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    Home » Real Food » Desserts » The Best Homemade Brownies

    The Best Homemade Brownies

    By Kristen Chidsey | 17 Comments | Published April 20, 2020 | Updated March 12, 2022 *This post may include amazon links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    When the craving for a rich, chocolatey dessert strikes, you need this recipe for homemade brownies. This recipe for Homemade Brownies makes fudgy, soft, moist brownies full of rich chocolate flavor! This truly is the recipe for the BEST brownie! You will never need to purchase a boxed brownie mix again. This recipe is just as easy and SO much tastier! Perfect served alone or with a scoop of ice cream.

    You will ditch the boxed brownie mix forever once you try this easy recipe for Homemade Brownies. With crispy edges, fudgy centers, and rich, decadent chocolate flavor, these homemade brownies are the absolute best!

    Enjoy these brownies alone or paired with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of homemade chocolate syrup for a decadent brownie sundae.

    3 stack of Homemade Brownies stacked on top of each other.

    When the craving for a rich, chocolatey dessert strikes, you need this recipe for homemade brownies.

    It is everything you crave in a brownie. Rich, moist, gooey, fudgy--a true chocolate lover's dream come true.

    Some people shy away from making brownies at home because let's face it, those boxed brownie mixes are not only easy to make, they are pretty tasty as well.

    However, with a few tips and tricks, you can have homemade brownies that are ALMOST as easy to make as boxed brownies and MUCH better tasting.

    Notes on Ingredients & Equipment

    Ingredients for homemade brownies labled on counter.
    • Flour: Use either all-purpose, whole white flour, or an all-purpose gluten-free 1:1 flour, if you need these brownies to be gluten-free.
    • Butter: For the best flavor, butter is key in homemade brownies. Use unsalted butter for best results. I have tried this recipe with non-dairy butter sticks and while good, the brownies do not turn out as rich or fudgy in texture.
    • Cocoa Powder: Be sure you are using a good-quality unsweetened cocoa powder, not hot cocoa powder.
    • Chocolate Chips: Using both cocoa powder and chocolate chips gives these brownies the most outrageous, deep chocolate flavor. Use sweet, dark, or milk chocolate chips.
    • Espresso Powder:  For the best-flavored brownies, espresso powder is key. The espresso powder does not add a flavor of coffee but instead helps to enhance the rich chocolatey taste in these brownies. Trust me, it is a secret to really good brownies.
    • Baking Dish: A glass square 8x8 baking dish is best for baking brownies. Metal pans heat up faster, which can cause the edges and bottom of the brownie to crisp up more than desired.
    • Parchment Paper: While parchment paper makes it much easier to remove the brownies from the baking dish and cut them evenly, you can simply grease the baking dish with butter or nonstick baking spray, if you don't have parchment paper.

    How To Make Homemade Brownies

    • In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.
    • Add espresso powder and sugar to the melted butter and whisk to combine.
    • Cook over low heat for 2-3 minutes until the sugar dissolves into the butter, whisking often.
    • Remove from stove and let cool slightly, while you sift dry ingredients.
    Melted butter and sugar in small saucepan.
    • Sift flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder over a large mixing bowl. It is REALLY important to sift the ingredients to remove all clumps and evenly distribute the baking powder and salt through the flour.
    Brownie ingredients being sifted into large mixing bowl.
    • Add the chocolate chips to the flour mixture and toss to coat. This keeps the chocolate chips suspended through the brownies so they melt evenly into the batter flavoring every bite.
    • Add the eggs and butter mixture to the flour mixture and mix together with a wooden spoon or spatula until JUST combined. Do NOT overmix or brownies will become tough. 
    Mixing bowl with brownie batter.
    • Line square glass baking pan with parchment paper or grease well with butter.
    • Pour the brownie batter into the pan and spread gently so that the brownie batter is evenly distributed.
    Brownie Batter Mixture in glass baking dish.
    • Bake the brownies until the center is set, but still soft. A toothpick will come out clean with a few crumbs still attached. 
    Baked Brownies in glass dish
    • Once brownies have been removed from the oven, let cool in the pan for 5 minutes.
    • Gently lift parchment paper from the pan and allow it to cool on a rack for 5 to 10 minutes.
    • Cut into slices and enjoy.
    Homemade Brownie on white counter next to chocolate chips.

    Secrets to the Best Homeamade Brownies

    Remember these tips to make the most perfect brownies.

    • For the best-flavored brownies, use both espresso powder and vanilla extract. Both vanilla and espresso powder work to boost the rich chocolaty taste in the brownies. You don't taste the espresso--you simply taste rich fudgy chocolate.
    • Sift the dry ingredients. I know it is an extra step, but NO one wants to bite into a clump of flour or baking powder.
    • Do not overbake the brownies.  Be sure to only bake the brownies until JUST set--after all, gooey, fudgy brownies are the BEST!
    • Don't slice the brownies immediately. While warm, gooey brownies are hard to resist, if you want your brownies to stay intact, it is best to allow them to cool slightly before slicing.

    More Chocolate Dessert Recipes

    • Instant Pot Chocolate Cheesecake
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Instant Pot Lava Cakes
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
    • Crockpot Candy

    If you tried these homemade brownies, I would love for you to leave a review below and I hope they satisfied your chocolate craving. 

