Lunch Lady Brownies with Frosting (Old-Fashioned Recipe)

If you’ve been searching for the best brownie recipe, these Lunch Lady Brownies are it. These brownies are rich, chewy, and unapologetically fudgy! The kind with crackly tops that melts in the middle. Made with simple pantry staples and a silky cocoa frosting, they taste like the brownies your grandma should’ve made.

No fancy tricks, no boxed mix, just pure, old-school chocolate perfection.

Lunch Lady Brownies are moist, full of chocolate flavor, and feed a crowd! My roommate taught me the power of brownies with frosting, and they totally remind me of the ones I had as a kid that the lunch ladies served in elementary school, but this homemade version is better, thanks to one secret! These are rich and fudgy brownies, not crumby and cakey brownies.

Ingredients For Lunch Lady Brownies

Cake

• Unsweetened Cocoa: Adds deep chocolate flavor
• Butter, melted: Makes the brownies rich and fudgy
• All Purpose Flour: Provides structure
• Salt: Balances sweetness. The secret!
• Sugar: Sweetness that caramelizes beautifully
• Eggs, large: Adds richness and helps set the brownies
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances chocolate flavor

Frosting

• Evaporated Milk: Makes frosting creamy and smooth
• Butter, softened: Adds richness and fluff
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting
• Unsweetened Cocoa: Intensifies chocolate punch

These ingredients come together to make the ultimate fudgy brownies topped with rich, chocolate frosting.

How to Make Lunch Lady Brownies

If you’ve been searching for the best brownie recipe, this is it. We’re talking a thick, fudgy texture that comes together fast and tastes like they’re straight from a bakery. No fancy steps, no waiting overnight, just pure, chocolatey, from scratch bliss in under an hour.

1. Preheat: Set oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 baking dish with foil or parchment and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Mix: Combine cocoa and melted butter in a bowl and mix until smooth.
3. Add Dry Ingredients: Stir in the dry ingredients, flour, sugar, and salt, until thick and combined.
4. Eggs & Vanilla: Whisk eggs and vanilla into the mixture and stir until just combined. The brownie batter will be thick and fudgy.
5. Bake: Spread evenly using a rubber spatula in a prepared pan. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick or fork comes out clean. Cooking times will vary based on your oven. Let cool 15 minutes before frosting.
6. Frost: Beat together evaporated milk, butter, powdered sugar, and cocoa until smooth. Spread over slightly warm brownies in the baking pan.
7. Cool & Serve: Let frosted brownies cool completely before slicing. Enjoy every rich, chocolatey, fudgy bite!

Can I Use Dutch-Process Cocoa?

Yes, you can use Dutch-processed cocoa powder rather than unsweetened cocoa powder or natural cocoa powder in this brownie recipe! It’ll give the brownies a deeper, smoother chocolate flavor and a darker color. Just keep in mind that Dutch cocoa is less acidic than natural cocoa, so the flavor will be a little more mellow and rich rather than sharp and classic “chocolatey.”

Storing and Making Ahead

These brownies keep beautifully, so don’t stress about timing. Once cooled, cover tightly with plastic wrap (unfrosted), aluminum foil, or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, though they rarely last that long. For longer storage, keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days, letting them come to room temperature before serving so they stay soft and fudgy.

For make-ahead magic, bake and cool completely, then freeze unfrosted brownies for up to 2 months. When the craving hits, thaw, frost, and enjoy that just-baked, chocolatey goodness all over again. Skip the microwave; it can dry the brownie out, melt the frosting, and ruin that perfect chewy texture.

And there you have it… the best brownie recipe you’ll ever bake. Whether you’re serving them with a scoop of ice cream or sneaking one straight from the pan, these brownies hit every craving just right. Bake once, and you’ll never go back to the Ghirardelli box mix again.

Other Dessert Recipes You’ll Love!

• Monster Cookie Bars
• Classic Lemon Bars
• Peanut Butter Bars
• White Chocolate Raspberry Blondie
• Tuxedo Brownie Cups

Watch How To Make Lunch Lady Brownies