Confession: I hate fruit more than Anthony Kiedis’ 1970′s creeper mustache. And dear people, that’s more than you can even imagine. You will never see me in a billion years eating a piece of fruit. Apples? No thank you, I prefer caramel apples minus the apple. Kiwi? Heck no, that stuff has gnarly fur. Strawberries? Not unless they’re chocolate covered strawberries from Godiva. But wait, I’ll just eat the chocolate and give the strawberry to the birds. Raspberries? If you put some raspberry jam inside of a deep fried donut, then I’ll all for it. Especially if it’s covered in powdered sugar. Pineapple? Um how about pineapple frozen yogurt with extra rainbow sprinkles and hot fudge. Oranges? Help me. Least favorite fruit ever. It’s this texture thing.
But there is one exception to my no fruit rule. I am all for fruit (well kind of…kiwi is still the spawn of the devil) if I throw the fruit into a dessert. Lemon cupcakes, glazed orange rolls, apple pie (it needs crumbs on top)…yes please! Well yes with hesitation. I’d much rather have a massive slice of chocolate cake covered in chocolate buttercream. And no raspberry decorations on top!
First sift together 3/4 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt into a bowl. Use your super amazing imagination and pretend there’s a bowl of sifted ingredients. See it? Ok cool.
In a bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar, 3/4 cup sugar and 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter on medium speed for 3 minutes. Is there anything better than sugar and butter? Yes, chocolate cake without raspberries on top.
Zest an orange. Ok confession part 2: I get nauseous zesting oranges. I hate the smell but love the way it tastes in desserts. So weird I know.
Throw 1 Tablespoon into the bowl. Mix!!!
Add in 1 Tablespoon of vanilla extract and totally ignore the orange zest on the Tablespoon. Mix mix!
Add in 2 large eggs, one at a time. Mix them in!
And slowly add in the sifted ingredients on low speed and mix until just combined. Then take a red spatula (ok whatever color) and gently fold the ingredients together.
Throw in 1/2 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips because chocolate chips make everything better. (except alien fur kiwi) And fold them in. Mmmm I love brownie batter with chocolate chips. It’s like love in a bowl.
Spread the brownie batter into a lightly greased 8 by 8 inch baking pan. Then eat the brownie batter off the mixing spoon.
And why does the brownie batter look darker now? It’s some kind of super cosmic mystery. Bake the brownies at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Do not overbake. These brownies are fudgy. If you overbake them, I’m throwing a giant mango at your head.
Ok let’s pretend 30 minute have gone by. Cool the brownies on a cooling rack. Don’t frost them until they’ve cooled completely.
Sift 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and set it aside. Let’s use our imagination again, there’s a photo of a bowl with sifted powdered sugar.
In a bowl of a stand mixer, mix together 1/4 cup softened unsalted butter and 4 ounces of softened cream cheese on medium low speed for 3 minutes. Then add in 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed orange juice and mix on medium low speed.
Add in 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and mix.
Add in 1/2 teaspoon of orange zest. Mix mix! Then slowly add in the powdered sugar and mix on medium low speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Mmmm orange cream cheese frosting, I love you.
Once the brownies have cooled completely, spread the orange cream cheese frosting on top of the brownies. (I put the frosting in the refrigerator in an airtight container for about 10 minutes to firm up the frosting before spreading it on the brownies) Cut into pieces and enjoy! And because I’m totally sprinkle obsessed, I had to put orange sprinkles on my brownies.
Chocolate Orange Brownies
Brownies
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 Tablespoon orange zest
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon orange zest
Sift the flour, unsweetened cocoa powder and kosher salt. Set aside.
In a bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the brown sugar, sugar and melted unsalted butter on medium speed for about 3 minutes.
Add in the orange zest and mix. Then add in the vanilla extract and mix.
Add in the eggs, one at a time. Mix until the eggs are completely incorporated.
Slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix until almost combined. Take a spatula and fold the ingredients together.
Add in the chocolate chips and fold them in.
Spread the batter into a lightly greased 8 by 8 inch metal baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Cool the brownies in the pan on a cooling rack. Do not frost them until the brownies have completely cooled.
To make the orange cream cheese frosting:
Sift the powdered sugar and set it aside.
In a bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter and cream cheese for 3 minutes on medium low speed.
Add in the orange juice and vanilla extract. Mix.
Add in the orange zest and mix again.
Slowly add in the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time on low speed. Once the powdered sugar is all added, increase the speed to medium low and mix for about 2-3 minutes until the frosting is smooth.
If the frosting is too thin, place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes until somewhat firm. (I always do this before frosting the brownies and recommend it)
Frost the cooled brownies with orange cream cheese frosting.
If you’re feeling super festive, decorate the brownies with orange sprinkles.
Cut into squares and enjoy!
I am starting to see orange and chocolate pop up everywhere! I really need to get on the bandwagon! ESPECIALLY with some brownies!!!
I can’t believe you hate fruit! The horror! Get on a plane and come down to Cali, I’ll teach ya to love home-grown fruit!! Sorry, did that sound bossy? Didn’t mean to. I like you. Just how you are
Haha we have a lot of homegrown fruit in Oregon and I still hate it.
