Best Chocolate Brownies: Rich, Fudgy, and Easy to Make
Gooey Chocolate Brownies are everyone’s best friend. They’re simple to make, use ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, and best of all, they’re universally loved. Let’s be honest: if someone doesn’t like brownies, it might just be a red flag! Whether you like them gooey in the middle, with a crisp, crackly top, or loaded with chocolate chunks, they never fail to deliver on indulgence, especially this chocolate brownie recipe.
What Are Chocolate Brownies?
Brownies are a classic American dessert that sits perfectly between a cake and a cookie. They’re typically made with butter, sugar, eggs, cocoa powder or melted chocolate, and a small amount of flour—resulting in a rich, chocolatey treat with a chewy, fudgy, or cakey texture depending on the recipe.
What makes brownies so beloved is their versatility. Some people love them ultra fudgy with gooey centers, while others prefer a more cake-like crumb. You can keep them simple or add fun mix-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, caramel swirls, or even peanut butter. We love to create Slutty Brownies.
Whether you’re baking them for a birthday party, potluck, or just to satisfy a chocolate craving, homemade brownies are one of the easiest and most indulgent desserts you can whip up—and this recipe might just become your new favorite!
Bye Bye Brownie Box Mix
But here’s the thing—it’s time to throw away the box mix and try making brownies from scratch. Sure, I’ll admit it, boxed brownies are actually pretty good. Unlike boxed cake mix (which I strongly recommend ditching in favor of my irresistible chocolate or vanilla cake recipes), boxed brownies are hard to mess up. However, if you’ve never tried homemade brownies, trust me, you’re missing out. Once you make them from scratch, you’ll wonder why you ever settled for the box.
Why Homemade Brownies Are Worth It
As a self-proclaimed brownie connoisseur, I’ve tested and re-tested this recipe until I knew it was the absolute best. The result? Brownies that are perfectly moist, fudgy, chocolatey, and topped with a flawless crackly layer. Even my dad, who’s not the biggest dessert fan, took one bite and lit up like never before. That’s how you know these brownies are something special!
The best part? These are SO SIMPLE to make. You don’t need any fancy equipment or hard-to-find ingredients, and chances are, you already have everything in your kitchen. That means you could be just 30 minutes away from enjoying warm, gooey chocolate brownies.
The Secret to Perfect Brownies
If there’s one thing that separates a good brownie from a great one, it’s mastering the texture. Here are the key steps that make all the difference:
1. Do Not Overbake
This is the number one rule. Brownies continue to cook as they cool, so taking them out when a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs ensures a fudgy, moist texture.
2. Beat the Eggs and Sugar Well
This step is crucial. Beating the eggs and sugar until pale and thick (5-7 minutes) helps create that coveted crackly top. The thick mixture traps air, which rises to the surface as the brownies bake, forming a shiny, flaky crust that’s pure perfection. I love using a hand mixer for this step making it effortless.
3. Use High-Quality Chocolate
At its core, this is really just chocolate in dessert form, so the quality of your chocolate matters. Low-quality chocolate will result in a less rich, satisfying brownie. I highly recommend using Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate for the best flavor.
Ingredients Breakdown
- Semi-sweet chocolate baking bar (melted): Provides the rich, deep chocolate flavor.
- Salted butter (melted): Adds moisture and richness, ensuring the brownies are buttery and fudgy. (Yes, I use salted butter for all my baking, but unsalted will work just as well.)
- Granulated white sugar: Sweetens and helps create that crackly top when beaten with the eggs.
- Eggs: Add structure and help achieve the shiny, crackly crust.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor and adds warmth to the chocolate.
- All-purpose flour: Gives the brownies structure without making them cakey.
- Unsweetened Cocoa powder: Boosts the chocolate flavor and deepens the color.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate flavor.
- Instant espresso powder (optional): Heightens the chocolate flavor without making the brownies taste like coffee. (Trust me, I hate coffee too! You won’t taste it, but it’s a great flavor enhancer.)
- Milk chocolate chips: Add pockets of melty chocolate goodness throughout the brownies. (YUM!) You can substitute this with dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate if you prefer.
How to make the BEST Fudgy Brownie Recipe
Melt the butter and chocolate together, stirring until smooth.
Beat the eggs and sugar together in a large mixing bowl until pale and thick (about 5-7 minutes).
