Who can resist one or two pieces of my delicious chocolate brownies recipe? Hands down, it's one of the most perfect desserts and snacks of all time - soft, rich, and chocolatey. With the right amount of fudginess, my chocolate brownies recipe is truly the best!

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Chocolate Brownies Recipe - Easy and Quick

Gosh, I'm going nuts just thinking about these brownies! The perfect sweetness and the smell while baking… And the good news is that my easy chocolate brownie recipe is so easy to make, with ingredients you will most likely already have in your pantry. Oh, and have I said that you can make them in just one bowl?

Chocolate Brownies Recipe Ingredients

7 oz (200 g) unsalted butter - Butter is essential for making fudgy chocolate brownies. If you want to reduce the amount of butter or even use vegetable oil, your chocolate brownies will come out slightly cakier and fluffier.
7 oz (200 g) dark chocolate - To make this brownie with real chocolate recipe, use cooking chocolate. Coarsely chop.
½ cup baker's (caster) sugar - White sugar will help give a crisp crust to your brownies.
½ cup brown sugar - Brown sugar gives that distinctive chewiness characteristic of brownies.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract - To enhance the flavor, I add a little bit of vanilla extract.
3 eggs - Take the eggs out of the fridge for at least 30 minutes before starting to bake.
½ cup all-purpose flour - You can use whole wheat flour, but the brownies won't be as soft as regular plain flour.
⅓ cup cocoa powder - Part of the chocolate goodness comes from the cocoa powder. You can use whatever unsweetened kind you like: the natural one or the Dutch-processed one. I like to use the natural, unsweetened cocoa powder in my chocolate brownies recipe, as I like the slightly acidic taste that reminds me of dark chocolate. But feel free to use the Dutch-style version if you want the 'softer' flavor and the darker color it gives to your chocolate brownies.
½ teaspoon salt - A touch of salt will also enhance the flavor.

How to Make Chocolate Brownies at Home - Brownies Instructions

Here are the steps for how to make easy homemade brownies:

First things first, you'll want to preheat your oven to 350°F |180°C.
Lightly grease an 8.5 x 8.5-inch (23 x 23 cm) square baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch excess overhang on each side for no-fuss removal later.
Put the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and pop in the microwave for 30-second bursts until smooth and melted.
Add both the brown and white sugar and stir through the melted mixture.
Add the eggs and vanilla and stir.
Now add the dry ingredients; flour, cocoa powder, and salt, and fold through until combined. Don't overmix.
If applicable, add in any of the additional Add-Ins, such as nuts and berries, that I suggest further down in this article.
Pour the batter into the lined pan and smooth the top. Bake for 26-28 minutes for fudgy brownies. You can check the texture by inserting a toothpick into the center of the brownies and checking that it comes out with lots of moist crumbs clinging to it.
If you prefer cakey or gooey brownies, check the Chocolate Brownies Recipe Cooking Times Chart below for cooking times.

What makes brownies chewy? Brown sugar makes your chocolate brownies chewy (bonus, the molasses helps enrich the brownies too!). Basically, the more brown sugar you add, the chewier your chocolate brownies will be. But I'd say this recipe that uses a 1:1 ratio of white baker's sugar to brown sugar is the sweet spot.

What are the Three Types of Brownies?

There are three types of brownies: cakey, fudgy, and gooey. Here are the cooking times for each texture:

Texture	Cooking Time	Insert a toothpick to test:
Gooey	22-24 minutes	Moist batter attached to skewer for a gooey brownies recipe
Fudgy	26-28 minutes	Dirty skewer with lots of moist crumbs for chocolate fudge brownies
Cakey	31-33 minutes	Few crumbs attached to a toothpick for cakey brownies

Chocolate Brownies Recipe Cooking Times Chart

Tips for Fudgy-licious Brownies with Chocolate

MOIST - Ensure that your chocolate brownies recipe is soft and moist by checking that you have the correct flour to fat content (the fat is the butter and chocolate). To make your brownies moister, increase the butter and chocolate ratio compared to the flour. Overbaking can also result in dry brownies, so set a timer to achieve the perfect cooking time.

