This is the best chewy vanilla brownies recipe ever! Also known as blondies, this sweet dessert is buttery, moist, and full of vanilla flavor. It’s our favorite brownie recipe of all time.
Looking for more brownie recipes? Try our chocolate brownies with bourbon, Mexican chocolate brownies, and the best homemade brownies with chocolate frosting.
Vanilla Brownies
Vanilla brownies, also known as vanilla blondies, are a sweet delectable treat! A pale dessert bar, vanilla brownies look similar to regular chocolate brownies, apart from the lighter color.
Instead of cocoa, blonde brownies use vanilla. Other ingredients are, however, largely similar to those used to make a regular chocolate brownie.
These gooey vanilla brownies are extremely easy to make using simple ingredients and a few steps. They have the best chewy texture, and they’re not caky at all. Instead, they’re gooey, and moist, and have the perfect crinkle top.
The vanilla flavor shines through and they are seriously the most buttery brownies ever. They don’t need any icing over the top because they are perfect as they are.
So if you’re looking for an easy party dessert, make these mouth-watering, great vanilla brownies. Our step-by-step instructions produce deliciously fudgy brownies with a chewy texture that is sure to delight your family and friends.
Why You’ll Love These Vanilla Brownies
Perfect chewy texture: These brownies have the ideal balance of chewiness and moisture that will keep you coming back for more.
Simple ingredients: Made with pantry staples you likely already have on hand, making them perfect for last-minute dessert cravings.
Versatile recipe: You can easily customize with add-ins like white chocolate chips, sprinkles, or different extracts to suit any occasion.
Quick preparation: From start to finish, these can be ready in under 40 minutes with minimal effort.
Vanilla Brownies Ingredients
Unsalted Butter – Butter is what makes these brownies chewy and flavorful. Use good quality unsalted butter. We use melted butter for this recipe.
Granulated Sugar – White sugar is used to sweeten the brownies.
Eggs – Eggs add structure and moisture to the brownies. This recipe uses one large egg and one egg yolk. This is just the right amount for a chewy brownie. Adding an extra egg yolk to the batter enables the batter to hold extra liquid and extra sugar.
Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract. Vanilla not only adds flavor to the brownies but also enhances the other flavors.
Baking Powder – Acts as a leavening agent for the brownies.
Cornstarch – This adds to the chewy texture of the brownies.
All-Purpose Flour – The structure of the brownies. We like to use King Arthur flour.
Salt – Enhances the flavor of all of the ingredients.
Sprinkles are optional but are perfect for adding color to these brownies.
How to Make Vanilla Brownies
Preheat the oven: Heat oven to 350°F for perfect brownie baking temperature.
Prepare your pan: Grease an 8×8 baking dish with butter or vegetable oil, then line with parchment paper for easy removal.
Combine dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and cornstarch until well incorporated.
Mix wet ingredients: In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter, granulated sugar, egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully combined.
Fold together: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, being careful not to overmix to maintain the chewy texture.
Pour and spread: Transfer the batter to your prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly to the corners for uniform baking.
Bake to perfection: Bake for 25-30 minutes until the middle has risen, the sides are puffy, and the tops are golden brown.
Cool before cutting: Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares for the perfect chewy texture.
Storage
Room Temperature and Refrigerator
Store your vanilla brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days. You can also wrap individual brownies in plastic wrap for added freshness.
For longer storage, place the container in the refrigerator where they will stay fresh for up to a week. The cool temperature helps maintain their chewy texture and prevents them from drying out.
Freezer
These vanilla brownies freeze beautifully, making them perfect for preparing ahead of time.
Wait until they are completely cooled, then either wrap the entire batch or individual brownies tightly in plastic wrap. Place the wrapped brownies in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag to prevent freezer burn.
If stacking multiple layers, separate them with aluminum foil to prevent sticking.
To defrost your brownies, simply remove them from the container, place on a plate and leave them at room temperature for three to four hours. For a quicker thaw, you can also microwave them.
Recipe Variations
Once you’ve mastered these easy homemade brownies by following our simple recipe, why not mix things up with some tasty recipe variations?
Chocolate Chip Blondies: Fold in 1 cup of white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, or dark chocolate chips to add pockets of melty chocolate throughout your brownies.
Flavor Extracts: Replace some of the vanilla extract with almond extract, maple extract, or coconut extract for a unique flavor profile while maintaining that classic blondie texture.
Nutty Blondies: Add 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts, pecans, or macadamia nuts for a wonderful crunchy contrast to the chewy brownie base.
Brown Butter Blondies: Brown the butter before adding it to the mixture for a deeper, nuttier flavor that elevates the entire brownie experience.
Birthday Cake Blondies: Mix in 1/2 cup of colorful sprinkles to the batter for a festive, birthday cake-inspired treat that’s perfect for celebrations.
Gluten-Free Option: Substitute the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free flour blend (plus 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum if your blend doesn’t include it) for a gluten-free version that everyone can enjoy.
Swirled Blondies: Create a marble effect by adding a swirl of Nutella, peanut butter, or cookie butter throughout the batter before baking.
