I was chatting the other day with one of my neighbors about baked goods and one of the things we both wholeheartedly agreed with is that brownie mix brownies are the best. I’ve made a number of homemade brownies but none of them come close to the soft and gooey taste you get of boxed brownies. There’s a reason I use a box mix in my cookie Oreo brownie bars. These brownie balls take that flavor and turn it into a bite-sized form with the bonus of even more chocolate flavor! Whether you call them brownie truffles or brownie balls, they’re delicious. Make them with these Oreo truffles, some chocolate chip pudding cookies, and either Snickers cookies or Rolo cookies, for the ultimate chocolate treat plate! Perfect for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, or really any time you want a sweet treat!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
3-ingredients – this recipe only takes three ingredients, all ingredients readily available at your local grocery store!Fool-proof – if you can make brownies from a box, you can make these brownie balls. Great to make ahead – these brownie truffles last in the fridge for up to two weeks, so they’re the perfect dessert if you need to bring something to a party and don’t have time last minute! Chocolate – if you like chocolate, you’re guaranteed to like this recipe. I mean it’s chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate. Customizable – these are super customizable to make them work for any occasion by simply switching out the sprinkles or chocolate swirls on top.
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
Chocolate frosting – any chocolate frosting will work. Store-bought is easiest but if you have a homemade chocolate frosting you love, by all means use it.Brownies – you can use homemade, made from a box (my personal preference) or even store-bought brownies that are already made for you. You just want to make sure that the brownies you use aren’t overly fudgy or dense. Melting chocolate – I like to use chocolate melting wafers because they melt really well and dry quickly. If you can’t find those, chocolate chips can be used instead, but you’ll need to add 3 tsp of coconut oil to keep the soft finish and soft exterior coating. Sprinkles – if you want to decorate with sprinkles, you’ll need these as well. The long sprinkles (aka jimmies) tend to work best with these.
How to make brownie balls
These brownie balls are so simple to make you’ll be making them all the time! If you can stop from eating the brownies first that is. First you’ll need to prepare the brownies according to the package directions (or your favorite brownie recipe) for an 8×8-inch baking dish. For best results, let the brownies cool completely before using – I like to make them the day before, but as long as they’re cooled, you’re good to go. Once cooled, break the brownies up into large chunks and add them to a large bowl or stand mixer and mix until crumbled and all of the larger pieces are gone. Next, add the frosting to the brownie chunks and mix everything together well. Line a large baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Then use a medium cookie scoop (1 1/2 tablespoons) to portion out the brownie mixture and roll the mixture into balls. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet. The mixture should be soft and shapable but not leave a sticky residue on your hands. If it is still sticky, try chilling for 30 minutes before shaping. You can either go ahead and dip the balls now or let them chill in the fridge for 30 minutes or until you’re ready to melt. Melt the melting chocolate in a wide mouth glass at 30-second intervals in the microwave, stirring between each, until fully melted. Or if you’d prefer to not use the microwave, you can double boil the chocolate on the stove in a bowl. Once the chocolate is melted, pour the melted chocolate into a wide-mouthed glass for dipping. Drop the balls, one at a time, into the melted chocolate and use a spoon to coat. Use a fork to remove the ball from the chocolate and tap to remove any excess chocolate. Use a toothpick or another fork to help slide the ball off of the fork and back onto the baking sheet. Sprinkle with desired sprinkles before the chocolate sets, or allow the chocolate to set slightly before drizzling additional chocolate over the top. Let the balls set fully at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. You can either serve at room temperature or store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks and eat them from the fridge.
Alternature Variations
Mix it with up with different variations of these brownie balls.
Oreo Brownie Balls – Add in 1 cup crushed Oreos and an extra 1/4 cup frosting. Peanut Butter Brownie Balls – Replace 1/2 of the frosting with peanut butter for peanut butter brownie balls.
Expert Tips
Store brownie balls in an airtight container for up to 5 days at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. If you store in the fridge, remove from the fridge and allow to thaw for a few minutes before eating. Place the balls in a freezer bag and squeeze out any excess air to freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw at room temperature. Don’t use a brownie mix that has extra additions like a fudge sauce or that is overly gooey because they’ll be too soft and won’t hold up in this recipe. I prefer the Ghirardelli Double Chocolate brownies. Use a homemade brownie recipe (if that is what you prefer) that isn’t overly fudge or dense. Homemade frosting can also be used, make sure to use a buttercream-like frosting and not a whipped cream base. If using homemade frosting, these balls should be refrigerated.
More Easy Desserts
Hot chocolate cupcakes – these decadent cupcakes start with a box mix then get transformed with marshmallows and a chocolate sauce! Red velvet cake – this gorgeous red velvet cake is moist, fluffy, and topped with the most amazing cream cheese frosting! Easy sopapilla cheesecake – imagine if churros and cheesecake had a baby and you’ll get this yummy dessert! Chocolate brownie cake – chocolate lovers rejoice with this delicious homemade brownie cake just like they used to make! Moon pie recipe – easy homemade moon pies that are as good, if not better, than the store bought kind!
