I made some brownies last year that I finished with a ganache - it hardened a bit and wasn't sticky on presentation - and they were to die for! I poured the ganache over the brownies in the pan before I cut them. You can also sprinkle chopped toasted nuts before the ganache sets.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ganache

Yeah, ganache would be great, but I don't have cream or chocolate squares. Just cocoa powder and powdered sugar and butter. I'm kinda snowed in.
I wonder if I could make ganache from milk and lots of butter. I don't know much about frostings, the only kind I ever make is buttercream. I have sour cream . . .
Just no cream and solid chocolate, the two things you need for ganache.
:(

My favorite chocolate frosting is the old Hershey's 3 level Frosting..I always do the 'dark' one..

One-Bowl Buttercream Frosting
6 T butter or margarine, softened
Hershey's Cocoa:
1/3 c light flavor
1/2 c medium flavor
3/4 c dark flavor
2 2/3 c confectioners' sugar
1/3 c milk
1 t vanilla
Cream butter, add in cocoa and sugar, alternately with milk.(may need a bit more milk) Blend in vanilla. Makes about 2 cups.

But for brownies I also like Cream Cheese frosting.

Here is the frosting I use on my chocolate cake:
1/2 cup butter, melted
2/3 cup Cocoa
3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/3 cup milk
1 t vanilla
Mix the cocoa & butter first then add remaining ingredients, beating really well.
One thing I like for brownies is to make regular buttercream, add some mint flavoring & frost. I don't make a full recipe of this, I just like a thin layer of buttercream. Then I make a ganache like bostonpat showed & add a thin layer of that, or swirl across the top. I have tinted the buttercream pink or green too if I want it to look more festive.

Hershey's Cocoa:
1/3 c light flavor
1/2 c medium flavor
3/4 c dark flavor

I have never seen different flavors of cocoa. Have I been living in a bubble, or is it just that I am out in the sticks? LOL

Another idea would be to place some paper doilies on top and simply dust them with confectioner's sugar.

I rarely frost brownies, we like 'em plain.

Linda

I was too slow typing :) same recipe as mine, I prefer the dark chocolate flavor so use the one with the most cocoa.

I'm sorry - I missed the list of ingredients you had - my only excuse is that I'm hopped up on sugar - I made some marshmallows last night and I had to do some quality control!
I bet that butter cream will work quite nicely!

This one is very simple and I use it on chocolate sheet cake or brownies.
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
Bring to rolling boil. Remove from heat and add 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Beat until thick and frost brownies.

LOL Linda, they aren't "flavors" of cocoa..to get that "flavor" use the before mentioned amount of cocoa...tee hee

This recipe is similar to pump toad's. It's like adding a thick layer of fudge (not gooey frosting) to brownies.

-Grainlady

BROWNIE FUDGE FROSTING
(makes enough for a 9x13-inch pan of brownies)

1 c. sugar
5 T. butter
1/3 c. milk

Place ingredients in a saucepan; bring to a boil and boil for 1 full minute. Remove from heat.

Add:
6 oz. (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Stir until melted.

With an electric mixer:
Add 1 cup SIFTED powdered sugar. Blend until smooth. Immediately frost warm brownies.

Do you think I could make something like those boiled frostings with cocoa powder?? I have no choc. chips either. Just powder and choc. syrup.

LOL, Terri! Now I get it! What a dork I am!

Linda

Actually, there are two kinds of cocoa "flavors." There is the normal kind, and the dutch processed kind which is very dark and rich tasting (think bittersweet chocolate), so you would adjust the amount of cocoa you used if you used Dutch process. Some people, especially milk chocolate lovers, would find dutch processed cocoa too dark for them.

Here is another fudge frosting I;ve made, but don't overcook it or it can turn to sugar
One Minute Fudge Frosting
¾ cup butter
3 cup sugar
¾ cup cocoa
¾ cup milk
2 tsp vanilla
Melt butter in pan, add remaining ingredients, bring to a good boil & boil 1 min. Remove from heat & beat until creamy enough to spread.