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97 Brownie Toppings: Easy Ways to Jazz Up Brownies

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Welcome to The Storied Recipe, a podcast about food, culture, and love.

I've curated this list of 97 Brownie Toppings in conjunction with a fan-favorite episode of The Storied Recipe Podcast, Storied Recipes According to My Kids and The Original Baker's Chocolate Brownie Recipe shared in that episode.

A platter of brownies with 18 different toppings

Brownies are a classic American dessert and many of us probably imagine a plain chocolate brownie when we serve up this simple treat. The only question is usually the classic cakey brownie vs fudgy brownie debate.

However, there are so many different ways to add something special or surprising to the top of your brownies. Not only can adding a topping to your brownies enhance the visual appeal of your dessert, but it is also an easy way to create delicious flavors and textures for your brownies and personalize this classic treat to celebrate your loved ones individual and unique tastes!

A close up shot of a brownie topped with peanuts and a white chocolate drizzle

How to Use This List

  • The possibilities are endless for brownie toppings! I have tried to add everything that would be good as topping without getting too far out of the realm of possibility, so try something new and see if it works for you!
  • I have categorized this list into the following categories: classic, nuts, nut butters, fruits, frostings, boozy frostings, salty, festive decorations, cookies, sauces, chocolate on chocolate, crumbles, marshmallows, and candies/candy bars.
  • I have also added information on WHEN to add the topping with each category. Make sure you pay attention to this!
    • Nut pieces are added on after baking so they stay crunchy whereas nut butters are swirled on the top of the batter before baking.
    • It depends on when to add fruits as a topping. I think that if the fruits are precooked then they get added on at the end. Adding fresh fruits on top of the brownie batter before baking would release too much liquid. Adding freeze-dried fruit should also be added after baking so it remains crunchy and doesn't become soggy from the batter. 
    • ⁠Frosting always gets added after it is baked or it would just melt into the brownie. 
    • Potato chips and pretzels are actually added to the brownies at the beginning of the bake instead of at the end.
    • If you are adding a cereal layer like a cornflake brownie topping that is shared below (the one that is mixed with sugar, butter, and cream), it should go on the top after the brownies are baked and then chilled in the fridge until hardened. 
    • Any kind of marshmallow variation is usually added within the last two minutes so it can be broiled and get a nice char on the top. 
  • If you have any suggestions for this list or The Storied Recipe, I would love to hear them!

Classics

You can't go wrong with a classic brownie topping. Get some heavy cream and whip up a batch of fresh whipped cream, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or simply sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top of your fudgy brownies and they will surely be a crowd favorite.

  • Whipped Cream recipe by Add A Pinch
  • Ice Cream
  • Powdered Sugar
A close up shot of a brownie topped with vanilla frosting and a strawberry slice

Classic Frostings

Everyone has a favorite frosting to top their brownie with whether that be a rich chocolate frosting, a coffee frosting, or a mint chocolate frosting. The perfect frosting will be the perfect addition to your dessert.

Boozy Frostings

Below are some boozy frosting ideas that will pack a punch for an adult-only treat.

Festive Decorations for Holidays

These topping ideas are mainly for aesthetics and elevating a simple brownie into a beautiful dessert that will look great on any table during any holiday season. Or if want to go a simpler route and just add a little something on top, adding multi-colored or chocolate sprinkles on top of your brownies will do the trick for any holiday!

Nuts

If you like a little crunch with your brownies or if you want an elegant way to display your brownies, adding nuts can help you achieve that effect and help balance the rich chocolate flavor.

A close up shot of a brownie topped with tahini and salted pretzel

Nut Butters

Don't like the crunch of nuts but like the flavor? Try swirling some nut butter on top of the brownies for a nice visual and taste effect.

A close up shot of a brownie topped with peanut butter and three slices of banana

Fruits

The sharpness of the fruit will cut down on some of the richness of the brownie, however, be careful using fresh fruit because it may make your brownies soggy on top. Check out the freezer-dried berries I have linked below as a topping option to get the taste and sour flavor of fruit without all the liquid, and a bonus of a satisfying crunch.

A close up shot of a brownie topped with chocolate frosting and melted caramel

Salty

Salty AND sweet? Yum! If you are going to have a treat, why not add chips on top of your brownies? 

A close up shot of a brownie topped with colorful and metallic sprinkle balls

Powders

Sprinkle a little powder on any brownie and you have instantly elevated the brownie's appearance and taste without having to do much work.

A close up shot of a brownie topped with oreo pieces

Cookies

Putting a dessert on top of another dessert? Yes, please!

Sauces

You can't go wrong topping your brownies with decadent, thick sauces. Pairing hot brownies straight from the oven with chocolate syrup or creamy dulce de leche will satisfy any sweet tooth craving you may have.

A close up shot of a brownie topped with hot fudge

Chocolate on Chocolate

For all of the chocolate lovers out there, a chocolate topping on top of a chocolate brownie is heaven. Extra chocolate can make for decadent and rich brownies that are full of melted chocolate goodness and who doesn't love that?

Crunchy Cereals

Try one of these ideas below to give your brownie toppings something extra on top. Cereal is a fun and unexpected way to add some sweet crunch to your brownies. 

A close up shot of a brownie topped with Frosted Flakes cereal

Marshmallow-y Toppings

Crushed graham crackers and mini marshmallows make the perfect smores brownies for a fun take on a classic campfire treat. 

Candies/Candy Bars

Candy bar pieces are another classic topping to add to your brownies. Try some of the suggestions I have provided below or add any candies you have lying around for your brownie toppings.

A close up shot of a brownie topped with peppermint candy pieces

The Best Brownie?

One of my favorite ways to make what I believe to be the best brownie, as I shared in my recipe, is with my secret ingredient, the orange box of Baker’s Unsweetened Chocolate. You don't need to have this chocolate or even make your own brownies from scratch to include these tasty toppings in your recipe; whether it is box brownies or homemade brownies, any brownie base will do. All you need to take any brownie to the next level is to try out some of the toppings below. Enjoy!

How to Make Chocolate Brownie Cake (Without Cocoa Powder)

Looking to make more chocolate baked goods? This recipe for Chocolate Brownie Cake (without Cocoa Powder) came from my podcast guest, Liz Zunon. Make sure you listen to her episode Grandpa Cacao's Granddaughter while you make her Classic Chocolate Cake!   

Easy Chocolate Brownie Cake (Without Cocoa Powder)

Listen to Liz's Zunon's Episode

One of my favorite episode ever! Author/Illustrator Liz Zunon talks about her semi-autobiographical children's book. As the little girl in the book bakes a cake with her father, she is connected across climates, continents, and generations to her grandfather. In the interview, we discussed Liz's story and how it relates to her book. We also talk about issues surrounding cacao farming and fair-trade chocolate. Finally, Liz tells us about the many artistic techniques she used to create a "visual language" to tell a story through illustration.

97 Brownie Toppings: Ideas, Recipes, & Links

97 Brownie Toppings: Ideas, Recipes, & Links

Recipe by Guest of The Storied Recipe Podcast

Jazz up your boxed or homemade brownies with frostings, powders, creative crunches, fruity toppings, festive decorations and more!

Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy
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