These delicious Fudgy Instant Pot Brownies are a quick and easy Instant Pot dessert in a jar, sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Topped with ice cream, they make a delicious Instant Pot Brownie Sundae. [Instant Pot and oven instructions included.]
Table of Contents
Introduction
It’s summer in Salt Lake City and that means that after a cold, snowy winter, we live every summer day to its fullest. My family spends lots of time outdoors: hiking, gardening, grilling, and eating al fresco.
Summertime also means I try and limit the use of my oven. Cooling the house down with the air conditioner and then heating it up with an oven makes absolutely no sense, especially since we trying to conserve energy.
This is where our outdoor grill and Instant Pot come in handy.
The Instant Pot pressure cooker doesn’t heat the house up and it does a great job of making desserts. Instant Pot Brownies in mason jars are a welcome treat to cool you off on a hot summer day, but you don’t have to limit them to summer: they are delicious any time of year!
I make these Instant Pot brownies using the pot-in-pot (PIP) method. Pot-in-pot is a very convenient Instant Pot pressure cooker technique that involves adding water to the Instant Pot and cooking your dish in a separate oven-safe container that’s placed on a trivet.
The technique uses the steam of the water to create pressure and cook the dish, without having to add liquid to the dish itself. PIP is especially great for pressure cooker desserts like cheesecakes, lava cakes, custards, and for dishes like lasagna or casseroles.
This recipe is a great option when you’re looking for an Instant Pot dessert for two!
[Read More: The Secrets to Pot in Pot Cooking]
Here are some other Instant Pot dessert recipes:
– Instant Pot Cupcakes
– Instant Pot Air Fryer Pound Cake
– Instant Pot Peach Crisp
– Instant Pot Oreo Cheesecake
Tips and Substitutions
Mason jars
For these Instant Pot brownies, I use 7 tall half-pint mason jars filled to half-height. With the ice cream, it’s a very satisfying amount of brownie. You can fill the jars more than halfway, in which case you’ll need fewer jars. These Instant Pot Brownies look gorgeous when served a la mode (with a scoop of ice cream) and topped with your favorite toppings.
Creme de menthe
The recipe includes Andes creme de menthe chocolate mint candies. If you love mint, like I do, you’ll be in heaven! If you’re not a fan of mint flavoring, you can substitute chocolate chips or even omit them altogether.
Trivet
You’ll need a trivet to place the mason jars on. I use the trivet that comes with the Instant Pot and has handles. [Learn more: What is a trivet and what are its uses?]
Condensation
I cover the jars lightly with aluminum foil to prevent condensation from dripping into the jars. Be careful to avoid a steam burn when you remove the aluminum foil and the jars from the Instant Pot.
Sealing ring
If you have a sealing ring that you primarily use for savory dishes, you might want to get a second sealing ring for making Instant Pot desserts. These color-coded sealing rings are great for keeping track of which is the savory one and which is the dessert one!
My original sealing ring retains the odors of foods I’ve cooked and no matter what I try, I haven’t succeeded in completely getting the smells out. I use my second sealing ring for Instant Pot desserts, oatmeal, and other non-savory dishes.
FAQS
You can use larger jars but you’ll need to increase the pressure cooking time by a bit.
Yes, you can substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips for the baking chocolate (same weight). Reduce the sugar by a bit.
All Instant Pot models and other brands of pressure cookers such as Ninja Foodi can be used to make this recipe.
Yes, you can make this brownie recipe in the Instant Pot mini. Use the same cooking time.
Yes, you should be able to make the recipe in an 8-quart Instant Pot.
Yes, the recipe can be doubled without changing the cooking time. You’ll need a bigger Instant Pot though.
Yes, you can reduce the recipe e.g. halve it, but keep the same cooking time.
If you’re new to the Instant Pot and aren’t familiar with how to use it, you might find it helpful to first read one of the following guides and then come back here to learn how to make this recipe.
- Instant Pot DUO Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot ULTRA Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO EVO PLUS Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO NOVA Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO GOURMET Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot DUO CRISP Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot PRO Beginner’s Manual
- Instant Pot PRO CRISP Beginner’s Manual
Instant Pot Brownie Ingredients
- Butter
- Eggs
- Bittersweet chocolate
- Flour
- Salt (Error in image, should say salt instead of sugar!)
- Coffee
- Vanilla
- Andes mints
- Sugar
More details in the recipe card at the bottom of this post
How to Make Brownies in the Instant Pot (Step by Step Instructions)
- Spray jars with oil; combine flour, salt, coffee; beat eggs
- Melt butter and chocolate; add sugar
- Add eggs and vanilla; add flour; add creme de menthe
- Transfer batter to jars; add water to inner pot
- Place jars on trivet and cover with foil
- Pressure cook
- Release pressure
- Cool jars on cooling rack
- Top with desired toppings
Spray jars, combine flour salt coffee, beat eggs
- Lightly spray the insides of the mason jars with cooking spray.
- Stir together flour, salt, instant coffee granules; set aside.
- Beat eggs with a whisk; set aside.
Melt butter and chocolate, add sugar
- Microwave chocolate and butter in a small bowl for 30 seconds. Stir and repeat heating at 15-second intervals, until the chocolate mixture is melted and smooth.
- Whisk in sugar.
Add eggs and vanilla, add flour, add creme de menthe
- Whisk in eggs and vanilla.
- Stir in flour mixture.
- Stir in chopped creme de menthe candies (if using.)
Transfer batter to jars, add water to inner pot
- Mix batter until combined.
- Divide batter among prepared mason jars.
- Pour 1 cup of water in the Instant Pot.
Place jars on trivet and cover with foil
- Place a trivet in the Instant Pot.
