• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I Heart Eating
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
      • Work with Me
    • Rules and Disclosures
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Press
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Desserts » How To Make Brownies

    How To Make Brownies

    Published: Jun 6, 2018 · Modified: Jun 29, 2021 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The ultimate guide on how to make brownies! Step-by-step instructions and tips to make perfect homemade chewy, fudge brownies.

    Stack of chewy brownies next to a glass milk bottle

    Brownies generally fall into three categories - cakey, chewy, and fudgy.

    Cakey brownies are somewhere between chocolate cake and a fudge brownie.

    Chewy brownies have chewy edges and fudgy centers.

    Fudgy brownies are just what they sound like. They're soft, fudge-like brownies.

    The brownie recipe below makes just this kind of brownie. It makes brownies with a thin, shiny crust on top that are dense and fudgy in the middle and chewy at the edges.

    Why Use Vanilla In Chocolate Brownies?

    I love using vanilla in my chocolate baked goods.

    Vanilla is a fantastic flavor-enhancer, and it helps to bring out the chocolate flavor in brownies (or cake or cookies).

    What Makes Brownies Fudgy (VS Cakey)?

    Cakey brownies have a greater ratio flour to fat and often using a leavening agent like baking powder in the recipe.

    Fudgy brownies have a greater amount of fat to flour in the recipe.

    How To Make Homemade Chewy Fudge Brownies

    Here are step-by-step photos showing how to make the fudge brownie recipe below.

    melted butter and chocolate in a vintage bowl

    The butter and chocolate should be just melted. You don't want the mixture to be too hot.

    Once the sugars are mixed in, the batter will look grainy. That's ok!

    brownie batter in a white vintage bowl

    Once the eggs and vanilla are whisked in, the batter should look smooth and well-combined.

    Whisking in the dry ingredients will give you a thick, smooth batter.

    Brownie batter in a metal pan

    The batter should be thick and smooth and glossy.

    Tips To Make Perfect Chewy Fudge Brownies

    There are some keys techniques for perfect fudge brownies.

    • First, mix the batter by hand.
      • I like to mix the batter by hand because it's easy and because it keeps it from getting over-worked.
      • Overworking the batter means that you've developed gluten which is not what you want in a brownie.
    • Second, don't over-bake! More on this below.
    • Third, don't cut into hot brownies.
      • This tip and the next tip are the hardest parts of making great brownies.
      • Letting the brownies cool before cutting into them helps to improve the texture.
    • Fourth, chill your brownies.
      • Ok, stay with me on this one. I read this tip years and years ago, and I've never been sorry when I've let my brownies rest in the fridge.
      • That time chilling really helps to transform the brownies into the perfect fudgy/chewy bars.

    If you're looking for brownies that are fudgy (without being chewy), check out this fudgy brownie recipe instead.

    Do I Need Baking Powder To Make Brownies?

    Nope! Baking soda and baking powder are leavening agents.

    The brownies don't rise or expand the way that cakes, muffins, and cookies will.

    Some recipes will call for baking powder, and that's ok. It just isn't necessary in every recipe.

    When Are Brownies Done?

    One of the keys to making great brownies is to avoid over-baking.

    They are finished baking when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few fudgy crumbs.

    If the toothpick comes out clean, they will end up being dry or even crumbly once cool.

    Stack of chewy fudge brownies next to a glass milk bottle

    How To Cut Brownies

    I like to use a bench scraper to cut my brownies.

    It has the perfect sharp edge that gives me clean cuts.

    How To Store Brownies

    I cover them with plastic wrap and put them right back into the fridge. I think it helps to keep them fresh, too.

    My brownies keep for 3 days (they never last longer than that in our house) and still taste fresh when they're stored in the fridge.

    Fudge brownies on light parchment paper

    Can I Freeze Brownies?

    Absolutely! Unfrosted brownies freeze well for later.

    How To Freeze Brownies

    You can freeze them as a whole pan or in individual pieces.

    • To freeze an entire pan, let the brownies cool to room temperature, wrap well in plastic wrap, and then freeze.
      • If freezing an entire pan, you can either bake the brownies in a disposable pan or line the baking pan with parchment paper. The parchment paper will allow you to easily lift the entire pan of brownies out.
    • To freeze in pieces, wrap cut brownies well in plastic wrap and then place in a freezer bag.

    Traditional Brownie Recipes!

