LUNCH LADY BROWNIES
These Lunch Lady Brownies are the best for a reason! If you haven’t tried these.. what are you waiting for?!?!?
❤️WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE
We love this recipe because these brownies are incredible! I have never served them that someone hasn’t asked for the recipe. The frosting is the best and takes these brownies to the next level.
🍴KEY INGREDIENTS
- Unsweetened cocoa
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Eggs
- Butter
- Vanilla
- Evaporated Milk or real milk
- Powdered sugar
As you can see there are not many ingredients in these brownies! That is always a plus!
🍽️HOW TO MAKE
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9X13 baking dish with foil and spray with a non stick cooking spray. I like to use Pam. Combine cocoa and melted butter in bowl and mix with an electric mixer. Then add flour and sugar and continue to beat together. Next add eggs and vanilla. Mix until combined, but don’t over mix. The batter will be thick.
Step 2
Next spread into prepared baking dish and spread evenly. The batter will be thick, so this may take a moment. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until fork inserted in center comes out clean. It took mine exactly 30 minutes, but all ovens vary.
Step 3
Let cool 15 minutes and add frosting. You will want the brownies warm when you add the frosting. Full recipe in printable recipe card below!
⭐TIP
Add pecans for a real treat! You can also add less sugar to the frosting, see notes in the recipe card.
OTHER BROWNIE RECIPES
If you have followed us for any amount of time, you know we love brownies! These are a few of our favorites.
STORING AND REHEATING
We store these in an airtight container and they last for a few days.
Lunch Lady Brownies
Video
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa
- 2 cups of all purpose flour
- 2 cups of granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup of butter melted
- 4 teaspoons of vanilla
Frosting Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup of evaporated milk or real milk I used evaporated
- 1/4 cup of butter softened
- 3 cups of powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9X13 baking dish with foil and spray with a non stick cooking spray. I like to use Pam. Combine cocoa and melted butter in bowl and mix with an electric mixer. Then add flour and sugar and continue to beat together. Next add eggs and vanilla. Mix until combined, but don’t over mix. The batter will be thick.
- Next spread into prepared baking dish and spread evenly. The batter will be thick, so this may take a moment. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until fork inserted in center comes out clean. It took mine exactly 30 minutes, but all ovens vary.
- Let cool 15 minutes and add frosting. You will want the brownies warm when you add the frosting.
Frosting Instructions
- Beat together all frosting ingredients until smooth. Pour and spread over brownies. Let them completely cool before cutting. If you find that your frosting is too thick, you can always add a little more milk to get the right consistency before spreading over the brownies.
Notes
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My husband and kids loved these! The frosting just added to the deliciousness! Will definitely make again!
YAY!! Thank you so much Melissa for letting us know, we are thrilled you like this brownies. We love them too.
Just came across your recipe today. Making them today!! My grandsons love brownies, their favorite treat and these look and sound amazing!! Thanks for sharing
You are very welcome Kim!
Fantastic!!! Just wondering if these freeze?
I haven’t tried it, but see no reason why they wouldnt.
Saw your post yesterday on FB and decided to give there a try…I agree..they are amazing! The texture, taste all of it..then the frosting. My new favorite brownie!
Thank you so much Jane! I am so glad you loved them!
I like to use White Lily Flour in my recipes. Since it is made from soft winter wheat and very light, the bag states to add 2 tablespoons of flour for every cup of flour in a recipe. Do you think this would make the Lunch Lady Brownies too dry? Have you ever used White Lily Flour to make them?
No I have never used White Lily to make them so I really cant say.
White Lily is the *only* Flour we use here, but we’ve never adjusted the recipe. Everything always turns out good.
I’ve never been able to make good brownies, either too fudgy or too dry! These brownies and the icing are delicious, and so easy to make. I finally had to freeze some to keep from eating them. I shared with neighbors and am making another batch today to take to church. Just so so good!!!! Thank you for sharing.
YAY!! This makes me SOO happy! I agree.. these are the best and they are definitely hard to walk away from. haha
Jeez, Sharon. Lol…
Anyway, I’ve made these many times now and they always turn out great. I always have to cook them for the full thirty minutes so that they set up in the middle. And i always use salted butter plus a half teaspoon extra in the batter. I always question a recipe that doesn’t add salt. Even sweet recipes get an extra flavor boost from a pinch of salt. But i guess that’s just a personal preference. Regardless, this is a no fail recipe for me. One that i can easily whip up from pantry ingredients. I often make a batch and stick them straight in the freezer for a future event. Once thawed they taste like you just made them:)
How much coffee do you add to the icing and do you use instant coffee or coffee flavoring?
