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Our Homemade Brownies are thick, rich, fudgy, and they taste just like they came from a bakery! No more box mixes, because these are seriously the best brownies from scratch you’ll ever try.
In the past I’ve shared things like the fact that I’d never in my life eaten oatmeal (the horror!), I’ve blogged about how one time I drank salad dressing from a ziploc bag because…I don’t know why.
I have shared some deep and disturbing things with you and here I am with another…
I generally prefer brownies that are made from a box mix. The shame! The horror!
No worries, I’ve totally changed my ways!
I’m about to share with you the perfect homemade brownies recipe and I can almost guarantee you’ll never go back to the box mix again.
These. Are. Good.
These brownies are perfectly thick and fudgy. Basically a chocolate bomb going off in your mouth. If you like fudgy brownies, you’re going to love these.
Ingredient Notes:
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Brownie Mix – This homemade brownie mix contains most of the usual brownie batter ingredients like cocoa powder, flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder, and vanilla extract.
Espresso Powder – Optional but highly recommended! It really adds a lot of depth to the chocolate flavor. This will NOT make your homemade brownies taste like coffee. It’ll just add lots of extra fudgy flavor to this brownie recipe!
Chocolate Chips – I like to add lots of semi-sweet chocolate chips to the brownie batter! They will met perfectly to add even more chocolatey flavor to these fudgy brownies.
What Readers are Saying!
“Oh my gosh these brownies are so gooey, fudgy and rich! I’ve been trying to make fudgy brownies for a while but I always manage to cook them too long and they end up cake-like. But not with these bad boys! Thanks for the recipe!” – Kayla
How to Make Brownies From Scratch:
Melt the butter on the stove and then whisk in the sugar. We don’t want to caramelize the sugar – just melt it into the butter.
Add the hot butter mixture to a mixing bowl and let it cool for just a few minutes before adding the eggs.
Beat in the eggs and cocoa powder with a little vanilla. This mixture is going to look divine, so go ahead and take a little lick if you must. Just be careful – once you start, it’s hard to stop!
Next, add in your flour, baking powder, a little salt, and the secret weapon: espresso powder.
Helpful Tip!
Baking With Chocolate
If you don’t have espresso powder, you can skip it. However, I highly recommend keeping some on hand for baking with chocolate. It doesn’t make your treats taste like coffee, it just enhances the rich chocolate flavor. Highly recommend. This is the brand I use.
Mix that all together by hand and then stir in some chocolate chips. I like to use dark or semi-sweet, but my family prefers milk. Use whichever variety you like best. The brownie batter will be thick.
Spread the brownie batter into a greased or parchment-lined 9×13 baking dish and bake for about 30 minutes. You want the edges to be firmly set and the center to still be a bit soft. I like to use a tester 1 inch from the edge – when the edges are fully cooked through, your center should be nicely fudgy and delicious.
Let the homemade brownies cool for as long as you can stand it before cutting.
I use my dusting wand to lightly sprinkle on some powdered sugar. It’s not necessary but it makes the brownies oh so pretty!
FAQs:
You can store these homemade brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 5 days!
We normally use Hershey’s Special Dark, which is a mixture of Dutch and natural. It makes extra fudgy brownies! If you’re choosing just one, use Dutch processed.
We like to test these homemade brownies about 1-2 inches from the edge of the pan and pull them when the tester comes out clean. If you test them directly in the center of the pan, the edges will be overdone by the time the tester comes out clean. Testing near the edges ensures you end up with nice edge pieces and fudgy centers.
MORE BROWNIE RECIPES!
Nutella Brownies: If you like extra fudgy brownies, try these!
Marshmallow Brownies: Wait til you see the layers on these brownies!
Reese’s Brownies: Brownie bottom + peanut butter frosting + chocolate fudge frosting + Reese’s!
Mississippi Mud Brownies: I love the marshmallows on here!
M&M Brownies: These brownies are packed full of M&M candies!
Recipe for easy homemade brownies:
Homemade Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 2 1/4 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/4 cups cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder optional
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9×13 baking dish.
- In small saucepan over low heat, melt butter completely. Stir in sugar and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Do not allow sugar mixture to boil.
- Pour butter mixture into a large bowl or stand mixer, and cool for 2 minutes. Beat in cocoa powder, eggs, salt, baking powder, espresso powder, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
- Stir in the flour and chocolate chips until well combined.
