Rich chocolate brownies topped with vanilla ice cream & drenched in hot fudge in a hot cast iron skillet is crazy amazing. No one can resist the fun bubbling pool of chocolate sauce in this Sizzling Brownie dessert.
This is the ultimate fancy dessert for couples, date night, Valentine's day, anniversaries, & birthdays. It is great anytime you want to celebrate with a gourmet dessert that is fun & decadent.
This Indian-inspired dessert is great after any meal, especially my Zucchini & Chickpea Curry or Slow Cooker Chicken & Sweet Potato Curry. But let's be real, you are gonna crave this anytime.
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What is a Sizzling Brownie?
If you have never heard of a brownie that is sizzling in a hot plate, you are not alone. It is not a common dessert in America but it sure is in India. Sizzling brownies are served in cafes in Mumbai and other areas of the country.
We have a large Indian population here in the Bay Area but I have yet to find this on a menu. I am intrigued by how amazing this sounds so I had to make it myself - OMG it is like molten lava cake & a brownie sundae had a baby.
A warm chocolate brownie is placed on a sizzler plate and then topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream all drenched in thick hot fudge sauce. The bubbling fiery sweet is gooey rich plus both hot & cold.
Ingredients for Sizzling Brownies
Here is what you need to make this recipe. This recipe use a store-bought box brownie mix. Pick whichever is your favorite. You will also need the ingredients that the box mix requires.
We love Ghiradelli Ultimate Chocolate Brownie Mix since it has both chocolate chips & rich syrup in it. Talk about a perfect dessert for chocolate lovers!
Here are the ingredients needed to make Sizzling Brownies:
- Boxed Brownie Mix - choose your favorite brand, the recipe works with Ghiradelli, Duncan Hines, Betty Crocker, Trader Joe's, Great Value, etc.
- Egg, Oil, & Water - whatever combination & amounts your box mix requests plus anything additional needed.
- Vanilla Ice Cream - a good quality French Vanilla or Vanilla Bean is most commonly used for serving.
- Hot Fudge Sauce - this thick decadent topping is better than thin chocolate sauces but both will work.
See the recipe card for quantities & full instructions.
How to Make a Sizzling Brownie
This recipe is made without a sizzling plate (similar to a fajita plate with a wooden base). Since most people do not own one, I have created a version that works perfectly in a small 6" cast iron skillet. It's quick & easy to make a sizzling brownie without a sizzling plate.
Here are the simple steps for making Sizzling Brownies:
- Mix & Bake the Brownies
- Heat the Skillet & Hot Fudge
- Assemble the Sizzling Brownie
Sizzling Brownie Recipe Video
1 - Mix & Bake the Brownies
Before baking the brownies from the box mix, prep the square 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper. This make it easy to lift the brownies out for cutting later.
My trick is to use binder clips to hold the paper in place, fill with batter, & then remove them before baking! (see video for more)
In a medium bowl add the brownie mix, egg, oil, & water. Remember: the amounts and items will depend on which box mix you are using - follow those directions.
Bake in a preheated oven according to the box mix instructions.
When done & the brownies are still a bit gooey in the center, remove the pan from the oven. Let the brownies cool for 30 minutes.
Grab the edges of the parchment paper and gently life the brownies out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Once cool, use a sharp chef's knife to cut the brownies into 9 equal-sized squares.
2 - Heat the Skillet & Hot Fudge
Once the brownies are cool and cut, it is time to get everything ready needed to make this Indian sundae. Having all the items ready once the skillet is hot is important.
Grab the mini cast iron skillet, a scooper, the hot fudge, & some oven mitts. Now it is time to get ready to make that sizzling effect that makes this a show stopping fancy dessert.
Over high heat, heat the empty cast iron skillet on the stove until very hot; 4-5 minutes.
You can also heat it in the oven at 400° for 10 minutes. I prefer the stovetop method because it is faster & the handle though hot is not as scorching.
Heat the hot fudge in the microwave until hot; 30-60 seconds.
While it is warming up grab your ice cream from the freezer.
3 - Assemble the Sizzling Brownie
Now for the fun part, bringing the sizzle! CAUTION: Fudge & Pan ARE HOT!
Using an oven mitt, transfer the hot skillet to a heat-safe surface or place on a trivet/oven mitt.
Add a square of brownie & top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Drizzle, spoon, or pour the hot fudge or chocolate sauce over the ice cream. Add 3 tablespoons and allow plenty to pool around the brownie.
Listen for the fun sizzle & see the yummy bubbles of fudge dance around the hot cast iron skillet.
There really is nothing more amazing that a sizzling brownie drenched in hot fudge & creamy vanilla ice cream. Enjoy immediately while it is fresh & before the ice cream melts.
