The best fudgy brownies feature a rich and moist chocolate center, with a shiny crackly top on the surface. Both simple and decadent, this homemade brownie recipe is a keeper!

The best fudgy brownies feature a rich and moist chocolate center, with a shiny crackly top on the surface.

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There are nearly a thousand recipes on the site but until today I had never ever shared a classic chocolate brownie recipe. Can you believe it?! I’ve been obsessed with brownies since like forever and I’ve baked countless of them. But every single time, I adjust the recipe, always in search for the best possible version. I went to the bottom of it and I’m happy to report that I finally found the best homemade brownie recipe!

The best fudgy brownies feature a rich and moist chocolate center, with a shiny crackly top on the surface.

My idea of the perfect brownie consists in a rich and moist chocolate center and an irresistible crackly top. Also, being French, it has to feature real baking chocolate AND cocoa powder to achieve the best chocolate flavor. To all chocolate lovers out there, bear with me for a minute. You’re about to experience something unique that will be reminiscence of your sweet childhood memories! (Am I exaggerating? I believe not).

Why this is the BEST Brownie recipe

  • An easy recipe prepared with basic ingredients
  • A rich, fudgy center, loaded with chocolate flavor
  • A shiny crackly top on the surface
The best fudgy brownies feature a rich and moist chocolate center, with a shiny crackly top on the surface.

What goes into homemade chocolate brownies?

  • Baking chocolate. While many brownie recipes call for cocoa powder only, this one features real chocolate and cocoa powder, for a deeper and more complex chocolate flavor profile. My recommendation is to use between 45% and 55% cocoa baking chocolate.
  • Unsweetened cocoa. It boosts the chocolate flavor in the recipe. Sift it before using for better results.
  • Granulated sugar + light brown sugar. The combination of both create a perfect brownie texture, chewy and fudgy, without being too dense. While the amount of sugar may seem a lot, it’s what makes a brownie a brownie. And for this reason I recommend sticking to the recipe exactly.
  • Eggs. The recipe calls for 4 large eggs. It brings moistness and participates to the fudgy brownie texture.
  • Unsalted butter. You could use salted butter instead, but in that case remember to omit the sugar in the recipe.
  • All-purpose flour. It brings a little lift to the recipe. Sift it before using to avoid having lumps in the batter.
  • Chocolate chips. I recommend regular size semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips. Feel free to add more or less, depending on how you like your brownies.
The best fudgy brownies feature a rich and moist chocolate center, with a shiny crackly top on the surface.

How to make the best fudgy brownies?

Good news! Everyone can master the best fudgy brownie recipe. All you need is 5 minutes to prepare, a few staples you probably already have at home and a very minimal baking equipment. A few steps to keep in mind:

  • Melt chocolate and butter together, either in the microwave or in a saucepan placed over low heat. If you go for this last option, make sure you don’t burn the chocolate.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs, sugars and vanilla with a whisk until pale and fluffy. Pour the melted chocolate mixture, then slowly add the sifted flour and unsweetened cocoa powder (make sure they’re sifted). Gently fold in the chocolate chips in the batter.
  • Pour onto the pan and bake until the tops are slightly crackly and the center just done. Let cool completely before slicing.
The best fudgy brownies feature a rich and moist chocolate center, with a shiny crackly top on the surface.
The best fudgy brownies feature a rich and moist chocolate center, with a shiny crackly top on the surface.
The best fudgy brownies feature a rich and moist chocolate center, with a shiny crackly top on the surface.

Pro tips for success for the best fudgy brownies

  • Use semi-sweet chocolate. While it can be tempting to use dark baking chocolate to make the best fudgy brownies, I find that using semi-sweet chocolate (around 55% cocoa) works best. Dark chocolate makes the brownies dense, with a heavier texture. If you really are a true chocolate lovers, I recommend adding dark chocolate chips for a rich and intense chocolate flavor.
  • Choose unsweetened cocoa powder. The use of unsweetened cocoa powder is key in the final result, bringing all the chocolaty flavor to the brownie. Do not replace with chocolate mix (used for hot chocolate) ; that do contain other ingredients such as sugar and milk powder.
  • Use a metal or aluminized steel baking pan for best results. These pans allow the brownies to cook more quickly and evenly than a glass or ceramic baking pan. A 10×6-inch or a 9×9-inch pan are the best option as they yield some generous and thick brownies.
  • Baking tip. The brownies are ready when they’re shiny and crackly on the surface and just done in the center to look for a perfect fudgy texture. You don’t want them to be too gooey, nor do you want them too dry (do not over-bake!).
  • Let cool completely before slicing. This is very important as the brownies usually get fudgier when the center has cooled and set.

How to slice these best fudgy brownies

We usually slice brownies in squares, but the question is: with or without trimming the hard edges? I recommend slicing them if you’re looking for an even fudgy texture through every bite, although it doesn’t hurt to keep them either. To trim the edges, use a large sharp knife and cut alongside the edges.

The best fudgy brownies feature a rich and moist chocolate center, with a shiny crackly top on the surface.

Quick variation with walnuts

When it comes to brownies, there are two schools: those who love their brownies with chocolate chips and those who swear by walnuts only. If you belong to this team, simply swap the chocolate chips with chopped walnuts. If you can’t decide between both option, simply do half chocolate chips and half walnuts. Easy!

For the chocolate lovers out there, try also…

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The Best Fudgy Brownies

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The best fudgy brownies feature a rich and moist chocolate center, with a shiny crackly top on the surface.
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  • Author: Delphine Fortin
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 9 servings 1x
  • Category: Cakes

The best fudgy brownies feature a rich and moist chocolate center, with a shiny crackly top on the surface. Both simple and decadent, this homemade brownie recipe is a keeper!

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Ingredients

Scale
  • 5.6 ounces (160g) baking chocolate, roughly chopped
  • 1 ⅔ sticks (180g) unsalted butter
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (50g) light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (40g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (90g) chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a 10×7-inch (25×18 cm) baking dish* with parchment paper.
  2. Melt butter and chocolate in the microwave or in a saucepan placed over low heat, stirring regularly. Let cool slightly.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar, until pale and fluffy. Add the vanilla, the chocolate mixture, and stir until fully incorporated.
  4. Sift the flour and the unsweetened cocoa over the brownie batter, add the pinch of salt, and stir well, until the flour-cocoa mixture is fully incorporated.
  5. Gently fold in the chocolate chips with a rubber spatula, making sure they’re evenly distributed.
  6. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, until the top has formed a shiny crust and the batter is moderately firm. Cool completely in the pan on a rack before slicing.

Notes

Important! For best results, I recommend using the metric measurements for this brownie recipe.

* You can also use a 9×9-inch (23×23 cm) baking pan.

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Did you make this recipe?

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