Applebee’s Blue Ribbon Brownie Recipe

Applebee’s Blue Ribbon Brownie recipe will cure any chocolate craving! These brownies boast bold chocolate flavor and a gooey, sumptuous texture.

Luckily, the recipe is quick and straightforward, so it’s great for beginners. Also, the ingredients are readily available, so you can pick them up at any grocery store.

But even though they’re easy, these aren’t just any brownies. The flavor profile is much more complex than boxed brownie mixes, so they’re the perfect end to a fancy dinner.

Your guests will think you spent hours in the kitchen when all you have to do is measure, mix, and bake. So, what are you waiting for?

All About the Applebee’s Blue Ribbon Brownie Recipe Ingredients

Flour

Since this is the base of your brownie batter, you need to use the right kind of flour: white all-purpose.

This type of flour has the perfect amount of gluten to give brownies their characteristic texture. But you can also change this texture by playing around with how much flour you put in.

To make your brownie cake-like, add a little extra flour. Or for fudgier, denser brownies, add less flour but additional melted chocolate.

And for cakey brownies, don’t use cake flour: it’s low in gluten, and it will give your brownies an odd texture. Instead, stick with all-purpose.

Cocoa Powder

Cocoa powder is where your brownies get their characteristic chocolate flavor.

There are two types of cocoa that you’ll see on store shelves: natural or dutch cocoa.

The right to use depends on the leavening agent in your recipe. Baking soda and baking powder both leaven baked goods through a chemical reaction between acids and bases.

If the recipe asks for baking soda, which is basic, then you want to use acidic natural cocoa powder to react with it. However, if the recipe uses baking powder (which includes both an acid and a base), you can use neutral Dutch cocoa powder.

For recipes that use both baking soda and baking powder, you can use Dutch-processed as well.

Butter/Oil

Every brownie recipe needs fat, and you can use either butter or oil. This fat will make the brownie batter smooth and silky.

If you use butter, you’ll get a richer flavor. But you’ll also end up with a cakier treat because the butter will help the brownies rise in the oven.

On the other hand, oil is more neutral, so the cocoa and vanilla flavor will be more prominent. As well, oil will give you fudgier brownies.

To take advantage of the benefits of both, you can use a mix.

Chocolate Syrup

This is the magic ingredient in Applebee’s Blue Ribbon Brownies. By adding chocolate syrup to the batter, you get a very fudgy, gooey brownie.

For example, Hershey’s chocolate syrup works perfectly, and you can find it at most grocery stores.

However, you can also use jarred or homemade fudge topping. This is a thicker chocolate sauce, and it will add even more richness to your dessert.

Nuts

Applebee’s Blue Ribbon Brownie recipe calls for nuts, but you can leave them out if you like. As well, classic brownies use walnuts, but you can add almonds, pecans, or macadamia nuts.

You can also add your favorite dried fruit, like cherries, instead of (or in addition to) nuts.

Method

1. Prepare Oven and Pan
   

   First, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Then, use the cooking spray, butter, or oil to lightly grease your cake pan.
   

2. Beat Eggs
   

   Crack the eggs into one of the mixing bowls. Using the electric mixer or whisk, beat them.
   Next, slowly add the sugar and keep beating until the mixture thickens.
   

3. Add Wet Ingredients
   

   Add the butter, oil, chocolate syrup or fudge, and vanilla extract to the bowl and mix everything thoroughly.
   

4. Mix Dry Ingredients
   

   In your second bowl, sift together the flour and cocoa. Add baking powder and soda, then salt. Then, stir them so they’re evenly mixed.
   

5. Combine and Whisk
   

   Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture, and whisk them together. Make sure the batter is smooth and doesn’t have any lumps.
   

6. Add Mix-Ins
   

   If you’re using walnuts or chocolate chips, gently stir them in. Then, pour the batter into the greased cake pan and spread it into an even layer.
   

7. Bake, Cool, and Enjoy!
   

   Put the pan in the oven and bake the brownies for 35-40 minutes.

   To check if they’re done, stick a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean (with just a few small crumbs), you can take the brownies out.

   For neat squares, let the brownies cool before you slice them. Serve.
   

Serving Suggestions

• At the restaurant, Applebee’s serves this brownie in a very decadent way. They scoop on some vanilla ice cream and then smother the whole dessert in warmed chocolate sauce.


• For a slightly lighter option, try frozen yogurt and a fruit drizzle, such as raspberry.


• Add maple butter sauce to make it an even richer dessert.


• My favorite way to eat this brownie is warmed up with a cup of coffee or tea. On the other hand, it’s also delicious with a frosty glass of milk on a hot summer day.

How to Store and Freeze Applebee’s Blue Ribbon Brownies

In general, your brownies will taste best the day after you make them. So, when you take them out of the oven, cool them down uncut, and cover them with foil or put them in an airtight container.

Make sure your brownies are tightly wrapped so that they won’t dry out. Then, they’ll last on the counter for about 3-4 days, or 14 days in the refrigerator.

More Yummy Brownie Recipes

• Ghirardelli Brownie Mix Recipe