Brownie Cupcake Sundaes

Our contributor, Lauren Kapeluck of EllenJay Events, is back with a delicious new cupcake recipe….

Raise your hand if you’ve always got a box of brownie mix stashed in your pantry just in case you need to whip up something sweet in a pinch!  Brownies are typically one sweet that I normally never make from scratch, because well, the box mix is just so easy and the results are always ooey gooey amazing!  And if you slather some homemade chocolate frosting on top no one will ever know the difference, right?  However, with today’s recipe we are going to steer clear from the box mix and whip some up from scratch, cupcake style!  You are going to be amazed at how easy this is and you won’t even need to break out your mixer.  I hope you have some Oreos on hand because you are going to need them for these Brownie Cupcake Sundaes!

These brownies start with semi-sweet chocolate and butter melted together on the stove, which is really the only difference from making a box mix.  Once the melted chocolate mixture has cooled, its time to add in the sugar, eggs and dry ingredients and mix by hand.  Then fold in the chopped Oreos and bake.  Simple enough?  These brownies are super chocolatey, thick and chewy and absolutely perfect with a little cookie crunch.

The great thing about this recipe, is that you don’t have to cut your brownies for once, since they are already portioned out in cupcake wrappers!  So just grab them and go to your summer picnics or pool parties!  But of course if you want to splurge, well then I highly suggest you have some ice cream, hot fudge, sprinkles and cherries on hand to make the ultimate brownie cupcake sundae!  These brownies are still delicious on their own, but everything tastes better during the summer with ice cream right?

Oh and by the way, in case you hadn’t heard, Oreo has just come out with a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup limited edition flavor!  How amazing would a peanut butter Oreo brownie be!  I think I know what’s next on my brownie baking list!  Hope you give this recipe a try, you won’t be disappointed!

BROWNIE CUPCAKE SUNDAES
a recipe by Lauren Kapeluck
(makes 10)

1 stick unsalted butter
4 oz semi-sweet chocolate baking bar
1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 Oreos, roughly chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2. In saucepan over medium heat melt butter and chocolate, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool about 10 minutes.
3. Add brown sugar to cooled chocolate mixture and stir to combine.
4. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.
5. Sift together flour, cocoa powder and salt. Add to chocolate mixture stirring until incorporated.
6. Fold half of the chopped Oreos into the brownie batter.
7. Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 full with batter.
8. Place the remaining chopped Oreos on top of each brownie cup.
9. Bake for 22-24 minutes.

Let brownies cool or enjoy warm right out of the oven with a scoop of ice cream on top!  Or go all out and make yourself a brownie cupcake ice cream sundae!  Hope you enjoy this recipe all summer long!