Father’s Day Brownies for Awesome Dads
Many of you may not know this but I am actually horrible in the kitchen. I burn everything and I under-season everything else, so I decided to collaborate with a local baker, who is also a mom, for a really fun Father’s Day food craft. I like to call it the Father’s Day Brownie Bar Extravaganza.
It pretty much goes like this: Invite a bunch of kids over, set up a bar filled with all the brownie toppings you can imagine and let the kids create the most amazingly, delicious brownies for their dads as a Father’s Day presents! Each brownie is individually created for their dad in mind. It makes for a gourmet twist and lots of thoughtful surprises. I say, get your calendars out now and schedule it as a playdate because Father’s Day is right around the corner and it’s a whole lot of fun for kids.
First, you’ll need to make your brownie batter. Elyssa Fournier, my friend and baker from Mixed Bakery, was kind enough to share her favorite brownie recipe below. It’s so easy to make, and delicious!
Brownie Recipe Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/4 cup of granulated white sugar
- 1 stick (4 oz.) of unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2/3 cup flour
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- all the toppings you can imagine set out like a bar
Brownie Recipe
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all ingredients (except toppings) together in a large mixing bowl and then pour into individually-sized baking dishes or an 8×8 inch pan. Set out all your toppings in small dishes and let your kids go to town on their own brownies, by adding toppings. When the they are done, bake the brownies for 25-30 minutes. Baking times may need to be adjusted depending on the toppings added, but 25 minutes is a good place to start. Check often and rotate the brownies to ensure thorough doneness.
About those brownie toppings? As you can see we had a lot of fun. Anything goes! Set everything out in small dishes and see how creative your kids can get. Make sure they keep Dads’ particular tastes in mind. Does Dad like savory mixed with sweet or does he have a big candy-loving sweet tooth? Maybe make some extra brownies for the kids too because creating combinations is so much fun, they are not going to want to only make one brownie.
Here are some ideas for brownie toppings that we used but be creative and come up with your own ideas too!
Red hots, confetti sprinkles, peanut brittle, toffee-flavored walnuts, chocolate covered sunflower seeds, marshmallows, miniature peanut butter cups, m&m’s, chocolate chips, coconut, pretzels, potato chip, peanuts, popcorn, dried apricots, red hot pepper flakes, broken graham crackers, slivered almonds, salt crystals, bacon, caramel, dulce de leche, leftover easter candy, gummy worms, peppermints, cyan pepper, white chocolate chips, leftover halloween candy… you get the idea.
Anything goes and you’ll be surprised at how well some things go together and some better than others. Personally, the potato chip combination was a real winner for me. Super yummy.
After your brownies are all baked, let them cool and then package them up with a special Father’s Day sticker that you can print on your own printer on full-sheet label paper. Dad is going to love them!
p.s. If you thought this was fun, be sure to follow Elyssa on Instagram and Facebook!
****************