    • Muffin Tin Brownies
    • Frosted Brownie Recipe
    • Flourless Brownies

    Out-Of-The-Box Brownie Recipes!

    • French Silk Brownies
    • Pecan Pie Brownies
    • Gingerbread Brownies
    • Frozen Cheesecake Brownies
    • Chocolate Mousse Brownies
    • Slow Cooker Brownies
    • Mexican Brownies

    Brownie-Like Recipes!

    • Brownie Cookies
    • Brookie Recipe
    • Brookie Bars
    • Blondies

    Stack of chewy fudge brownies next to a knife

    If you’ve tried this chewy fudge brownie recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes!

    You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.

    Stack of chewy fudge brownies next to a glass milk bottle

    Perfect Chewy Fudgy Brownies

    Brownies with fudgy middles and chewy edges
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 31 minutes
    Chilling: 3 hours
    Total Time: 46 minutes
    Servings: 12 brownies
    Calories: 288kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup butter
    • 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate chopped*
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • ½ cup brown sugar packed
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 3 large eggs
    • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ cup all-purpose flour**

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment, leaving a slight overhang on all sides.
    • Add butter and chocolate to a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave for 30 seconds. 
    • Stir, and continue microwaving and stirring in 15 second intervals until butter and chocolate are melted and smooth. It usually takes me 1 minute total.
    • Whisk in sugars until well-combined. Batter will look grainy.
    • Whisk in vanilla and eggs, 1 at a time, until combined. Batter should look smooth and be well-combined.
    • Whisk in cocoa and salt.
    • Fold in flour until combined. Batter should be thick.
    • Pour batter into prepared pan.
    • Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out with fudgy crumbs.
    • Let cool to room temperature in pan.
    • Cover brownies, and chill for at least 3 hours.
    • Cut into squares to serve.

    Notes

    *Good-quality bittersweet chocolate chips will work in place of chopped chocolate.
    **Be sure to avoid packing the flour. I fluff the flour, scoop, and level. 
    ***Nutrition values are estimates. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1brownie | Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 184mg | Potassium: 140mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 305IU | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1.6mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!
    « Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
    Chocolate Whipped Buttercream Frosting »
    775 shares
    • Facebook
    • Email

    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Raissa

      April 30, 2019 at 9:34 am

      Hi! Sorry but what is the difference between this revipe and the fudgy brownie recipe?

      Reply
      • Kate

        April 30, 2019 at 9:44 am

        Hi! No worries! =) This recipe will give you a brownie that's chewy and fudgy. The fudgy brownie recipe will give you a fudgier (less chewy) brownie. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    2. Michele whelan

      December 29, 2018 at 3:10 pm

      Hi Kate, I was looking for your fudgey brownies recipe and I could only find this one. Would you be able to send me the original recipe as this one is different and the old one was foolproof!

      Reply
      • Kate

        December 30, 2018 at 8:59 pm

        Absolutely! I'll email it to you.

        Reply
        • LISA

          January 13, 2019 at 6:32 pm

          Hello! I used to use your other fudgey brownie recipe too. Could you email it to me?

          Reply
          • Kate

            January 15, 2019 at 2:34 pm

            Hi! Yes, I'll send it to you.

    3. Amy

      August 05, 2018 at 10:36 am

      5 stars
      These are the BEST brownies!!! They're better than my favorite mix and it was my secret for great brownies. Thank you!

      Reply
    4. Jen

      June 24, 2018 at 7:54 pm

      5 stars
      BEST brownies ever!! The tips help. Thanks for the great recipe!

      Reply
      • Kate

        June 25, 2018 at 10:54 am

        I'm glad they were helpful! Thank you!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Rate this recipe:




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    I’m Kate Dean- mom to five young kids, recipe developer, and photographer. Here at I Heart Eating®, I share my family’s favorite tried-and-true recipes.

    More about me →

    Summer Favorites

    • Zucchini Bread
    • Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
    • Pasta Salad Recipe
    • Homemade Funnel Cake
    • Golden Graham S'mores
    • Broccoli Salad

    Popular Posts

    • Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    • Brownie Cookie Recipe
    • Whipped Buttercream Frosting without Powdered Sugar
    • Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal Muffins

    Subscribe via email

    to stay in the loop on new posts!

    Footer

    As Featured In

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Legal
    • Rules and Disclosures

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me
    • Press

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 I Heart Eating

    775 shares