Hot Fudge Swirl Brownies
August 26, 2026
Rich, fudgy brownies with gooey swirls of hot fudge throughout!
These Hot Fudge Swirl Brownies take an already very chocolatey treat and make it even better. The brownies are rich and fudgy with chocolate chips mixed in the batter, then hot fudge gets swirled into the center and across the top. Serve them as-is, or warm one up and add a scoop of ice cream to make a sensational brownie sundae.
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These brownies are deeply chocolatey with a rich cocoa flavor, melty semisweet chocolate chips, and pockets of gooey hot fudge. The brown sugar adds a little extra caramel-like sweetness, while the salted butter keeps all that chocolate from tasting overly sweet.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Rich, fudgy brownies stay soft and moist with plenty of chocolate flavor.
- Hot fudge is swirled through the middle and over the top for gooey pockets in every square.
- Semisweet chocolate chips add even more chocolate without making the brownies overly sweet.
- The layered hot fudge makes these a little more rich than a classic pan of brownies.
- They’re perfect for serving warm with ice cream when you want to turn them into brownie sundaes.
The Twist
Instead of saving hot fudge for the sundae topping, it gets swirled right into the brownies. Adding it both through the center and over the top creates little ribbons of fudge throughout every square.
Ingredient Highlights
- Salted butter: Gives the brownies their rich flavor and helps create that dense, fudgy texture.
- Vegetable oil: Just a small amount keeps the brownies soft and moist without making them greasy.
- Brown sugar: Adds extra moisture and a subtle caramel flavor that works really well with the chocolate.
- Cocoa powder: Unsweetened cocoa gives the brownies their deep chocolate base.
- Chocolate chips: Add little melty chocolate bites throughout the batter.
- Hot fudge topping: Use the thick jarred hot fudge meant for sundaes. Warm it only enough to make it easy to spoon and swirl.
Hot Fudge Swirl Brownies
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup hot fudge topping, divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until well combined.
- Add the eggs and vanilla. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and glossy.
- Add the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Fold everything together just until combined. Don’t overmix.
- Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Spread about half of the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- Warm ¼ cup of the hot fudge topping for just a few seconds so it’s easy to drizzle. Spoon small dollops over the brownie batter. Gently swirl the hot fudge into the batter with the tip of a butter knife.
- Carefully spread the remaining brownie batter over the top.
- Dollop the remaining ¼ cup hot fudge topping over the surface. Use a butter knife to create swirls, being careful not to completely mix the fudge into the batter.
- Bake for 32-36 minutes, or until the edges are set and a toothpick inserted into a brownie portion comes out with moist crumbs. Avoid testing directly through a hot fudge swirl.
- Let the brownies cool in the pan before slicing. For sundaes, you can serve the brownies slightly warm.
FAQ
Can I use a different kind of chocolate chip?
Yes. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even chocolate chunks will all work.
Do I need to refrigerate the hot fudge before swirling it into the brownies?
No. Room-temperature hot fudge is fine. If yours is especially thick, warm it for just a few seconds so it swirls more easily.
How do I know when the brownies are done?
The edges should look set and a toothpick inserted into a brownie section should come out with moist crumbs. Try not to test directly through one of the hot fudge swirls because it will naturally look gooey.
Can I serve these warm?
Definitely. Let them cool enough to set before cutting, then warm individual brownies for a few seconds before serving.
What ice cream goes best with these brownies?
Classic vanilla is hard to beat, but chocolate, cookies and cream, coffee, or peanut butter ice cream would all be really good.
Sprinkle of Fun
Turn these into a brownie sundae night! Layer Hot Fudge Swirl Brownies with chocolate ice cream, marshmallows, graham cracker crumbs, and s’mores whipped topping (as shown in the photos!)
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