I don’t add coffee to the icing.
These are the best brownies ever! I make half the recipe of the brownies but top them with the whole icing recipe. It’s like fudge on top. I also sprinkle chocolate chips on top.
oh my.. I love your idea! The frosting is amazing!
Made these today and loved them! I was about 1/4 cup shy on the flour, so made up the difference with almond flour; I also used 1/3C cocoa in the frosting by accident and it was no problem! Will be my go to for the future
So glad they turned out great!
If adding nuts, about how many cups?
1 cup should be enough.
I used 1/2 of the recipe and made brownie bites in my mini muffin pans. I used a 2 tsp scoop in one pan and 1 tsp scoop in another. Baked at 350 for 12 mins. They were so good. I put this recipe in my recipe file box. Thank you for the recipe
YAY!! I am so glad to hear this worked out so well!!
I made these for the first time and they are amazing. The recipe was easy to follow. I used regular milk instead of evaporated. The only thing I did different was I put a half teaspoon of vanilla in the frosting. 25 mins in my oven and the fork came out clean. This will be my go to brownie recipe from now on! Next time I might try the suggestion to add coffee to the icing, but this was so good I might not.
So glad it was a hit! We love these too!!
I haven’t tried the recipe yet but it looks delicious. I saw your note at the bottom about only using 1 1/2 cups of the powder sugar instead of the full 3 cups. When you did that did you also cut back the amount of cocoa and milk?
Love your website and follow you on Instagram. Love your recipes!
Thank you
What I did was make up the butter, milk and cocoa and then added a cup of the powdered sugar and then a half a cup and it tasted great so I just went with it. So I would do the same, just add the sugar a little at a time until you feel it taste good and the consistency to pour it. Thank you so much for the kind comments! We are so thrilled you love the recipes.
Best brownies ever!!!!
YAY!! We think so too!
I make this recipe all the time. The only thing different is that I sometimes add 1/2 of a cup of chopped walnuts and I always add 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder. I use a chocolate buttercream frosting with added instant coffee so it becomes a mocha frosting. They come out great. I have checked many “Lunch Lady Brownie” Recipes, they are all similar. There is nothing wrong with this recipe. It is a really great one and I do not make any other kind. The recipe is so easy and reliable it is silly to buy a box mix with lots of fake stabilizers and chemicals. Just make this one. If you want a stronger chocolate taste add 1/2 teaspoon of instant coffee granules or decaf granules if you prefer + 3/4 teaspoon of hot water mixed together just to dissolve the granules and add it to the batter, mixing well. It will ramp up the chocolate flavor.
Got these in the oven now and all I can say is these better turn out okay. Lots of expensive ingredients in this (butter, eggs). “Batter will be thick”- more like the consistency of concrete. There is no way a hand mixer could get thru this. Also, I hope the fat to flour consistency is not off. Two cups of flour is an awful lot.
Sharon.. the recipe is correct as written. We make these brownies about once a month so there is nothing wrong with the recipe. You can also visibly see many people have had great success with this recipe.
I have made this recipe countless times and they are some of the best brownies you will ever eat. If they didn’t turn out for you it’s something on your end. Just look down through the comments. I’ll never understand when people can’t make a recipe they blame the recipe. Find it humorous.
Got the recipe yesterday and immediately made them. Probably the best brownies I’ve ever had. So moist and the frosting is to die for. Outstanding recipe!
Yay!! We’re thrilled you enjoyed our Lunch lady Brownies. We agree Carrie, they really are delicious!
These were so easy to make! Had a craving before bed and whipped them up under an hour! I cut the recipe in half and did an 8×8 for 20, they were perfect. Thanks for the recipe!
YAY! I am so glad you were able to half the recipe!
I made the brownies and they are pretty darn good. I didn’t make the icing because I’m out of powdered sugar. I took the brownies out of the oven when the edges were set and the center was still a little under done so they didn’t over cook.
More like a dense cake than brownies. And they’re not real chocolaty.
Thats a new one, I have never had anyone say they are not “chocolatey”, either way not every recipe is for everyone.
So easy to make and delicious, too. Thank you for sharing this great recipe.
You are so welcome! So glad you enjoyed them.
These brownies look fantastic, and I will make these sometime this morning to have with coffee!
