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Can You Bake Brownies Without An Oven?
As a general rule, you can bake brownies without using an oven. There are many alternative ways to bake brownies without an oven. These alternatives include using a stove top, a toaster oven, an air fryer, a microwave, a pressure cooker, and even a Dutch oven.
Whether you’re on a camping trip, staying at a hotel, or simply don’t want to turn on your oven, there are many reasons why you might be looking for substitutes for the oven in order to make brownies.
Fortunately, there are many alternative ways you can bake a batch of brownies using a variety of methods. Keep reading to learn how to enjoy a batch of brownies without using the oven!
8 Best Ways To Bake Brownies Without An Oven
Below are the 8 different ways to bake brownies without an oven:
*By the way, I recently came across the perfect Brownie Pan that slices the brownies into pieces without the hustle! This Metallic Professional Slice Solutions Brownie Pan is 9 inches by 13 inches and will help get your brownies out of the pan much easier! You can check out this Brownie Pan on Amazon!
Make No-Bake Brownies
Generally speaking, you can make no-bake brownies without using an oven. No-bake brownies can be made using cocoa powder, maple syrup, and cocoa powder. Combine these ingredients until they are well mixed and roll the batter into equally-sized balls. Place in the fridge for an hour to set.
No-bake brownies are a favorite treat to make and give away, especially around the holidays. You can even customize them by adding chopped walnuts, peppermint candy, and chocolate chips!
Typically, no-bake brownie recipes require a binding agent, like maple syrup while combining it with cocoa powder and condensed milk.
There are no-bake brownie recipes everywhere that you can try for yourself. YummyKitchenTV offers a great recipe and here’s what they say about no-bake brownies:
“Baking brownies without an oven is really not complicated.””It was amazing how the traditionally baked brownies now can be done at home without an oven and still produces great results.”
YummyKitchenTV
The secret to creating the perfect no-bake brownie is to allow the portioned-out pieces to cool for at least an hour in the fridge. I love to experiment with no-bake brownie methods, especially if I don’t feel like using my oven.
*Side Note: I recently wrote an article about The Best Ways To Fix Undercooked Brownies. This article breaks down how to correctly fix underbaked brownies in different places. You can check out this article here!
Use A Toaster Oven
As a general rule, you can use a toaster oven instead of an oven to bake brownies. Set the toaster oven to 350ºF. Pour the thoroughly mixed wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well. Place the batter into a lined tray and bake for 15 minutes. Slowly remove them from the tray and enjoy.
The steps used with a toaster oven are very similar to those steps used in a full-sized oven.
Make sure your toaster oven’s temperature setting is accurate though, as many of them can be off by fifty degrees or more!
Another word of advice is to try to position the tray not too close to the top or bottom heat source, as doing this could cause it to burn and ruin your batch of brownies. Also, make sure you grease your brownie pan thoroughly in order to keep them from sticking to the sides.
*Side Note: I recently wrote an article about How To Remove Brownies Out of The Pan Without Breaking. This article breaks down the step-by-step process of safely removing brownies from their pans. You can check out this article here!
Use An Air Fryer
Generally speaking, you can use an air fryer instead of an oven to bake brownies. Pour the batter into a pan that’s lined with parchment paper. Set the fryer to 340º Fahrenheit, and the timer for fourteen minutes.
If you’ve got an air fryer handy, you can use it as an alternative to creating brownies.
Make sure you’ve lined a small cake pan that is able to fit inside your fryer. Pour your mixed ingredients inside the lined pan and set your fryer to 340 degrees.
Air fryers are one of the quickest ways to make brownies, so set your timer for fourteen minutes! Another great thing about this method is that it can create that deliciously crispy outer layer that you crave!
I recently wrote an article where I talk about the 4 Best Air Fryers on the market right now. Click on this article if you’re looking for a throughout breakdown of these 4 air fryers.
I personally use and recommend the COSORI Smart Wifi Air Fryer. This air fryer has served me for many years and works great for warming up your delicious cookies. This air fryer even has an app that alerts me every time my baked goods are ready while connecting to my Alexa or Google Assistant. Check out this Air Fryer on Amazon!
Use A Microwave
In general, you can use a microwave instead of an oven to bake mug brownies. Combine all brownie ingredients into a microwave-safe mug and stir the mixture until it becomes smooth and creamy. Add chocolate chips and place in the microwave for about a minute and a half. Let it cool and enjoy.
Mug brownies can be created in under a minute using the microwave. Mug brownies are all the rage nowadays due to how easy they are to create! Ceramic mugs tend to work the best when it comes to mug brownies.
Make sure the mug you choose is also deep enough to allow for the ingredients to rise.
Combine your brownie ingredients and pour them into the mug. Set your microwave on high for about one to two minutes. Mug brownies dramatically cut down the amount of cooking time and create the perfect, personal-sized treat for one!
*By the way, to save even more time, I found this amazing brownie pan that pre-cuts your brownies! The Non-Stick Brownie Baking Pan with Dividers cuts my time down AND prevents any of my brownies from breaking! You can find them on Amazon!
