Homemade Brownies

This is the best homemade brownie recipe! They have a perfect, chewy texture and a rich chocolate flavor and are made in one pot. You can top them with whipped sour cream chocolate frosting for an extra chocolaty treat. If you love a moist fudgy brownie, then you must try these homemade brownies!

They are better than box brownies and the perfect dessert for all occasions. Also, check out our chewy vanilla brownies, Mexican chocolate brownies, and chocolate brownies with bourbon!

Homemade Brownies

There’s no doubt about it, brownies are one of the best desserts out there. Whether you eat them plain or serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or drizzle caramel sauce all over them, it’s hard to go wrong with a gooey, fudgy brownie. 

But, as classic a recipe as brownies are, it can sometimes be difficult to make them from scratch. If you’re not careful, your brownies can turn out cakey, undercooked, or under flavored. 

Oddly enough, we really like store-bought brownies. We like that they are always fudgy, not over-the-top rich, and have the right amount of chewiness. 

After testing and altering countless recipes and never finding one we truly liked, we finally have one! This recipe is one that measures up to the store-bought, boxed brownies that we absolutely love!

The best part is these brownies become even chewier as they cool, they have the perfect amount of chocolate with a fudgy center. They’re actually even better the next day!

And if you love chocolate desserts as much as we do, you must try our easy brookies recipe, the best chocolate cake recipe it’s delicious as a snacking cake!

We also have a recipe for gluten-free brownies that are rich and gooey too!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Perfectly chewy texture: These brownies become even chewier as they cool, they have the perfect amount of chocolate with a fudgy center. They’re actually even better the next day!

Store-bought quality at home: This recipe rivals the convenience and texture of boxed brownies but with richer, more authentic chocolate flavor.

Optional frosting: We topped them with the most delicious, whipped chocolate frosting and I don’t think there is anything better. It’s light and not very sweet. It’s perfection!

Versatile dessert: Perfect for any occasion from birthday parties to bake sales, or just satisfying your chocolate cravings!

Homemade Brownie Ingredients

This is an easy brownie recipe that makes the most delicious brownies! Here’s everything you need to make this recipe:

Unsweetened Chocolate Squares – Unsweetened chocolate squares are simply blocks of unsweetened chocolate. They have a very strong, bitter flavor and are used in baking recipes to create a rich, chocolatey flavor.

Oil (vegetable or canola) – The oil in this recipe helps to create a moist and fudgy brownie. We recommend using a type of oil with a neutral flavor, such as canola oil or vegetable oil. While both butter and oil create tender brownies, oil gives these brownies that perfect fudgy, dense texture that makes your mouth water.

Granulated Sugar – Use white sugar to sweeten the brownies and create a delicious, classic flavor.

Eggs – Use large, organic eggs. The eggs in this recipe help to bind the ingredients together and create a rich, fudgy texture. They also add structure and lift, so your brownies will be nice and moist. Eggs are vital for brownies as they enhance moisture content, provide air for the correct texture, and help create that classic crackly top.

Butter – Use high-quality, unsalted butter. Butter gives tenderness and structure to brownies. It also adds the best buttery flavor, which we all love! Our recipe uses both oil and butter for the perfect balance of flavor and texture.

Vanilla Extract – Vanilla extract is used for flavor in this recipe. It helps to round out the chocolate flavor and gives these brownies a delicious, classic flavor. Use pure vanilla extract for this recipe.

All-Purpose Flour – We use King Arthur flour for our baked goods. Flour provides structure to the brownies. For fudgier brownies, we use a higher fat-to-flour ratio – more chocolate and butter with just enough flour for structure.

Baking Powder – This is a leavening agent, that contains both the base (sodium bicarbonate) and the acid needed for the brownies to rise.

How to Make Homemade Brownies

Preheat the oven: Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees and grease a square pan with butter, then add parchment paper to the bottom for easy removal.

Mix the dry ingredients: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder until well combined.

Melt the chocolate: In a medium pot, add butter and chopped chocolate and melt over low heat, constantly stirring to prevent burning. This is a critical step—don’t rush it!

Blend in the oils: Once the chocolate has melted completely, add in the oil and stir until smooth and incorporated.

Add the wet ingredients: Whisk in the eggs and sugar to the pot of chocolate until fully blended. Then add vanilla extract and stir to combine.

Combine wet and dry: Remove from heat and fold in the flour mixture gently until just combined. Don’t overmix—this can make brownies too cakey.

Bake to perfection: Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan (either 8×8 or 9×9 baking pan) and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out semi-clean. For gooier brownies, you’ll want some moist crumbs on the toothpick, but not wet batter.

Cool and frost: Let them cool completely on a wire rack. Brownies actually become chewier as they cool and are even better the next day! Once cool, frost them with the chocolate sour cream frosting if desired.

Storage

Room Temperature

Store your homemade brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. This helps maintain their perfect chewy texture and keeps them from drying out.

Refrigerate

For longer storage, you can refrigerate brownies in an airtight container for up to a week. Just be aware that refrigeration may slightly alter the texture. Let them come to room temperature before serving for the best flavor experience.

Freeze

Brownies freeze beautifully! For best results, freeze them unfrosted in a single layer. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep for up to 3 months. To thaw, let them stand at room temperature for 3-4 hours before serving.

Make Ahead

These brownies actually taste better the next day as they become even chewier! This makes them perfect for preparing a day in advance for parties or gatherings. If adding frosting, wait until they’re completely cool before frosting.

Recipe Variations

If you’re looking for a little something extra to add to this chewy brownie recipe, there are so many delicious variations you can add to the batter before baking. Here are some suggestions:

Nutty Brownies – Fold 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds into the batter before baking.

