Best Fudgy Homemade Brownies

Posted Jul 25, 2023, Updated Oct 06, 2024

5 from 60 votes

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This is the best brownie recipe ever! These fudgy brownies are homemade from scratch and have a gorgeous crinkly top with a fugdy center. They’re easy to make with only 7 ingredients! Ditch the box and make these homemade brownies today.

If you are looking for a gooey brownie with a fudgy texture, crinkly top and deep chocolate flavor, then you are in the right place. These classic homemade brownies are seriously the best brownies ever!

It’s no secret that brownies are my all-time favorite dessert. To say I am passionate about brownies is an understatement. Some would even go so far and say that I am a brownie connoisseur. To be declared the best, a brownie must meet the following criteria:

It must have a rich chocolate flavor.
Have a fudgy, not at all cakey, texture.
Sport a, beautifully shiny, deliciously crisp top.

I have tested hundreds of brownie recipes in my adult life, and after much tweaking, I can confidently say this is the very best chocolate brownie recipe ever! It meets all the above criteria, plus it’s made with only 7 ingredients in 30 minutes. A total winner.

4 brownies, one resting on top of another so the inside is visible

Best Brownie Recipe: Ingredients and Substitutions

I always find it important to mention that a recipe is only as good as the ingredients used to make it. So let’s chat about the ingredients in this brownie recipe, as well as possible substitutions.

overhead view of the ingredients in this brownie recipe

Salted butter. Unsalted butter, coconut oil and gee all work well in this recipe.
Chopped chocolate. If you want to make the best brownies, then you need to choose a high-quality chocolate. Since the chocolate is melted the “form” of chocolate doesn’t matter. Use chocolate chips, chopped bars, discs, etc. The quality and cocoa content of your chocolate will affect the final outcome. I typically use Ghirardelli 60% dark chocolate chips.
Granulated sugar. Any granulated sugar works well in this brownie recipe. I use organic cane sugar.
Cocoa powder. regular unsweetened cocoa powder is the best choice for these fudgy brownies. You can use extra dark cocoa powder for an even more intense chocolate flavor.
All-purpose flour. For a gluten-free version, substitute a 1:1 gluten-free all purpose flour blend.
Sea Salt. I recommend using pure fine sea salt in baking and cooking. If you use iodized table salt decrease the amount of salt by half.
Eggs. I have not tried using egg substitute. If you do and it works well for you please let me know in the comments below.

How to Make Brownies

The process used to make homemade brownies is just as important to the final outcome as the ingredients. For that perfect shiny crinkly top with a fudgy center, it’s very important to follow the steps listed in this recipe. Don’t forget to watch the video too.

Melt Chocolate & Butter

The first step in making this brownie recipe is to melt the butter and chocolate together either in the microwave, or on the stovetop over low heat.

Then, set the melted butter/chocolate mixture aside to cool slightly.

two photos showing how to make brownies - melting butter and chocolate

Tip: Beat the eggs & sugar well

Beating the ingredients is absolutely critical to achieving the coveted shiny, crinkly top on these chocolate brownies.

You can use a hand mixer or a standing mixer fitted with the wire whisk attachment (my preference).

Begin by combining the flour, cocoa powder and salt in a small bowl, set it aside.

two photos showing How to Make Brownies - combining dry ingredients

Then, beat the eggs alone for 60 seconds until they are pale yellow.

two photos showing how to make brownies - beating eggs until fluffy

Once the eggs are pale yellow, add the granulated sugar and beat for an additional 60 seconds. Beat until the sugar is dissolved, the mixture is has thickened and is pale in color.

two photos showing how to make brownies - beating sugar into eggs

Next, add the vanilla and melted butter/chocolate mixture and beat again. This time, beat on medium speed until the ingredients are combined and the batter is uniform throughout.

two photos showing how to make brownies - adding melted chocolate and vanilla

Then, add the dry ingredients to the brownie batter. If your flour or cocoa powder are particularly clumpy, you may want to sift them before adding them to the brownie recipe.

two photos showing how to make brownies - adding dry ingredients

Once the mixture is smooth, fold in the chocolate chips by hand. Adding chocolate chips is optional but recommended. You can also add walnuts or any other mix-ins you’d like to at this time. Or add instant coffee to make coffee brownies – yum!

two overhead photos showing how to make brownies -beating batter and adding chocolate chips

The batter should be thick (as pictured below) and not runny. The thickness of the batter is what makes these the best brownies ever, ultra fudgy with a beautiful shiny top.

overhead photo of a hand holding a white spatula in a glass bowl of Brownie Recipe batter to show the thickness

Bake & Cool

Spread the brownie batter evenly in a pan and bake. Be sure to test them at the beginning of the recommended baking time, you do not want over-baked brownies.

You get to decide when these brownies are done, and it varies depending on how gooey you want them to be. For me, the perfect amount of gooeyness is achieved when the brownies are set on the top and around the edges, and they jiggle every-so-slightly when the pan is shaken.

Let your homemade brownies cool in the baking pan for at least 15 minutes before cutting. You can eat them warm or at room temperature. However just be aware that the warmer they are, the more they will fall apart when cut.

brownies in a pan cooling on a wire rack after baking, before being cut

Frost (Optional)

Once the brownies are completely cooled, you can frost them. Here are some of our favorite frosting recipes:

Overhead view of 16 brownies cut into squares

Serve

I love serving these brownies warm with a scoop of ice cream (like this vanilla ice cream or homemade chocolate ice cream).

You can also add a dollop of homemade whipped cream, sprinkles, or a dusting of flaky sea salt.

three brownies laying on their side so the fudgy inside is visible

Store

To keep brownies fresh, store them in an airtight container. They will last at room temperature for 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Freeze

I recommend wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap or vacuum sealing them, then storing the wrapped brownies in an airtight container or plastic bag in the freezer.

7 brownies stacked on a plate, one has a bite taken out of it

Brownies FAQs

Now I want to try to answer some of the frequently asked questions about making this homemade brownie recipe.

What makes brownies fudgy vs. cakey?

A cakey brownie usually has leavening agents and a higher flour : fat ratio. Fudgy brownies (like these flourless brownies) have a higher ratio of fat : dry ingredients and no leavening agents. The melted chocolate and butter in this brownie recipe make them insanely fudgy.

Why do my brownies get hard?

Brownies dry out if they are exposed to air or if they are over-baked.

How do you keep brownies soft after baking?

Keep brownies stored in an airtight container. You can also soften them by gently warming them in the microwave (for 15-30 seconds) or in an oven set to warm for 5 minutes.

Can I double this recipe?

Absolutely you can. I often double this recipe. Double the ingredients, bake it in a 9×13″ glass baking dish for an extra 5 minutes.

How do you know when brownies are done?

This varies depending on just how gooey you want these fudgy brownies to be. I think they’re best when the brownies are set on the top and around the edges, and they jiggle slightly when shaken.

What other brownie recipes can I make?

Salted Caramel brownies are to die for!
Try these peppermint brownies.
Peanut butter brownies are prefect for the chocolate peanut butter lover in your life.
These Flourless brownies are great for gluten-free eaters and they are Paleo-friendly.
Add zucchini and make the best fudgy zucchini brownies.
Greek Yogurt brownies are a healthier brownie option.
I have been making these Black bean brownies for years now on repeat.
One of my favorites.
Fudgy paleo brownies are super healthy and out of this world delicious, just read the reviews.
This Microwave single-serve brownie is a healthy option if you need a brownie, like now.

Can I halve this recipe?

If you want to make only a few brownies, I suggest using my small batch brownie recipe (adapted from this recipe)!

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