Brownie Pudding Dessert

There are some desserts that just feel like home, like a warm hug on a chilly evening, and for my family, Brownie Pudding Dessert is definitely one of them. The first time I made this, it was a last-minute decision on a rainy Sunday. Little did I know, this simple recipe would become a beloved family staple. The rich, fudgy brownie layer mingling with the decadent, gooey pudding underneath? It was an instant hit! The kids devoured it, my husband declared it “the best dessert ever,” and even I, a self-proclaimed dessert enthusiast, was utterly charmed. It’s become our go-to for cozy nights in, potlucks, and frankly, any occasion that calls for a little bit of chocolatey comfort. If you’re looking for a dessert that’s easy to make, incredibly satisfying, and guaranteed to bring smiles to faces, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive into the magic of Brownie Pudding Dessert!

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to create this heavenly Brownie Pudding Dessert. We’ll keep it simple and focus on quality ingredients for the best flavor.

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our brownie layer, providing structure. Ensure it’s measured correctly for the right texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the brownie and pudding layers, contributing to moisture and tenderness.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: For that deep, rich chocolate flavor that is quintessential to brownies and pudding. Use good quality cocoa for a superior taste.
• Salt: Enhances the sweetness and balances the chocolate flavor. Just a pinch makes a difference!
• Baking Powder: A leavening agent that helps the brownie layer rise slightly, creating a tender crumb.
• Milk: Adds moisture to the brownie and pudding, creating a smooth and creamy texture. Whole milk works best for richness, but you can use 2% as well.
• Melted Unsalted Butter: Adds richness, flavor, and tenderness to both layers. Unsalted butter allows you to control the salt level.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile, adding warmth and depth. Pure vanilla extract is recommended for the best results.
• Brown Sugar: Packed brown sugar adds a molasses-like sweetness and moisture to the pudding layer, contributing to its gooey texture.
• Hot Water: The secret ingredient that transforms the brownie batter into a magical two-layered dessert, creating the signature pudding sauce.

Instructions

Follow these step-by-step instructions to bake your own irresistible Brownie Pudding Dessert. It’s easier than you might think!

1. Preheat Your Oven and Prepare Your Baking Dish: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Proper oven temperature is crucial for even baking and the perfect texture. While the oven is heating, grease an 8×8 inch square baking dish. You can use butter, cooking spray, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal, leaving an overhang on the sides to lift the finished dessert out effortlessly. This ensures that your brownie pudding doesn’t stick and comes out looking beautiful.
2. Combine Dry Ingredients for the Brownie Layer: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder. Whisking is important here to aerate the dry ingredients and ensure the baking powder is evenly distributed. This prevents clumps and guarantees a uniform texture in your brownie layer. Make sure to break down any lumps of cocoa powder for a smooth mixture.
3. Incorporate Wet Ingredients for the Brownie Layer: In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, melted unsalted butter, and vanilla extract. Ensure your butter is melted but not hot; allow it to cool slightly after melting to avoid cooking the eggs if you were to add them directly (though this recipe doesn’t use eggs in the brownie layer itself, it’s a good general baking practice). Whisk these wet ingredients until they are well combined and slightly emulsified.
4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients to Form Brownie Batter: Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to a tougher brownie layer. Mix until you no longer see streaks of dry flour, and the batter is smooth but still somewhat thick.
5. Prepare the Pudding Layer Topping: In a separate small bowl, combine the brown sugar and unsweetened cocoa powder for the pudding layer topping. Mix these dry ingredients together well. This mixture will be sprinkled over the brownie batter and will create the luscious pudding sauce as it bakes. Breaking down any lumps in the cocoa powder is again important for a smooth pudding.
6. Sprinkle Pudding Topping Over Brownie Batter: Evenly sprinkle the brown sugar and cocoa powder mixture over the brownie batter in the prepared baking dish. Distribute it as uniformly as possible to ensure an even pudding layer throughout the dessert. Don’t worry about mixing it in; it’s meant to sit on top of the batter.
7. Pour Hot Water Over the Top: This is the magic step! Carefully pour the hot water over the entire surface of the sprinkled topping. Pour it gently and evenly so it covers the entire surface. Do not stir! Resist the urge to mix or stir at this point. The hot water will seep through the brownie batter and create the pudding sauce underneath as it bakes. The heat from the water is essential for this transformation.
8. Bake to Perfection: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the brownie layer is set and the pudding layer is bubbly around the edges. To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the brownie layer (not the pudding). It should come out with moist crumbs attached, but not wet batter. The pudding layer will remain gooey and saucy, which is exactly what we want.
9. Cool Slightly Before Serving: Once baked, remove the Brownie Pudding Dessert from the oven and let it cool for about 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the pudding to thicken slightly and prevents it from being too hot to eat. While it’s tempting to dig in immediately, a short cooling period enhances both the flavor and texture of the dessert.
10. Serve Warm and Enjoy!: Serve the Brownie Pudding Dessert warm, straight from the baking dish or spooned into bowls. It’s absolutely divine on its own, but even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a drizzle of chocolate sauce. The combination of the warm, fudgy brownie and the rich, gooey pudding is pure comfort food bliss.

