The ultimate Fudgy Brownie Recipe! These homemade brownies are decadent and stay moist for days. Plus, there’s a secret ingredient that makes them super chocolatey without being overly sweet.

Fudgy brownies stacked on a parchment paper

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Brownies Video Tutorial:

These brownies are unbelievably satisfying. Watch the video recipe and you’ll know why everyone loves this recipe!

The Only Brownie Recipe You’ll Need!

The inspiration for these brownies came from Ina Garten’s Outrageous Brownies in the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook. We made them fudgier and supremely chocolatey. Here’s why these are the best homemade brownies:

  • Easy brownies – No fancy equipment or tools required. All you need is a saucepan, spatula, whisk, and a couple of bowls to make the batter.
  • No Room Temperature Ingredients Needed – you don’t have to plan ahead and can start making brownies as soon as the craving strikes.
  • Fudgiest Center – these literally stay moist and fudgy for days. I made the last batch on a Wednesday and ate the last piece on Sunday and it was still moist and satisfying.
  • Rich Chocolate Flavor – adding the cocoa powder and chocolate chips make these intensely chocolatey without being overly sweet.
  • Crackly Top – These brownies have that classic, irresistible crackly top.

The “Secret” Ingredient for Brownies:

Just like with our Chocolate Cake, adding coffee amps up the flavor of chocolate without tasting like coffee. We used Instant Coffee Granules. The rest of the ingredients are simple and will give you the perfect brownie texture.

Ingredients for brownie recipe with chocolate chips, egg, cocoa, flour, sugar, butter, coffee granules

How to Make the Best Brownies:

1. Melt Chocolate: In a saucepan over low heat, melt together 2 cups chocolate chips and butter. Set aside to cool 15 minutes.
2. Wet Ingredients: Whisk together eggs, sugar, instant coffee granules, oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk the cooled chocolate mixture into the egg mixture.

Step by step tutorial how to make brownies

3. Dry Ingredients: Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt then fold these dry ingredients into the chocolate batter until no streaks remain.
5. Pour and Bake: Spread brownie batter into prepared pan, sprinkle the top with the reserved 1/2 cup chocolate chips, and bake at 350˚F for 35-40 minutes.

how to make chocolate brownie batter step by step photos

How Long to Bake Brownies:

Fudgy Brownies – Bake for 35-37 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center will come out fudgy.

Soft and Moist Brownies – Bake for 40 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out with moist crumbs attached.

How to Store Brownies:

  • At Room Temperature – Brownies can be stored at room temperature in a low humidity environment. To keep them fresh and moist, cover with plastic wrap directly over the brownies and store in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
  • Freezer – brownies can be frozen for up to 3 months. To keep brownies moister, do not cut brownies until you are ready to eat them.

Baked brownies in baking pan sliced

How to Serve Brownies:

Our favorite way to serve brownies is to top with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. You can also try a dollop of whipped cream drizzled with chocolate, or top with fresh raspberries.

For Frosted Brownies: cover them with Chocolate Ganache or Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting.

Brownie served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

What Mix-Ins Can I Add to Brownies?

Once you have a great brownie base like this one, you can change them up and make them your own.

  • Caramel – Drizzle the top of the brownies with Homemade Caramel and a sprinkle of kosher salt.
  • Walnuts or Pecans – chop 1 cup of walnuts and fold them in at the end, sprinkling a few over the top for walnut brownies.
  • Chocolate Chunks – fold in some chocolate chunks in addition to sprinkling them over the top.
  • Zucchini – if you want to sneak in some veggies, try our Zucchini Brownies

Brownie slice on a spatula with chocolate chips added

Can I Bake these in a Different Pan?

For this brownie recipe, we used a 9×9 square pan. Using different sized baking pans will affect the bake times, and the recipe. These tips should help.

  • Bread Loaf Pan – Cut the recipe in half and bake as directed for a small batch of brownies.
  • 8×8 Pan – this smaller pan will result in taller brownies that require a longer baking time (40-48 minutes) minutes).
  • 12×9 Pan – this larger pan works, but the brownies will be flatter and will require less baking time (30-35 minutes).
  • 13×9 Pan – Make 1 1/2 times the recipe or the brownies will be pretty flat. Bake about 40 minutes, or to your desired doneness.

