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Deliciously rich, these Lunch Lady Brownies are a decadent and fudge-like treat and completely worth cutting the lunch line for. Simple to make and smothered with a thick, homemade chocolate frosting, it’s easy to see why everyone is obsessed with this 50-year-old recipe.
Love brownies? Don’t forget to try our Dr. Pepper Brownies or our reader favorite, Peanut Butter Brownies.
MORE CHOCOLATE RECIPES:
Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake | Chocolate Poke Cake
ingredients for lunchroom brownies
Remember buying those bland school lunches just to get to the amazing brownie? These chocolate brownies with frosting are the same recipe that lunch ladies have been making from scratch for 50 years, and now you can have them at home too.
You will need:
Brownies
- 1 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 eggs
- 3 tablespoons vanilla extract
Frosting
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup of cocoa powder
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
How to Make Lunch Lady Brownies recipe
STEP ONE: In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter and cocoa powder until smooth.
STEP TWO: Add the flour, salt, and sugar and mix together. The mixture will be dry and crumbly.
STEP THREE: Add in the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
STEP FOUR: Line a 9 x 13 pan with parchment paper and pour batter into pan.
STEP FIVE: Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
STEP SIX: While the brownies are baking make the frosting by whisking together butter, milk, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract. The frosting should be thick and spreadable and similar to the consistency of canned frosting but will taste much better!
PRO TIP: If the frosting is too thick add a little milk, a tablespoon at a time.
STEP SEVEN: Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes before frosting. Then spread frosting over the top of the brownies.
STEP EIGHT: Let cool completely before slicing.
STORage
IN ROOM TEMPERATURE: Brownies are typically stored at room temperature in either an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap of foil. Stored like this, they can last up to 4 days If they aren’t eaten first!
Completely fudgy and rich, this homemade Lunch Lady Brownie recipe is one of the best brownies out there. Covered in a chocolate frosting made from scratch, these brownies are thick and delicious and reminiscent of childhood for so many.
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Lunch Lady Brownies
Ingredients
For the brownies
- 1 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 eggs
- 3 tbsp vanilla extract
For the frosting
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1/4 cup milk
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter and cocoa powder until smooth.
- Add the flour, salt, and sugar then mix together. The mixture will be dry and crumbly.
- Add in the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
- Line a 9 x 13 pan with parchment paper and pour batter into pan.
- Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- While the brownies are baking make the frosting by whisking together butter, milk, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract. The frosting should be thick and spreadable. It should be similar to the consistency of canned frosting but way better. If it’s too thick add a little milk, a tablespoon at a time.
- Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes before frosting. Then spread frosting over the top of the brownies.
- Let cool completely before slicing.
Is the butter in your recipe salted or unsalted? Thanks!
Unsalted – but you can use either!
Is it table spoons of vanilla or teaspoons?
There are three tablepoons in the brownies and another tablespoon in the frosting. Enjoy!
Love these
Very good
These are amazing, so rich and gooey!
Cocoa powder in icing? How much?
It’s 1/4 cup of cocoa powder. Enjoy! 🙂
Do you have to use parchment paper. I prefer to spray the pan with a nonstick spray so I can cut them as needed. Will this work?
Hi, Cheryl – I prefer using it for this recipe to make it easier to remove from the pan since they’re so moist. You can use nonstick spray if you’d prefer. Enjoy!