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

  • Terezie UK.
    January 19, 2021

    Hi Natasha.

    This recipe, is without a doubt family favorite now ! Thank you.

    Reply

  • Peggy Hill
    January 17, 2021

    I just made them and they dropped from the sides as well but man were they delicious! Moist and chocolatey! When I went to bake them, I discovered I was out of semi-sweet chips but had milk and some dark chips so I mixed them and crossed my fingers. Absolutely heavenly!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 18, 2021

      Thank you for that wonderful feedback, Peggy! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!

      Reply

  • Bridget
    January 16, 2021

    This recipe is dynamite!!! Everyone went for seconds!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 17, 2021

      Hi Bridget, thank you for your wonderful review!

      Reply

    • Tracy Fish
      February 14, 2021

      I would love to make these in my new brownie pan with 12 individual cups for the brownies. How full should I fill the cups so they don’t over flow?

      Reply

  • Julie
    January 14, 2021

    I love the way they came together. I put nuts on top. My family has to have nuts. I used a 9×9 pan. They came out of the oven looking beautiful. Few minutes later they caved in. Noticed some of the other comments said the same thing. Wonder what causing it.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 14, 2021

      Hi Julie, did you possibly use the wrong leavening? I’ve had that happen with a cake when I accidentally used baking soda instead of baking powder (baking soda is 4x stronger). I’m not sure why else that would be. Make sure to bake on conventional bake made and not convection.

      Reply

  • vicky calderon
    January 14, 2021

    I am from Guatemala, and I love the way you show the recepies, love your energy, thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  • margaret clontz
    January 12, 2021

    could i use mexican cocoa it has a little cinnamon and vanila powder

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 12, 2021

      Hi Margaret, I haven’t tested that so I can’t say for sure, you might google that to see if Mexican cocoa substitutes straight across in brownies.

      Reply

  • Sahithi
    January 7, 2021

    Hi Natasha
    Can I use chocolate slab instead of Chico chips in the mixture
    Will add Chico chips on the top
    Wat do u suggest

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 8, 2021

      Hi, you could break the chocolate up into chocolate chunks and use that as well.

      Reply

  • Isha
    January 6, 2021

    Hey Natasha!

    I was browsing through your recipes and found your brownie recipe. Kids aren’t allowed to eat/drink caffeine so I was thinking if I could substitute it with something edible for them. Do you have any ideas?

    Thanks again!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 6, 2021

      Hi Isha, 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

  • Cheryl
    December 31, 2020

    Hi Natasha. This brownies recipes is best. It’s so easy to make. I baked one last week and half was gone within 15 mins.

    But the top of the brownies which I baked was dark in color like the inside of the brownies. Could it be because I used dark chocolate?

    I baked it for 40 mins for soft and moist brownies but I noticed that after 4 hours the brownies start to become a little dry. How do I keep it moist?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 1, 2021

      Hi Cheryl, the key to moist brownies that stay moist is not to overbake. They should be pretty fudgy when they come out of the oven and then will set some more as they cool. The color can vary if there was a substitution.

      Reply

      • Maryam
        January 17, 2021

        What brands do you prefer for chocolate chips and cocoa powder?

        Reply

        • Natashas Kitchen
          January 18, 2021

          Hi Maryam, we usually go with Nestle or Ghirardelli.

          Reply

  • Cheryl
    December 31, 2020

    Hi Natasha. Your brownie recipe is absolutely delicious and my family love it very much. I baked it yesterday and half of it was gone within 10 minutes! The brownies were really soft and moist when it fresh out of the oven.

    But the top of the brownies did not come out light brown like yours. It came out dark brown like the inside of the brownie. I used dark chocolate instead of semisweet chocolate. Could that be the reason?

    Also how do you keep the brownie moist for the next 2-5 days?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 31, 2020

      Hi Cheryl, that is likely the culprit. It’s hard to say what the issue was with substitutions. I’m happy your family liked this recipe.

      Reply

  • GEETHA
    December 28, 2020

    Hi Natasha,im a big fan of your fudge brownies and churros,my grandsons just love it,but my brownies sink in the middle,taste is amazing,but I’m not getting a proper square like yours

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 28, 2020

      I’m so glad you’re enjoying our recipes! Did you, by chance, use a smaller pan? I recommend making sure your ingredients aren’t expired. Another reader reported great results baking for 45 minutes, though – I wonder if maybe your oven needs re-calibrating if it runs cool?