Add the vanilla extract and melted butter-chocolate mixture to the egg-sugar mixture. Stir until smooth and well combined.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and instant espresso powder. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Add in chocolate chips. Do not overmix.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) in a greased and lined with parchment 9×13-inch baking pan for about 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
How to Store Your Brownies
If you somehow make this chocolate brownie recipe and have any leftovers (though I doubt you will!), here’s how to store them:
- At room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. This will keep them soft and fudgy.
- In the fridge: For a firmer texture, you can refrigerate them. Just bring them back to room temperature before serving for the best experience.
- Freezing brownies: Brownies freeze really well! Wrap individual pieces in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-safe bag. They’ll keep for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat one, simply let it thaw at room temperature or microwave it for about 20 seconds for a warm treat.
Customizing Your Brownies
One of the best things about brownies is how easy they are to customize. Here are a few ways to switch up this or any other chocolate brownie recipe:
- Add nuts: Fold in 1/2 cup of toasted walnuts or pecans for added crunch.
- Swirl in peanut butter or Nutella: Drop spoonfuls of peanut butter or Nutella onto the brownie batter and swirl them in with a knife before baking.
- Add marshmallows: For s’mores-style brownies, top the batter with mini marshmallows and graham cracker crumbs halfway through baking.
- Make them extra chocolatey: Use a mix of dark, semi-sweet, and milk chocolate chips for varying bursts of chocolate flavor.
Try out our Slutty Brownies, it’s a layer of chocolate chip cookie dough, brownie, and Oreo. Do I really need to say more?
FAQ’s on Fudgy Chocolate Brownies
The main difference between fudgy and cakey brownies comes down to the fat-to-flour ratio. Fudgy brownies have more fat, usually from butter and chocolate, which gives them a dense, gooey texture. Cakey brownies use more flour and often include a bit of baking powder for lift, resulting in a lighter, more cake-like crumb. This recipe is designed for fudgy brownies!
Beating the eggs and sugar until pale and thick is the secret to achieving that coveted crackly top. This creates air bubbles that rise to the surface and form a shiny crust as the brownies bake. We explain this in more detail in our Brownie Guide.
The best way to tell when brownies are done is to use the toothpick test. Insert a toothpick into the center; if it comes out with a few moist crumbs (but not raw batter), they’re ready. You can also look for edges that pull slightly away from the pan and a set, slightly glossy top. If you wait until the toothpick comes out completely clean, they’re likely overbaked and dry.
A metal pan (like aluminum) is the best option for baking brownies evenly. It conducts heat more efficiently than glass or ceramic, giving you crisp edges and a fudgy center. If you’re using a glass pan, reduce the oven temperature by 25°F and keep a close eye on bake time, as it holds heat longer and can lead to overbaking.
Yes! Brownies freeze very well. Just wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag. They can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Want more Delicious Chocolate Recipes:
- Our FAMOUS Moist Chocolate Cake
- Soft and Chewy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chocolate Cupcakes
- German Chocolate Cake
Get to Baking!
Now you have the perfect fudgy brownie recipe—thick, rich, and loaded with chocolate flavor in every bite. Whether you’re treating yourself after a long day or serving them at a party, bake sale, or family gathering, these brownies are guaranteed to steal the spotlight.
They’re easy to make, crowd-pleasing, and customizable with your favorite mix-ins. Plus, they taste even better the next day (if they last that long!).
Give the recipe a try and let me know how they turn out in the comments below—I love seeing your creations and hearing what you think. And if you share them on social media, don’t forget to tag me @everythingjustbaked so I can drool over your brownies too.
Ingredients
- 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate baking bar, chopped
- 1 cup salted butter (unsalted will work too)
- 2 1/2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs at room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- ½ tsp instant espresso powder
- ½ cup milk chocolate chips plus some for topping
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Melt the butter with the semi-sweet chocolate bar in a saucepan over medium heat (or the microwave). Remove from heat and add in the instant espresso powder. Let cool slightly.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until pale and thick, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the vanilla and the melted butter-chocolate mixture to the egg-sugar mixture, mixing until smooth.
- Sift together the flour, cocoa powder and salt, and gently fold into the wet mixture until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, top with chocolate chips and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
Video
Notes
- Do not overbake: Brownies will continue to cook as they cool. To achieve that perfect fudgy center, remove them from the oven when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs (not wet batter).