- Spread into prepared pan (batter will be very thick and sticky) and bake for about 30 minutes, until a tester comes out mostly clean. The edges should be set and the center should still look slightly moist, but not uncooked. Cool on a wire rack.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
This post was originally published in October of 2009. It was updated with new tips in October of 2020. Original photo below:
michele says
My husband loved these 🙂 i had only 2 giant duck eggs so i used those instead of 4 eggs. Another thing was my batter was like a dough. Perhaps because i cut back on the eggs who knows. So i had to press the mixture in a 9X13 greased pan and cook about ten minutes longer but ohhhhhh myyyyyyy these are the bomb….thank you
Tyra says
Just tried making these. Made a 1/2 batch because I only had 2 eggs. The batter was not at all runny, it was more of a dough (like I would use to make cookies). The picture looks like thin batter (how box brownies usually are). Anyone know what I did wrong?!?!
michele says
cause you only used two eggs 🙂
Ellen says
Saw this recipe on Pinterest. It’s amazing!!! Thanks!
Leah says
Oh, thanks! I will definitely try that! Actually, they were better the next day! Got a lot of compliments! Thanks!
Leah says
Just made these brownies and I have to say, I’m not thrilled. Don’t get me wrong, they’re good(but what brownies arent), just not amazing. I wouldn’t even call them really good. I have tried many boxed versions and those came out much better. These were very cakey and not fudgey enough for my taste. If you’re looking for cakey brownies, look no further. But for those like me, who like the very fudgey rich brownies, do not make these. I don’t mean to be rude, I just don’t love these. I will not be making these again.
sophia says
@Leah, If you would like to alter the recipe for a less cakey brownie, eliminate one or two of the eggs! Simple as that, same great taste but much thicker and fudgey!
I know a Great Brownie says
I am so UPSET!!!! These brownies are SOOOOOO decadent, delicious and divine!!!!! I wanted them to be just ok but I am so disappointed and now I have to have friends and family come over to take these brownies out of my house or I seriously will eat them all! I am a brownie snob and this is a great brownie recipe!!! I refuse to try another…thank you a bunch!! 🙂
diane says
I don’t know where I saw this recipe the first time, but pinned them onto one of my boards and made then this weekend. Oh my! My son tells me they are THE BEST thing he has ever eaten 🙂 This brownie recipe is a keeper! I used chocolate chunks and the espresso powder and they were actually TOO good! thanks for the recipe!
Melissa says
Made these for my co-worker’s Birthday, A-Maz-Ing!!!!!! They are now referred to at my office as BBE (BEST BROWNIES EVER)
🙂
Thanks!
Lizz says
Would love to have the nutritional information on these. I’ve been saving up calories just so I can have one. I made them for my husband and granddaughters for Val Day. They look amazing and they loved them.
Karly says
@Lizz,
I’m afraid I don’t have the nutritional info. I just don’t have time to figure up and add the information to each recipe, but I’m sure there is a website out there that allows you to enter the ingredients and will give you the nutritional info!
Chrisi says
What is the best way to prepare the pan? Haven’t made these yet but want to for V-Day! Normally when i cook brownies (always from a box) the outer edges are always burned or cook differently from the middle. Will a glass pan be OK? …that’s all I have,
Karly says
@Chrisi,
I always use parchment paper when baking. I’d just line your 9×13 dish (glass is fine) and pour in the batter. You can just spray the dish with cooking spray too, though.
Karly says
@Chrisi,
Oh, and if your burning the edges and undercooking the middle, it’s possible that your oven just doesn’t heat evenly. It could also run hot. You might want to buy a thermometer that you can keep in the oven to be sure you’re at the correct temp.
Samantha says
Oh my freaking heavens!!! My little girl and I made these last night and holy cow…these are so SO good. And honestly better the next day. Thank you for my go to brownie recipe…I will never even think about using a box brownie mix ever again.
Kristi says
OMG! I can see the potential! I only made a half batch, because if they were as good as touted, I wanted to have some limit to my indulgence… however, I over-baked them 🙁 But they STILL taste divine! Can’t wait to try them again!
Thanks for sharing!
Jessie says
just made these ! absolutely fantastic !!
definitely a new favorite recipe !!
thanks so much ! : )
Savannah says
My kitchen aid stand mixer destroyed the chocolate chips…. they melted… 🙁
Karly says
@Savannah,
Hmm, yours must be more powerful than mine or your chips just softer. I always dump my chips in the mixer when making cookies or brownies and never have problems. Next time just stir them in by hand. 🙂
laura Foust says
The first time I made homemade brownies I proudly brought them to my parents house. My dad came home from work, took one bite, and said, “This is the worst brownie I have ever tasted.” I’ve stuck to boxed ever since. But these… Oh my gosh… These look like everything I’ve ever wanted in a brownie. I can’t wait to try them. And ps. Oatmeal is overrated.