I add nuts but I also sub half of the vanilla with almond extract. Makes them even more irresistible.
No baking soda or salt,?
No, neither of those ingredients are included in this recipe.
Followed the recipe exactly as written. By far the absolute best brownie I have ever had. Chocolate lovers delight!
Not sure what I did wrong but the color of these brownies did not turn out like the picture. They are a light brown. I added half cup of cocoa powder like the recipe said. They are still good, just not as chocolatey as I was hoping.
The icing is delicious tho, I added a little bit of coffee to the icing! I will have to try these again and see if I have better luck!!
I am an actual lunch lady, and i would like to make these as presents for the staff, so i have two questions can I make these in a sheet pan with a 1 inch lip and can they be frozen and frosted later? Thank you
If you make these in a sheet pan, they will be very thin and you will have to adjust the cooking time. Yes, you can freeze them. Thanks!
Fantastic!! Perfect..
My batter was a bit lumpy, which had me a little worried, but the brownies baked up beautifully & the frosting ….so good, I almost fell over! LOVE this recipe & thanks for sharing it. Can’t wait to make them for my next family gathering
YAY!! So glad you enjoyed them! I agree.. they are delicious and we love them too!
I made these today, they turned out great, I was a little skeptical at first, after reading some bad reviews. I followed the recipe exactly as it is written, and they were delicious. They were moist, did not crumble, they were perfect…I did have to bake an extra 5 minutes. My husband loves brownies and approved of these. I have tried other brownie from scratch recipes and none of them were good. This one is a keeper !!
Followed the recipe, but came out terrible. Worst brownie recipe I’ve ever used.
Hi Jane or Ashley, I’m not sure what name you go by but you left two comments under different names. Your other comment wasn’t nearly as nice as this one. However, It seems even this comment didn’t come through correctly. Here, I fixed it for you:
“I made this brownie recipe, and unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I can see from the many five-star reviews it is very popular with others so it must be a hit for many people. I’m glad others have found success it just wasn’t to my liking.”
Remember Jane or Ashley, kindness can always be spread regardless of the circumstance. Thanks!
I forgot to add stars in my comments
This brownie recipe is awesome. My family love them. I have taken it to church socials many times and I come home with an empty pan. I’ve lost count on how many times I have made them. This recipe is a keeper!
These are the best brownies I ever tasted. Thank you.
We’re so glad you liked them!!
Oh man! I don’t know what happened! These turned out super dry and crumbly. The frosting was great though!
If your brownies are dry, you over-baked them. If they are crumbly, you over mixed them. I encourage you to try them again because they are delicious!
Delicious! These turned out so good. I did go right by the recipe measurements. I added 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder (mixed with 2 tablespoons hot water), to the frosting. These brownies turned out so moist and the frosting, over the top delicious!
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. 5 stars! A+++++
Beth Wilson
Raleigh, NC
Thank you, Beth! We’re so happy they were a hit for you!!
I agree with all these comments..best brownies ever!! I love this website! The recipes are wonderful!!
So glad you enjoyed them! We love these too!!
Question?? I just made these & frosted, but when I took them out of foil lined pan…they’re very thin..did I do something wrong??
Did you make them in a 9X13 pan or jelly roll pan?
I have tried many brownie recipes and this is by far the best I have tried!! I added a cup of pecans to them but didn’t change a thing!! I could eat the whole pan by myself!! Frosting is scrumptious!!
We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Cindy! They are one of our all-time favorites.
i love how, in the photograph, the icing runs onto the sides. If you frost when warm and then wait until completely cooled to cut, will the frosting still ooze like the picture shows? It makes such an inviting presentation, don’t you think?
I took the brownies out of the pan and then added the icing, which is why it did that for the photo. You may try that.
I’m thrilled I found this recipe. I’ll never make another brownie. They are absolutely the best.
Excellent! Followed it exactly and they turns out great
After reading the ingredients to this recipe I had my doubts. No salt. No soda and no baking powder. I even read the reviews to see what people were saying. Most were raves about the recipe. Just a couple with the concerns I had. So I vowed to make the recipe following the it exactly. As I often do not. Lol. I will say that they turned out pretty well. Soft, chewy and delicious. I baked them for exactly 25 minutes in my gas oven. I can definitely tell their is no salt in there. It’s not a deal breaker but I might put just a smidge next time. But if I didn’t they would still be delicious.