Wow, no fruit??! Most people hate veggies! I love the orange chocolate combo though, reminds me of those chocolates in the shape of an orange that my mom always used to put in my stocking at Christmas.
For real !!!!
Mmm this is lovely. That icing sounds fantastic!
Hahaha, you’re so bizarre, it kills me every time! But heck, own it sista!
First things first: I LOVE reading your blog every morning with my coffee – it starts my day! Your writing makes me smile, your pictures are incredible, and your recipes make me daydream ALL day! :0) I have never EVER tried orange and chocolate together – but I might now. Especially if cream cheese frosting and chocolate is involved – I just MIGHT be able to get over my issues for this recipe!! (By the way, I LOVE the fact you don’t like fruit) I would swap sugar for the fruit “food group” thing if I could…
My boyfriend is the same way. He hates fruit… especially oranges those make him nauseous! LOL maybe yall are kindred spirits
he doesn’t even like orange juice mixed with vodka or champagne! My faves but it’s okay, love him anyway, and there is nothing wrong with not liking fruit. I even make a separate dessert for him (usually choc/PB combo) when I make apple galettes (or other fruit desserts) for guests. I think ur great just the way you are 
Ooooh yum, that looks amazing. Brownies with chocolate chips are so unbeatable
These look so good! I love orange and chocolate together. Although, I have the same issue when zesting oranges. It smells so funky and gross until it’s mixed with other ingredients.
I will be straight. I love sprinkles…. But I love the flavor of orange even more. Since we are in the same town, I will eat all of your fruit – just tweet me and I will pick it up. This is my service to you, darling.
These brownies look ridiculously delicious!!!!
I am with you girl on the whole fruit/dessert thing. I actually love fruit, but when it comes to dessert I would much rather have something with chocolate and peanut butter. But…I have become a recent convert to fruit desserts and have come to actually enjoy them! YAY! So, I think that these brownies would be fantastic because it is the best of both worlds. Great recipe!
Yum! I’m coming to your house– all fruit (except kiwi, of course) is buried in desserts– I’m in!
looks fabulous colourful dessert
I have heard kiwis compared to a certain parts on a male gorilla!
These look amazing. I am usually not one to mix flavors into my chocolate but you have me wanting to break rules and do it.
GASP! Can I have one of these for my birthday?! Holy shmokes those look great!
These look absolutely amazing!
Now you have to work on hiding actual pieces of fruit into the brownies…
These look amazing! Love the chocolate and orange combo.
These brownies look fantastic. I’m going to a pre-Australia day bbq tomorrow and these would be perfect! thanks
These LOOK perfect, and I can only imagine how perfect they taste. Yum.
You crack me up. I love most fruits but am picky with veggies. I always tell people I could be a fruitarian more easily than a vegetarian. But if I could just be a brownievarian life would be ideal. These look amazing. You always make me giggle.
This brownie recipe sounds way awesome!
I’m with you on the whole fruit thing. I hate the little buggers, but I do like lemon and lime flavored things (i.e. key lime pie, lemon bars, etc). Orange creme ice cream/popcicles/yogurt are pretty awesome too. I guess when you pure something enough so there’s no texture some fruits can be ok, but it has to be as smooth as silk.
So I take it one of those edible arrangement bouquets will go uneaten around you unless your squirrel friends like what’s on it?
No matter, you do a fantastic job with your baking my dear. I hope you had a good week!
I love chocolate and orange together. Your brownies look great!
Anthony Kiedis’ creeper mustache is definitely something that should be hated by all. And you’re so a gal after my own heart. I’m not a fruit fan either. But I do love anything chocolate so I can tolerate the orange for some of these amazing brownies!
I am not a big fan of fruit in my desserts, I prefer the double/triple chocolate options, but this looks delicious!
Oh I love fruit…but I guess as long as you are getting somehow (i.e. in brownies or doughnuts) it’s bound to better then getting none at all
Keep cranking out the good stuff and we will surely forgive your aversion to fruit.
Congrats on top 9! xx
Thank you!
Congrats on the Top 9 today!
Thank you Becky!
Loving this recipe… would try it but given my history with baking anything brownie related I already know that I’m gonna screw it up some how… As a 30 year old woman, I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve never baked a perfect tray of brownies… never!
Mmmm… These look great. Wish I had some for this snowy day. Grats on top 9 btw
Well deserved
I like fruits in all shapes and forms, so I’m on board with this chocolate plus orange dessert! Although you’re right about kiwi, it’s too weird!
Chocolate and orange!! A match made in heaven!! Top 9 congrats!!
I am not a fan of orange either, but love chocolate and this sounds wonderful!
I love orange and citrus – by itself and in baked goods! I’m surprised that you don’t like fruit. And we are polar opposites when it comes to zesting…it’s one of my favorite kitchen chores because of the lovely aroma!
Oh my goodness, I LOVE orange chocolate. These brownies are a must make!!
;OMG . these stufff taste good cant wait for my family to try
Although i havent tried it yet but i know it would taste the best…….
I LOVE BROWNIES !!!!!
My husband doesn’t eat any fruit either. I don’t like oranges but I like them with chocolate and these look wonderfully delicious.
it’s so funny that you won’t eat fruit. Guy in my office won’t either.