That’s why I’m SO excited to share this recipe with you. I was inspired to create it randomly last week when an intense chocolate craving hit. Within a few days I had the recipe nailed and I realized I just had to film a recipe video to show you exactly how to make these babies.
These brownies did not last long at our house! They’re especially good with ice cream.
Brownies may seem super simple, but there’s some interesting things happening behind the scenes with the ingredients and techniques. Achieving tall, fudgy, chewy, and moist brownies with that shiny crust on top is totally doable but requires some understanding of how baking works.
So be sure to watch the video before you give this recipe a try. I crammed in as many tips and tricks as I could.
I didn’t quite realize it until the camera was on, but I have a LOT to say about brownies. Almost as much as I do about cookies.
So if you’re curious about how to really perfect your brownies, check out the tips below. I also tried to answer any questions I thought you might have below.
Best Brownie Baking Tips
How to Make Brownies with Shiny Thin Crust
You know that tissue-thin shiny crust on top of brownies that we all love and want? It’s easier to achieve than you might think. I show you how to do this in detail in the video above.
But the basic idea is to beat the eggs and sugar in the batter extremely well to create a sort of foam. I discovered that I can short cut my way to that shiny crust by whisking the the wet ingredients extremely well, until the batter itself is ultra smooth and shiny.
How to Make Chewy Fudgy Brownies
Although my goal for this recipe was to make EASY homemade brownies, I still wanted them to be chewy. For the first batches I made I found the brownies to be delicious, but lacking a bit of that chewiness I wanted. So I added an extra egg yolk to the recipe and it was the perfect simple way to achieve that extra chewy texture. Why the yolk? The fat and protein in the yolk helps to create a rich and chewy texture.
If you don’t want that chewiness, or don’t want to deal with adding an extra yolk, feel free to skip it.
For fudgy brownies, it’s important that the batter is very moist and rich. That’s why we use a relatively small amount of flour and cocoa powder. Enough flour to provide structure and chew, but not too much that the brownies are dense or cakey. Enough cocoa to provide that rich chocolate flavor, but not so much that the brownies are dry.
Measuring = everything
To ensure you don’t accidentally add too much flour or cocoa (which is very easy to accidentally do), I would recommend using a digital kitchen scale. At the very least, be sure to lightly spoon your flour and cocoa into your measuring cup so you don’t unintentionally compact too much into the measurement.
Why Your Pan is SO Important
For this recipe I highly recommend using a metal baking pan. I like this baking pan, or any quality metal baking pan that isn’t too dark in color. The darker the color, the more likely you are to burn the edges or have dry edges.
Glass or ceramic baking pans will take LONGER to bake these brownies, and the texture may become more dense.
I like to line my pan with parchment or foil, leaving an overhang so I can easily lift out the entire pan of brownies to cut and serve.
Can I Double the Recipe?
You can easily double this recipe and bake in a 9 by 13-inch metal baking pan for about 35 to 40 minutes.
Brownie Baking & Storage
Do NOT overbake brownies. There should absolutely be moist crumbs attached to a tester by the end of the baking time. Err on the side of underbaking here. The brownies definitely taste best the day they are baked, but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature or up to 4 days in the fridge. They are even more fudgy when they’re chilled. You can microwave them for a bit to serve them warm too. It’s up to you!
Baking Magic
If you’re still curious about how baking ingredients and techniques work, and how I create my recipes using the science of baking, then I have a little invitation for you. Come join me in my online baking class The Magic of Baking. Everything in the class is already there, waiting for you to go through at your own time at your convenience. I go in depth on how baking works so you can have complete confidence every time you enter the kitchen. Learn more about The Magic of Baking here.
Hi! I love chocolate anything, but I have a friend who cannot eat chocolate chocolate. She ONLY can eat white chocolate sweets. Do you have a similar recipe for white chocolate brownies, by any chance?
Thank you!
Mary Siegismund
Hi, Mary! Have you seen this blondie recipe? You could easily swap in white chocolate chunks: https://handletheheat.com/gooey-chocolate-chunk-blondies/
Can I use dutch processed cocoa (I only have those at the moment)?
These turned out so yummy! We ate the whole pan!
hey tessa,
these were great, but it was a bit buttery. like too oily.
what should i do ??? like add some more flour?
Made a double batch of these brownies and sprinkled the top with coarse sea salt before baking, turned out so delicious. Thanks for a great recipie!
hello tessa! This is my first time I make brownies and I did it with your recipe… wow amazing thanks!
Woohoo!! 🙂 🙂
I live at high altitude (5000 feet). I followed the recipe exactly, making NO changes to any of the ingredients. The brownies came out most excellent !!! Very fudgy and chewy with the most chocolaty taste ever. I want to thank-you Tessa for also supplying the “weight in grams” for each ingredient as I always weigh my ingredients to get the right results. THANKS for sharing a terrific recipe.
