Easy Brownies Recipe (2024)

By Mark Bittman

Updated Oct. 16, 2023

Easy Brownies Recipe (1)

Total Time
40 minutes
Rating
5(3,809)
Notes
Read community notes

The first time I made brownies without my mother was in the late 1960s, using a recipe from Paula Peck, the cookbook writer. Over the years, I tinkered with that and a similar version by Marion Cunningham. As my daughters learned to cook, they experimented a bit further. But we never really strayed from the originals. As long as you keep the flour to a minimum and don't add chemical leavening like baking powder, you will produce a true and beautiful brownie.

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Ingredients

Yield:About 1 dozen brownies

  • 3ounces unsweetened chocolate
  • 8tablespoons (1 stick) salted or unsalted butter, more for greasing pan
  • 1cup sugar
  • 2eggs
  • ½cup all-purpose flour
  • Pinch salt if you use unsalted butter
  • ½teaspoon vanilla extract, optional

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

208 calories; 12 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 23 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 17 grams sugars; 3 grams protein; 13 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Easy Brownies Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine chocolate and butter in a small saucepan over very low heat, stirring occasionally. When chocolate is just about melted, remove from heat, and continue to stir until mixture is smooth. Meanwhile, grease an 8-inch-square baking pan. If you like, also line it with waxed or parchment paper and grease that.

  2. Transfer mixture to a bowl, and stir in sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add flour (and salt and vanilla if you are using them), and stir to incorporate. Stop stirring when no traces of flour remain.

  3. Step

    3

    Pour into pan, and bake 20 to 30 minutes, or until set and barely firm in the middle. Cool on a rack before cutting.

Ratings

5

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3,809

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Marmo

I am 12, and I made it myself with a absolutely no difficulty.The instructions are clear and to the point, and they made 12 delicious brownies that though I was missing a little bit of chocolate, were great.Thanks, I hope this was helpful

Jaime

This has been my go-to brownie recipe ever since it first appeared in the Times in 2004. It's perfect. I don't use a bowl; just add everything to the saucepan as directed after the chocolate and butter melt. Great for kids to make, too!

Norma Jaffe

I always add 1 level tsp of Espresso powder. It gives a richer flavor to the chocolate. I put it in the melter butter and chocolate.

Amanda

4 oz semi sweet chocolate, 3/4 cup of sugar, generous 1/2 cup flour and about 1/4 cup cocoa powder. Plus walnuts!

Lucy Anderson

I make this recipe only I use 1/3 - 1/2 cup cocoa in it instead of the unsweetened chocolate. Sometimes I kick it up a notch and add cayenne and cinnamon. Sometimes I put lumps of peanut butter on top and swirl it a bit. Trick is not to over mix.

Sarah

This recipe doubles well. I use 1 1/2 times the ingredients for a 9 inch square pan and double for a 9 X 13 pan. Cooking times are a little longer. For an 8 x 8 pan I find the cooking time is closer to 20-22 minutes than 30 if you like them fudgy in the middle.I also don't bother transferring the melted chocolate and butter to another bowl and finish making them in the saucepan . Just make sure that the mixture has cooled enough after adding the sugar before you add the eggs.

john foley

I like to beat sugar and eggs until thick and airy - this gives the brownies some loft (from Sheila Lukins)

Nancy D.

I always pop the brownies in the fridge when hot. That way they stay gooey and moist.

MM

Simple and delicious brownie recipe. It's super moist. Made it twice over a weekend for two different parties. Was a hit! I love that it's a straight up brownie recipe rather than trying to change what is already a classic dessert. Remember that it will take an hour or more to cool in a glass pan. I used glass pan and cooked for 32 minutes. My oven is older so may be a factor..

Gorynt

4 oz bittersweet choc1 T Valrhona cocoa powder 1 T butter 1 T dark brown sugar 1 t Medalio d’Oro coffee powder

Aly

I agree, all great brownie recipes need toasted walnuts in them, and a big walnut half on the top of each brownie!

Jbtomo

Interesting technical aside experienced w/recipe. Baked brownies in a (vintage) ±1971, 8"square Pyrex baking dish. Turned out as a lousy fatty mass. Previously used it to bake these brownies, but lined pan with parchment paper. 2nd time w/o parchment paper. Composed a note to the King Arthur flour baker's forum. Clever gal related similar experiences with a Pyrex pan. KAF aware of manufacturing changes @ with pans causing similar issue. 3rd time using metal; PERFECT! Hmmm?

