Here’s one way to make dessert look as sweet as it tastes: Turn a batch of brownies into delicious “dirt” for mini flower pots. It’s a fun playdate activity and the finished flowerpot can be an extra special afterschool snack, or a favor that doubles as decor for a shower or birthday party. If you don’t have mini flower pots, you can use ramekins, muffin cups, mugs, or any other vessel, or plant a field’s worth of flowers in a brownie pan. I used the avocado brownie recipe from Tiffani Theissen’s cookbook, Pull Up a Chair, which seemed fitting for a flowerpot dessert—talk about a “green” thumb. Tiffani and I exchanged books and were inspired to try some of each other’s projects, putting our own spin on them—here, the brownies are separated into flower pots and topped with my daisy illustrations which are turned into cupcake toppers.
Once you’ve got the “pot” and “dirt” ready, you can plant anything you can imagine. Use our paper daisy template (tape them onto toothpicks to work as cupcake toppers), draw your own flower cupcake toppers, or design a different garden to grow out of the brownies—you could use herbs instead of paper flowers, or decorate with gummi worms and critters.
Here’s how to make the recipe:
You’ll Need:
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon espresso powder
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 ½ cups packed light brown sugar
- ½ very ripe avocado, pureed in a blender until smooth
- 4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, melted
- 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, melted
How To:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and spray it with cooking spray.
Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
Step 3: In a medium bowl, whisk ½ cup of the granulated sugar and the eggs until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in pure vanilla and espresso powder. Set aside.
Step 4: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, remaining 1 cup granulated sugar, and the brown sugar on medium speed until combined. Add the avocado purée and mix until well combined. Add the egg mixture in three additions, beating well after each. Reduce the speed to low and gently mix in the melted chocolate. Add the flour mixture in batches until blended, taking care to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. The batter will be thick.
Step 5: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let the brownies cool before cutting and serving.
And if brownies aren’t your favorite treat, just get creative! Once you’ve downloaded our daisy template and cut out the flowers, the possibilities are endless: You can turn them into cake or cupcake toppers, plant a field’s worth in a brownie pan, or stick the stems into “pots” of chocolate pudding. Here’s how to turn a batch of brownies (or cake or cupcakes) into “flower pots.”
You’ll Need
- Daisy Cupcake Topper Template
- White Paper
- Scissors
- Skewers or toothpicks
- Tape
- A pan’s worth of brownies
- Mini flower pots or other containers
How-to
Step 1: Bake brownies in the pan of your choice, then cut into circles to fit your vessels. There’s no need to be fussy about the circles—as the brownies crumble, they’ll look more like dirt!
Step 2: Download Daisy Cupcake Topper Template, print onto white paper, cut out, and tape onto a toothpick or skewer.
Step 3: Spear the toothpick into the pot to “plant” your daisy.
For more flower-themed food, decor, crafts, and games, click here.