CHEWY - Brown sugar gives brownies that distinctive chewy taste we all love. To increase the chewy texture, increase the brown-to-white sugar ratio. If you prefer less chewy brownies, reduce the brown-to-white sugar ratio.

FUDGY - There are two ways to ensure that your brownies are fudgy and delicious every time. Firstly, cook this recipe for 26-28 minutes. Under bake and your brownies will be gooey and over bake they will be cakey. Secondly, ensure that you have the correct ratio of fats (butter and chocolate) to flour to get that moist, dense and fudgy texture that we all love.

CAKEY - If your brownies are too cakey for your liking, check that you have the correct bake time. As 31-33 minutes will lead to cakey chocolate brownies, don't cook for more than 28 minutes if you still want them fudgy. Also, ensure that you are not adding too much flour, as this can lead to a cakey consistency. Lastly, don't overbeat the batter and gently fold the dry into the wet ingredients with a rubber spatula.

DRY - Be careful not to overcook your chocolate brownies recipe, as this can lead to dry and crumbly falling apart brownies. Always watch your oven timer and refer to the Chocolate Brownies Cooking Times Chart above for perfect brownies.

What Should I Put in my Chocolate Brownies Recipe?

This perfect chocolate brownies recipe is so versatile that it's a great starting point in which you can experiment with different add-ins:

Best chocolate chip brownies - I mean, who doesn't love extra chocolate? Fold in 1 cup of chocolate chips or chocolate chunks into the batter just before transferring the batter to the pan. I like the taste of semi-sweet chocolate chips in my chocolate brownies. But if you feel like going milk or even white, go for it! Oh, and don't forget to sprinkle another ¼ - ½ cup of chocolate chips over the top just before baking. Note; the best chocolate chips for brownies are the cooking ones you can purchase from the baking aisle of your local grocer.
Peanut butter brownies - Add extra oomph to this basic brownies recipe by adding 3 tablespoons of my peanut butter recipe to the heated chocolate and butter mixture. Yum!
Orange scented brownies - Chocolate + orange = CLASSIC! Mix in the zest of 1 orange (how to zest an orange) to the chocolate-butter mixture. Also, make the brownies extra fancy by sticking pieces of candied orange peel on the batter just before baking.
Raspberry brownies - This is the version my mom used to make a lot. The freshness of the raspberries makes them taste so good and look so pretty. Simply add 1 cup of fresh or frozen raspberries into the wet mixture before adding the dry ingredients.
Hazelnut brownies – I especially love this variation as you get the texture contrast: the brownie's chewiness and the hazelnuts' crunch. Add 1 cup of chopped hazelnuts to the batter to make this hazelnut version. Also, sprinkle additional chopped hazelnuts over the top of the batter just before baking. Experiment and make the brownies with whichever types of nuts or types of seeds that take your fancy!

Chocolate Brownies Variations

As a Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies Recipe:

You can use any gluten-free flour to replace the all-purpose flour in this best chocolate brownies recipe. Baking chocolate brownies this way will still turn out fudgy and tasty! Do you like nutty? You might want to opt for almond flour. It gives a pleasantly rich and nutty taste to this chocolate brownies recipe.

As a Butter-Free Chocolate Brownies Recipe:

To make this chocolate fudge brownie recipe dairy-free, you can substitute the butter with plant-based butter. Alternatively, you can replace the butter with oil; at an equal ratio. Now, you might be asking, what oil should I use? I like using neutral-flavored oil, such as canola oil. But if you don't mind a slight change in the flavor profile, you can use olive oil or coconut oil.

As a Cocoa Powder-Free Chocolate Brownies Recipe:

Sure, you can make this classic brownie recipe without cocoa powder and make it as a brownie recipe using melted chocolate only. To do this, replace the cocoa powder with extra chocolate (bar, chips, or chunks) instead. Note; chocolate has added sugar, so you may need to cut down on how much sugar you add depending on what brand of chocolate you buy.