James

Great brownies. I only had semisweet chocolate, so I used 4.5 oz of that and reduced the sugar by 3 tablespoons. Added a cup of chopped pecans.Super good.

Rochelle

Eating this right now with ice cream. It’s very good and comes together quickly. I used cocoa instead of chocolate as suggested by another reviewer and doubled the recipe because I only have a 9 by 13 pan. I used the microwave to melt the butter with the dry cocoa then added the rest of the ingredients to the same bowl.

Please do not rinse the turkey, or any other poultry. That is an old- fashioned notion. All you do is help to spread salmonella. Poultry cooked properly kills any chance of getting sick.

This is almost the Original Toll House Recipe. It calls or 4 Oz. of Baker’s unsweetened chocolate. No salt, and 1 cup chopped walnuts.

nnr

4 oz semi sweet chocolate, 3/4 cup of sugar, generous 1/2 cup flour and about 1/4 cup cocoa powder.

gordon

I’ve made this in the past without issue but this time there was no rise to the brownies at all. I used an 8 inch square pan and made everything according to recipe. The results are ‘brownies’ about 1/4 inch thick. I did wonder if the sugar might not have dissolved thoroughly when added to the butter and chocolate as it seemed kind of grainy, but otherwise everything was done per instructions. Any thoughts?

Julie

Very tasty and easy. I melted the chocolate and butter in the microwave because my 4 year old wanted to help. My other 4 year old said next time to add some chocolate chips for some crunch, so will try that too.

October Friedman

Dad used to make them all the time, was felling nostalgic, turned out perfectly.

Zelma

This is the recipe I have been looking for. Thank you!

Mary O'Rourke

Yummy. Fudgy but not heavy. I checked at 20 minutes but still quite wet in center. I let them bake another 7 minutes. Meant to make it 5 minutes but got distracted. Very slightly overbaked but still really good. For my oven, 25 minutes seems right. If you like nuts in your brownies, don't see any reason you couldn't stir some in at the end.

Vicki

2 tsp vanillaAlmost 1 tsp saltPinch or two of espresso powder IcingChips, butter melted then add powdered sugar pinch of salt vanilla

Notes

Best brownie recipe I’ve made. Crispy on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside, even next day. I used 4oz semi sweet chocolate and 1/4 cups dark chocolate chips.

Merve

I changed the recipe a little bit. Decreased the amount of flour and added cocoa powder to give a darker color. Also added some cinnamon and vanilla paste.

lmac

Don't really like these

Michelle

Great basic recipe; easy to execute and I make this frequently with a couple adjustments for when I need an easy dessert. The whole thing takes 15 minutes and it’s a crowd pleaser. I like to add a generous pinch of salt and espresso powder to amplify the flavor and complexity. I also cut the sugar in half and add a handful chocolate chips instead. Even in the recommended 8x8 pan I double the recipe because a single batch makes super thin brownies (a little less than 1/2 inch tall).

Ben

This recipe rules. Especially if you melt and mix everything in the same saucepan, streamlining prep and clean-up. Everything else is optional and excellent: walnuts, peanut-butter swirls, cocoa and espresso powders are all great; the batch in my oven right now is flaked with Maldon salt.

Nancy H.

My Favorite Fisherman and I think this recipe yields the best brownies ever. Light, strong chocolate flavor, and not too sweet or gooey. Served oven-warm with good vanilla ice cream probably will ruin your diet because you’ll want seconds. Go for it! Recipe lends itself to experimentation, which, if you like to bake, makes it super fun to use. Used 4 oz of unsweetened chocolate, a bit less sugar, fluffed eggs before adding. Lots of good ideas in the comments for the next batch:-)

Amy

I added espresso powder to the mix and put sea salt flakes on top. I usually like my sweets room temp but my hubby placed them in the fridge and they were superb, cold. The sea salt really made a difference as well.

Angel

Pan was 8x11

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Easy Brownies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is basic brownie made of? ›

Best-Ever 5-Ingredient Brownies are ultra fudgy with rich chocolate flavor and that classic crinkly top. All you need for this easy brownie recipe is butter, sugar, eggs, flour, cocoa powder, and less than 1 hour from start to end.

How much flour do you need to make brownies? ›

Brownie Batter
  1. 1 ½ cups (188 grams) all purpose flour sifted.
  2. ¼ cup (21 grams) dutch processed cocoa powder sifted.
  3. ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  4. 1 teaspoon espresso powder enhances chocolate flavor.
  5. ½ teaspoon fine sea salt.
  6. 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter melted and very hot.
Oct 20, 2022

How to make brownies better? ›

Salt enhances the sweetness in your brownies. You might think that adding salt would make brownies, or any chocolate, salter, but it actually brings out the sweet quality in these types of desserts. Sprinkle it in the batter or add flaky sea salt to the top of the brownies after removing them from the oven.