Oh wonderful, I’m so happy to hear that!!
what brand do you recommend for the semisweet chocolate chip? hersey or other please? thanks 🙂
Love this recipe. It was easy to make and is absolutely divine. So rich and chocolatey it is hard to believe it was made with simple pantry ingredients. Sorry Americas Test Kitchen but his now replaces your recipe as my new favourite recipe I will make from now on. Thank Tessa for sharing your deliciousness.
Oh thank you friend!! That means so much.
My pan is 9×9 – should I just reduce baking time a little?
Hi Tessa,
What’s your favorite vegan substitute for butter?
Thanks in advance!
HI Tessa, love love love your recipe thank you for sharing such a nice recipe!! But i have one problem the bottom of my brownie still kinda sticky like its not coming off the parchment paper very easily.. like some of them are sticking, but for me the texture is perfect already.. Thank you!!
Can these baked brownies be frozen?
Thanks for the information you brought to us. They are very interesting and new. Look forward to reading more useful and new articles from you!
I have been looking for a great homemade brownie recipe and I don’t have to look any further! I made these for my daughter’s high school homecoming dance. Of course, I taste tested before sending them and they are awesome! I’m looking forward to trying them with cranberries (a tip I received from a worker at the cranberry bogs on one of my son’s field trips years ago) and now a family favorite! Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
Hi Tessa
Is there any substitute for egg in the recipe? I love the way these Brownies turned out but my mom’s is allergic to eggs ..pls help
I use a flax egg
I love baking from scratch and have tried lots of different brownie recipes.Tried this recipe for Thanksgiving yesterday and these were, hands down, the best brownies I have ever made. There is only one drawback, now that is the only thing I will be asked to bring. Thank you for sharing.
As a college baker, I’m always looking for recipes that don’t require a ton of tools or idiosyncratic ingredients, but still come out really well. This recipe was super easy to follow, had really easy cleanup, and came out as well as any brownie recipe can come out. I would recommend to anyone that wants to bake beyond boxed brownie mixes.
After 60 plus years trying for the perfect brownie, I have my go to recipe!! Thank you!! I always add walnuts. These are perfect for me, chewy and also fudgey. As the author stresses, do not overcook.
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Hi Tessa,
Thank you for this recipe. I live in Sedona, what adjustments should I make for altitude? I’m at 4200 ft.
Thank you!
Roberta
Hi Roberta – I’m sorry but I’ve only ever baked at sea level. However at only 4200 feet you should be okay following the recipe as written, unless you typically experience altitude issues.
Hi Tessa,
I made a double batch of these brownies yesterday. They are very good – flavor, texture, moisture- they did not disappoint! They are glossy on top, chewy on the edges. Thank you for fine-tuning.
WOW….just awesome. I love your recipes Tessa. Just moist, chocolatey brownies. Only thing for me was I had to bake them for 1 hour exact. Turned out delicious. THANKS!!!
Going to make these and report back, but thanks for the tip on the extra yolk. I like to eat 3-4 egg whites for one yolk so this is a good way to use the extra yolks. (I need to make a few batches for the ladies at my twins’ preschool.)
And yes, can’t stress enough…the best way to ruin a perfect brownie recipe is to overcook it! Even a couple of minutes is enough to go from perfection to ‘what happened???’
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Hi tessa, im so desperate now for really falling in love with your brownies taste but already tried the recipe precisely and all methods like subtitute chocolate bar with melted chocolate chips, added chips, melt the sugar along with butter, beat eggs until thick with sugar, or using icing sugar, but none of them have that crinkly top. Could you please kindly help to advise what’s wrong?
Hi, I love brownies and these ones were so easy to make just like you said it would be. My husband LOVED these so much and told me I would need to make these again. Really appreciate all your detailed instructions and helpful tips. Can’t wait to try your cosmic brownies to bring me back to my childhood. Thank you!
I made this last week and it was really chewy and delicious.It did not last for a day
Hey how to do the same recipe in 9*13 pan
These were fantastic! Thank you!
my 11 year old daughter made them .. so good thanks for the recipe
Can I use half oil and half butter for this recipe? Would that improve the texture
Your article is very useful, the content is great, I have read a lot of articles, but for your article, it left me a deep impression, thank you for sharing.
My husband was going to run to the store a couple weeks ago to buy brownies but I told him I could probably find an easy recipe that would be even less of a pain than messing with that parking lot and traffic. This recipe was perfect in every way. I made them for the second time tonight. I had to estimate on the sugar after spilling some, used Costco brand semisweet chocolate chips for everything, and baked them in a 9 in round cake pan because that’s all I can find. This recipe is super forgiving and they’ve turned out great in spite of my various issues.
Made this brownie recipe today and it turned out delicious. Full of chocolate flavor, fudgy and moist. My new favorite brownie recipe!