Bite-Sized Treats: Bake in a mini muffin tin for approximately 15-18 minutes to create bite-sized brownie bites that are perfect for parties and portion control.
Eden’s Tips
Quality Ingredients Matter: Use high-quality butter and pure vanilla extract for the best flavor. The better your ingredients, the more exceptional your brownies will taste.
Proper Measuring: Measure your flour correctly by spooning it into measuring cups and leveling off with a knife. Packing flour too tightly can result in dry brownies.
Don’t Overmix: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until combined. Overmixing develops gluten, which can make your brownies tough instead of chewy.
Melted Butter Technique: Allow the melted butter to cool slightly before adding it to the eggs and sugar to prevent cooking the eggs prematurely.
Check Doneness Carefully: Look for golden brown edges that are slightly pulling away from the pan. The center should be set but still slightly soft – brownies will continue to set as they cool.
Cooling Completely: Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before cutting for clean, perfect squares. For extra neat cuts, refrigerate for 30 minutes before slicing.
Parchment Paper Lining: Create a parchment paper sling with overhanging edges for easy removal of the entire brownie batch from the pan.
Fresh Ingredients: Always check the expiration dates on your baking powder and other ingredients. Fresh ingredients ensure proper rising and texture in your brownies.
Brownie Toppings
There are many exciting toppings to further personalize the easy blondie recipe to your preferences, such as:
- Flavored frosting
- Cream cheese
- Vanilla frosting
- Melted chocolate
- Sprinkles
You can enjoy your brownies alone or serve them with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream for a sumptuous treat.
How to Prepare a Brownie Pan
A square pan is best for making brownies, as you can slice your finished treats with ease.
Take your glass pan or metal pan and line it well with parchment paper. The lined pan is to prevent the brownie batter from sticking.
Use cooking spray, vegetable oil, or butter to grease the pan. Grease the bottom and sides.
When to Serve Vanilla 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
Birthday Party: it’s also perfect for a last-minute birthday party!
Difference Between Brownies and Blondies
Although similar, brownies and blondies are different types of cake-like dessert bars.
Typical brownie recipes use cocoa, whereas a vanilla brownies recipe uses vanilla.
White vanilla blondies differ from white chocolate brownies in that the latter still use cocoa along with white chocolate chips.
As the name suggests, vanilla brownies have a rich vanilla flavor. Granulated sugar creates a satisfying sweetness that perfectly complements the vanilla. Our great recipe produces some of the best brownies you’ll ever have tasted!
Why Use Cornstarch in Baked Goods
Cornstarch helps create a tender texture in desserts. When combined with flour it can soften harsh proteins, making a more tender baked good.
Commercially, cornstarch is often used as an anti-caking agent.
How Many Brownies Does This Recipe Make?
Depending on how you cut these brownies, you’ll get 9 to 12 tasty brownies from this awesome recipe.
More Dessert Recipes You’ll Love
If you love this vanilla brownie recipe, then you must try these too!
Homemade Brownies with Whipped Chocolate Frosting
If you make this easy vanilla brownie recipe, please leave a comment and review. We want to know what you think!
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Vanilla Brownies
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cups granulatd sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F.
- Prepare an 8×8 baking dish with butter or vegetable oil and parchment paper.
- Combine the dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, salt, and cornstarch.
- In a mixing bowl whisk together melted butter, eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract until combined.
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
- Pour into the prepared baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes until the middle has risen, the sides or puffy and the tops are golden brown.
- Let the brownies cool, then cut them into squares.
Simply the best! So buttery and fudgy and full of vanilla flavor. Very easy to make. Have made many times and shared the recipe with lots of others who have requested!
Hi! I have been looking for a brownie/cookie recipe without brown sugar and baking soda and this one was definitely the best one. Thank you! Do you have any more dessert recipes without those 2 ingredients?
Hello, should we leave the eggs out to get to room temperature before mixing? Thanks, can’t wait to try the recipe!
Yes you can!
Are these supposed to be soggy when they come out if the oven? I followed your recipe exactly but they came out soggy. It rise in the middle and the top is brown and crusted over, but the bottom is super soggy. Please let me know. 🙂
Hi! They should not be soggy, they are gooey but not soggy. They probably needed more time. Every oven is different and you’ll have to gage how much time they need by doing the toothpick method.
Just made these and they are so good! A big hit! Added this to my recipe box because I will be making again.
Just wondering. Do these need to be refrigerated? Making some for Christmas and wanted to keep in a cookie jar. I have a little cookie table I have set up for the month.
They don’t have to be, but they will stay fresher if they are. They won’t last a month in a cookie jar at room temperature though, only a few days.
You mentioned dark brown sugar in your post, but only white sugar in the ingredient list. Which is it? Or were you just giving an option to use brown?
Thank you for letting us know. It’s granulated sugar and we’ve updated that. Thank you!
I used to think fudgy brownies were my favorite until I tried this vanilla blondie recipe! It’s thick, chewy and almost reminds me of that classic cake batter flavor. We added sprinkles to ours which made them so fun and festive!
This quickly became a favorite at my house! I can’t wait to make it again!
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!