Chocolate Chip Brownies – Mix 1 cup of milk chocolate chips or chunks into the batter for double chocolate goodness. The chips melt slightly but maintain their shape, creating pockets of extra chocolate throughout the brownies.

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies – Before baking, drop 1/4 cup of warm peanut butter in dollops over the brownie batter, then swirl with a knife for a gorgeous marbled effect. The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is absolutely irresistible!

Mint Chocolate Brownies – Add 1/2 teaspoon of mint extract to the batter and sprinkle 1/2 cup of mint chocolate chips on top before baking.

Caramel Brownies – Pour the batter into the pan, then drizzle 1/3 cup of caramel sauce over the top. Use a toothpick to create swirls before baking. For an extra indulgent treat, sprinkle with flaky sea salt after baking.

S’mores Brownies – Top the baked brownies with mini marshmallows and return to the oven for 2-3 minutes until puffy. Remove and sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs and chocolate chips for a campfire-inspired dessert.

Eden’s Tips

Quality Ingredients: Use good quality ingredients like King Arthur flour, organic eggs, and high-quality chocolate. It really does make a difference in the final result!

Watch the Chocolate: Don’t burn the chocolate when melting! Keep the heat low and stir constantly. This is a critical step that affects the entire flavor of your brownies.

Check Early: Baking time will vary depending on your oven and location. I always set my timer for 10 minutes less than the recipe states and then adjust as needed. You can always continue baking, but you can’t fix overbaked brownies!

Fudgy vs. Cakey: For fudgier brownies, use less flour and don’t overmix the batter. If you prefer cakier brownies, you can add an extra egg and a bit more flour.

Perfect Pan Size: An 8×8 or 9×9 square pan will give you the best results. This size helps your brownies bake evenly and achieve that perfect chewy, fudgy texture.

Cooling Time: Let brownies cool completely before cutting for clean edges. They actually become chewier as they cool and taste even better the next day!

Toothpick Test: For perfectly done brownies, look for moist crumbs (not wet batter) on your toothpick. If you want super gooey brownies, a few moist streaks are fine.

Frosting Timing: If you’re adding the chocolate sour cream frosting, make sure the brownies are completely cool first to prevent melting.

Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting 

This is the smoothest and most delicious chocolate sour cream frosting recipe ever! It’s made with bittersweet chocolate, butter, sugar, and cream. All of the ingredients are whipped together for a perfect, smooth finish. 

This frosting is optional but we truly love the way it compliments the brownies!

How to Make a Brownie Fudgy

To make the absolute best brownies from scratch, you first need to learn how to make them fudgy. 

For a brownie to be super fudgy, it needs to have a higher fat-to-flour ratio. To achieve, this you need to add more chocolate and butter and go a little lighter on the flour. If you want cakey brownies, you’d do the opposite. 

To get that fudgy texture, we suggest doubling the amount of butter (ie, a full stick versus a half stick) and doubling the amount of chocolate (ie, 6 ounces of chocolate versus 3 ounces). 

How to Make Chewy Brownies Instead of Cakey Ones 

In addition to making sure your brownies are fudgy, you also want to make sure they’re chewy. Figuring out the right amount of chewiness can be a delicate balance. On one hand, you don’t want to make them so chewy that they turn out stale. But, you also don’t want them to be cakey. 

Here are some tips to help keep your brownies extra chewy:

• Add fewer eggs.
• Use oil or melted butter
• Slightly reduce the baking time
• Use a bit less flour.

By following these tips, your chocolate brownies will come out nice and chewy.

Are Brownies Better With Oil or Butter? 

When searching for brownie recipes online, you’ll probably notice that many are made with oil while others are made with butter. Which should you use in order to create the best brownie recipe?

If you’re going for fudgy, chewy brownies, we definitely recommend using oil. While both butter and oil will give your brownies a tender, moist texture, only oil can give your brownies that fudgy, dense texture that makes your mouth water. 

When it comes to the type of oil, vegetable oil is definitely your best bet, as it enhances the texture of the brownie without producing any overwhelming flavor. However, if you don’t have any vegetable oil on hand, you may also substitute it with olive oil. But, make sure it’s pure or light olive oil. 

Our homemade brownies recipe uses mostly oil, but a little butter too! 

How Many Brownies in an 8×8 Inch Pan

When using an 8×8-inch pan, how many brownies you get really depends on how you cut them. If you’re going for larger-sized brownies, you should get about 9. However, you could get 12-16 medium to smaller-sized ones as well. 

Why Baking Times Vary

Baking times can vary for a number of reasons. The type and size of the pan you use, the ingredients you use, and even the altitude of your location can all affect the baking time.

To ensure that your brownies are cooked through, we recommend using a toothpick or cake tester to test the center of the brownies. The toothpick should come out with a few moist crumbs, but no batter.

What to Serve with Chocolate Brownies

There are so many delicious things you can serve with chocolate brownies! We love to top ours with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

You can also top them with whipped cream, fresh berries, or a dusting of powdered sugar.

When to Serve Homemade Brownies

This is a classic dessert that can be served and altered for any occasion, event or holiday. Here are some of our favorite celebrations to serve them:

• Baby Shower Or Bridal Shower
• Brunch
• Birthday Party it’s also perfect for a last-minute birthday party!
• Carnival Party
• Cookies and Cocktail Party

More Recipes You’ll Love

• The Best Brookies Recipe
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
• The Best Blondies Recipe
• The Best Devil’s Food Cake Recipe
• The Best Homemade Chocolate Cake