Tessa’s Recipe Rundown
Taste: The perfect balance of chocolate sweetness.
Texture: CHEWY, of course 🙂
Ease: Super easy. One bowl, no electric mixer needed.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe: This Brownie Recipe is WAY better than a box mix and almost as easy. It’s my go-to recipe!
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These Chewy Brownies are my go-to recipe when I need a quick, easy, crowd-pleasing dessert. I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve made it over 200 times. It’s truly the best!
There’s even a secret ingredient that helps to mimic that box-mix texture (but with way better flavor!).
These brownies are my everyday go-to recipe. Check out just a couple of the 1,000+ 5-star reviews for these best homemade brownies:
Best chocolate brownies ever. Easy to make. I added pecans to mine and we just love them.
I made these and they were soooo chewy. Definitely the chewiest and crackliest homemade brownies I’ve ever made. Great recipe!
The Kitchn tested this recipe, raving about how quick and easy it is! Even Bon Appétit used the recipe as part of their research in their quest to create a perfect chocolate brownie.
Ingredient Notes for Success
Butter and Oil: Melted butter plus oil provides the best taste and texture. This is key!! You can use any neutral flavored oil that’s liquid at room temperature (such as vegetable, canola, avocado, etc.). Make sure your oil is fresh to avoid any off flavors.
Sugar: White/granulated sugar will dissolve more easily into the batter than brown sugar, helping to produce that shiny crust on top. More important notes on sugar below in the Sprinkle of Science section.
Cocoa Powder: I recommend using Dutch-processed cocoa powder for a deeper flavor and fudgier texture. Natural unsweetened cocoa will offer a more nostalgic chocolate flavor and a slightly drier but chewier texture. My favorite Dutch cocoa powder for brownies is Penzey’s or Guittard. Ghirardelli is also great in a pinch. Learn more about how Natural and Dutch-process cocoas affect your baking here.
Eggs: Two whole eggs plus an egg yolk for extra chewiness and richness. I never worry about bringing my eggs to room temp for this recipe, and it always turns out perfectly.
Flour: A small amount of all-purpose flour is essential for creating Chewy Brownies — but avoid adding too much, as this can cause dry, cakey brownies. Use a digital kitchen scale to prevent accidental over measuring. If you don’t have a digital scale, use the spoon-and-level method described here.
Cornstarch (secret ingredient!): Cornstarch mimics the texture of box mix brownies, creating thicker, chewier brownies with a nice shiny crackly top. Don’t skip it if possible.
Stop Baking Brownies In Glass or Ceramic Pans!
Struggling with gummy, sunken, underbaked (even raw) or dry-edged brownies? Ditch the glass or ceramic pan and use a light-colored alumnized metal baking pan instead.
Metal conducts heat far more effectively. If all you have is glass or ceramic, add an extra 5-10 minutes baking time. Learn more about the differences between Glass vs. Metal Baking Pans here.
Sprinkle of Science (open me!)
If you want that crinkly, shiny thin crust on your brownies, don’t skip the chocolate chips! The key to that crust forming is getting enough dissolved sugar into your brownie batter. This can be tough to do consistently, so adding chocolate chips (which contain dissolved sugar already!) is a great shortcut. Learn more about that shiny brownie crust here.
I’ve done extensive experiments with the amount of sugar in this brownie recipe. The takeaway? Reducing sugar yields drier, crumblier brownies that stale quickly. It also prevents that shiny crust from developing on top.
Storing & Freezing Brownies
Serving: For best texture and taste, allow the brownies to cool to room temperature fully before slicing and serving. Easier said than done! But warm brownies will taste more sweet and won’t be as chewy in texture.
Room Temperature & Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature or up to 5 days in the fridge. They are fudgier when they’re chilled!
Freezer: Wrap the cooled whole slab or individual slices of brownies in plastic wrap inside an airtight container. Store in freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, or for a couple hours at room temperature, before serving.
FAQs
Yes! Double all ingredients and bake in a 9 by 13-inch light-colored metal baking pan (don’t use a glass pan!) and add a few minutes to the baking time.
I prefer no baking soda or baking powder for rich, dense brownies that are not even remotely cakey. If you’re team cakey, don’t even bother with this recipe. It’ll be far too chewy and fudgy for you!
You can, but note that the brownies will be thinner and may not develop that shiny crust on top.
Not only does this make the recipe quicker and easier, but it yields denser, chewier, and fudgier brownies.
I haven’t tested that, but readers have had success with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. You may need to add 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum if your GF blend doesn’t have any binders.
Yes, replace the butter with an equal amount of a vegan butter block that’s firm at room temperature. Use dairy-free chocolate chips. Or, try my Coconut Oil Brownies with dairy free chocolate instead.
I have not found a suitable replacement for the eggs in brownies yet. Feel free to experiment!
A cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center should come out with moist crumbs attached. For me, 30 minutes yields my perfect brownie that’s just ever-so-slightly gooey in the center. If you prefer a drier consistency, bake for 33-35 minutes.
Surprisingly, the best tool is a plastic knife! Yes, like the ones you buy for a picnic or BBQ. If you don’t have one, use a large sharp knife and run under hot water and wipe off after each slice.