Nutrition Facts

Here are approximate nutrition facts per serving for Brownie Pudding Dessert. Please note that these are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredient brands and portion sizes.

• Servings: 9
• Calories per serving: Approximately 350 kcal
• Total Fat: 15g

Note: These values are approximate and for informational purposes only. For accurate nutritional information, calculate based on the specific ingredients used.

Preparation Time

Brownie Pudding Dessert is wonderfully quick and easy to prepare, making it perfect for weeknights or last-minute dessert cravings.

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: 30-35 minutes
• Total time: 45-50 minutes

This includes the time to gather your ingredients, mix the batter, and bake the dessert. From start to finish, you can have a warm, comforting dessert ready in under an hour!

How to Serve

Brownie Pudding Dessert is incredibly versatile and can be served in a variety of delightful ways. Here are some ideas to elevate your dessert experience:

• Warm: The classic and most comforting way to enjoy Brownie Pudding Dessert is warm, straight from the oven or slightly cooled. The warmth enhances the gooeyness of the pudding and the fudgy texture of the brownie.
• With Vanilla Ice Cream: The cool, creamy vanilla ice cream provides a beautiful contrast to the warm, rich brownie pudding. The melting ice cream creates an even more decadent sauce as it mingles with the pudding.
• Topped with Whipped Cream: A dollop of freshly whipped cream adds lightness and airiness, balancing the richness of the dessert. You can use sweetened or unsweetened whipped cream depending on your preference.
• Drizzled with Chocolate Sauce: For the ultimate chocolate lover, a drizzle of warm chocolate sauce takes this dessert to the next level. You can use store-bought chocolate sauce or make your own for an extra special touch.
• Caramel Sauce Swirl: A swirl of caramel sauce adds a buttery, sweet counterpoint to the chocolate, creating a delightful flavor combination. Salted caramel sauce works especially well to balance the sweetness.
• Fresh Berries: Add a pop of freshness and color with fresh berries like raspberries, strawberries, or blueberries. The slight tartness of the berries cuts through the richness of the chocolate and adds a beautiful visual appeal.
• Dusting of Powdered Sugar: A simple dusting of powdered sugar adds a touch of elegance and visual interest. It also provides a subtle sweetness that complements the chocolate.
• Sprinkle of Nuts: For added texture and flavor, sprinkle chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts over the top. Toasted nuts will enhance their flavor even further and add a satisfying crunch.

Additional Tips for Perfect Brownie Pudding Dessert

To ensure your Brownie Pudding Dessert is a resounding success every time, here are some helpful tips and tricks:

1. Use Quality Cocoa Powder: The flavor of your Brownie Pudding Dessert heavily relies on the quality of your cocoa powder. Opt for unsweetened, Dutch-processed cocoa powder for a richer, smoother, and less bitter chocolate flavor. If you only have natural cocoa powder, that will work too, but Dutch-processed is generally preferred for its deeper chocolate notes.
2. Measure Ingredients Accurately: Baking is a science, and precise measurements are crucial, especially for flour and leavening agents. Use measuring cups and spoons properly. For flour, spoon it into the measuring cup and level it off with a straight edge rather than scooping directly from the bag, which can pack the flour and result in too much being used.
3. Don’t Overmix the Batter: Overmixing the brownie batter can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to a tougher, less tender brownie layer. Mix the wet and dry ingredients just until combined, until you no longer see streaks of dry flour. A few lumps are okay; don’t aim for perfectly smooth batter at this stage.
4. Use Hot Water as Specified: The hot water is essential for creating the pudding layer. Ensure the water is hot when you pour it over the topping. The heat helps to dissolve the brown sugar and cocoa topping and create the signature saucy pudding underneath the brownie.
5. Check for Doneness Carefully: Baking times can vary slightly depending on your oven. Start checking for doneness around 30 minutes. The brownie layer should be set around the edges, and a toothpick inserted into the brownie part (avoiding the pudding) should come out with moist crumbs attached. The pudding layer will still be gooey and bubbly, which is normal and desired.
6. Customize with Add-Ins: While the classic Brownie Pudding Dessert is delicious on its own, feel free to customize it with add-ins. You can stir chocolate chips, chopped nuts, peanut butter chips, or even a swirl of caramel into the brownie batter for extra flavor and texture.
7. Adjust Sweetness to Your Preference: If you prefer a less sweet dessert, you can slightly reduce the amount of sugar in both the brownie and pudding layers. Start by reducing the granulated sugar by 1/4 cup and the brown sugar by 2 tablespoons. Taste and adjust in future batches if needed.
8. Reheat Brownie Pudding Dessert Properly: Leftover Brownie Pudding Dessert can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, you can gently warm it in the microwave in short intervals, or reheat it in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) until warmed through. Be careful not to overheat it, which can dry out the brownie layer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some common questions people ask about making Brownie Pudding Dessert, along with helpful answers to ensure your baking experience is smooth and successful.

Q1: Can I make Brownie Pudding Dessert ahead of time?
A1: While Brownie Pudding Dessert is best enjoyed warm and fresh, you can prepare the brownie batter and topping ahead of time. Store the batter in the refrigerator and the topping mixture separately at room temperature. When ready to bake, proceed with assembling and baking as directed. However, for the best texture, it’s recommended to bake it closer to serving time.

Q2: How do I store leftover Brownie Pudding Dessert?
A2: Store leftover Brownie Pudding Dessert in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep well for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or oven as described in the tips section. The pudding layer might thicken slightly upon refrigeration, but it will soften when reheated.

Q3: Can I freeze Brownie Pudding Dessert?
A3: Freezing Brownie Pudding Dessert is not recommended as the texture of the pudding layer may change and become slightly grainy upon thawing. The brownie layer may also become drier. It’s best enjoyed fresh or within a few days of baking and storing in the refrigerator.

Q4: Can I substitute ingredients in the recipe?
A4: Yes, some substitutions are possible. For example, you can use 2% milk instead of whole milk, though whole milk will result in a richer dessert. You can also use melted coconut oil instead of butter for a dairy-free option, although the flavor will be slightly different. For gluten-free, you can try a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, but baking times may need adjustment.

Q5: What size baking dish can I use if I don’t have an 8×8 inch pan?
A5: An 8×8 inch baking dish is ideal for this recipe. If you don’t have one, you can use a 9×9 inch dish, but the dessert might be slightly thinner and bake a little faster, so keep an eye on it. A 9-inch round cake pan would also work. Avoid using a larger pan as it will spread the batter too thin.

Q6: My Brownie Pudding Dessert turned out dry. What went wrong?
A6: A dry Brownie Pudding Dessert is often due to overbaking. Make sure to check for doneness around 30 minutes and not bake it for too long. Overmeasuring flour can also lead to a drier result. Ensure you are measuring your flour correctly by spooning and leveling. Oven temperatures can also vary, so ensure your oven is accurately calibrated.

Q7: My pudding layer is too thin. How can I make it thicker?
A7: The pudding layer is meant to be saucy and not overly thick. However, if you prefer a slightly thicker pudding, you can slightly reduce the amount of hot water by about 1/4 cup. Ensure you are also using the correct amount of brown sugar in the topping, as it contributes to the pudding’s texture and richness.

Q8: Can I add chocolate chips to the pudding layer?
A8: While the pudding layer is traditionally made with just brown sugar, cocoa powder, and hot water, you can certainly add chocolate chips to the brownie layer for extra chocolatey goodness. Stir in about 1/2 cup of chocolate chips into the brownie batter before pouring it into the baking dish. This will add melty pockets of chocolate throughout the brownie part of the dessert.

Enjoy making and savoring this delightful Brownie Pudding Dessert! It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for any occasion.

Print