Alternatively, you can make this recipe as easy cocoa powder brownies and include no chocolate bars. Simply remove the melted chocolate and increase the amount of cocoa.

As a Sugar-Free Chocolate Brownies Recipe:

You can use honey or maple syrup instead of sugar in this best ever brownies recipe. The rule of thumb is ¾ cup honey or maple syrup in place of every cup of sugar. You can also adjust the amount of sugar substitute if adding other ingredients, such as sweetened chocolate chips, to your brownies.

As a Healthier Chocolate Brownie Recipe:

You can make adjustments to ensure your chocolate brownies are healthier but still tasty.

First, substitute the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour. You can use any healthy oil instead of butter for the fat alternative. You can also reduce the amount of oil if you don't mind your chocolate brownies being more cake-like. Another option is to cut down the sugar in the recipe or replace the sugar altogether with honey.

Types of nuts such as walnuts and hazelnuts are another delicious way to boost the healthy factor of these moist chocolate brownies and add some great texture!

What to Serve with Gooey Chocolate Brownies

Vanilla ice cream - serve a slice of warm brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Classic!
Brown bread ice cream - this delicious semifreddo style ice cream dessert makes a delicious accompaniment to any chocolate dessert.
Butterscotch sauce - pour this decadent butterscotch sauce from my sticky date pudding recipe over the top of a warmed slice of homemade chocolate brownies.
Clotted cream or whipped cream - is a classic pairing to serve with this easy homemade brownies recipe.
Chocolate ganache brownies - add a chocolate ganache frosting to amp up further the chocolate flavor of these easy chocolate brownies. Use any combination of dark, semi-sweet or even milk chocolate and drizzle it over the baked brownies once they have cooled down.

Chocolate Ganache

This two-ingredient recipe and step-by-step instructions for making smooth and silky chocolate ganache every time.

Check out this recipe

Chocolate Brownies Recipe FAQ

What Makes Fudgy Brownies?

Here are some commonly asked questions about making a super fudgy brownie recipe every time:

What makes brownies more moist? A higher fat-to-flour content will give you super moist brownies. Adjust the ratio of fat to flour by adding more butter and chocolate. This will make a moister and fudgier brownie texture.
How do you make brownies more chewy? Brown sugar gives that delectable chewy yet soft texture to brownies. To make chewier brownies increase the ratio of brown to white sugar.
What makes brownies fudgy? Increasing the ratio of fat to dry ingredients will make super fudgy brownies. Do this by adding more butter and chocolate - moister, denser, and fudgier chocolate brownies every time!
Why do my brownies taste like cake? If your brownies are too cakey and not fudgy, you may be using too much flour and not enough butter. Also, do not overbeat the batter when you add the dry ingredients. Use a spatula and fold the dry ingredients through the wet ingredients.
Why is my brownie dry? Overcooking brownies is one of the most common reasons for dry and crumbly brownies. Use my Chocolate Brownies Recipe Cooking Times Chart above for the recommended cooking times.
Why do my brownies fall apart? It is best to let the cooked brownies chill entirely before trying to slice them into portions. Also, be careful not to overcook the brownies as this can lead to a dry, crumbly, and falling apart texture.
Why are my brownies too chewy? You can reduce or replace the brown sugar with white sugar for less chewy brownies.

