When you need a perfectly sweet chocolate fix that comes together in just a few minutes a batch of brownies CAN’T be beat! My brownie recipe is a family favorite that gets gobbled up before they’re finished cooling. If I’m making a batch just for us I’ll always add in 2 cups of toasted pecans that I’ve given a rough chop to but this recipe is amazing on it’s own.
Top Tips for the best brownie recipe
- If you don’t have an eight by eight inch pan for your brownies just use foil to create one or two walls for a smaller baking dish. Line with parchment and you’ll be good to go!
- Measure your flour correctly! Adding too much flour to your brownies will take a way from that nice fudge-like texture. The best, and easiest way to measure flour is by using a scale. If you don’t have one then fluff your flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off.
- Don’t over-bake your brownies. Unlike cake layers brownies will not have springy center and a skewer inserted into the center will not come out clean. Your brownies are done when the center is set and you see the top just begin to crack.
- Add toasted nuts, crushed candy cane, toffee, or even candy like M&Ms to your brownies for a bit of crunch and flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these without an 8×8 inch pan?
Sure! You can use a larger pan and have thinner brownies OR you can make a wall inside of your pan with aluminum foil then line it with parchment paper. If you look very closely in the photo for step seven below you can see that I did this!
What’s the best cocoa powder to use?
I love using a high-quality Dutch processed cocoa powder. Dutch processed cocoa powder is darker, less acidic and fudgier in baked goods making it PERFECT for brownies! My go to company is Valrhona but there are lots of great brands out there, including Callebaut, Ghirardelli and lots of organic and fair trade options too!
What kind of chocolate is best for homemade brownies?
You have a wide range or chocolate to use for brownies but I suggest sticking with a bittersweet or semisweet chocolate. There’s enough sugar in the recipe so you don’t need a sweet chocolate too.
How long will brownies from scratch keep for?
Stored in a sealed container your uncut brownies will keep for up to four days in the fridge or 2 months in the freezer. Your cut brownies will last up to two days although they rarely last beyond a day if anyone knows they’re there!
What can I do for an even fudgier brownie?
Add an extra yolk for more creaminess and melt one cup of the chocolate with the butter, which you’ll then use in step one below. you can also slightly undercook your brownies so they’ll me even moister.
How to make Brownies
1. Add your melted butter, room temperature eggs, coffee and vanilla to a large bowl then whisk together. The coffee is optional but I find that it helps to bring out the chocolate flavor. If you don’t want to use any just skip or add a drop more of vanilla.
2. Add the white sugar and lightly packed brown sugar to the mixture.
3. Whisk the mixture together until it’s nice and smooth.
4. Sift in the flour, salt and cocoa powder. It is important to sift as the cocoa is often pretty lumpy.
5. Stir the mixture together until just incorporated.
6. Fold in the chocolate chips or chunks. While you have the spatula out it’s a good time to scrape the bottom of the bowl and really make sure there are no pockets of unmixed ingredients hanging out.
7. Transfer the batter to a parchment-lined baking dish and smooth it to the corners. Bake at 350F for about 30 minutes. The center will continue to bake and set after you remove the brownies from the oven so don’t worry if they seem a bit fudgy.
You can add either chopped chocolate or chocolate chips to the top of your brownies but this is totally optional. I’ve made the recipe both ways but found the brownies to be a bit more photogenic without the additional chocolate on top.
IF YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE TRY THESE OUT!
If you’ve tried this brownie recipe then don’t forget to leave a rating and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
Brownies
Ingredients
For the Brownie:
- 1 cup granulated sugar 200g
- 1 cup brown sugar 200g, lightly packed
- 3 eggs room temperature
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder 75g
- 1 cup flour 120g
- 1 teaspoon salt 6g
- 1.5 cup dark chocolate chips 260g
- 1 cup melted butter 225g, unsalted
- 1 tbsp coffee 15mL
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract 15mL
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and prep a 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and coffee then mix together well.
- Add the white and brown sugars to the mixture and whisk together well.