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Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons (71 grams) unsalted butter
- 1 1/4 cups (249 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk, cold
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup (74 grams) neutral oil (like vegetable or avocado)
- 3/4 cup (75 grams) cocoa powder*
- 1/2 cup (63 grams) all-purpose flour, measured correctly
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 3/4 cup (128 grams) semisweet chocolate chips**
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line an 8 by 8-inch light-colored metal pan*** with foil or parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, add the butter and sugar. Microwave for about 1 minute, or until the butter is melted. Whisk in the eggs and egg yolk, whisking vigorously for 1 minute. This helps produce a shiny crust on top. Whisk in the vanilla, then stir in the oil and cocoa powder.
- With a rubber spatula, stir in the flour, cornstarch, and salt until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Spread the brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the brownies are set and a cake tester inserted into the center has moist crumbs attached. Do not overcook. Let cool completely to solidify before cutting and serving.
- Brownies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Brownies will be gooey and taste the sweetest when served warm, chewy when served at room temperature, and fudgy when served chilled.
Notes
More Brownies Recipes You’ll Love:
- Malted Brownies – made with brown butter!
- Toffee Brownies – use store-bought or homemade toffee bits!
- Brookies – cookies + brownies combined!
- Copycat Cosmic Brownies – ultimate nostalgia!
- Oreo Brownies – tastes like an Oreo, but better!
This recipe was originally published in 2017 and has been updated with additional baking tips and new photos. Recipe photos by Joanie Simon.
Made this recipe last night and the brownie came out perfectly! Followed the recipe except ai used unsweetened cocoa powder instead of Dutch. Next time I will find and use Dutch processed. Might also try half milk chocolate instead of all semisweet. My daughter prefers the taste of milk chocolate. I also used a 9” round metal pan, because that’s what I had on hand. Overall great taste and texture. Excited to try again!
I just made these and followed the recipe exactly except i added 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips and 1/4 milk chocolate. Theyvsre perfectly balanced with sweetness and chocolate!! Very moist!! Thank you!! Love it!!
Best recipe I’ve used so far. Delicious and chewy as the name suggests
Tried this recipe for the first time today, and it turned out relatively well. The first thing I want to note is that these are VERY minimally sweet. If you like a super rich, dark chocolate flavor to your brownies, these are perfect. I usually do prefer a pretty intense chocolate flavor, but these were even a little too bitter for me. They would be perfectly complemented by a light, sweet frosting, or a scoop of ice cream, but on their own they’re a little much. Second, I checked these for doneness at 20 minutes, and they were completely done in the middle, so definitely watch them to avoid over baking. The finished texture was great. They maintained that gooey just-cooked texture after cooling fully, and got nicely chewy after a few more hours. It’s important to note that they did not rise at all, staying very thin and dense. That’s a pretty common trait for brownies, and I did expect it due to the lack of leavening in this recipe, but if you like a brownie that’s even slightly cakey, these probably won’t be for you. I’m hoping the density will keep them nicely moist over the next couple of days. Overall, the recipe was super simple, and the results were pretty good, but I think the most important thing to consider is how rich, sweet, or dense you like your brownies. If you like a not-very-sweet, super rich, dense, chewy brownie, I can’t imagine a better recipe.
Just updating to say that the brownies definitely did improve in texture by the next day! Still soft, but a better chew, and interestingly, a more balanced flavor. Definitely still the darkest, richest brownies I’ve ever had, but not overly so. Would consider changing my rating to a five star after letting them sit for a full 24 hours.
I did this recipe and my brownies didn’t have that signature crust on top and didn’t taste good. I added chocolate chips too. No idea where I went wrong.
im following baking instructions and baking at 325 for 30 minutes and timer went off, went to check…. brownies are still, i dont know, like the consistemcy of quicksand? The oild is probably not the best idea. i will keep baking and see what happens, but so far i am not impressed
Hi Zak! At 30 minutes, the brownies should be set, or at least very close to being done. I’d continue baking until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached, being careful not to overbake them.
The oil is intentional and helps give these brownies their chewy texture, but it shouldn’t cause them to stay liquid. If they’re still truly liquid throughout, or extra grainy, something else may have gone wrong. Did you measure the ingredients by weight and use an 8×8-inch light-colored metal pan? Let us know how they turn out!
Im incredibly disappointed in this recipe, especially after all these comments hyping it. Super dense and oily. Too much oil. YES I FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY. Waste of ingredients. Waste of time.
Hi Amy, I’m so sorry these were such a disappointment, especially after you were excited to try the recipe! I did notice in your photo that you used a glass baking dish. The recipe was tested in an 8×8-inch light-colored metal pan, and the recipe notes mention that glass pans need an additional 5–10 minutes of baking time. They can also affect the texture, as Tessa explains above the recipe here. The combination of melted butter and oil is intentional and is what helps create the chewy texture these brownies are known for, but the finished brownies shouldn’t have an oily texture. I’m sorry you had such a disappointing experience with them, and I hope you’ll try again! Please let me know if I can help troubleshoot further.
I used a light colored metal pan and my brownies looked EXACTLY like hers. I was disappointed too.
I’ve made these numerous times and always a hit! They’ve been the best brownies I’ve probably made. HOWEVER, did the amount of cocoa powder or something change over the past 2 years or something? I haven’t made any changes to the recipe but the last few times I’ve made them it seems like it’s so rich with more cocoa powder. I’ve used the same brand every time, but cant figure out what’s happening!
I printed the recipe in August 2025 and it has not changed according to what is on the website right now
Hi, Jen! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the recipe. The cocoa amount has not changed. In fact, since 2016, the only thing that’s changed is the removal of the small amount of baking soda that was in the original recipe, as well as recipe instruction improvements. What brand/style of cocoa powder have you been using?