Love Chocolate? More Chocolate Desserts:

Fudgy Brownie Recipe

4.94 from 406 votes
fudgy brownies stacked on parchment paper
The ultimate Fudgy Brownie Recipe - super chocolatey without being overly sweet! These homemade brownies are decadent and stay moist for days.
Prep Time: 13 minutes
Cook Time: 37 minutes
Cooling Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 12 people

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350˚F. Butter a 9x9 pan and line with parchment paper.
  • In a medium saucepan over low heat, Melt together 2 cups chocolate chips and butter while whisking then set aside to cool 15 minutes.
  • In a second large bowl, whisk together 4 eggs, 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar and 1 Tbsp coffee granules, 3 Tbsp oil and 1 Tbsp vanilla extract.
  • Stir cooled chocolate mixture into the egg mixture.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together 2/3 cup flour, 1/2 cup cocoa, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt then use a spatula to fold mixture into the batter and fold just until combined. Do not over mix.
  • Transfer batter to prepared pan and sprinkle all over with remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 35-40 min depending on the desired doneness.* Cool until nearly at room temperature then cut into bars before serving.

Notes

*For fudgy brownies, bake 35-37 minutes and a toothpick should come out fudgy. For soft and moist brownies, bake 40 minutes and a toothpick should come out with moist crumbs attached. 

Nutrition Per Serving

526kcal Calories49g Carbs6g Protein35g Fat19g Saturated Fat97mg Cholesterol126mg Sodium379mg Potassium4g Fiber35g Sugar570IU Vitamin A69mg Calcium4mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Fudgy Brownie Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
526
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
35
g
54
%
Saturated Fat
 
19
g
119
%
Cholesterol
 
97
mg
32
%
Sodium
 
126
mg
5
%
Potassium
 
379
mg
11
%
Carbohydrates
 
49
g
16
%
Fiber
 
4
g
17
%
Sugar
 
35
g
39
%
Protein
 
6
g
12
%
Vitamin A
 
570
IU
11
%
Calcium
 
69
mg
7
%
Iron
 
4
mg
22
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: brownie recipe, fudgy brownies
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 526

Filed Under

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

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4.94 from 406 votes (227 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Reshma
    October 23, 2020

    I tried this recipe twice.. the taste is perfect.. but both times my cake sunk:( y so?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 23, 2020

      Hi Reshma, it could be the size of the pan used or possibly cooking on convection oven settings? Also, make sure to measure ingredients the same way for baking. This article on measuring may help.

      Reply

  • Sony
    October 22, 2020

    My brownie came out very tall and cackle like and took more than 35 minutes to cook. The only thing I could thinks of is I used a 5 eggs because mine were medium sized. And I used an electric hand mixer to beat the eggs and sugar. Is that why it was cake like?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 22, 2020

      Hi Sony, that is more than likely the culprit!

      Reply

  • Sanjana
    October 22, 2020

    Can’t thank you enough natasha:) My twin toddlers loved it

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 22, 2020

      Yay your taste testers loved these brownies! Thank you for your awesome feedback.

      Reply

  • Catherine Fernandes
    October 21, 2020

    Made this in a 10×8 inch cake tin.baked for 30 mins but it is cakey and not fudgy like i would have loved… .What have I gone wrong?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      October 21, 2020

      Hi Catherine, cakey is an indication of over baking. If your oven runs hot, you might bake for a little less time, and make sure not to bake on convection mode.

      Reply

      • Catherine Fernandes
        October 31, 2020

        Thanks Natasha ..I have an Morphy Richards OTG 28.
        So do I reduce the temperature and timing as well…how much should I reduce to..We all love brownies and I really want to perfect it.
        We are waiting to try your apple crumble pie.

        Reply

  • Nadine palmer-grant
    October 18, 2020

    This came out perfect. No more box brownie. Her directions were so easy follow.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 18, 2020

      Yay, love it! I hope this becomes a favorite for you.

      Reply

  • Ambreen
    October 17, 2020

    Hi natasha,

    My brownies sink in from the middle. What do you think could be the reason?

    Thanks,

    Reply

    • Natasha
      October 17, 2020

      Hi Ambreen, it could be the size of the pan used or possibly cooking on convection oven settings? Also, make sure to measure ingredients the same way for baking. This article on measuring may help.

      Reply

  • Carole
    October 16, 2020

    I never use instant coffee so I wouldn’t have those on hand, and don’t really want to buy a jar for
    1 T. Can something else be used instead? Maybe some leftover coffee?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 16, 2020

      It should either be instant coffee or instant espresso. It will still work great without the coffee but they might be slightly slimmer brownies so they could bake a little faster.

      Reply

      • So
        October 24, 2020

        Thank you for this comment. I have a friend who cannot have coffee as it could be deadly to her.
        If they make decaf instant, would that also work?
        I don’t do much instant, so nit sure if that even exists.
        Thank you!!!

        Reply

        • Natashas Kitchen
          October 24, 2020

          Hi So, I haven’t tried this with decaf to advise but it will still work great without the coffee. Someone else commented that they didn’t add coffee and still liked the result but coffee really amplifies the flavor.

          Reply

  • Fani
    October 16, 2020

    I love the way you explaine the recipe!!! You are great … Keep up the good work!! This desert is our favourite!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 16, 2020

      Thank you for your nice comments and appreciation. Love it!