Made these brownies today but It was way too sweet. Although I added 180 grams of caster sugar instead of 200 grams and used less chocolate chips than the mentioned quantity in recipe. But still it was too sweet.
Texture was great . It was chewy , fudgy but overly sweet.
I made nutella brownies using your recipe and loved them. But I’m a bit disappointed from this one 🙁
Hi Tessa!
Do I have to add chocolate chips? Can I exclude that?
My go to recipe! Everyone loves them and asks for the recipe. So easy to make. I always end up doubling the recipe!
Hi
How do I PREPARE the baking pan?
Thanks
I made this last week and was not disappointed. The recipe was super easy to follow and the end product was absolutely delicious! The only change I made was I put half white chocolate and half semi-sweet.
I will 100% will be making these again!
These are hands down the best brownies I’ve ever had. They were so moist and fudgy, and incredibly simple to make. I followed the recipe exactly as written and they turned out perfectly. You nailed it, Tessa! And I can’t believe how easy it is to remove the brownie from the pan simply by lifting up the parchment paper. I served these brownies with homemade vanilla ice cream. Amazing!
Hands down these are the best brownies, I try different recipes from time to time but I always come back to these one! I have a batch of them baking in the oven right now 🙂
I have a convection oven; how do you recommend I adjust the temp as well as duration of cooking needed? Thanks!
Whats the substitute for egg in brownies n cookies? Pls suggest even measurements if there is any substitute for it… it will be great help
As Jill Wallace-Cooper, I also have a convection oven and have the same questions: how do you recommend I adjust the temp as well as duration of cooking needed? Thanks!
Very easy recipe. Very delicious brownies, especially with the chocolate chips! Will definitely make this again
I have made this recipe 2x now!! Used really good chocolate throughout. Amazing!!
WOW! These turned out amazingggg! I think it’s one of the best things I’ve ever made. I found it hard to know if they were done since there were melted chocolate chips in the batter that would come out wet, but I took it out after 32 min. After letting them sit for over an hour it was more of a lava cake consistency for me (which still tasted good). But regardless, the following days after (1-5 d) the brownie still tasted amazing! (I microwaved it to warm it up). Highly recommend!!
Hi Tessa, I’m a recent fan of your videos after watching it. I’m a home baker myself and would like to ask some brownie recipe call for eggs ang sugar to be beaten, while others call for sugar to be mix in with the chocolate butter mixture. What’s the difference? Does both procedure achieve that shiny top on the crust? If I want my brownie to have a chewy bite on the side and just right fudgy on the middle, how do I adjust the recipe. Many thanks to you! God Bless!
So bitter !
I just made these brownies for the first time ! Wow!!! Best brownie recipe and the easy and quick process was the best I have ever made.
Thanks Tessa ! I will add this to my Tried and Approved!
Best brownie ever! Made these a second time for company and they loved them. Thanks Tessa
Eggless option?
these take amazing, how ever I can taste the granulated sugar texture….should I use caster sugar? Or should I add the sugar to the chocolate and butter in the microwave so it melts?
Thanks for your help x
I love your artical keep it up
Your recipe is so good .
Your recipe is so good .
Your recipe is so good .
Good Job, You explained this recipe very well. Thanks
I’ve made this recipe but with dairy free butter and chocolate and gluten free flour and they were amazing! They had a gooey fudgy middle but a hard crispy top. I would totally recommend these to anyone, and try them out with all your intolerances.
They are delicious! And easy! Tessa, is there a brownie recipe like this one that makes thicker brownies?
My Ultimate Brownies are ultra thick! Enjoy!
Do you need to sift the flour for all your Brownie recipe?
Not unless the recipe specifically calls for it, no!
Wow!!! Unreal! Soooo good! Followed the recipe exact and turned out so moist and perfect!
So glad you enjoyed these brownies!
ive never left a review EVER, BUT after failing brownies many times (oops!) THIS RECIPE SUCEEDED AND WAS D E L I C I O U S! out of the oven the brownies seemed super gooey and not set (baked according to the times stated), but after letting them cool COMPLETELY, they were moist and fudgy! they are not the chewiest, but are really REALLY great and simple
I am so glad you enjoyed these brownies!
Hi – how do I make these in a 9 x 13 pan. Can I just double the recipe? Can’t wait to try these! Thanks!
Hi Mel, follow the directions in the pink box above the recipe for how to double these brownies! Enjoy!
Sorry, I noticed the instructions right after I submitted my question! I skimmed through the recipe and totally missed it. Thanks for the reply!
No worries at all, glad you found what you were looking for. Enjoy your brownies!!
Kindly suggest a substitute to eggs in this recipe and its quantity.
Hi Anshul, I haven’t tested this recipe with any substitutions, so I can’t guarantee the same outcome. I always recommend following a recipe exactly as written for the best results! Sorry!