Brownies with Pink Frosting

My sister called me at midnight once, ranting about how she needed something pink and chocolatey for a birthday the next morning. We made these brownies in her tiny apartment kitchen at 1 AM, laughing when we accidentally used way too much food coloring and ended up with neon frosting. They were ridiculous and perfect.

I brought these to a potluck last spring and watched a six year old literally jump up and down when she saw them. Her mom whispered that pink frosting was basically magic in their house, and I tucked that little piece of wisdom away forever.

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter: Using room temperature ingredients helps everything incorporate evenly and prevents seized batter
• Granulated sugar: Creates that crackly top everyone fights over
• Large eggs: Bind everything together while adding richness
• Vanilla extract: Do not skip this even though it seems like a small amount
• Unsweetened cocoa powder: The deeper and darker the cocoa the more intense your chocolate flavor becomes
• All purpose flour: Just enough structure to hold them together without getting cakey
• Salt: Wakes up all the chocolate flavors
• Baking powder: Gives them the slightest lift for that perfect texture
• Powdered sugar: Sifting first prevents those stubborn lumps in your frosting
• Whole milk: Start with two tablespoons and add more only if absolutely necessary
• Red food coloring: Gel coloring gives more control over that perfect soft pink shade

Instructions

Get your oven ready:

Preheat to 350F and line an 8 inch square pan with parchment paper letting the edges hang over for easy lifting later

Melt and mix:

Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat then stir in sugar eggs and vanilla until everything looks smooth and glossy

Combine dry ingredients:

Whisk together cocoa powder flour salt and baking powder then fold into the wet mixture just until combined

Bake to perfection:

Pour batter into your prepared pan smooth the top and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs

Patience pays off:

Let the brownies cool completely in the pan because frosting warm brownies creates a melty sad mess

Make the magic happen:

Beat softened butter until creamy then gradually add powdered sugar milk and vanilla until fluffy and spreadable

Add the pink:

Drop in food coloring one drop at a time mixing thoroughly after each addition until you reach that perfect soft pink

Finish and serve:

Spread frosting generously over cooled brownies cut into squares and watch them disappear

Save

My neighbor texted me the day after I left a plate of these on her porch asking for the recipe because her kids had named them the happy pink brownies and refused to eat anything else for dessert.

Getting That Crackly Top

The secret to those gorgeous shiny cracks is actually how you mix the butter and sugar. When the sugar dissolves into the hot butter it creates a thin crispy layer that forms that beautiful crackled crust as it bakes.

Frosting Like a Pro

Room temperature butter beats into frosting so much smoother than cold butter ever will. If you forgot to take it out cut it into small cubes and let it sit for about fifteen minutes before you start mixing.

Make Them Your Own

These brownies are basically a canvas for whatever you are craving. Fold chopped walnuts or chocolate chips into the batter before baking or swap the vanilla extract for almond or mint extract in the frosting.

• Add a teaspoon of espresso powder to intensify the chocolate flavor
• Sprinkle edible glitter or rainbow sprinkles over the frosting for extra fun
• These freeze beautifully unfrosted for up to three months

Save

Something about pink frosting on chocolate makes people smile before they even take a bite.

Recipe Q&A

→ What makes the brownies fudgy?

The use of melted butter and minimal flour creates a dense, moist texture, resulting in fudgy brownies rather than cakey.

→ How is the pink frosting made?

The frosting combines softened butter, sifted powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla, with red food coloring added gradually to achieve a soft pink hue.

→ Can I add nuts or chocolate chips to the brownies?

Yes, folding in chopped walnuts or chocolate chips into the batter before baking adds extra texture and flavor.

→ How should I store the brownies after frosting?

Store the frosted brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.

→ What baking pan size is recommended?

An 8-inch square baking pan is ideal, lined with parchment paper for easy removal and even baking.