Frosted earl grey brownies baked in a loaf pan and topped with rose petals for a romantic Valentine’s Day dessert for two! Adapted from the Best Ever Frosted Brownies from Sweet & Simple by Christina Lane, these brownies are exactly that with the perfect chewy balance between fudgy and cakey.
The base for these earl grey brownies comes from my friend Christina’s newest cookbook Sweet & Simple. When a brownie boasts as “Best Ever Frosted Brownies” you should probably pull out the cocoa powder and preheat the oven. No questions asked.
In her cookbook (and on her blog), Christina scales down her recipes for small batches. This pan makes 8 brownies, or by Christina’s math, two servings – SHE GETS ME. Sweet & Simple is filled with perfectly-tested classic desserts and a few uniquely decadent flavor pairings – all with simple recipe steps and all scaled down for small servings. Just as I did here with these earl grey brownies, many of these foolproof recipes are the perfect canvas for adding your own spin without worrying about having to dump out a huge batch of brownies.
I took her best ever frosted brownies and swapped out the all-purpose flour for a buckwheat flour blend to turn the brownies gluten-free and mixed in ground earl grey tea to give them my own twist. Christina wasn’t lying – these frosted brownies are the best ever. Chewy, fudgy, and cakey all at once.
Buckwheat’s chocolatey notes enhanced the cocoa’s richness and paired brilliantly with the citrusy earl grey infusion. I used to think chocolate was such an assertive flavor that it would overpower anything you mixed in that wasn’t equally as aggressive. These brownies debunk that belief – they’re are kissed with subtle notes of earl grey tea that are still pungent enough to alter the flavor profile of the entire brownie with hints of bergamot. The rose petals thrown on top add floral aromatics that fancy up the brownies into a Valentine’s Day-worthy dessert.
I drink tea as soon as I wake up, so I vote you just go head a serve up an earl grey brownie breakfast-in-bed for two (or one…). Just make sure you’ve got a foaming cup of Todd’s stunning rose earl grey tea latte on the side.
The small serving size is also great for folks with no self control around chocolate (ahem: me). You’re just one cookbook and one pan away from homemade brownie perfection, y’all! This book beefs up your Valentine’s Day game like woah – pre-order your copy to ship on February 7th! Then make her perfect sugar cookies (I did) and lemon matcha cake roll (I will), and once you’ve done that, will you be my Valentine?
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- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon buckwheat flour
- 3 tablespoons sweet rice flour
- 1 tablespoon tapioca starch
- 2 tablespoons loose-leaf earl gray tea, finely ground in a coffee grinder (1 tablespoon ground)
- ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature
- ½ cup cocoa powder (I used Rodelle organic dutch-processed cocoa)
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons organic cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used Rodelle organic)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg
- Optional: dried edible rose petals, for decoration
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons loose-leaf earl gray tea, finely ground in a coffee grinder (1 tablespoon ground)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2-3 tablespoons milk or cream
- Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a 9-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the buckwheat flour, sweet rice flour, tapioca starch, and ground earl grey and set aside.
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the butter, cocoa powder, and sugar. Microwave at full powder for 30 seconds. Stir the mixture and microwave again for another 30 seconds. Stir again and add one more 30-second interval if the butter isn't mostly melted. Let it cool for 1 minute.
- Stir in the vanilla and salt.
- Stir in the egg.
- Add the flour mix and stir vigorously for about 1 minute or 50 strokes.
- Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. The surface should appear dry and potentially starting to crack. Remove from oven and let cool completely before frosting (if you're impatient like me, let the brownies cool for 5 minutes in the pan and then chill for 10 minutes or so).
- Meanwhile prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter until soft. Sift together the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and tea. Add to the butter and beat until combined, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the vanilla and salt and beat until just combined. Slowly add milk or cream, beating as you go, until the frosting is spreadable.
- Once the brownies are cool, frost, top with dried rose petals, and serve.
Abby @ Heart of a Baker -
I just got Christina’s book and I’m already in LOVE! The chocolate peanut butter cookies are damn good and I appreciate that she keeps me from eating an entire pan of brownies in one sitting. Loving the rose petals girl, so good!
Tieghan -
These look an sound incredible. I am on a huge earl grey and rose kick right now. Such cozy flavors! Can’t wait to make these brownies and for Christina’s book!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean -
What a fabulous recipe, and I’ve gotta get my hands on Christina’s book. I’m forever making too much (although my neighbor doesn’t think so). The rose petals make this a romantic brownie… so pretty and the floral notes they add, delicious! Your last photograph with the bite? I’m melting :D
Allyson (Considering The Radish) -
I love everything about this post- the reasonable serving size, the beautiful photos, the earl grey and rose used in the brownies, and the suggestion you eat brownies for breakfast with tea. Everything.
christine desroches -
I like this logic/math (serves 2) and seeing those rose petals over frosted brownies has me absolutely swooning. So so pretty, I’m in love.
Karen @ The Food Charlatan -
why can’t all brownies have a touch of pink?
Joyce @ Sun Diego Eats -
THEY’RE SO PRETTY.
(also, the buckwheat would be so nice in a brownie!)
Carla -
I would like to vouch for these brownies. Christina was right, you’re right, and I’m right. EVERYONE IS RIGHT. PEOPLE SHOULD JUST MAKE THEM.
(Also, get a friend like Sarah who makes you an on-the-go snack of leftover frosting in a plastic baggie. She knows what’s up.)
Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life -
I LOVE Christina’s recipes! And her cookbooks make the best gift (ahem, fiance, ahem <– that would be a hint I am going to drop tonight when I am "accidentally" looking at Amazon).
These brownies are probably the most beautiful I have ever seen! I love the infusion of earl grey tea with the chocolate (chocolate and tea – winning combination) and the rose petals on top (insert heart eye emoji). I think I know what I'm whipping up for Valentine's Day dessert this year!
Angela -
These brownies are beautiful! I love the addition of the rose petals and the fact it’s gluten free.
Marissa -
I adore Christina and her recipes. So excited to check out her new book – these brownies look like perfection. Love the deep, rich chocolate, Earl Grey (hello cardamom!) and the beauty and hint of floral from the rose petals.
Gabriela -
These are so elegant and beautiful! Cannot wait to try them! This may be a silly question, but where do you usually find culinary rose petals? Thank you!
Sarah Menanix -
I found mine at the local herb company (where they sell all kinds of bulk herbs and teas), but I’ve also seen them at natural groceries or organic markets in the herbal medicine area or near the tea. You can also get them online!
Gabriela -
Thank you, Sarah!
Katie @ Katiebird Bakes -
Oh my, these are so beautiful! I love your photography. I’ve never baked with buckwheat flour but now I really want to!
Conor -
This looks amazing! Would I substitute the same amount of various flours/starch with all purpose flour if I wanted to go gluten-full, or should I adjust the amounts?
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you!! Christina’s original recipe uses just 1/2 cup all purpose flour, so sub out the first three ingredients with that for a gluten-full version! <3
Deliposts -
these are stunning! I Love brownies (I always need more brownies in my life!) :P thanks for sharing this recipe. May God Bless you. :)