- Sift cocoa powder, flour, and salt into the bowl and mix until just combined
- Toss in chocolate chips (or chunks) and fold into the batter.
- Add batter to pan and smooth to the edges. You can add more chocolate chips to the top before baking if desired.
- Bake for about 30 minutes or until the center is just set. You'll notice the center does not wiggle when the pan is moved.
Video
Notes
- If you don't have an eight by eight inch pan for your brownies just use foil to create one or two walls for a smaller baking dish. Line with parchment and you'll be good to go!
- Measure your flour correctly! Adding too much flour to your brownies will take a way from that nice fudge-like texture. The best, and easiest way to measure flour is by using a scale. If you don't have one then fluff your flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off.
- Don't over-bake your brownies. Unlike cake layers brownies will not have springy center and a skewer inserted into the center will not come out clean. Your brownies are done when the center is set and you see the top just begin to crack.
- Add toasted nuts, crushed candy cane, toffee, or even candy like M&Ms to your brownies for an extra kick of flavor.
Amazing easy receipe. Love it! Second time making it now. Found my brownie receipe. My 6 year old gave it 13 outta 10 last time. Love from Ireland.
I consider myself a chocoholic. I like my chocolate dark and rich. I’ve no use for milk chocolate at all! These satisfy all my chocolate cravings and then some. I have to give some away when I make a batch of these, cuz I will eat them all – and that is saying something because I have a cookie company and bake all the time. I have great will power against over indulging in baked goods…that was true until I found this recipe. Darn you John!!! (Thank you John!) Love your blog and IG!! Keep ’em coming!
These are, and I say this without even a HINT of exaggeration, the most intense brownies I have ever had in my life. I highly recommend having a glass of milk with these because if it’s even possible for a brownie to be TOO chocolaty, these ones are. I love it!
Hi, is it ok if i use cake flour? Does it affect the taste?
The BEST brownie recipe EVER!!! Better than tasty’s, ba’s and all of the Pinterest’s “best brownies” recipes. Thank you so much John!
Hi John, just saw your video for this recipe on YouTube, you mentioned for the cocoa powder you used a blend of Dutch processed and natural. I wanted to know which brands do you use for both cocoa powders?
My local store carries Baker’s Choice, which is a blend but I love Valrhona.
These were amazing. I skipped the coffee because I had forgotten to save some from my morning brew. I bloomed the cocoa powder in the melted butter, though, and the brownies had such a strong chocolate flavor. Delicious!
Incredible! So easy. I didn’t even sift the flour or cocoa powder ?, just mashed the lumps out with my spatula. LOL I did have to bake mine about 5-10mins longer to get the center to set, my oven just takes a bit longer. The results were amazing!! Def the best brownie I’ve ever had. ❤️❤️
The perfect recipe!!!
Thank you so much, John.
This recipe is so perfect and the brownies were scrumptious. I just want to know that why my brownies didn’t have a flaky shiny layer on top as I mostly see .
I have tried a lot of your recipes and all of them turned out amazing flawless wonderful
I made these brownies yesterday and that turned out amazingly scrumptious but unfortunately I don’t get the crusty look which normally brownies have on top. can you get me where I might have made up mistake? I must say it’s a flawless recipe
The best brownies I have ever made, and I am quite the baker;). They were the perfect balance of sweet, chocolatey, chewy, crackly top, and amazingly delicious edges from the brown sugar’s carmelization. Thanks for making me look brownie brilliant!
These are amazing!!! The best brownie recipe I’ve ever tried! My family literally inhaled them. Thank you so much for sharing your recipes with us. I’ve tried several of yours and all of them have turned out beautifully.
I live in Conover, North Carolina and the cupcakes I made from your recipe was absolutely over the top DELICIOUS but stays cold and rain ,rain, and rainy here ALL THE TIME. My cupcakes came out with little top like hats. I know it’s the weather. But they were still DELICIOUS. I’m just one of those people I like for my baked goodies to be pretty and presentable. I’m weird I guess. But OMG. I will always use your recipe. It’s HEAVENLY. Thanks John.
These are so yummy! Thanks so much, John!