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

1. It must have a rich & intense chocolate flavor.
2. Be insanely fudgy  gooey. 
3. Have absolutely zero hint of a “cakey” texture. 
4. Sport a beautiful shiny crinkly top. 

I have tested hundreds of brownie recipes in my adult life, and after much delicious tweaking and testing, I have finally landed at this recipe as 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! 

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.

• 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. The form of the chocolate doesn’t matter; chips, chopped bars, discs, etc. all work equally well because it’s being melted. However 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.
• Vanilla extract. Make sure to use pure vanilla extract, and not imitation.
• 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 substitutes in this brownie recipe. If you do and it works well for you please let me know in the comments below! 

How to make Brownies

The procedure used to make homemade brownies is just as important to the final outcome as the ingredients (which we will discuss later). For that perfect shiny crinkly top with a fudgy center, it’s very important to follow the steps as they are listed in this recipe! So let’s break them down and get started (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. This can be done in one of two ways: 

1. In the microwave. warm butter & chocolate in the microwave for 60 seconds. Stir and warm in 30 second increments with stirring in between until the mixture is smooth and glossy. 
2. On the stovetop. Gently warm butter and chocolate on the stovetop over low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture is smooth and shiny!

Set the melted butter/chocolate mixture aside to cool slightly while you mix up the rest of the batter. 

Beat eggs alone

Beating the ingredients is absolutely critical to achieving the coveted shiny, crinkly top on these chocolate brownies. You can use a hand mixer (which I used to shoot this video) or a standing mixer (my preference). Begin by beating the eggs alone for 60 seconds until they are pale yellow.

Beat eggs and sugar

Add sugar and beat for an additional 60 seconds, or until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is has thickened and is pale in color. 

Add wet ingredients

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

Add dry ingredients

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. 

Fold in chocolate chips

Beat the dry ingredients in until they are fully incorporated. Then 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. 

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!

Bake

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 just 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. 

Cool & Serve

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

Frost (Optional)

You can also frost the brownies before cutting once they are completely cooled, if desired. Here are some of our favorite frosting recipes:

• Chocolate buttercream frosting
• Chocolate Ganache
• Peanut Butter Frosting
• Homemade Vanilla Frosting

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. 

FAQs about brownies

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

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