    3 Brownies stacked on top of eachother

    Homemade Brownies

    A recipe for brownies that are rich in flavor, super fudgy and chocolatey soft, and perfectly moist. These homemade brownies are the best!
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 174kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick of butter)
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 teaspoon espresso powder
    • ¾ cup cocoa powder
    • ½ cup flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup chocolate chips
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line square glass baking pan with parchment paper.
    • In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add in espresso powder and sugar and whisk to combine. Cook over low heat for 2-3 minutes, until sugar begins to melt into butter, whisking often. Remove from stove and cool while sifting dry ingredients.
    • Sift flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Add in chocolate chips and toss to coat.
    • Add butter mixture, vanilla, and eggs to dry ingredients. Mix together with wooden spoon or spatula until JUST combined. Do NOT overmix or brownies will become tough.
    • Pour brownie batter into pan and spread gently for brownie batter to be evenly distributed in pan.
    • Bake brownies for 30-35 minutes, or until the center is set, but still soft. A toothpick should come out clean with a few crumbs still attached.

    Equipment Needed

    • 8x8 baking pan
    • Parchment Paper

    Notes

    Sifting: It is so important to sift your dry ingredients, as the cocoa powder can form lumps in your batter that will not taste good in the final product.
    Cocoa Powder: Be sure to use a cocoa powder that is JUST plain cocoa powder and check the date for expiration.
    Espresso Powder:  The added instant espresso powder helps to really make the chocolate flavor stand out. Feel free to omit or use decaffeinated espresso powder as well.
    Parchment Paper: It is NOT necessary to use parchment paper to bake these brownies. You can simply grease the pan instead. 
    Baking Dish: A glass baking dish works best to evenly bake brownies, but in a pinch use a stainless steel pan.
    Storage: Store cooled brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or freeze brownies individually wrapped in an air-tight container for up to 3 months. 
    Chocolate Chips: Use semi-sweet, dark, or milk chocolate chips in the brownie batter. You can also use a good-quality bar of chocolate you enjoy eating plain in place of the chocolate chips, simply chop the bar up into small morsels before adding to the batter. 
    Nuts: If desired, add ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter when adding the chocolate chips to the flour mixture. 

     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 174kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 103mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 230IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 0.8mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!

    This post was originally published in 2019 but has been updated with a video and tips in 2022.

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    « Instant Pot Refried Beans
    Homemade Oven Fries »

    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jeanne

      February 27, 2021 at 5:50 pm

      5 stars
      These brownies were decadent and delicious! I doubled the recipe and used a 9x13 pan, which worked perfectly.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        February 28, 2021 at 6:28 am

        I am so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe Jeanne!

        Reply
    2. Margaret Stanley

      June 01, 2020 at 3:56 pm

      5 stars
      These are indeed the best brownies ever!! There is plenty of chocolate taste even with out adding more with chocolate chips. In fact, I add a cup of raisins instead of the chips because it adds a chew factor that I like and I've managed to add a hint of fiber as well. Great recipe, very easy and VERY GOOD!!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        June 01, 2020 at 7:20 pm

        I love hearing you enjoyed these so much, Margaret. Great idea to add the raisins. I love chocolate covered raisins, so I am sure I would love that.

        Reply
    3. Sophie Heath

      April 27, 2020 at 4:06 pm

      5 stars
      These really are the best homemade brownies! Thanks for the awesome recipe!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        April 27, 2020 at 7:15 pm

        So glad you enjoyed Sophie!

        Reply
    4. Abigail Raines

      April 27, 2020 at 4:06 pm

      5 stars
      Adding the espresso powder totally elevates the chocolaty goodness in these yummy brownies!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        April 27, 2020 at 7:16 pm

        YAY! Glad you enjoyed the results! That espresso does make all the difference.

        Reply
    5. Alene

      March 06, 2020 at 10:53 am

      I have to be gluten free, so I'm planning to use gluten free flour in place of the all purpose flour. It's only 1/2 of a cup, so it should work well. After all, chocolate is chocolate. 😁

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 06, 2020 at 1:00 pm

        It should work well Alene if you use an all purpose flour, but let us know how it goes.

        Reply
    6. Kris

      May 26, 2019 at 6:59 pm

      5 stars
      Just made these gooey but chewy home made brownies. Thanks for this recipe!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        May 27, 2019 at 8:10 am

        YAY!!! So happy you enjoyed!

        Reply
    7. Sammy

      March 19, 2019 at 12:12 am

      5 stars
      These were so chewy and fudgy and decadent...my new go-to recipe!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 19, 2019 at 6:58 am

        I love hearing that! Thank you!

        Reply
    8. Carrie

      March 18, 2019 at 11:21 pm

      5 stars
      These are very yummy. Totally fix a craving for chocolate. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    9. pepperpie

      March 13, 2019 at 12:20 pm

      Hi there! These look great; however, I think you missed flour in the ingredients.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 13, 2019 at 12:39 pm

        Oh my goodness!!!! Yes, there is 1/2 cup flour. Thank you for catching that right away for me!!!

        Reply

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