Use A Stove Top
You can use a stovetop instead of an oven to make brownies. Pour the combined ingredients into a cake pan that fits inside a larger skillet. Place a plate inside the pan upside down and rest the covered cake pan on top. Fill the pan with water and heat it up, allowing the brownies to steam for 1.5 hours.
This creative method creates the most decadent, moist brownies because they are steam baked. It’s also a really easy method once you get the hang of it.
The main things to keep in mind are to use a pan that is small enough to fit inside your skillet and to find a plate that the pan can rest on during the process.
Here’s a great video showing exactly how to bake brownies using a frying pan:
When filling the skillet with water, just allow the water to reach the top of the overturned plate. That will be enough to allow the brownies to steam. Also, be sure to use oven mitts when they’re done, and be careful not to scald yourself with the steam!
*Side Note: You might also want to know How To Bake A Cake In A Water Bath. I recently wrote an article about The Do’s and Dont’s of Baking A Cake In A Water Bath. You can find this article here!
Use A Slow Cooker
Generally speaking, you can use a low cooker instead of an oven to make brownies. Spray the inside of the cooker with nonstick spray. Pour the mixture inside, ensuring it settles evenly. Cover the top and allow it to cook for two to three hours.
I love slow cookers because they can be a major time saver when you’ve got a lot on your plate but still need to prepare meals throughout the week. They’re also a great alternative way to whip up a batch of brownies if you have other things to do but are craving a sweet treat.
Be sure to spray the inside of your slow cooker down with cooking oil.
Prepare the mix and pour it inside, making sure you’ve smoothed the mixture out. Set your slow cooker on high and let it bake for about two hours before checking on it.
Depending on your slow cooker, they may be ready after two hours or they might take a little longer. You can also customize them with chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or sprinkles!
*By the way, I have been trying to find a great Slow Cooker for all of my kitchen needs and I recently came across an 8 Quart Programmable Crock-Pot Slow Cooker with Digital Countdown Timer that worked great for me! You can check out this Slow Cooker on Amazon!
Use A Pressure Cooker
In general, you can use a pressure cooker instead of an oven to make brownies. Pour the mixture evenly into a pan that fits inside the cooker. Add a cup of water and place the trivet down. Place the pan inside and lock the lid. Set the timer for 15 minutes or until the brownies have formed a crust.
The pressure cooker method can work in a pinch if you don’t have an oven handy. It does take a bit longer and the top of your brownies will have a different texture when using this method, but they are still delicious!
Be sure to have a small cake pan handy, as this is what your brownies will cook in. Don’t forget to spray it down with oil and line it with parchment paper before pouring your mix in.
Pour a cup of water into the cooker. Set a trivet on the bottom and place your pan inside. Once it’s inside lock the lid and set it to high for twenty minutes. You should end up with a brownie that is slightly creamier with a decadent texture.
*Side Note: You might also want to know Why Your Brownies Crack On Top after baked. I recently wrote an article that talks about How To Prevent and Fix Cracks On Top Of Brownies, you can check it out here!
Use A Dutch Oven
As a general rule, you can use a dutch oven instead of an oven to make brownies. Pour the brownie mixture into the oven and add a can of dark soda for moisture. Mix it thoroughly, place the cover on, and put the oven over lit coals. Allow it to bake for an hour before uncovering.
If you’re looking for a great alternative to smores during your next camping trip, why not whip up a batch of brownies in your Dutch oven?
The process is quite simple and is a great way to shake things up on your next weekend outdoors.
Feel free to line your Dutch oven with some parchment paper in order to minimize the clean-up afterward. Take your homemade or box brownie mix and pour it into the preheated Dutch oven.
Place your Dutch oven on about ten coals on the bottom and fifteen on top after closing the lid. They should finish cooking within thirty minutes but feel free to check on them after twenty-five minutes. Once cooked, let them cool for fifteen minutes so they firm up.
For this purpose, I use the Enameled Cast Iron Covered Dutch Oven that I found on Amazon. This dutch oven will cook pastry dough very well and could be used for anything from frying chicken to making soup. You could check out this Dutch Oven on Amazon!
Can You Bake Brownies Without Brownie Pan?
As a general rule, you can make brownies without using a brownie pan. There are many substitutes that can provide you with great results including a skillet, a glass pan, or a ceramic pan. Whichever alternative you use, make sure it is safe to use with your preferred baking method.
Metal pans are typically what people use to create brownies. However, there are many other pans that you can have at home that will work just as well!
A skillet can work if you don’t have a metal sheet pan handy. There are even brownie recipes that specifically call for a skillet! These recipes tend to produce a brownie that is crispy around the outside and gooey in the middle, which is delightful on camping trips!
Glass and ceramic baking pans are good substitutes for a metal pan, however, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
Glass and ceramic do not conduct heat as evenly as metal does, so keep a close eye on your brownies to avoid burning them.
*By the way, I recently wrote an article talking about Why Your Brownies Have A Cakey Texture. This article breaks down the main reasons why your brownies become cakey after they’re baked as well as how to fix and prevent it from happening again. You can check out this article here!
