While I love almost all desserts, to me the BEST desserts fall into the “a la mode” category. They are warm and topped with ice cream, and that combo takes almost any dessert to a whole other level. I LOVE A La Mode.
For a while I’ve been trying to come up with a quick and easy way to make an individual serving of brownie a la mode at home, and the results aren’t always the best. Some have turned out like this…
We’ll call those Brownie A La Garbage Disposal. Bleh. I tried using mixes, thinking that would be a nice way to keep it easy, but I was never happy with the results. Today I decided to work on one based on my favorite brownie recipe and see what I could create, and I think we have a winner.
Yeah, this recipe is a keeper. Hot, gooey, dark chocolatey brownies in a few short minutes using the microwave and simple ingredients??? We’ll call them Brownies A La Anytime.
Here is what you need…
At the very last moment I decided that I wanted to add baking powder, so this guy didn’t make it into the photo, but he made it into the brownies. The ingredients are as follows. This will make one generous serving. It could be shared, if you are feeling generous, but I won’t judge you if you keep it all to yourself.
Brownies A La Anytime
4 Tablespoons Flour
3 Tablespoons Sugar
Pinch Of Salt
1/8 teaspoon Baking Powder
2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder (I prefer Hershey’s Dark Cocoa Powder)
1 Tablespoon Melted Butter
1-2 Tablespoons Oil (such as vegetable, canola or coconut)
1 Tablespoon Water
1/4 Teaspoon Vanilla
You can top with a few chocolate chips or nuts if you like.
Melt your butter in a microwave safe bowl or cup (took me about 12 seconds). Add the oil to your melted butter and mix well. If you want a moister brownie, go for the full two tablespoons. I prefer a really solid, dense brownie (which I top with ice cream adding a lot of moisture) so I use one tablespoon of oil. Add in your vanilla and water, stir well to combine. In a separate bowl or cup, combine all dry ingredients.
As I said, I used only one tablespoon of oil, so my mix is a bit on the drier/firm side. I pressed it into my ramekin. You could also use a mug, microwaving things in a mug seems to be the popular thing, but being a non-coffee drinker (hello, Diet Coke!), I have more ramekins than I do mugs.
I added a few chocolate chips to the top.
I started with 45 seconds in the microwave and ended up cooking mine for about one minute and ten seconds. That’s 70 seconds people – until hot, gooey, delicious, dark, sweet chocolate goodness. SEVENTY SECONDS! That’s like magic!
Instant. Gratification. Which is both a very good, and possibly very bad, thing. These may be too easy to whip up!
In my opinion, anything “a la mode” needs ice cream. End of story.
These are best enjoyed within a few minutes of heating them up. I have a few yummy variations coming up, but I have to pace myself, eating four of these in a day is probably not recommended. Though it would be damn delicious. ENJOY!
If you are looking for some other delish brownie recipes, maybe I recommend…
My all time favorite brownie recipe, my EASY BROWNIES
More Fudge Less Pudge Brownies
Candy Cane Cookie Crunch Brownies
Me says
I just tried to make this using two TBS of oil as recommended for a ore moist brownie, and it didn’t work at all! Really really sad 🙁
Junie says
I added a few peppermint chips instead of chocolate, and it was DIVINE. I love this!
Tash says
WOW !! Just made it and it tasted delicious!! Wasn’t sure if it was going to work at first but it does
Nazo says
I love this recipe! The other recipes I’ve tried for microwave brownies came out as dry and tasteless, but I love topping this one with some chocolate chips and powdered sugar. 🙂
kate says
I love this but how many calories?
Christi @ Love From The Oven says
Kate, I don’t figure the calories for the recipes, but I’m sure you can figure it out through one of the recipe calorie converter site… http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
isla says
I’ve now tried to make these twice, the first time I found using oil gave it a weird taste and texture, so the second time i used 3 tbsp butter, they were PERFECT.
Bellaboo says
I just fell in love with you and the brownies… im not sure who i love more 🙂
YOU MADE MY DAY :’)
yes, that was just a small tear 🙂
Brianna says
Wanted to add that as pp said, i used a mug and only did about 40 seconds and it was perfect. Any longer would have been too much. I just had a gut feeling..
Brianna says
I only put 1 tbsp of sugar because i have been very into sweets lately…. and it was still incredible! The best microwavable brownie i have tried yet!! So happy i have found ‘THE ONE’ !!
Abby says
taste like hot crumble dirt.
kelly says
Mine tasted ok but in no was was similar to a brownie. Was like chocolate crumbles. What did I do wrong??
Christi says
Kelly, you might have cooked it a few seconds too long for your microwave. Microwaves have so much variation, and this is absolutely a recipe that starts to get dry and crumbly if overcooked. I would try it again and cut a few seconds off the time at least. Under cooked is better than over cooked with these!