Fudgy Brownies

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This is my all-time favorite brownie recipe. I am a sucker for a good brownie. And let me tell you these fudgy brownies are out of this world delicious and made entirely from scratch. They have a rich chocolate favorite, soft and gooey, with the perfect consistency. And they go great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If you are a fan of brownies you have got to give this recipe a try.

Did you know that brownies are ranked number 4 in the list of top 10 desserts in the United States? We really love our brownies here in the States.

This fudgy brownie recipe is incredibly easy to make with simple ingredients, most of which you may already have in your pantry and kitchen. If I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get baking!

Is this the best brownie recipe ever?

I hate to throw around the term “best recipe”, but I have eaten lots of brownies in my day and I can honestly say, I do believe these are the best brownies ever. And they are leaps and bounds better than boxed brownies and don’t take a ton of extra effort. The dense, moist, fudgy texture and rich chocolate flavor keep you coming back for more.

Step 1: Gather the Brownie ingredients

In order to make these amazing homemade brownies from scratch you need the following easy to find ingredients:

• Eggs – The eggs add moisture and help give a good texture to brownies.
• Oil – I generally use canola oil, but you can use olive, vegetable, coconut, etc. If you like you can substitute the oil with butter.
• Water – I always use filtered water, because my tap water is terrible.
• Vanilla extract – The vanilla will enhance the flavor as well as boost the flavor of the other ingredients.
• White granulated sugar – Not just for sweetness, the sugar makes them lighter and tender.
• All-purpose flour – Do not use self-rising flour and do not use cake flour. If you use cake flour the texture will have more of a crumbly texture.
• Cocoa powder – Make sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder, the kind used for baking. The cocoa powder is what gives it the rich chocolate flavor.
• Salt – The salt will enhance the flavor of the other ingredients and give balance to the homemade brownies.
• Chocolate chips – You can use milk, dark, semi-sweet, white, etc.
• Nuts – I don’t always add nuts to my brownies, but you certainly can. Pecans and walnuts are a popular choices.

Tools

• Bowls
• Spatula/wooden spoon
• Whisk
• 8×8 baking pan
• Parchment paper (optional)
• Cooking spray (or use shortening)
• Knife

Step 2: How to make the best brownies from scratch

Now it is time to learn how to make the best fudgy brownies from scratch. Begin by preheating the oven to 325 F/162 C with the rack in the middle position.

In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, water, oil, and vanilla extract. Then add in the white granulated sugar and whisk that in.

NOTE: You may use a stand mixer or hand mixer if you like, just be careful you don’t overmix the brownie batter.

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and salt. The powdered sugar has a bit of cornstarch in it which helps with the fudgy consistency of the brownie.

NOTE: Generally it is a good idea to always sift your cocoa powder first. Although the whisk does a good job breaking up all the clumps. But if you have a sifter, throw all the dry ingredients in that and shift them into the bowl, especially if your cocoa powder is prone to big clumps.

Step 3: Finish the fudgy brownies batter

Now add in about a third of the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients. Use your whisk for this part or if you are using a mixer, use the beaters.

Once mixed in, switch to a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon and mix in another third of the dry ingredients, then the final third.

Or if using a mixer, you won’t use the wooden spoon. Scrape the sides of the bowl periodically to make sure it all gets mixed in.

Next fold in the chocolate chips. You can use a lot of chocolate chips or a little amount or none at all. Use whatever type you want as well.

Or maybe you have your favorite chocolate bar, you can break that up into chunks and add it. Lots of ideas you can try if you like.

The fudgy brownies batter is ready to go.

Step 4: How to bake brownies in the oven

Prepare an 8×8 inch pan by lightly spraying it with cooking spray. Then add a piece of parchment paper, and lightly spray the inside. This makes it so easy to get the brownies out and cut them.

Or just spray the pan or use shortening and forgo the parchment paper. I love using parchment paper though!

Pour the fudgy brownie batter into the pan. Use a spatula to get it all out and to level the top.

Now bake the homemade brownies for 40 to 50 minutes until when you poke it in the center with a toothpick, it is almost completely clean. If you like your brownies even more done, feel free to bake them for another 5 minutes.

You should see just a tiny bit of brownie stuck to it. Time to let them cool down completely.

NOTE: Don’t try and cut them while still warm, the brownies will fall apart on you. Although if you want to serve up warm broken apart brownies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, I definitely won’t stop you….yummy.

Once the brownies have cooled down lift them out of the pan. The main reason I love parchment paper for these, they come right out and it makes cutting them a breeze.

Use a knife and cut them however you like. If you like big brownies make 9 servings. If you want small ones you can do like 16. Or just cut those 9 large brownies in half for 18 small rectangle brownies.

TIP: If the brownies are sticking to the knife, lightly spray it with cooking spray.

Time to enjoy those delicious homemade fudgy brownies.

How long do homemade fudgy brownies last?

These brownies will last a few days in a zip lock bag or an air-tight container at room temperature. If you need to store them longer, put them in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. Optionally wrap individual brownies with plastic wrap and freeze for 2 to 3 months.

Can I use butter instead of Oil?

Yes! You can use butter instead of oil. Use right around 10 tablespoons or 145 grams of butter. Melt it until just barely melted but not hot and then add with the water, vanilla extract, and eggs.

What is the secret to getting Fudgy Brownies?

The big difference between a fudgy brownie and a regular brownie is the fudgy brownie recipe will call for less flour in relation to the eggs and oil and the recipe will not have baking powder in it.

Try these other amazing recipes:

3-Ingredient Nutella Cookies

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Hot Chocolate Bombs

Homemade Milk Chocolate

Gluten-Free Caramel Brownies

Do you like the recipe? Please give it a rating and comment down below, I really appreciate it.  If you make it tag me on Instagram @inthekitchenwithmatt. Also, sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss out on any of my new posts and recipes.

Check out my other website 101 Creative Dates for fun date ideas. Food and dating go hand in hand!