- Place the mason jars on the trivet.
- Loosely cover the mason jars with a piece of aluminum foil, to prevent condensation from dripping in the brownies.
Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cook 20 minutes
- Close the lid and make sure steam release handle is in ‘Sealing’ position
- Press Manual (or Pressure Cook) and ‘+’ or ‘-‘ until the display reads ‘20′ (20 minutes).
Instant Pot Ultra Pressure Cook 20 minutes
- Close the lid.
- Select Pressure Cook mode and adjust the time to 20 minutes (00:20).
- Press Start.
Pressure Cooking Process (Duo and Ultra)
- Instant Pot display will change to On.
- Once the Instant Pot is pressurized, the float valve will go up.
- The display will count down to 0; it will then switch to Keep Warm mode and display L0:00 or 00 00 and begin to count up the number of minutes since pressure cooking completed.
How to Quick Release Pressure (QR) on the DUO
- Move the steam release handle to Venting. Steam will come out of the steam release handle.
- When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.
- Press Cancel and open the Instant Pot.
How to Quick Release Pressure (QR) on the ULTRA
- Press down on the Steam Release Button until it locks into place, and steam begins to come out of the Steam Release Valve.
- When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.
- Press Cancel and open the Instant Pot.
[Find out more about the pressure release methods and how and when to use them. ]
Cool jars on cooling rack
- When cool enough to handle, carefully remove the aluminum foil from the Instant Pot, being careful to watch out for the steam.
- Carefully remove the mason jars from the Instant Pot.
- If there is any condensation on the top of the brownies, carefully dab with a paper towel.
- Allow to cool on trivet or cooling rack.
Serve with desired toppings
- Serve topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and garnish with mint leaves, chocolate shavings, chocolate sauce, berries or nuts.
Oven Instructions for Brownies
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Follow instructions for Instant Pot brownie recipe except bake in oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
See the recipe card below for detailed instructions.
Instant Pot Brownie Sundaes
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp instant coffee
- 2 eggs at room temperature
- 4 oz. bittersweet chocolate chopped
- 1 butter 1 stick (1/2 cup)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4.67 oz. creme de menthe candies (1 package), coarsely chopped (e.g. Andes brand)
- Vanilla ice cream
- Chocolate sauce , chocolate shavings, berries, nuts (for toppings), optional
Instructions
Brownie Batter
- Lightly spray the insides of 7 half-pint mason jars with cooking spray.
- Stir together flour, salt, instant coffee granules; set aside.
- Lightly beat eggs with a whisk; set aside.
- Microwave chocolate and butter in a small bowl for 30 seconds. Stir and repeat heating at 15-second intervals, until the chocolate mixture is melted and smooth.
- Whisk in sugar.
- Whisk in eggs and vanilla.
- Stir in flour mixture.
- Stir in chopped creme de menthe candies (if using.)
- Divide batter among prepared mason jars.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Pour 1 cup of water in the Instant Pot and place a trivet in the Instant Pot.
- Place the mason jars on the trivet and loosely cover the mason jars with a piece of aluminum foil, to prevent condensation from dripping in the brownies.
- Close the Instant Pot Lid and pressure cook on High Pressure for 20 minutes.
- Do a quick release of pressure. [Read More: The Different Pressure Release Methods].
- Press Cancel and open the lid. When cool enough to handle, carefully remove the aluminum foil from the Instant Pot, being careful to watch out for the steam.
- Carefully remove the mason jars from the Instant Pot.
- If there is any condensation on the top of the brownies, carefully dab with a paper towel.
- Allow to cool on trivet or cooling rack.
- Serve topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and garnish with mint leaves, chocolate shavings, berries or nuts.
Oven Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare brownie batter as above.
- Place mason jars on a baking sheet.
- Bake the mason jar brownies for 35 to 40 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick.
- Allow the brownies to cool on a cooling rack for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Serve topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and garnish with mint leaves, chocolate shavings, berries or nuts.
Notes
- Prep time does not include steps that are already accounted for in the ingredient list, e.g. chopped mints, etc.
- See the blog post for more detailed recipe tips.
Nutrition
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I am not a certified nutritionist. I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers. If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons, I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.
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Julie McCulloch
I’m a diabetic and have substitutions for everything except for the chocolate. In some keto recipes I’ve seen cocoa powder used intsead of chocolate. If I wanted to sub the cocoa powder, do you have any advice on what i might need to add or increase to compensate? I’m new to IP’s and baking in general, so I’m really clueless. TIA.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Julie, I’ve not tried it but I have read that to replace each ounce of unsweetened chocolate, use 3 tablespoons cocoa powder plus 1 tablespoon butter. Hope that helps!
Sarah
Could I use semi-sweet choclate chips in place of the bittersweet chocolate? I have those on hand 🙂
Paint the Kitchen Red
Sarah – did you end up trying it out. Sorry, I was camping this weekend and had no wifi to answer your question! I haven’t tried chocolate chips, but I think they would work if they are the same weight.
Debbie
Would it work to put in 4 pint sized jars for 20 min? I have big boys to feed.
Paint the Kitchen Red
Debbie, just to let you know – they’re pretty rich! That’s a great question, and I’m not sure about the answer. I think since the jars will be wider, you might need to increase the pressure cooking time by a few minutes. Maybe cook for 20 minutes, quick release and check the doneness and if needed, pressure cook on ‘manual’ mode for another 3 minutes. Let me know how it works for you and thanks for your comment.
Brandy
I loved these mint brownies. I made them is custard cups and they turned out great – we ate them plain, without ice cream while they were still warm!
Lindsay Wilner
This is a summer must. Thanks for the clever recipes. Keep them coming. I am a big fan!