Gooey Brownie Cups
Sometimes, a new dessert is created as a result of an error made with a totally different recipe. Gooey Brownie Cups are the perfect example of this.
I was working on my Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles. I made the first batch of the truffles and wondered what would happen if I melted the butter with the brown sugar and sugar, rather than beat it in the mixing bowl. Once the ingredients melted, I realized that the truffles would be too oily if I melted them. So, I was left staring at a bowl of perfectly usable melted butter and sugar.
Being the curious baker that I am, I decided to add the remaining truffle ingredients, but this time adding eggs as well. Because the mixture was warm, I quickly realized that the chocolate chips would melt once I stirred them into the bowl. Fine with me.
I baked these in a 12-cup muffin pan and really loved the results. Continuing with my inquisitiveness, I made another batch, but baked this batch in a 48-cup mini muffin pan and adjusted the timing accordingly. I did not love these as much.
Fortunately for me, I was going to a friend’s house for dinner that night. I decided to bring over the two batches (some big, some mini) and ask their opinions. Hands down, everyone loved the 12-cup muffin pan brownies, which was a good thing since they were my favorites right from the start.
Next up was the challenge of selecting a name. I emailed two of my creative friends who had tried the brownies and, as expected, they came up with a name I love. Gooey Brownie Cups suits this dessert perfectly, as the center is so deliciously gooey that it is hard to stop at just one.
If there is a lesson to be learned from this blog post, it is this: when you think you have messed up a recipe, simply change the angle from which you are looking at it and try something else. You, too, could end up with a favorite dessert from the ‘mistake’ you made.
| Gooey Brownie Cups | | Print |
- 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1¼ cups all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1¼ cups chocolate chips
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Set aside a 12-cup muffin pan.
- Place the butter, brown sugar and sugar into a large microwaveable bowl. Microwave until the mixture is completely melted and bubbly. Be sure to use oven mitts when removing from the microwave as the bowl will be very hot.
- Whisk to blend the ingredients together. Whisk in vanilla, then the flour and salt.
- Continuously whisk the mixture while adding the eggs, to prevent cooking the eggs.
- Lastly, use a wooden spoon to mix in the chocolate chips. Most will melt, but you will have some that still hold their shape.
- Spray the pan with non-stick cooking spray. Use a large cookie dough scoop or a gravy ladle to evenly transfer the batter to the muffin cups.
- Bake at 350°, on a rack in the middle of the oven, for 18 minutes.
- Remove and cool completely in the pan. Use a small metal spatula to go around the edges of the Gooey Brownie Cups.
- Remove from the pan and serve.
So glad you made this “mistake”. I think I might have to make a batch right now to satisfy the craving I’ve had since I tried them!
Thanks Barb. I think you and your family need to have a batch ASAP!
Those look irresistable… I love that you turned an experiment into something so delicious!
Thank you Patsy. I find experimenting, at least with desserts, is a lot of fun.
Ok. Finally had an opportunity to make these and also have them leave the house immediately. Amanda’s tennis team needed a dessert to follow their match tomorrow and I volunteered. I was debating if I wanted to make these or the peanut butter s’mors (the recipe you made after this one). I obviously decided on these strictly because of the time I had for baking. The trick now is keep my family from opening the top on the container so that the remaining brownies are not eaten. I doubled the recipe knowing they were going to want to “try” these delicious treats. I HIGHLY recommend your blog followers to make these and they are truly EASY!!! Enjoy.
Thanks Nancy. I do love easy recipes, too!
I make a mistake and the result ends up in the garbage. You make a mistake and I end up 5 pounds heavier. These were incredible. I followed the tip of Nancy Polster, above, and made these today. Since, I couldn’t believe that the center could be, “Gooey,” I ate one as soon as they had cooled. Just amazing. I still don’t know how the center stays gooey. They couldn’t have been easier to make and that’s all the more reason why I am so surprised that they could be so delicious. Thanks, again for a special dessert. I served them and they were gone within minutes. I didn’t double the recipe, as Nancy did, but I should have. What a hit!
M,
Great to read how successful these were for you. Thank you for sharing!
Betsy, I made these for my bridge club this week and they were a huge hit. Recipe requested, of course. I had to freeze any leftovers before I devoured them myself. I can understnad why they were Josh’s first request. Thanks for the excellent recipe. Carol
My pleasure Carol. So glad your bridge club loved the Gooey Brownie Cups as much as Joshua!!
They are better than irresistable. They re scrumptiously addictive! Drugs could not be better.
Thanks Tom…this is QUITE an endorsement!!
I don’t get it – I followed the recipe and mine came out looking like chocolate chip cookies in a muffin tin. What happened?
Libby,
Were your eggs cold or closer to room temperature? I know when I made a batch with colder eggs, the chocolate chips did not melt as much. I, too, ended up with more of a chocolate chip cup than a Gooey Brownie Cup.
Let me know. We will figure this one out!!
I just made those brownies, I hate using the microwave so I just browned the butter on the stove instead, it was super easy and big hit at my niece’s birthday today. thank you for the lovely recipe!
Hamda,
I’m so glad you adapted the directions to suit your baking style. Thank you so much for letting me know! Glad they were a hit!!
OMW!!! I have searched for a very very very long while for the perfect gooey chocolate brownies. I made these today and I am floating on cloud 9. These are the best gooey chocolate brownies I have ever tried. Only difference is, I didn’t make them cups, I made it in a big baking tray. Thank you so much for sharing it! \\:D//
Sakeenah,
Thank you so much! I am thrilled you loved these gooey chocolate brownies and that you discovered that they are just as delicious when baked in a baking tray!
LOVE! This is a recipe you can play with too! Different flavors of chocolate chips, for instance! For fun we used extra dark chocolate chips and put a large marshmallow in the middle, another time mini marshmallows and toasted coconut, and once, two fresh red raspberries in each. I have always hated cutting brownies, inevitably scratching the pan, and then washing the pan! Thanks for posting your accidental recipe, it is now my go-to brownie recipe! Trying minis tonight! I served them at thanksgiving and people couldn’t leave them alone! So easy to make, too!
One thing I have learned is that the butter and sugar mixture needs to be hot enough to mostly melt the chips. The tiny pieces of chocolate chip are so yummy in the brownies!
YUMMY!
Amy,
You made my day!! This is exactly why I love doing what I do. One recipe leads to so many fabulous, delicious and easy options!!!
Thank you!!