What To Do With Leftover Brownies? Don’t Waste a Bite

Last Updated on February 6, 2023

What to do with leftover brownies? This a question we are asked weekly! Fortunately, we have some amazing ideas that are all quite easy to make!

What Can I Do With Leftover Brownies?

With food becoming more and more expensive, a massive movement is taking place surrounding food waste. People are constantly looking for new and exciting ways to use leftover ingredients, dishes, and baked goods.

Luckily, brownies are one of the most versatile ingredients to use when it comes to leftovers.

The real question is, how long will they stay good so that you can use them?

If you’ve made fresh brownies, the leftovers will stay fresh for up to a week. But, only if they were stored in an airtight container. And remember, the older they are the stalker they become.

However, you can extend their shelf life far beyond that by simply freezing the pieces. This way they will keep well for up to 6 months! Once thawed, you can either try to revive them or incorporate them into one of our below-mentioned recipe ideas.

8 Amazing Ideas – What Can I Do With Leftover Brownies?

Below are some of our amazing ideas that will help you answer the “what can I do with leftover brownies?”

1. Cake pops

Cake pops are arguably the easiest go-to idea when searching for “what can I do with leftover brownies?” After all, these sweet treats have become so popular that people bake entire trays of fresh brownies just to make them.

For these, you will need to mix the leftover with some type of liquid. Simple heavy cream will work. But some people prefer to use a thin glaze or frosting. Either way, the process can become quite messy. But, it is worth it!

Once you eventually have a very hydrated wet mixture, you can start shaping the balls and put them on sticks.

What makes cake pops an amazing option is that you can coat them with a wide range of colored candy melts to create themed pops. And, the number of garnishes is endless!

2. Crumble

Making crumble out of any old, stale, or leftover baked goods is a great way to give them a new purpose. And trust us, you would be amazed at how delicious brownie crumble is! While it won’t ever come to mind under normal circumstances, we can almost guarantee that it will be a new trick you’ll use.

Making brownie crumble is also very easy. You can just break up some larger pieces and place them in a low-heat oven or dehydrator. Once they are completely dry and crisp, you can crush them into the size pieces that you want.

Crumble will add a ton of texture and flavor as a topping or garnish for your desserts. And, it can even be used on drinks. This option will hide virtually any brownie flaw, which is why it is one of our most used tricks.

3. Brownie and butter pudding

If you’ve heard of bread and butter pudding, this is the same thing. The only difference is that you use stale brownies instead of stale bread. Other than that and you can make the recipe in the same way.

This pudding has been around for ages as a way to prevent stale bread from simply being chucked. It hides the not-so-great texture and bland flavor.

And, you can even make a boozy version with some bourbon or whiskey added!

4. Truffles

We have already mentioned cake pops in this article on “what can I do with leftover brownies?” But, we haven’t yet covered a much more sophisticated option.

Truffles are elegant and can hide a ton of impurities. Essentially you’ll be making cake pops. But, the way you coat it with chocolate and garnishes is generally fancier.

So, don’t skip this one. It is the perfect date night treat or birthday gift for a loved one.

5. Trifle

This is another classic dessert that is almost exclusively made when there is some stale leftover cake.

So again, using brownies instead of cake for this soaked dessert is a no-brainer! And, it will allow you to create more than just a plain vanilla trifle recipe!

And while you’re at it, why not try a makeshift tiramisu?

6. Brownie bites

There are a couple of ways you can make brownie bites. The idea is that you turn them into on-the-go snacks. Two ways we like to make them is by either drying out pieces in the oven or deep-frying them in an air-fryer.

You can also dry them and coat smaller pieces in chocolate. This way you can make rustic treats that don’t take a lot of effort, but that are still packed with flavor.

Here’s the best part, we used to sell a bunch of these bite-sized treats. And all of the brownie pieces literally came from offcut sides! Crazy, right?

7. Ice cream

There is a reason a ton of fast-food chain stores sell ice cream with brownies in them. And think about it, what happens to all their leftover “freshly baked” brownies? Well, they use it in ice cream of course!

The ice cream will add moisture to every bite. Ultimately, it hides the stale texture and bland flavor.

But, one tip when using this technique; don’t use ridiculously old brownies. Because you don’t actually change anything about the brownie, you aren’t hiding very unappealing characteristics. So, use semi-fresh ones.

8. Cheesecake cups

And finally, making a type of cheesecake crust with leftover brownie crumbs is an amazing way to utilize them. But, you’ll likely only make cheesecake cups because of the number of brownies you have.

You can always stock up on brownie offcuts in the freezer. Then, once you have enough, defrost them, dry them out, and turn them into a large cheesecake crust!

What to Do With Failed Brownies?

If you have ever put in a lot of effort to make brownies for loved ones, only to have them come out the worst, we have to admit that you are not the only one. Honestly, it is the dessert disaster that every baker dreads, but have no fear, for we are here to guide you through the common pitfalls. So, why do brownies sometimes turn out to be a letdown? Let’s go exploring together!

