My boyfriend never says anything either >.< but he liked this one so much, he has tried to make it again on his own. Winning ;D