- Quality chocolate matters: For the richest, most decadent brownies, use high-quality chocolate. I recommend Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate for the best flavor.
- Adding instant espresso powder: This is optional, but a small amount of espresso powder (1/2 tsp) enhances the chocolate flavor without adding any coffee taste.
- For thicker brownies: If you prefer thicker brownies, bake them in a smaller pan (8×8 inch) and adjust the cooking time accordingly (add 5-10 minutes).
- Storage: Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, or refrigerate for a firmer texture. They also freeze well—wrap individual pieces in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
OMG. My new go-to recipe.
Best brownie recipe ever. Thank you.
yayyy! Thank you so much!
These were soooo good. I even used the wrong size pan (too small). A Lil thick but hey so am I. I am not a baker and it was not complicated. The result was just bravo.
Amazing brownies! Baking them for the second time today. Thank you!
My family loved it! Kid 1 was not a fan of brownies and when he tasted this recipe, he changed his mind and loved brownies!!!
In your metric measurements there are oz units! Please correct for your European followers!
It should be fixed now!
Very easy to make and results come out perfectly! Super rich and chocolatey too! My favorite brownie recipe!
Definitely one of the most amazing brownie recipes I’ve ever tried. Results are amazing and the brownies turn out amazing! So rich and chocolaty!
I have made these brownies several times for friends and family here in the UK even though I’m from Texas and they think this is how all brownies are in America 😂 love this recipe and will make it many more times in the future! Thanks
These were the best brownies we have ever had and ever made. We will never buy box brownies again. Chocolatey delicious goodness can’t stop eating them.
Hands down the best recipe best brownies ever will never use a box brownie again. Chocolatey delicious goodness.
So easy and so delicious!
The literal best brownie recipe I’ve ever tried! If you’re looking for a go to recipe for brownies, STOP, this is it, don’t even look any further.
This is by far the best recipe for brownies I have ever made! Def fudge better than any box mix! Everyone loves them! I’ll never go back to anything else!
Hands down, the best brownies I’ve ever had. Recipe was easy to follow (I, too, was lazy and just dumped everything into one bowl, per your TT/IG video). This one is a keeper!
Hi, i made them recently and they were so good!! Ate the entire batch so fast my blood turned into chocolate.
Wanted to make them for my mum but she sadly is not a fan of extra sweet treats, is it possible to cut the amount of sugar in half and keep the texture? Adjust it somehow?
Yay that makes me so happy!
Maybe cut by like a 1/2cup? The texture might sligthly change. Use bittersweet chocolate chips too that will cut a lot of sweetness.
I made this recipe, but I did it with Bob’s red milk, gluten-free flour and it turned out so fantastic. Nobody could believe that it was gluten free. Best recipe on the planet, hands-down.!
This recipe is god like amazing 😂 I honestly have never tasted a better brownie in my life and I grew up in my family bakery.
Delicious and so easy!
Moist and yummy. So good.
Easy to prepare. Moist and yummy. So good. A hit in my house.
these were so good! i used w out espresso powder and they were still amazing. i accidently put 1 full cup of cocoa powder on accident, but i added a bit of milk, a pinch of coffee, and a bit more sugar and they came out great! Im making them again tonight the right way because my family loved them. i cant wait to try the other recipes. <3
I’ve made these brownies twice in 2-days and this is the best brownie recipe yet. Super chewy and moist. Thank you and keep the recipes coming. I love ❤️ your content!!!
Hey Justin, just saw your brownie recipe calls for a 9×13 baking pan, should it be so large for such a small amount of flour? Just checking before I make these brownies.
Yes everything is correct!!!! Your gonna love it.
Dude you know how to bake!!!! I have made soooo many brownie recipes in my 60 years baking and these are by far the absolute best brownies EVER!!! Keep up the awesome recipes. Next I’m going to try your pound cake recipe. I can’t wait!!!
I just tried these tonight, I love baking but some life issues have made it near impossible lately. I was craving brownies and came across this recipe. It was amazing and now I don’t need to have a box mix on hand. Thank you
Hafsah
I ran across this recipe by chance and I’m so glad I did. These brownies are delicious. I made them for my daughter’s teacher for her birthday and they were a hit. And just for added kicks, I made a box mix and had my husband and mother in law taste them for comparison and they both chose your recipe as a better tasting brownie. This will now be my go to recipe for brownies. Thank you for sharing a wonderful recipe.
