This Honey Roasted Cornflake Brownies recipe takes your average boxed brownies to a whole new level of decadence. With a fudgy brownie base, smooth chocolate ganache, and a crispy, sweet-and-salty cornflake topping, this dessert strikes the perfect balance of textures and flavors. Ready in just about an hour, it’s an impressive treat that requires minimal effort – perfect for satisfying those chocolate cravings or wowing guests at your next gathering!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Simple Yet Impressive: Uses a boxed brownie mix as the base but transforms it into something extraordinary with just a few extra steps.
Irresistible Texture Contrast: The fudgy brownies, silky ganache, and crispy honeyed cornflakes create an amazing textural experience in every bite.
Sweet and Salty Perfection: The honey-roasted cornflakes with sea salt balance the rich chocolate wonderfully, preventing the dessert from being overly sweet.
Customizable: Easy to adapt based on your preferences – use different brownie mixes or chocolate varieties to make it your own.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Brownie Box Mix: The foundation of our dessert – choose your favorite brand for best results. The butter and egg called for on the box make these brownies richer than when using oil.
Chocolate Chips: The backbone of our ganache – use high-quality chips for the smoothest, most flavorful result. Semi-sweet works perfectly, but dark or milk chocolate can work too depending on your preference.
Heavy Cream: Creates that silky-smooth ganache texture and helps achieve the perfect consistency for both layers.
Cornflakes: Provides that spectacular crunch factor that contrasts with the fudgy brownies. Make sure they’re fresh for maximum crispness.
Honey: Coats the cornflakes with natural sweetness and helps them caramelize in the oven. Go for pure honey for the best flavor.
Flaked Sea Salt: Adds that gourmet touch and balances the sweetness with subtle pops of saltiness. Don’t substitute table salt here – the texture and flavor of flaked sea salt is essential.

Variations

Different Brownie Bases

Try using a dark chocolate brownie mix, or even a blondie base for a different flavor profile. For the truly ambitious, use your favorite homemade brownie recipe!

Flavor Twists

Add a teaspoon of espresso powder to the brownie mix to enhance the chocolate flavor, or mix in some orange zest for a chocolate-orange combination.

Cereal Swaps

Not a fan of cornflakes? Try using Rice Krispies, Cheerios, or even crushed pretzels for the crunchy topping. Each will bring its own unique texture.

Extra Indulgence

Fold some chocolate chunks, butterscotch chips, or chopped nuts into the brownie batter before baking for an extra layer of flavor and texture.

How to Make Honey Roasted Cornflake Brownies

Step 1: Prepare the Brownies

Preheat your oven according to the brownie box instructions. Mix the brownie batter as directed, substituting melted butter for the oil called for on the box. Pour into an 8×8 or 9×9 inch baking pan and bake according to package directions. Allow to cool completely.

Step 2: Make the Chocolate Ganache

Combine the chocolate chips and 1/3 cup cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute, then whisk until smooth and glossy. If lumps remain, microwave for an additional 30 seconds. Set aside 1/3 of the ganache and add the additional 3 tablespoons of cream to this portion, whisking until well combined.

Step 3: Layer the Brownies with Ganache

Spread 2/3 of the ganache (the thicker portion) evenly over the cooled brownies, creating a smooth layer. Set aside while preparing the cornflakes.

Step 4: Make the Honey Roasted Cornflakes

Spread the cornflakes on a baking sheet and drizzle with honey. Stir until all flakes are well coated. Bake at 350°F for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with flaked sea salt, and toss to distribute. Return to the oven for another 5 minutes until golden and crispy.

Step 5: Assemble the Final Layers

Working quickly while the cornflakes are still hot, spread them evenly over the ganache layer, gently pressing them into the chocolate. Immediately drizzle the remaining thinned ganache over the cornflakes, allowing it to drip down between the cereal pieces.

Step 6: Set and Serve

Allow the brownies to cool completely at room temperature before cutting into squares. This ensures clean cuts and allows all the layers to set properly.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

Cool the Brownies Completely: Patience is key! Make sure the brownies are completely cool before adding the ganache to prevent it from melting or becoming too thin.
Work Quickly with the Cornflakes: They become harder to spread evenly once they start cooling, so have your ganache-covered brownies ready before removing the cornflakes from the oven.
Cutting Clean Slices: Use a sharp knife dipped in hot water and wiped clean between cuts for the neatest brownie squares.
Ganache Consistency: If your ganache seems too thick, add a touch more cream. If it’s too thin, let it cool slightly to thicken up.

How to Serve

Perfect Pairings

These brownies are rich and decadent on their own, but they pair wonderfully with:

A cold glass of milk
Vanilla ice cream for an over-the-top dessert
Hot coffee or espresso to balance the sweetness

Presentation Ideas

Dust with a light sprinkle of cocoa powder just before serving
Add a small dollop of whipped cream for special occasions
Serve on a platter with fresh berries for color contrast

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store these brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. The cornflakes will gradually soften but will still provide textural contrast.

Freezing

These brownies freeze surprisingly well! Wrap individual pieces tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 1 month. The cornflake topping won’t be quite as crispy after thawing, but they’ll still be delicious.

Reheating

For that fresh-baked experience, microwave an individual brownie for 10-15 seconds to slightly warm the chocolate (but not so much that the ganache melts completely).

Note: These brownies are actually best enjoyed within the first 24 hours when the contrast between the crispy cornflakes and fudgy brownie is at its peak.

FAQs

Can I use a different cereal instead of cornflakes?
Absolutely! While cornflakes provide an ideal crunch and neutral flavor that pairs well with honey, you can experiment with other cereals. Rice Krispies, Cheerios, or even corn Chex would work well. Just keep an eye on them while baking as different cereals may brown faster.

My ganache seems too thick. What should I do?
Ganache consistency depends on the chocolate-to-cream ratio and the type of chocolate used. If your ganache is too thick to spread easily, simply add more warm cream, one tablespoon at a time, whisking after each addition until you reach your desired consistency.

Can I make these brownies from scratch instead of using a box mix?
Definitely! If you have a favorite homemade brownie recipe, feel free to use that as the base. Just make sure it’s a recipe that produces fudgy rather than cakey brownies, as the dense texture works best with the other layers.

How do I know when the cornflakes are properly roasted?
The cornflakes should be noticeably golden and fragrant when properly roasted. They’ll still be slightly pliable when hot but will crisp up as they cool. Be careful not to over-roast them as they can quickly go from golden to burnt.

Final Thoughts

These Honey Roasted Cornflake Brownies are what happens when you take a simple dessert and transform it into something extraordinary with just a few clever additions. The combination of fudgy chocolate, smooth ganache, and crispy, sweet-salty cornflakes creates a treat that’s impossible to resist. They’re perfect for those times when you want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen. Give them a try – I promise they’ll become a new favorite in your dessert rotation!

Honey Roasted Cornflake Brownies Recipe