Ultimate Fudgy Chocolate Brownies (Printable Version)
Rich, fudgy brownies with crackly tops and intense chocolate flavor—pure indulgence in every bite.
# What You Need:
→ Chocolate & Fats
01 - 7 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped or chips
02 - 4.2 oz unsalted butter, cut into pieces
→ Sugars
03 - 1.25 cups granulated sugar
04 - 0.25 cup brown sugar
→ Eggs
05 - 3 large eggs, at room temperature
→ Dry Ingredients
06 - 0.8 cup all-purpose flour
07 - 0.25 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
08 - 0.5 tsp baking powder
09 - 0.5 tsp salt
→ Optional Mix-ins
10 - 3.5 oz chopped walnuts or pecans
11 - 3.5 oz chocolate chips
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy removal.
02 - In a heatproof bowl, melt the chocolate and butter together over a pot of simmering water (double boiler), stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
03 - Whisk the granulated and brown sugars into the melted chocolate mixture until well combined.
04 - Add the eggs one at a time, whisking thoroughly after each addition until the batter is glossy and thick.
05 - Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the chocolate mixture until just incorporated—do not overmix.
06 - Fold in chopped nuts or chocolate chips if using.
07 - Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top evenly with a spatula.
08 - Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until the center is just set and a toothpick inserted comes out with a few moist crumbs.
09 - Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting out and cutting into squares.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- That crackly top forms naturally if you whisk the eggs patiently, and it looks like something from a magazine.
- The center stays fudgy and dense, never cakey, which is exactly what a brownie should be.
02 -
- Overmixing after adding flour makes brownies tough, so stop folding the moment you stop seeing dry streaks.
- Checking too early with a toothpick can cause the center to sink, so wait until at least the 28 minute mark.
03 -
- Use the parchment overhang as handles to lift the entire slab out before cutting for cleaner, prettier squares.
- A plastic knife cuts through brownies more cleanly than a metal one because it does not drag through the fudgy center.