Ah what an honor! thank you for this wonderful review!
YOOO THIS WAS BUSSINN
Literally made this for so much parties and it was delicious
We didn’t have any left oml
These were decadent and perfect for each bite
Everyone loved it!
I styled mine with marshmallows,chocolate and caramel on top and ugh just perfect xx
Best brownie recipe! So so good .
Amazing but they went dry fast for some reason. Probably a me problem.
So good!
Thank you thank you for the most amazing brownie recipe! We cant get enough if them!
Super easy to make and tastes so good
These are phenomenal!!! I’ve made them 3 times in the last month. Always a hit!
Amazing brownie ,took to bake sale and sold out.
The best brownies I’ve ever had! I love making them, super easy recipe.
Justin, I never leave comments on recipes but I absolutely had to come back to say THANK YOU for this incredible and easy brownie recipe. They are outrageously delicious and I can’t get over how fast and simple they were to whip up. Your instructions were so easy to follow (and your video was cute as always). Thank you for sharing your love for baking!
Side note, I was short 1/2 cup of sugar and they still came out incredible!
Made these last night and they tasted amazing, even though I kind of messed them up (user error, didn’t adjust temp for glass dish :/). I’m a salted caramel kind of girl, would I be able to add caramel or use the salted caramel bar in place of the semi sweet chocolate bar?
Oooooh! A salted caramel bar sounds fun but I would use it in place of the chocolate chips so you taste the flavor more! You can even add a generous drizzle of caramel that will bake into the brownies!
Loved this recipe. Since I was making it the first time, I halved the ingredients and use 8×8 baking pan (baking time 29 min at 350). I followed the method exactly and it turned out amazing!
I adore everything about this recipe! Texture, taste, and simplicity to make.
Can you give us a Blondie recipe???
Working on one!
Can’t wait for the blondie!
Made these again and took them to work……..so many compliments and they disappeared!
I haven’t made these yet bc I’m intimidated to try baking again. We live in Denver so any changes for high altitude?? Thanks!
Hi!!! I’m not too familiar with high altitude baking, sorry about that.
I am in Montana at 5200 ft…I didn’t change anything and they were perfect and so delicious!
Ah! so glad to hear that! Thanks for helping 🙂
I’m sad to say this recipe didn’t work. I followed it exactly! 35 minutes and it was still batter. However it was uncovered until it was cooled. Having to try to rebake to fix them just turned out awful
Oh no Lindsey! Im sorry that happened. Every oven is slightly different so you may need to bake a little longer. Always take recipe times as a guideline, not as a strict rule. Next time test it with a toothpick before removing from the oven.
WOW! Just WOW! So good. A chocolate lover’s dream brownie. Thank you. I am new to your baking and LOVE IT. The food is amazing, just made the pancakes this morning for the family, and love the videos.
I would love to make this but I need a substitute for flour. I am gluten free. Please help!
I would use bobs red mill 1;1 flour
I am planning on making it today but i dont know if i should add baking soda? Also, is it okay if my tray size is slightly different? Thanks:)
No baking soda. and yes you can change the tray size, the baking time will just change
I just got to baking!! Again 🤭Thank you, Justin!! My daughter loved it!! Just yummy 😋🤤
Absolutely delicious, exactly what I have been looking for! My local bakery stopped making their ‘Espresso Brownies’ and I have been missing them so much, now I can make them myself and they’re actually even better!
AMAZING!!!! Made these yesterday and not only was it super easy, it was super yummy and gooey and perfect with some ice cream! Glad I had watched the video first and new to start off with a big bowl!
Delicious!!! I am what I consider to be a “brownie snob”. They have to be just right, and these turned out perfect! Lots of compliments on them from my friends and family.
I made it today — so undercooked
I baked it for 30 mins and it wasnt ready. So i baked it for ten minutes – still not ready. I did that for about an hour and no change.
I am guessing it needed baking soda. The batter tasted nice so thanks for the recipe but everything just turned into a flop when it came to baking. Baking soda/powder is what helps it with baking!
I am doing everything i can to fix it. Worst part of all — i put in all my trust and made 2 batches. Both failed. By the time you see this, it’ll probably been a week since it takes an eternity to be accepted. I asked a question earlier ( 1 week ago ) if it needed baking soda —no reply.
( i dun mean to be rude:))
I made it today — so undercooked
I baked it for 30 mins and it wasnt ready. So i baked it for ten minutes – still not ready. I did that for about an hour and no change.