It could be because you have overmixed the batter, leaving your brownies with a cake-like texture, instead of the desired chewy and fudgy center. Or maybe you have fallen victim to the timing trap, baking your brownies for too long or not long enough, resulting in dry or mushy brownies.

The ingredients you use can also have a significant impact on the outcome of your brownies. An overabundance of flour, sugar or the wrong sort of cocoa powder might result in a flat end product. Not to mention the oven, the unsung hero of baked goods. An outdated or inaccurately calibrated oven might produce uneven heating, damaging the texture of your brownies.

So there you have it, a few frequent reasons why your brownies may not have come out as you desired. But that doesn’t mean you should give up; with a little patience and attention to detail, you’ll be whipping up picture-perfect brownies in no time! In the meantime, here’s what to do with leftover brownies.

Transform Your Failed Brownies into a Decadent Topping for Ice Cream or Yogurt

Ingredients:

• Failed Brownies, at least 1 day old
• Toppings of your choosing, such as chocolate chips, almonds, and so on.

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Crumble up the failed brownies into little bits. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, evenly distribute the crumbled brownies.
3. Bake them for at least 10-12 minutes, or until nice, dry, and crisp.
4. Take them out and let them cool completely.
5. Once they reach room temperature, you may top them with any toppings you choose, such as chocolate chips or chopped almonds, or whatever you have on hand.
6. Serve the crumbled brownies as a topping for ice cream or yogurt. Simply, sprinkle them on top of a scoop of ice cream or swirl them into a cup of yogurt and that’s it.

Turn Your Failed Brownies into a Decadent No-Bake Dessert with Whipped Cream and Fresh Fruit

Ingredients:

• Failed Brownies, cut into small pieces
• 1 cup of heavy cream
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1 cup of your favorite fruit
• Chocolate chips, nuts, or other toppings of your choice

Instructions:

1. Layer cut-up failed brownies in the bottom of a baking dish. We usually use the 8-inch one, but you can use whatever you have in your kitchen cabinet. Firmly press down to consolidate the brownies into a sturdy base.
2. Whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl until firm peaks form.
3. Divide the mixture into two parts. Spread the first half over the failed brownie base and arrange a layer of fruit as you wish. We usually choose strawberries, raspberries, and cherries, but you won’t go wrong if you give other types a chance.
4. Cover the fruit with the remaining whipped cream mixture.
5. Sprinkle with any topping you like, and you can skip this part. It’s really optional.
6. Refrigerate, covered with plastic wrap, for at least 2 hours, or until the whipped cream is set, and enjoy.

What to Do With Brownie Scraps?

They may be small in size, but they are big in flavor. Feel free to think of them as the little black dress of the dessert world – versatile, reliable, and always in style. These little tidbits are the result of trimming and cutting a freshly baked batch of brownies into neat squares. Here’s how to use their potential:

Savor the Sweetness: Blend Your Failed Brownies into a Chocolatey Smoothie

Ingredients:

• Brownie scraps, cut into small pieces
• 1 banana
• 1 cup of milk
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp of cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp of sweetener of your choice

Instructions:

1. In a blender, combine the brownie bits, banana, milk, yogurt, vanilla extract, chocolate powder, and honey.
2. Don’t forget to pause the blender and scrape down the sides a few times to make sure that all of the ingredients are smooth and fully incorporated.
3. Pour the smoothie into a glass and serve.

Transform Your Leftover Brownie Truffles into Decadent Delights

Ingredients:

• Brownie scraps, cut into small pieces
• 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup of heavy cream
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• Toppings of your choosing, such as cocoa powder, chopped nuts, etc.

Instructions:

1. Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it begins to boil slightly.
2. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the chocolate chips until nice and smooth.
3. Mix in the vanilla extract until well combined.
4. Add brownie crumbs into the chocolate mixture and mix slowly until they are completely covered.
5. Keep in the fridge until stiff enough to shape into balls.
6. Make 1-inch balls out of the mixture using a cookie scoop or a spoon.
7. Roll the truffles in the toppings of your choice.

The Ultimate Deep Fried Brownie Bites Recipe

Ingredients:

• Failed Brownies, cut into small pieces
• 1 cup flour (preferably the all-purpose one)
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup of milk
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs
• Vegetable oil
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions:

1. Mix together the flour, eggs, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl.
2. In a separate shallow dish, place the panko breadcrumbs.
3. Form tiny balls in your palms from the cut brownies. Each one should be dipped in the batter, allowing the excess to drain, and then rolled in the breadcrumbs to coat.
4. Heat 2-3 inches of oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F.
5. Gently drop the coated brownie bits into the heated oil and cook until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes.
6. Remove them from the oil using a spoon and lay them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.
7. Dust with a little powdered sugar and enjoy!

In Conclusion

We hope that a couple of our suggestions today got the ideas flowing a bit! And, if you know of anyone else wondering “what to do with leftover brownies?” then make sure to send along this article!

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