Grab two spoons and share this fudgy, gooey, chocolatey, hot & cold brownie sundae. Sharing is caring but I won't judge if you eat the entire thing yourself!
Hint: the fudge will get crispy and hard in the cast iron. Once done eating, it is best to clean the cast iron right away so it doesn't get stuck. As will all cast iron, DO NOT USE SOAP & follow these best ways to clean cast iron skilets.
Substitutions & Variations
Try a recipe option with these variations and ingredient swaps. Modify, add, exclude, or replace to create a delicious recipe catering to a variety of cultural, dietary, health, or personal nutritional needs & tastes.
Substitutions
- Brownie Mix - instead of a brownie mix, make a batch of chocolate brownies from scratch.
- Gluten-Free - use a gluten-free brownie mix.
- Fudge Sauce - use Hershey's Chocolate Syrup instead of hot fudge.
Or try a variety of ice cream flavors like Chocolate Marshmallow Ice Cream or Oreo Cookies & Cream Ice Cream.
Variations
- Deluxe - add whipped cream & sprinkles for festive version perfect for birthdays (don't forget a candle)
- Kid friendly - serve on a cold plate or supervise them so they don't get hurt on the HOT skillet.
You can also try this with my recipes for Red Velvet Brownies with Cake Mix or Strawberry Brownies for a unique twist.
Equipment Needed
The right ingredients, supplies, & equipment help recipes taste amazing & turn out well. Here are recommendations for products that are needed for making this recipe. Shop this recipe & buy these top-rated items today.
- MINI CAST IRON SKILLET
- SIZZLER PLATES WITH WOODEN BASE
- 8x8 BAKING PAN
- PARCHMENT PAPER
- OVEN MITTS & POT HOLDERS
- GHIRADELLI BROWNIE MIX
- HOT FUDGE SAUCE
- ICE CREAM SCOOP
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Storing & Reheating
Store leftover brownies in container with a tight-fitting lid. Store in a cool, dry place on the counter or pantry for up to 3 days.
When ready to eat, warm up a brownie for 15 seconds in the microwave. Then assemble the sizzling brownie as the recipe card advises.
FAQ
Similar to brownie sundaes with ice cream & chocolate syrup but this dessert is SO much better. The hot pan that the brownie is served on really creates a different texture and experience. The sizzling plate caramelizes the bottom of the brownie and fudge sauce.
You can serve this on any plate, pan, or dish that is either stovetop or oven-safe. Use any small saute pan or skillet. Or if you have a fajita pan - that works too.
The beauty of this recipe is you can use whatever brownie mix you want. There are many easy & delicious boxed brownie mixes in the market. I recommend either Krusteaz or King Arthur's. Smucker's Hot Fudge and most brands of vanilla ice cream are both celiac-approved.
You will need several small skillets to serve this to a family. This set of 4 cast iron skillets, will work and can be warmed in the oven together. They are smaller in size so the brownies will need to be cut into 12 smaller pieces.
Sizzling Brownie
Equipment
- 1 9x9 baking pan
- Parchment Paper
- 1 Small cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- 1 box Brownie Mix
- Egg, Oil, Water, etc whatever the box recipe calls for
- 1 jar Hot Fudge Sauce or Chocolate Syrup
- 1 container Vanilla Ice Cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to the temperature on the brownie box mix - typically 350° or 375°F. Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper. ** use binder clips to hold it in place
Bake the Brownies
- In a medium bowl add the brownie mix and all the ingredients listed on the box needed to make the batch. This is typically an egg, oil, & water. Mix to combine. Pour the batter in the parchment-lined pan. Spread it out so it is even and in all the corners. REMOVE the binder clips if you used them.
- Bake the brownies in the preheated oven according to the box directions.
- When the brownies are done and still a bit gooey in the center, remove them from the oven. Let them cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Once cool, lift them out of the pan by grabbing the edges of the parchment paper. Place on a cutting board. Cut them into 9 squares.
Assemble the Sizzling Brownie
- Place the mini cast iron skillet over high heat for 4-5 minutes. You want it very hot!
- While the skillet is heating up, warm the hot fudge sauce in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. Also grab the ice cream & a scooper.
- To assemble the sizzling brownie:Use an oven mitt to carefully move the hot skillet from the stove to a heat-resistant surface or hot pad/trivet. Place a brownie in the middle of the hot pan. Add a large scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of the brownie. Next drizzle, pour, or spoon over 3 tablespoons of hot fudge chocolate sauce. Make sure there is enough to top and pool around the edges of the brownies. The chocolate should begin to bubble and sizzle as it reaches the bottom of the hot skillet!!
- Grab two spoons & dig in. Enjoy immediately while hot, cold, & perfect. Sharing is caring but I won't judge if you eat the entire thing yourself!
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