I am guessing it needed baking soda. The batter tasted nice so thanks for the recipe but everything just turned into a flop when it came to baking. Baking soda/powder is what helps it with baking!
I am doing everything i can to fix it. Worst part of all — i put in all my trust and made 2 batches. Both failed. By the way, i dont mean to be rude:)
I also checked it with a toothpick many times. It just turned out awful.
Im sorry the recipe didn’t work out for you. Baking soda and baking powder isn’t common in brownies unless you are looking for cakey brownies. This is a fudgy brownie so perhaps thats not what you are looking for. Every oven is different also, so always use baking times as a guide not a strict rule. Perhaps use an oven thermometer to ensure your baking at the right temperature and measure carefully to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
Oh okay! Noted, thanks:)
I chilled it in room temperature for a while so i guess now it has gotten slightly better.
Thanks for the advice once again!
I have been searching for the perfect brownie recipe for 50 years. This is it. I have tried hundreds of brownie recipes and this is the best. Easy to make and the best chocolate flavor. My family couldn’t stop eating them.
Thank you for sharing your recipes.
I made a mistake.. I took these to work and now my coworkers won’t stop asking for more.
hahhahaa i love it!
I am so not a baker, let me prepare a meal any day. That being said these were really really good, and I used too sm of a pan, and they were still good, a Lil thick but hey aren’t we all.
Yummy ya gotta make em
Definitely better than grandmas! These came out perfect and I even made a gluten free version for my sister!
Omg!! I follow you on FB so I used both this brownie recipe (give your sis her flowers lol) and your choc chip cookie recipe. I made brookies!! Omg this came out great. I used a glass dish so I reduced the time to 325 and added an additional 15 mins. Yummmmyyyy!!!!
I love these brownies. I made them for a thank you and a birthday treat. Super simple and easy to make. I also love your videos and how you just mix everything in one bowl. You had me at that! They will be my go to brownie recipe. Can’t wait to try your other recipes.
I will only use your recipe from now on Thank you!
I only had 1 3/4 c of sugar 😳, but they were still soft and gooey and delicious!
Delicious! Chewy with great chocolate flavor!
I’ve made these twice in two weeks.. once for work and once for family and both times they were devoured!
I only had unsweetened chocolate bars and with all the sugar in the recipe they still came out perfect for anyone wondering! I added a few more chocolate chips too because I’m chocolate obsessed, and just yummmm. =]
I have been looking forever for the perfect fudgy brownie recipe- this is hands down THE recipe 😁😁 They came out perfect and funny thing I didn’t pay attention to the pan size, I baked TWICE in a square pan and baked an extra 10 min or so just because I noticed they weren’t done yet 😂 😂 PERFECTO 😋
These are amazing! Do you have a favorite chocolate frosting recipe to make these frosted brownies?
Ooooh I would follow the recipe on my chocolate cake. Best Chocolate Cake Recipe (Super Moist & Fudgy)
Brownies seemed underbaked. They had no cake or crumb to them at all, they were ust crumbly goo. They were way too sweet. We had them after dinner and no one wanted to finish their brownies. We threw the remainder away.
I made these yesterday and they’re almost gone today!! Delicious is an understatement!!!! They’ve moist, rich and have that crispy top, I’m scared to take them to work. These will definitely be put in my dessert rotation.
Amazing brownie recipe! This is very easy and the brownies came out fudgy with an almost pavlova type crust on top— the best brownies i have ever made. I love your FB videos and can’t wait to try more recipes
These brownies really are easy to make. The taste is superb, but the top was not thin and crackly like yours. It was thick and crunchy. There seemed to be space between the top and the brownie. What did I do wrong? Thanks in advance. I want mine to turn out like yours did!
I love your videos (you have so much joy in what you do and such a bright smile!) but have always been too intimidated to try making anything. This recipe seemed simple enough even for a non-baker though so I finally gave it a shot. I will never go back to box brownie mixes! This was so delicious for something so easy to make. I used dark chocolate chips and added the s’mores topping. The marshmallows got a little over-browned because I used a 9×9 pan for thicker brownies and they ended up taking over an hour to bake. But it was still so, so good. Nice crackly top, very fudgy, deep chocolate flavor, and the slight bitterness of the dark chocolate chips balanced out the sweet marshmallows to perfection. 10/10!