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Indulge in our 25 best brownie recipes for National Brownie Day

When you want a truly satisfying dessert, nothing beats a warm, ooey-gooey brownie.
/ Source: TODAY

Cupcakes, cake pops and cinnamon rolls all have their time and place, but when you want a truly satisfying dessert that also happens to be incredibly easy to make, nothing beats a rich and chocolaty brownie.

Celebrate National Chocolate Brownie Day on Dec. 8 by whipping up one of these deliciously decadent creations.

Whether you like your brownies basic or infused with unexpected flavors, here are 25 brownie recipes to take care of that chocolate fix sooner rather than later.

Samah Dada says that adding avocado to brownies was "one of the better decisions" she's made in life. The creamy stone fruit acts as a butter or oil replacement, adding moistness to the chocolatey brownies, without you even knowing what is happening.

Another way to sneak a little nutrition into this decadent dessert — or breakfast (hey, we're into it!) — is to blend in chickpeas. These brownies are fudgy and super easy to make because the batter comes together in a blender.

Cheddar Brownies

This dish makes the list not only for the novelty factor (though that's what makes it extra fun to serve at a party!) but also, and more than anything, for the perfect sweet and savory combination it offers with aged cheddar, rich chocolate and a little sea salt.

Siri Daly's Dark Chocolate-Mint Brownies

Luckily National Brownie Day is in December because this wintry combo of cool mint and rich chocolate, blended together and served chilled, is just too hard to resist.

Finally, a worthy use (other than chocolate milk, of course) for that chocolate syrup that's been hanging in your fridge for what seems like an eternity! These brownies satisfy chocolate cravings — fast.

Salted Dark Chocolate Chunk Brownies

These brownies can be summed up in three words: chocolate, chocolate and chocolate! The best part about them? You don't even have to get out the mixer.

Think it's hard to make salted caramel brownies from scratch? Think again! It couldn't be simpler. The final result is an irresistibly sweet and slightly savory combination.

Spicy Tabasco Brownies

"The combination of rich dark chocolate and spicy heat has long been one of my favorites. I usually switch it up, using ground spices like cayenne, chipotle, ginger, cinnamon and even black pepper," says Alejandra Ramos.

Caramel Pretzel Brownies

A hidden layer of sweet, gooey caramel and a crunchy pretzel topping takes these brownies over the top.

Potato Chip and Bacon Brownies

"I haven't met a soul who doesn't love the combination of the saltiness of bacon and potato chips with the sweet decadence of chocolate. These brownies are one of my most requested desserts to take to a party or covered dish supper," says Trisha Yearwood.

Flourless Soy Sauce Brownies

The use of this yeasty, salty condiment in a brownie is surprising, but it brings a complex depth of flavor to this classic sweet treat. The soy sauce amplifies the chocolaty flavors, bringing a rich caramel glow. The taste very much resembles salted caramel.

One-Bowl Chewy Oreo Brownies

What sets these brownies apart from all other brownies is their unparalleled chewiness. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that crushed Oreos are baked right into the batter, either.

Nutella Brownies

Nigella Lawson makes these addictive brownies with just three ingredients: eggs, sea salt and Nutella (four ingredients if you dust them with sugar before serving).

Caramel Brownies

These decadent caramel brownies come together in a flash because the recipe uses boxed cake mix. If you just can't wait for these brownies to cool, we recommend scooping them into a bowl and topping with ice cream.

The fudgy texture that tahini lends to these brownies is unbelievable. Tahini can sometimes be seen as an unusual ingredient to add to baked goods, but it completely changes the depth of flavor in this sweet treat, undercutting the sugar and balancing out the chocolate.

Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

When it comes to these red velvet brownies, it's all about the frosting. It doesn't get more delicious than a kiss of rich cream cheese frosting on top of velvety, dense brownies.

Mississippi Mud Brownies

The only thing better than brownies is marshmallow and pecan filled brownies covered in chocolate icing. It's a recipe reminiscent of Elizabeth Heiskell's Southern roots.

Black Bean Brownies

Siri Daly's brownies get a protein and fiber boost from black beans, a secret ingredient nobody will suspect.

Slow-Cooker Triple Chocolate Brownies

Use your slow cooker, brownie mix and chocolate pudding to make these super-rich chocolate brownies.

Double Chocolate Walnut Brownies

Billy Dec's recipe proves that with just a few simple pantry staples, you can made delicious homemade brownies at home that will blow away any boxed mix.

Gluten-Free Black Bean Brownies

This version of black bean brownies from Fit Men Cook's Kevin Curry is also gluten-free!

Chocolate and Chipotle Brownies

Spice up your brownies with a hit of smoky chipotle powder.

Beet Brownies

Use vegetables as an ingredient in foods kids already like — for instance, these super-fudgy beet brownies. The root vegetable's natural sweetness lets you use a bit less sugar, and together with whole-wheat pastry flour, it bumps up the fiber.

Oreo Cheesecake Brownie Bars

These over-the-top brownies from Elise Strachan of "My Cupcake Addiction" are made with layers of rich chocolate brownie batter, creamy cheesecake and cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies.

Stuffed Chocolate Caramel Brownies

Stuff chocolate caramel brownies with Twix bars for an extra delicious treat.