So you have made a perfect batch of brownies, which are crackly on the top and fudgy on the inside. But how to get them out?
This is one issue that many home bakers face when trying to put on the perfect tray of rectangular brownies. When removing the treats from their baking pan, they tend to crack or break due to their delicate composition. And while brownies are yummy no matter how they look, presentation is important.
Since you are here, it’s safe to assume you’d like to learn how to remove brownies from the pan perfectly, and that is exactly what the following will teach you to do.
Making Your Brownies Come out of the Pan Cleanly
There can be a number of reasons as to why your brownies are sticking to the pan—starting from the type of pan you used to some methods that you might have overlooked, all of which are discussed below.
1. Using the Right Type of Pan
For brownies, you want to use a pan that is no more than 9 inches wide or long. This will ensure a good height and proper baking time. The best types of pan to bake brownies in are metal pans and non-stick pans.
A metal pan that has been greased properly before pouring in the batter ensures thorough and even baking of the brownies. This means that the center and edge parts cook at the same rate, making it so that none of the brownie pieces stick to the pan.
Though non-stick pans produce brownies that are chewy in the center while being a bit crunchier on the edges, none of the brownies stick to the pan. Of course, you should still grease your non-stick pan before pouring in the brownie batter, and then you can rest assured that they will come off the pan nice and easy.
On the other hand, baking brownies in a foil or glass pan can be trickier, and the removal process won’t be as easy either. Both types of pans will need to be greased and floured heavily to ensure an easy removal process. Even then, some pieces might stick unless you let them cool for at least an hour before cutting.
2. Preparing the Pan Properly
No matter what type of pan you use, do not expect to get away with not greasing or flouring it at all. Even non-stick baking pans will need some amount of prep before you bake the brownies in them.
Start by greasing your pan thoroughly. You can use butter, cooking spray, or shortening to do this. Make sure you grease the bottom, sides, as well as edges of your pan properly.
Next, take a tablespoon of flour and sprinkle that onto your pan evenly. Again, make sure every bit of the pan is covered. Turn the pan upside down to get rid of the excess.
You can also use parchment paper or aluminum foil to prevent your brownies from sticking to the pan. Cut out a piece that covers the inside of the pan and also extends over the edges by a couple of inches. Carefully press the paper/foil into the pan’s corners and edges, and then pour in the brownie batter evenly.
3. Heating the Baking Pan
It might happen that you have greased and floured your pan properly, but the brownies are still sticking to it. In that case, turn on your stove and set it to low heat. Place the pan on it and let it warm up for a minute or so.
This will help the grease (which might have solidified during the cooling process) melt, and so the brownie cake will come off easily.
You can also do this if you somehow forgot to grease your pan before baking, as it will release some of the oil or butter in the brownie itself and help it separate from the bottom of the pan.
Some Tips and Tricks to Remove Brownies from Pan
You should be set for making perfect brownies that don’t stick the pan with the above guidelines. However, there are some other little things you can do to make the job even better.
1. Using Cocoa Powder as Flouring
If you want your brownies to have an even more chocolatey flavor, you can flour the pan using sweetened cocoa powder (or a mixture of cocoa powder and sugar). As always, cover the entire inside parts of the pan and tip it upside down to remove the extra cocoa powder.
2. Cooling the Brownies before Cutting/Serving
When you bake your brownies in a glass pan or a foil pan, you will need to cool them for at least an hour before you can cut into them and serve. So you should definitely count that in when planning your baking schedule.
Even if you use the right type of baking pan, you still need to let your brownie cake cool for a quarter of an hour before you try to remove it from the pan directly or cut it into pieces while it’s still in the pan.
Proper greasing and flouring of the pan make it heaps easier to remove the baked brownies. But following the cooling process is just as important to get brownies to not stick to the pan during removal.
If you have used parchment paper to make the removal process easy, you need to first let your brownies cool for about 10 minutes while they are still in the pan.
Then, using the parchment paper to lift up the brownie cake, place it on a wire rack until it’s cool enough (usually another 20 minutes). This way, the paper will not stick to the brownie when you try to take it off.
3. Using Foil Paper as Lining
If you have added extra bits to your brownie batter, like fruits or nuts or chocolate chunks, then it is best to use foil paper to line your baking pan instead of parchment paper.
Unlike parchment paper (which is quite delicate), foil paper will be able to support the weight added because of the toppings, and the brownie cake will not break or cave in when you lift it out of the pan.
4. No Wasted Brownie
If none of the above methods help you remove your brownies cleanly from their pan, do not think it is a lost cause. You can still repurpose your brownies and make a different but equally delicious dessert.
One of the easiest things to make would be cake pops. Simply crumble up your brownies, butter up your hands, and roll them into balls. Use some frosting to cover them and put in some sticks. You can also top the cake pops off using crushed candy.
In case you don’t have sticks at home, that’s nothing to worry about either. Just pass the cake pops off as truffles by sprinkling some confectioner’s sugar and cocoa powder on top of them.
Another good save would be a layered dessert. In a clear glass serving cup, layer brownie bits, chopped up fruits, and whipped cream. Make sure you start with a thick layer of the brownie and end with fruits on top of the cream. Prepare as many of these as you need for your guests, and it’s sure to be a hit.
Conclusion
If you follow the tips and steps detailed above properly, you can easily bake yourself a perfect batch of delicious brownies. And with that, the task of how to remove brownies from the pan should be a piece of cake for you, too!