Sugar Options for Best Brownie Recipe

Is brown sugar necessary for brownies? No, brown sugar isn't necessary for making brownies. It does, however, give the chewy texture that characterizes a brownie. Use white bakers or granulated sugar instead if you don't have brown sugar or prefer a less chewy brownie.
What can replace sugar in brownies? Experiment with different types of sugar, such as coconut and palm sugar, or even replace the sugar with honey, maple syrup, molasses, agave nectar, or date paste.
Which sugar is better for brownies? Is brown or white sugar better for brownies? A mixture of baker's sugar (caster sugar) and brown sugar at a 1:1 equal ratio is the perfect sugar combo for brownies. It will result in brownies that are a bit chewy, fudgy, and oh so delicious!
Can I use honey instead of sugar in brownies? You can replace the sugar with honey in this chocolate brownies recipe. Honey is sweeter than sugar, so use ¾ cup honey instead of 1 cup sugar.
Can I make brownies with less sugar? You can reduce the amount of sugar in chocolate brownies recipes. However, ensure you keep the 1:1 ratio of brown to white sugar. Note - reduced sugar will mean drier and crumblier chocolate brownies.

Butter Vs Oil for the Best Brownies

Can I use butter instead of oil in brownies? This recipe calls for butter, but you can replace it with a neutral-flavor oil or even a specialty oil like coconut oil. Oil will make a denser, fudgier brownie than one made with butter.
What does butter do in brownies? Butter helps the brownie batter rise slightly and adds to the cooked brownie's taste.

Chocolate Vs. Cocoa Powder for Chocolate Brownies Recipe

Are brownies better with chocolate or cocoa powder? Both! My perfect brownie recipe includes both cocoa powder and chocolate. I think that this combination is the best for a delicious-tasting brownie.

Brownie Recipe Using Melted Chocolate

What is the best chocolate bar for brownies using melted chocolate? Use cooking chocolate, from the baking aisle of your local grocer, for a smooth melt in your chocolate bar brownies.
Can I make dark chocolate brownies? In my opinion, dark chocolate fudgy brownies are the best! So, for this brownie recipe with baking chocolate, I specify dark chocolate.
Can I use milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate in baking? Yes, you can adjust the recipe to become a milk chocolate brownies recipe. Making homemade milk chocolate brownies from scratch is the same as making dark chocolate brownies - just substitute the dark chocolate for milk chocolate or even try white chocolate!

What is the Best Flour to Use for Homemade Brownies?

What is the best flour to use for brownies? Use all-purpose flour (plain flour) for this recipe. If you use self-raising flour (flour that has added raising agents), your brownies will be cakier and less fudgy.
Can I use other types of flour? You can make brownies with a different flour, such as almond, coconut, or spelt flour.

How to Cut Brownies

Brownies can be difficult to cut due to their crackly tops and the gooey fudgy center. Here are some frequently asked questions about cutting brownies easily every time:

How do you cut brownies without destroying them? Let the brownies cool completely before attempting to cut them into pieces. If you try to cut the brownie while it's still warm, the inside will be gooey, making it hard to make a clean slice.
Should I put brownies in the fridge before cutting? Yes, put the brownies into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before cutting, as this will speed up the cooling process.
How do you cut brownies without them sticking to the knife? Use a knife sprayed with cooking oil to slice through the brownies. The oiled blade will more smoothly glide through the brownies. After each cut, wipe the edge of your knife to ensure a cleaner cut each time. This is an excellent tip for gooey and fudgy style brownies.
What is the best knife to cut brownies with? A medium size knife sprayed with cooking oil. Alternatively, a plastic knife is non-stick and will work well.
How do you cut brownies nicely? When using a knife, do not saw through the brownies. The back-and-forth motion of the blade will result in torn and crumbly edges. Also, use a ruler if you want evenly sizes rectangles every time!

How to Store Chocolate Brownies

Room Temperature - Store your choc brownies in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
Fridge - Do brownies need to be refrigerated? To extend the shelf life for up to 2 weeks, let the brownies cool completely to room temperature and then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Freezer - For longer storage, place the brownies in an airtight container and freeze them for up to 3 months. To thaw, leave them to defrost to room temperature, or heat a piece in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, and… voila! You've just got yourself some amazing chocolate brownies. Perfect for a quick snack!

Where were Brownies Invented?

Where are brownies from? Brownies originated in the United States at the end of the 19 century. Today, many different variations of brownies are baked and enjoyed by people worldwide!