Absolutely the best brownie recipe! My husband loves this recipe. Anytime he wants brownies I will be using this recipe…..thank you for sharing this wonderfully recipe!
I just made these & only had 1.5 cups of plain flour so I had to add in the other 1/2 as S R flour, I’m keeping my fingers crossed they turn out OK, it was super thick, but the recipe said it would be. I’ll let yall know if they worked this way, I didn’t have time to run to the store to get plain flour, so we’ll see, the raw batter tasted amazing, even on my WW diet 🙂 Oh Lordy !!
Will these turn out ok if I half the recipe?
I think it would be fine..I have never tried it so I can’t say for sure.
Can these be made ahead and frozen?
I’ve never tried freezing them.
I made these brownies last night. Not only are they delicious but it’s such a simple recipe using my favorite ingredient I grew up on good old fashioned Hershey’s . I know my grand children are going to love these. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. It’s a keeper.
So glad this recipe was such a hit! We love this one too!
I happen to be old enough to remember these brownies from school. I was so excited to find your recipe. I now make these for my daughter bakery. I devide the batter and make them with walnuts and a cookies and cream with oreos. They are a great hit. Thanks
You were right…best brownies ever! Absolutely delicious, my family loved them. Thank you for all your wonderful recipes. I love Front Porch Life Magazine too.
So glad! Thank you for your support of the magazine too!
These are delicious! Should they be refrigerated because of the milk in frosting?
I don’t refrigerate them, but do keep them in a cool place. You definitely can though.
I’ve made these brownies now three times. My family is obsessed! It’s our forever favorite brownie recipe.
Thank you! We couldn’t agree more, they really are the BEST!
Mine were also very dry! Hubby said “if it wasn’t for the icing, I don’t think I could swallow them!” And..he’s the least picky eater I know! Maybe recipe left out water or oil?
So sorry you weren’t able to make this recipe work for you. This recipe is correct as written and these brownies have glowing reviews. If your brownies came out dry, you clearly baked them too long. All ovens vary and baking times should be used as a suggestion when making a recipe.
Made these last night and my family loved them! Such an easy recipe and delicious! They were moist and the frosting is oh so good! I love all your recipes.
Made these for Super Bowl weekend, they were gone in five minutes. I didn’t even get one! They really are the most delicious brownies.
Thank you! We’re thrilled everyone enjoyed them. We agree that they really are so delicious!
Can I substitute Country crock for the butter?
You can try, I can’t say if it will work or not, I have only made the recipe the way it’s written.
I’m not sure what I did wrong, I’ve checked and rechecked the rechecked to make sure I followed the instructions, and I gotta tell you, we weren’t happy at all with them. They were Camry, not at all fudgy as described.
I’ve made recipes of yours in the past, and they turned out good. Not happy at all with these though.
Hi Mary, I have no clue what you did wrong but as you can see this recipe has fantastic reviews. Not every recipe will work for everyone.
These are the best brownies on the planet. Period!
Did you use unsalted butter or salted?
I’ve used both, it doesn’t matter. You can use whichever you prefer.
Hi – I would like to make these for our little cafe in Australia. Could you tell me if the icing sets? Thanks!
Yes it sets.
I make these brownies all the time. Everyone loves them.
I made one change to the recipe. I remove 4 tablespoons of flour from the two cups requested in the recipe. It makes the brownies a little more moist.
This is a great brownie recipe! I bake chopped pecans into the batter and spread the frosting on the hot brownies as soon as the pan comes out of the oven. The frosting melts and tastes like sheet cake frosting.
Made them for a gathering last weekend and three people asked for the recipe! They are amazing!
Do you have to line the bottom of pan with foil? Is Pam not sufficient?
I have always used foil or wax paper, but you can try it!
Followed the directions exactly and they turned out perfect. My family loves them! Definitely a recipe I will make over and over!
I’ve made these twice in the last month! Incredible!
While using all purpose flour in this recipe, why do you not add baking powder, salt or baking soda? Will the brownies not rise without leavening?
These are not fluffy brownies, these are chewy fudge type brownies. You can try using whatever you like, but this is the recipe we use and have for years.
Do you have a cookbook for sale with the recipes you posted
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What would happen if self-rising flour was used? I just bought a 5 lb pkg.
I’ve only made them with all purpose, so I can’t really advise.
Best brownies I’ve ever made! Seriously incredible. Thank you for this delicious recipe. Keeper for sure!
Yay! So glad you enjoyed them. We think they are amazing too!