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Today I’m sharing how you can make the BEST brownie recipe from scratch. Brown butter brownies are just as easy as regular ones with just one added step that makes a huge difference! Take your brownies to the next level the next time your chocolate craving is intense and NEVER buy a box mix again.

stacked brownies with chocolate chips sprinkled around.

What is the best brownie recipe?

Have you ever had brown butter? I’m in love with the stuff and this brown butter brownie recipe is my favorite way to use it. Brown Butter Brownies are rich, fudgy, easy to make (one bowl!) with triple the chocolate because I added chocolate chips – but you can add anything you want!

Why this recipe works

  • 4 eggs add moisture and structure – making these SUPER fudgy
  • Butter melted with unsweetened chocolate and cocoa powder make these rich with that crackly brownie top.
  • They’re the perfect blank canvas for any mix-ins!
ingredients in the walnut brownies.

Ingredients Needed

  • Unsalted butter: It is very important that you use unsalted butter in this recipe. Browning the butter in this way concentrates the flavor and if you use salted butter, the flavor will be very salty.
  • Unsweetened Baking Chocolate: You can also use semi-sweet but this will make the brownies sweeter so reduce the sugar by 1/4 cup.
  • Sugar: YES a full 2 cups
  • Eggs: 4 eggs gives these that fudgy center texture
  • Vanilla extract and Salt: for flavor
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder: You can use regular unsweetened cocoa, Hershey’s Special Dark OR Dutch Processed cocoa powder.

Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

How to Make Brown Butter

Maybe you’re wondering what brown butter is?  Brown butter happens when you cook butter over low heat until it melts, then it boils and as it cooks it turns a light golden-brown color, hence the name.  Browning butter is SUPER easy, I promise. I have a brown butter tutorial post, but basically you do the following:

  1. Melt: Add your butter to a saucepan and heat it over medium low heat for several minutes.
  2. Stir: Stir it occasionally and watch it closely. As it cooks, the butter will foam and then subside until it starts to turn golden. 
  3. Watch it: If you’ve never made it before you just have to be careful to watch it as it starts to change color because it goes from butter color to burned pretty fast. You want a rich amber color.

How to make this brownie recipe

  • I call these “one pot brownies” because you can make the batter in the same pot you browned the butter: no need to drag out other bowls. You can transfer the brown butter to a bowl if you prefer, but no need. Just make sure to remove it from the heat.
  • While your butter is still warm, add the unsweetened chocolate and stir until it’s melted into the butter.
  • Mix in the granulated sugar with a wooden spoon or spatula until thick.
  • Add eggs, vanilla, cocoa powder and salt until well combined.
  • Stir in the flour (and chocolate chips, nuts, or other additions).
  • Pour the batter into a prepared 9×13” baking pan. Bake them for 20 to 24 minutes in an oven preheated to 350°F. The brownies are done when a toothpick inserted along the side comes out with just a few crumbs.
stacked brownies with chocolate chips sprinkled around.

Tip From Dorothy

Expert Tips

  • You can add one and a half cups of add-in options before you bake this brownie recipe. Make Walnut Brownies, M&M Brownies, Oreo Brownies, add chocolate chunks, peanut butter chips, or anything you like by adding chopped candy!
  • Make sure to use good quality chocolate chips, cocoa, and baking chocolate. The better the quality, the better the brownies.
  • Want to use brown sugar? Go ahead – swap it equally with the granulated sugar.
  • I like to line my pan with parchment paper or foil for easy removal.

FAQ for making the BEST Brownie Recipe

What makes brownies fudgy?

Melted butter and an extra egg is the key to my fudgy brownies – the center stays nice and gooey.

How do you make brownies not cakey?

Be sure to measure your flour correctly, not use and baking powder or baking soda, follow the recipe, and don’t over bake them!

Can I double the recipe?

This recipe makes a hefty 9×13-inch pan of thick brownies, so if you double the recipe be sure to use two pans. It can be doubled by just doubling everything in the ingredients.

How can I make these a small batch of brownies?

You can easily cut this recipe in half and bake them in an 8×8-inch pan.

How to store brownies?

Store these in an airtight container for up to 3 days on the counter.

Can I freeze brownies?

Yes, you can! I freeze them all the time – just place them in a gallon size resealable bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.

How do you make the best brownies from scratch?

Use this recipe: with 3 kinds of chocolate and lots of brown butter this is the best brownie recipe in the world. They’re simple brownies with tons of flavor.

stacked brownies with chocolate chips sprinkled around.

The Best Brownies Recipe

4.70 from 53 votes
These are the best brownie recipe ever! They're gooey and perfect and the brown butter inside gives them a unique flavor.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Yield 24 brownies
Serving Size 1 brownie

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter
  • 4 ounces (113g) unsweetened baking chocolate coarsely chopped
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (20g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ⅓ cups (165g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups (255g) chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13″ pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, about 6 minutes, until it becomes brown in color. It will foam, reduce, then foam again. Once it’s done cooking the foam is a light brown and it will dissipate after you remove it from the heat. Once it starts to brown, keep stirring so it doesn’t burn. Once it gets to an amber color, turn off the flame.
  • Add baking chocolate to the butter and stir until the chocolate is melted. Stir in sugar, eggs, vanilla, salt, and cocoa and stir until combined. Stir in flour then stir in chocolate chips
  • Pour brownie batter into prepared baking pan. Bake for 25-35 minutes until a toothpick along the edge comes out with just a few crumbs. This results in very fudgy gooey brownies. Cool before slicing into bars.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  • You can add one and a half cups of add-in options before you bake them. Make Walnut Brownies, M&M Brownies, Oreo Brownies, add chocolate chunks, peanut butter chips, or anything you like by adding chopped candy!
  • Make sure to use good quality chocolate chips, cocoa, and baking chocolate. The better the quality, the better the brownies.
  • Want to use brown sugar? Go ahead – swap it equally with the granulated sugar.
  • I like to line my pan with parchment paper or foil for easy removal.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1brownie | Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 71mg | Potassium: 74mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 307IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Brown Butter Brownies are an easy one bowl brownie recipe that are super fudgy and delicious thanks to the brown butter and the chocolate chips. This is my GO TO brownie recipe!

Chocolate Brownie Recipes

Last Updated on May 4, 2023

Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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