Bringing brownies to a party is never a bad idea. Never. They are quick to make, easy to carry, and are always well received. Win-win situation right here. But sometimes when asked what dish you’re planning to bring to a potluck, “brownies” isn’t the most impressive answer. Tell the host that they are “pecan pie brownies” or “almond joy brownies” and you’ll get ooh’ed and ahh’ed at.

Making fancy brownies doesn’t have to be complicated or require a billion extra ingredients. We’ll show you 3 ways to dress up brownies to make them fabulous. All things fab-u-lous, everything better and best! If Zeke made Sharpay these brownies she’d love him forever too. Whether it’s the Pecan Pie, Almond Joy, or Naughty Vegan (oh yes I went there) version, you’ll be everyone’s favourite person when you show up with a pan of bomb.com brownies.

First, you’ll need to start with your favourite brownie recipe, or boxed mix if that’s how you roll. If I’m going for a healthier option, I use Minimalist Baker’s recipe with chickpeas instead of black beans because I find that they blend smoother. Second, you’ll want to smear the top of your baked brownies with a chocolate frosting to get the toppings to stick. An avocado-based one, coconut whipped cream, or the sweet potato one I used here are my go-to varieties.

Here are a few PRO TIPS for preparing brownies:

1. Line your baking pan with parchment paper. Leave some hanging out of the pan to act as handles when you lift your brownies out of the pan.
2. Avoid smearing the frosting by cutting your brownies before frosting. I like to cut and frost my brownies in the pan and then lifting (yes use them parchment paper handles) them out of the pan to serve.
3. It’s totally okay to bake brownies a day in advance. Storing brownies in the refrigerator makes them extra fudgey.

Pecan Pie

Toasted pecans + salted date caramel

I grew up on the breads and pastries from Chinese bakeries. On special occasions, my mom would take us to a more upscale bakery to get their pecan tarts. They were better than plain pecan pies because they had big chocolate chips throughout the filling. After eating those tarts, I believe all pecan pies should involve chocolate (our version certainly has a healthy dose of chocolate). Naturally, brownies pair beautifully with the delicate crunch of pecans and a luscious caramel sauce.

To make the easiest caramel sauce ever, blend 4 soft Medjool dates* with 1 tbsp almond butter, a generous pinch of sea salt, and about 3 tbsp almond milk until very smooth. Dollop and swirl this caramel sauce into the chocolate frosting before topping with toasted pecans.

*If your dates are not super soft, soak them in hot water for a minute or two. Drain before using.

Almond Joy

Toasted almonds + toasted coconut

To be honest, I’ve never had an Almond Joy candy bar in my life. But I sure do enJOY the combination of almonds, coconut, and chocolate. Watch people’s eyes roll back as they take a bite and then proceed to beg you for the recipe. How satisfying is it when you get to think to yourself “Das right, you ate a healthy vegan dessert and liked it.” All hail.

This version is probably the easiest of the three. Just make it rain almonds and shredded coconut over frosted brownies and gently press them into the frosting to ensure it sticks. So easy even a three year old could do it. No really, they probably could. Just ensure an adult helps with toasting the nuts. Raw almonds need about 15 minutes in an oven at 350°F and unsweetened shredded coconut needs about 5 minutes with a stir at the half-way point.

Naughty Vegan

Chopped Oreos + pretzels + peanut butter

If this version is your favourite (it might be mine too), don’t worry because I won’t tell Santa. Even if he does find out, these brownies are worth getting coal as stocking stuffers. We firmly believe that occasional indulgences are part of a healthy lifestyle. If having Oreos and brownies means you’ll be more sane during exam season then yes, doooo it! The limited edition candy cane Oreos are featured in light of Christmas, but of course you can use whatever Oreos you like best.

To assemble these bad boys (or girls? Le brownie? La brownie? Halp.), swirl runny natural peanut butter into the frosting then press chopped Oreo pieces and broken pretzel bits all over the surface, making sure every brownie square gets a bit of both. Kids from one to ninety two will adore this indulgent sweet ‘n salty brownie.

We hope you found these ‘3 ways to dress up brownies’ helpful in your soiree endeavors. If you like these kind of posts, leave a comment below and tell us if you want more brownie variations or ways to dress up other dishes. Have a very happy holiday season surrounded by loved ones and delicious food!