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Pumpkin Spice Brownies

A deliciously spiced brownie frosted with a pumpkin spiced buttercream.

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My mom’s been making frosted brownies ever since I remember. I didn’t even know that brownie could be unfrosted until I was in high school. Nowadays I love an unfrosted brownie, but there’s always a time and place for a frosted brownie and fall is the time to make it happen. I’ve always been someone to test my taste buds on new flavors, especially on desserts, so I decided to make and test four recipes out to see which can handle the pumpkin spice. I thought to myself, how could I pumpkin spice a brownie? Chocolate will overpower the spice. Tune in below to see what we found out!

We made this as a part of a test of four pumpkin spice desserts.

To see how they stack up, read on here:
Which Dessert Do You Think Pumpkin Spices The Best?

You can see the other three pumpkin spice recipes here:

Pumpkin Spiced Kettle Corn
Pumpkin Spiced Biscotti
Pumpkin Pie Rice Krispie Treats

Homemade buttercream is where it’s at for all yall novice frosting makers. My mom is a store-bought frosting gal, but there’s nothing quite like making your own frosting. I knew I had to in this recipe to achieve the proper flavor and texture. As I whipped my buttercream to this light airy consistency, I added in my spices and vanilla. It tasted phenomenal! I wanted to amp up the pumpkin flavor and color using some canned pumpkin. It’s a delicate balance incorporating anything with water to fat, so add your pumpkin teaspoon by teaspoon.

I baked my brownies with love and used a recipe I’ve been loving for a while now. It’s a variation from Snoop Dogg’s brownies. It’s a perfect brownie to me. No messy cocoa powder, just melted chocolate and butter incorporated into a batter with eggs and flour. A straight-forward recipe. The brownies have the best end pieces you could ask for with crisp edges and a light, but chewy interior. If you don’t like fudgy, this is your brownie.

The end result of this brownie turned out amazing. I loved the way the pumpkin complimented the frosting, and as you taste the chocolate from the brownie the pumpkin spice also sneaks it’s flavor onto your taste buds. I would recommend to cut these smaller than normal brownies with how much sugar is involved and I would DEFINITELY recommend you make these for your friends. It’s such a unique and familiar bite that sure as heck got me excited about them.

I always make a little extra buttercream for Dom. Sprinkle some cinnamon on top for a little extra flare of color. Don’t forget about you when making these for a party or gathering. Always plan a little something extra for the chef.

Yield(s): Makes 9 brownies

15m prep time

30m cook time

3.7
Rated by 3 reviewers

Allergens: Milk, Gluten, Eggs

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For brownies:
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
  • 2/3 cup flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For frosting:
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 tablespoons pumpkin puree
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • A pinch of kosher salt
Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven 325 F and prepare a 8x8 baking dish.
  2. In a sauce pot, combine the milk, butter, and sugar until simmering. Turn off the heat and stir in chocolate chips until smooth. Let cool slightly.
  3. Combine and whisk together the dry ingredients for the brownies. Set aside
  4. Whisk the eggs and vanilla into the chocolate mixture, then gradually add the dry ingredients to the batter.
  5. Whisk together the dry ingredients into the batter, then use a spatula to add batter to prepared baking dish.
  6. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool. Make frosting by combining the softened butter and pumpkin puree in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
  7. Add in pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and salt. Use a spatula to clean the sides, then slowly incorporate the powdered sugar until a smooth buttercream forms.
  8. Once brownies are cool, spread frosting over brownies, then cut.