      Reply

  • Madhu
    December 27, 2020

    Hi Natasha,

    Thank you for a great recipe. The taste is amazing! I baked for about 49 minutes in an 8 x 8 square pan and let it cool in the pan as recommended. About 30 minutes in, it collapsed in the middle. Where did I go wrong? Should I have tried in a 9 inch pan? Less baking time? I followed the ingredients quantities as given.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 28, 2020

      Hi Madhu, it likely sank in the center due to using a smaller pan – the sides will get hotter from the pan and rise more, which will make it look more like a sunken center. Another reader reported great results baking for 45 minutes, though – I wonder if maybe your oven needs re-calibrating if it runs cool?

      Reply

  • Hasini de Alwis
    December 24, 2020

    Hi Natasha! I made this brownies today and it was so tasty and yummy. Best recipe for brownies. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 24, 2020

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Suzanne
    December 23, 2020

    The best brownies I have EVER tasted!! Made these a few months ago and I’m about to make them again for my son’s who are home for Christmas. It is the most delicious recipe!! Thank you Natasha for providing recipes that are always delicious and so easy to make! I’ve tried several of your recipes now and each one was a hit and so easy to prepare. Thank you… thank you!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 23, 2020

      You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe, Suzanne!

      Reply

  • Sandra Barry
    December 23, 2020

    Love your recipes and you blog

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 23, 2020

      You’re so nice! Thank you!

      Reply

  • J
    December 23, 2020

    Hi Natasha, ive made this once already and it was a winner.
    Planning to make it again for xmas eve, can i prepare the batter ahead and bake it later? Thanks

    Reply

    • Natasha
      December 23, 2020

      Hi J, because these stay soft and fudgy for days, I haven’t tried making the batter ahead without baking it.

      Reply

  • Debbie
    December 15, 2020

    Hi Natasha, these fudgy brownies are amazing. I have made them 3 times and the middle keeps sinking in. You suggested that the baking powder was expired so I bought some fresh and was so confident the third batch would be uniform. Im using the right 9×9 pan and measuring correctly. Im mixing as little as possible. Im wondering if using less baking powder and the sides won’t rise as much? Or the oven temperature might be to cold or too Hot? I want to make them again and try to tweek it so they come out better. Any further suggestions? I poked it with a toothpic to check doneness, could that have deflated It? I noticed on your video it looked like yours was a touch sunk in as well.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      December 17, 2020

      Hi Debbie, I’m not sure what else it could be. If you suspect your oven runs cold or hot, you can adjust the etemperature. A toothpick test wouldn’t deflate the brownies. They normally do have a raised edge, but it’s not a dramatic difference between the crust and the center. I wonder also if it may be the material of the pan? For example, glass heats up really hot and that could affect how brownies rise at the edges.

      Reply

    • Janie Hughes
      December 19, 2020

      Hi Debbie: My brownies sunk in the middle as well. I’m just wondering…my oven is a convection oven and it has no bottom element. I don’t know if that’s common on all convection ovens or not but mine and my sister’s oven do not have bottom elements. I don’t know if that’s why our brownies sunk in the middle. I didn’t use the convection either. Also, I used a glass baking pan which I never have good luck with…I always end up nuking my cakes/loafs for a minute or so. I just ordered myself a new metal baking pan. Hopefully that will solve my problem. Janie

      Reply

  • Jackie
    December 14, 2020

    Hi Natasha ! I’ve made brownies before but I don’t think I’m getting the ingredients right , so I’ve made them tonight again after I’ve changed American measures to British ones fingers crossed I’ve got it right!! Just to say during lockdown I’ve made many of your recipes we all love them ♥️ I’m from Portsmouth in England 🇬🇧🇬🇧

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 14, 2020

      I hope you love this recipe Jackie! Also, is you scroll down to the printable recipe card you will notice we have the metric conversion option. I hope that helps!

      Reply

      • lau
        June 29, 2021

        eres fantastica ! además de muy bonita y simpática….gracias

        Reply

        • Natasha's Kitchen
          June 29, 2021

          Thank you!

          Reply

  • Isabelle
    December 12, 2020

    Recipes are so reliable! I made this for the first time to bring over to a friends house, and was worried what I would do if they didn’t turn out, but they worked perfectly. So fudgy and delicious.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 12, 2020

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Isabelle! Thank you for the wonderful review!

      Reply

  • SR
    December 11, 2020

    Hi Natasha, i don’t have any chocolate chips currently at home. Would it be possible to replace it with cacoa powder? Please let me know.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      December 11, 2020

      Hi, the chocolate chips can be omitted but it does add some great gooey texture and chocolate flavor.

      Reply

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