      Reply

  • Norman whitney
    October 15, 2020

    Might try these tomorrow Natasha love your recipes

    Reply

  • MaryAnne
    October 14, 2020

    Could you use gluten free flour for this recipe?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 14, 2020

      Hi MaryAnne, I haven’t tested this with gluten-free flour to advise. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.

      Reply

  • Sheina
    October 13, 2020

    Hi Ms. Natasha! Your recipes are always amazing! Just wanna know, how can I get that crackly top? Everything is perfect in this recipe but maybe I did something wrong which have caused me to not achieve that crackly top

    Reply

    • Natasha
      October 13, 2020

      Hi Sheina, you might consider if there were any changes in ingredients or in the process. Also, be sure to bake in a fully pre-heated oven and bake on conventional bake mode (not convection). I suggest watching the video to see if anything was different.

      Reply

  • Kaz
    October 12, 2020

    I tried your recipe. It was a huge success! My friends and family insisted I make more to sell. Thanks so much for sharing.

    From the beautiful twin islands of Trinidad & Tobago

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 12, 2020

      You’re welcome! That’s just awesome!

      Reply

  • Malak
    October 12, 2020

    Which brand of butter you used in this recipe. Thank you

    Reply

  • Romila
    October 9, 2020

    It’s the 1st time I made something from your site and it’s super good. I think it’s the best. Thank you and can’t wait to try more, all the way from Sri Lanka.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 9, 2020

      Hello Romila, thank you so much for sharing your good feedback with us. I hope you love every recipe that you will try!

      Reply

  • Maria Esther Zapata
    October 8, 2020

    Hello, I wonder what I did wrong.
    It did not puff even, the sides puffed a lot and the center stayed very flat. Help

    Reply

    • Natasha
      October 8, 2020

      Hi Maria, did you possibly switch your leavening (baking powder and baking soda?) Also, baking in glass can affect the rise a little.

      Reply

      • Yolanda
        October 31, 2020

        I made this recipe with a 9×9 pan and baking powder yet the edges were puffy and the brownies did not come out flat as yours. I also have an electrical oven and baked at 350 degrees. What did I do wrong? All ingredients were measured so I am not sure what happened. Love your recipes, Natasha. Thank you!!!

        Reply

        • Natasha
          November 2, 2020

          Hi Yolanda, did you possibly switch leaveners (accidentally switching baking powder for baking soda is a common kitchen mistake but baking soda is 4x stronger than baking powder).

          Reply

  • jill Sparks-Malone
    October 4, 2020

    I can not use coffee, is there anything that I can substitute? They look amazing

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 6, 2020

      Hi Jill, it will still work great without the coffee. That should work but they might be slightly slimmer brownies so they could bake a little faster.

      Reply

  • jill Sparks-Malone
    October 4, 2020

    I can not use coffee, is there anything that I can substitute? They look amazing

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 5, 2020

      Hi Jill, it will still work great without the coffee. That should work but they might be slightly slimmer brownies so they could bake a little faster.

      Reply

  • Rona Berntsen
    October 3, 2020

    Hi. Made these brownies for the first time tonight and they were delicious. I baked them for 55 minutes as after 40 minutes it was still very jiggly. I did not want to test it until I knew it was baked but after another 5 minutes it did sink a bit in the middle. Baked it another 10 minutes and it was just like the picture. A must recipe to do again. Maybe add walnuts in it too.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 3, 2020

      I’m so glad you enjoeyd that Rona! Thank you for sharing that with me!

      Reply

  • Nora
    October 2, 2020

    Hi, can follow the same recipe to make brownie bites in a mini cupcake tin for brownie bites?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 2, 2020

      Hi Nora, I haven’t tested that to advise, if you experiment I would love to know how you like that!

      Reply

  • Sherri
    October 2, 2020

    These brownies were terrific! Fudgy, with a shiny, crackly top. I prefer to bake from scratch, but have always gone back to my favorite box mix for brownies, because I could never find a recipe that was better. This is that magic unicorn brownie recipe!
    I added 3 types of chocolate chips both in and on top of the batter: milk chocolate, semisweet, and bittersweet. They are absolutely outstanding!
    Someone asked about using Dutch cocoa. I did, and it worked fine. Dutch and regular cocoa are usually interchangeable. The only time it matters, is if the recipe has something acidic, like buttermilk or sour cream. Then, you can’t use Dutch process cocoa, as it will impact the leveling action. Also, for those that found the brownies too sweet, they might try substituting bittersweet chips for the semisweet. For my taste, these brownies were perfectly balanced. Another amazing recipe! Thanks, Natasha!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 2, 2020

      Wow! That’s so great! Thank you so much for sharing that wonderful review with me Sherri!

      Reply

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