Decadent Chocolate Walnut Brownies with Chocolate Frosting
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These Chocolate Walnut Brownies are rich, fudgy, and topped with a decadent chocolate frosting—perfect for satisfying any sweet tooth!
When you need a chocolate fix, these homemade brownies hit the spot. Chock full of chocolate chips and crunchy walnuts, they’re ooey, gooey, and oh-so-good—dessert the way it should be. Top them with a smooth chocolate frosting (and an extra sprinkle of nuts, if you like!) for an out-of-this-world treat that’s bound to disappear fast!
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Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Walnut Brownies Recipe
- Rich and fudgy texture—the perfect balance of chewy center and crisp edges.
- Crunchy walnuts in every bite, adding flavor and a satisfying nutty crunch.
- Easy to make from scratch with simple pantry ingredients.
- Chocolate frosting on top makes them even more indulgent and bake-sale ready.
- Great for holidays, parties, or just a cozy night in when you’re craving something sweet.
Need more treats for your dessert table? Check out our collection of Brownie Recipes.
Ingredients for Chocolate Walnut Brownies
The ingredients and tools for this recipe are conveniently linked to online retailers, including Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and Walmart. The quantities are in the recipe card.
- Dairy & Chilled: Unsalted Butter, Eggs, Whole (Full-Fat) Milk
- Pantry: Non-Stick Cooking Spray, Granulated Sugar, All-Purpose (Plain) Flour, Salt
- Real Vanilla Extract—always use good vanilla; it makes a flavor difference
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder—not hot cocoa/hot chocolate mix
- Chocolate Chips—semi-sweet (US), plain (UK)
- Walnuts
- Powdered Sugar—also known as Icing Sugar or Confectioners Sugar
The complete ingredient list, along with their measurements, is provided on the recipe card. The Purple Pumpkin Blog uses both cups and weighted measurements in its recipes, making American cups and kitchen food scales valuable tools for trying all the recipes. We provide measurements in US customary, imperial, and metric units. Still, it’s essential to note that while you can combine cup measurements with weighted measures, never mix US customary/imperial units (pounds, ounces, pints, etc.) with metric units (kilograms, grams, liters, etc.).
How Do I Make These Decadent Chocolate Brownies?
These brownies couldn’t be simpler—you’ll mix the batter, fold in chocolate chips and walnuts, bake until fudgy, then finish with a creamy frosting!
Check out the recipe card below—you can print or save it for later—and please don’t forget to leave a star rating!
Chocolate Walnut Brownies
Ingredients
For the Brownies
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons real vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (plain flour)
- 1 cup sweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (plain chocolate chips)
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
For the Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1-1½ cup powdered sugar (icing sugar, confectioner's sugar)
- 2-3 tablespoons whole milk
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts for sprinkling, optional
SUGGESTED PRODUCTS
- Spatula
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C/Gas 4. Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides to act as handles for lifting the brownies out later. Spray lightly with non-stick spray.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Mix in eggs and vanilla until smooth.
- In another bowl, whisk (or sift) together flour, cocoa powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix, or brownies may turn cakey.
- Fold the chocolate chips and walnuts into the batter, and transfer to the prepared baking pan.
- Spread the brownie batter into an even layer and transfer to the preheated oven.
- Bake for 22-26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Brownies will still be soft and will finish setting while they cool.
- To prepare the frosting, mix the butter with the cocoa powder and 1 cup powdered sugar. Add in one tablespoon of milk at a time until desired consistency is reached. If necessary, add the remaining ½ cup powdered sugar to thicken.
- Once fully cooled, use the parchment overhang to lift the brownies out of the pan and spread frosting on top. Add extra chopped walnuts if using.
- Slice the brownies into 12-16 pieces and enjoy!
Notes
- Line the pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides; this makes it easier to lift the brownies out once they are cooled for neat slicing.
- Mixing the dry ingredients separately before adding to the wet prevents overmixing, which keeps brownies soft and fudgy instead of cakey.
- For extra fudginess, slightly underbake the brownies and allow them to cool completely.
- Toast the walnuts before adding them for a deeper, nuttier flavor.
- These brownies are delicious with or without the frosting, depending on your preference.
- Switch the walnuts for pecans, hazelnuts, or almonds for a tasty variation.
- Use dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet for a richer flavor.
- UK readers: Semi-sweet chocolate chips (US) are closest to plain chocolate chips in the UK, or chop a bar of plain dark chocolate (around 50–55% cocoa).
- Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Flash-freeze frosted or unfrosted brownies in a single layer, then wrap individually. Store for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
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Pair This Chocolate Dessert With…
You’ve made the dessert, but what about the rest of the courses? Here are additional recipes to make a full meal!
- Appetizer: Creamy Cheesy Broccoli Soup with Crunchy Homemade Croutons
- Main Dish: Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin with Carrots and Orange-Chili Glaze
- Side Dish: Air Fryer Rosemary Garlic Potatoes
- Beverage: Fresh Plum Margaritas
Ready to Bake the Best Brownies?
Whether you frost them or keep them plain, these Chocolate Walnut Brownies are a guaranteed hit. The fudgy chocolate base, crunchy nuts, and optional frosting make them versatile, easy, and absolutely irresistible!
Don’t forget to ♥ save this recipe and share it with fellow foodies! And if you give it a try, we’d love to hear how it went—leave a comment or tag us in your creations.
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