Brownies with Creamy Chocolate Frosting OR Hot Fudge Frosting

These brownies have made it impossible for me to ever make a brownie from a box mix now.  They are really easy to make and are incredibly delicious.  They get even better each day that they sit around, which isn't many since they are so good.  But nonetheless, they age well.

Brownies

1 cup margarine, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup baking cocoa
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream the margarine and sugar together.  Add the cocoa and cream together.  Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well with each addition.  Add the vanilla and salt.  Mix in the flour and mix until well combined.

Pour batter in a greased 9 X 13 baking pan.  Bake in the oven for 27-30 minutes.  Take it out of the oven when you stick a toothpick in the middle and it comes out with a bit of brownie stuck to it.  The brownies continue baking even after you take them out of the oven, so you want to take them out before they are completely done or they will be dry.

FROSTING CHOICES:
(If you like cold brownies, use the creamy chocolate frosting.  If you want to eat warm brownies with ice cream on top, use the Hot fudge Frosting.)

Creamy Chocolate Frosting

6 Tbsp butter
6 Tbsp baking cocoa
2 Tbsp corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla

Cream together.  Add 2-3 cups of powdered sugar and 2-4 Tbsp milk, depending on the consistency you want your frosting.  I usually whip it with my mixer until it is a nice creamy color and texture.  It gets kind of fluffy the longer your whip it.   Spread onto the cooled brownies.

The trick with these brownies is to make them about 24 hours before you want to eat them and let them sit in the refrigerator overnight.  Take them out about an hour or two before you want to eat them and let them come to room temperature.

HOT Fudge Frosting


This frosting is to be poured onto the brownies once they come out of the oven and eaten warm, not cooled.  They make a delicious brownie sundae if you put a scoop of ice cream over the top of the warm brownie.  So delicious.

Mix together:
1 2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter, very very soft
1/3 cup cocoa
1/3 cup canned evaporated milk

Pour over hot brownies that have come out of the oven.  Let them sit for a while (at least 30 minutes) before cutting into them and serving them.