What happens if you use milk instead of water in brownie mix? ›

Brownie recipes traditionally call for water as it serves as a neutral liquid that hydrates the dry ingredients. However, using milk instead of water can impart a creamier texture and richer flavor to your brownies. The milk's fat content adds a smoothness that water cannot provide, resulting in a more indulgent treat.

How to make brownies in 5 steps? ›

directions
  1. Melt the butter and mix in with the cocoa powder.
  2. Add flour to that mixture.
  3. In a separate bowl, beat eggs with sugar.
  4. Combine the contents of the chocolaty bowl with the eggy bowl, mix and pour into greased 8x8 baking dish.
  5. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes - they'll look raw but will cool perfectly.

What are the three types of brownies? ›

Brownie textures fall into three general camps… Cakey, fudgy and chewy. Cakey brownies, like the name implies, are light, moist and airy, with a slightly fluffy, cake-like interior. Fudgy brownies are moist, dense and gooey, with almost the texture of fudge, but not quite as compact.

What is a substitute for flour in brownies? ›

Almond flour is an excellent alternative to have in your kitchen cupboard. It's easy to find in shops and commonly used in plenty of sweet and savoury dishes, including brownies, pancakes, puddings, cakes, falafel and more. Made from ground blanched almonds, it's high in protein, rich in fibre and gluten-free.

Can I use self rising flour instead of all purpose for brownies? ›

Using self-raising flour in brownies is possible, but adjustments are necessary. Since self-raising flour includes baking powder and salt, you may need to modify the amount of these ingredients in your recipe to prevent the brownies from rising too much and becoming cake-like.

What happens if you add too much flour to brownies? ›

Too much flour? Go back to your edges - if they're not burnt, look a good colour (similar to the centre) but the brownie is too cakey and dry throughout, the recipe probably included too much flour.

What does adding an extra egg to brownie mix do? ›

If you opt to add more eggs, say double the amount, something interesting happens. Even though you are adding more moisture, the air bubbles that you catch in the extra eggs add volume, which decreases the density of your final product. This makes your brownies rise and gives them a much more cake-like texture.

Should you use milk or water in brownies? ›

Most brownie mixes call for water. While water does the job, you can add some extra flavor and moisture by mixing some of that water with something richer, like milk. If you want to swap it out completely, be prepared for a more chewy and fudge-like brownie from the extra fat.

What happens if you use butter instead of oil in brownies? ›

the butter brownies actually had a fudgier texture. they were softer, and they really just melted in your mouth. they also had that shiny crust and just better flavor, whereas the oil brownies were actually chewier.

Are brownies better with butter or oil? ›

In brownies, both butter and oil will offer a moist, tender texture, but only butter will give the dish the aeration needed for rising brownies well. If you use a cake brownie, butter is a better option because it helps rise the batter. For denser, fudge type brownies, oil is permissable.

Can I use butter instead of oil in brownies? ›

You can absolutely substitute butter for the vegetable oil. Use the same quantity specified in the directions (for example, if it calls for 1/3 cup of oil, use 5 1/3 tablespoons of butter). Melt it down, then let it cool a bit. You might not ever go back to oil!

What chocolate are brownies made of? ›

Best Brownie Recipe Tips

In her book, Michelle writes that one of the biggest secrets to making great brownies is using large, good-quality chocolate chips. She recommends Ghiradelli's 60% Cacao Bittersweet Baking Chips, while I love Enjoy Life's Dark Chocolate Morsels. Either brand would fantastic in this recipe!

What are protein brownies made of? ›

Chocolate protein brownie ingredients

Gather the following ingredients: protein powder, cocoa powder, almond flour, sweetener, baking powder, salt, eggs or flax eggs, oil or butter, and pure vanilla extract. For vegan protein brownies, use the flax eggs instead of chicken eggs.

What makes brownies different from cake? ›

The fundamental difference between chocolate cake and brownie is the level of sugar, butter, and flour. Another contrast between cake and brownie is that the leavening agents, like baking soda or baking powder, are generally not used in the brownies. Also, the brownies contain more chocolate than chocolate cakes.

What defines brownies? ›

brownie noun [C] (CAKE)

a small, square chocolate cake that is soft in the middle, often with pieces of chocolate or nuts in it: I made a batch of brownies.

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