If you normally reach for the boxed brownie mix, then trust us—make this easy, homemade recipe one time, and you’ll ditch it for good. Everyone needs a staple, crowd-pleasing brownie recipe to keep in their back pocket, and we think these moist, extra-chocolatey brownies should be your new go-to. Starring both melted chocolate and unsweetened cocoa powder, these rich, fudgy brownies deliver all the intense chocolate decadence that we crave. Read on for how to make these brownies the best they can be:
How to make homemade brownies:
— How to make fudgy brownies. The key to making fudgy, extra-chocolatey brownies? Use cocoa powder and melted chocolate. You could use one or the other alone and make a just-okay brownie, but together they’re a pretty unstoppable duo: Cocoa gives the brownies that really intense chocolate flavor, while melted chocolate boosts the flavor and also adds to the fudgy texture.
—Use white and brown sugar. The high proportion of white sugar (over brown) guarantees that signature shiny, crackly top, while the molasses in brown sugar brings a delightful additional depth of flavor.
—Cut the sweetness (but not too much!). A hefty dose of vanilla extract provides a rich background note for the two types of chocolate featured here, while generous amounts of salt and espresso powder boost its flavor and balance the overall sweetness. Though many brownie recipes rely on oil for fat, we’ve gone with butter because, simply, it tastes better! The dairy solids enrich the overall flavor, without making these too one-note.
— Let them cool. We get it—it’s tempting to want to cut into these babies right away. That being said, we recommend letting these brownies cool completely before attempting to cut them. Then remove the whole sheet from the pan and slice it into squares with a sharp knife.
Brownie mix-ins:
Everyone has their own (very strong) opinions about whether or not a brownie should have mix-ins. We’ve left these pure and unadulterated—nothing added to disturb that fudgy, chewy strata—but if you want to stir in up to 1 cup additional chocolate chips or chopped nuts, be our guest.
Brownie variations:
Ready to take your brownies to the next level? We’ve got plenty of brownie recipes for inspo, but we highly recommend our cheesecake-swirled Ghirardelli brownies, copycat Cosmic Brownies, and chocolate-covered strawberry brownies. Don’t feel like turning on your oven? Our Instant Pot brownies, air fryer brownies, and brownie in a mug are here to help.
Storage:
Store these brownies in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Made these? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
