Pin It Adorably whimsical brownie bites inspired by the viral rat cake chaos cakes trend, these rich chocolate treats are decorated to look like playful little rats, making them perfect for parties and fun gatherings.
I first tried these when searching for a bring-along treat that would impress friends at a casual party, and everyone loved the silly rat decorations. Making them with my niece turned into a hilarious kitchen adventure full of giggles and messy fingers.
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter: 115 g (1/2 cup), melted
- Granulated sugar: 150 g (3/4 cup)
- Brown sugar: 90 g (1/2 cup)
- Eggs: 2 large
- Vanilla extract: 1 tsp
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: 60 g (2/3 cup)
- All-purpose flour: 65 g (1/2 cup)
- Baking powder: 1/2 tsp
- Salt: 1/4 tsp
- Dark chocolate chips: 90 g (1/2 cup)
- White chocolate (for decoration): 100 g, melted
- Pink and black gel food coloring: as needed
- Mini chocolate chips (for eyes): 32 pieces
- Pink heart sprinkles or pink M&M minis (for noses): 16 pieces
- Slivered almonds or sliced jelly candies (for ears): 32 pieces
- Licorice laces or spaghetti candy strands (for tails): 16 pieces
Instructions
- Prepare the pan:
- Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Line a 16-cup mini muffin tin or silicone mold with nonstick spray or mini liners.
- Make the batter:
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter. Stir in both sugars, then whisk in eggs and vanilla until glossy.
- Add dry ingredients:
- Sift in cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until just combined.
- Finish batter:
- Fold in chocolate chips.
- Bake:
- Divide batter into cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until set and a toothpick shows moist crumbs. Cool 10 minutes in tin, then on rack.
- Decorate:
- Tint melted white chocolate with pink gel for noses and ears. Pipe noses, cheeks, whiskers, and tails using a bag or toothpick. Add two mini chocolate chips for eyes, a pink sprinkle for nose, and almonds or jelly slices for ears. Insert a licorice lace or candy strand for tail. Allow to set before serving.
Pin It Decorating these together with my family is now a favorite tradition. Seeing the kids invent their own silly rats with candy was the highlight of our birthday party last year.
Required Tools
Mini muffin tin or silicone mold, mixing bowls, whisk and spatula, microwave or stovetop, piping bag or toothpicks, cooling rack.
Allergen Information
This recipe contains dairy, eggs, gluten, and tree nuts if almonds are used. Always verify candy and chocolate ingredients to match dietary needs.
Nutritional Information
Each brownie bite provides about 130 calories, 6 g total fat, 18 g carbohydrates, and 2 g protein.
Pin It Serve these silly rat cake brownie bites with ice cream for an extra treat or let guests decorate their own. The best part is seeing all the cute and goofy rat faces everyone creates.
Questions About This Recipe
- → What type of chocolate works best for the brownies?
Using unsweetened cocoa powder combined with dark chocolate chips yields the richest fudgy texture and deep chocolate flavor.
- → How can I decorate the bites to look like rats?
Melt white chocolate tinted with pink coloring is piped to create noses and whiskers, while mini chocolate chips, sprinkles, almonds, and licorice strands form eyes, ears, and tails.
- → Can these brownie bites be made gluten-free?
Yes, substituting all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend allows gluten-free versions while maintaining texture.
- → What tools are needed for baking and decorating?
A mini muffin tin or silicone mold is used for baking, along with a piping bag or toothpicks for detailed decoration.
- → How should I store these brownie bites to keep them fresh?
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or refrigerate for longer freshness.