Description
These Easy Chocolate Brownies are rich, fudgy, and perfect for satisfying your chocolate cravings. Made with dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and a hint of vanilla, they offer a moist and decadent treat with a gooey center. Simple to prepare, these brownies bake to perfection in under 35 minutes and can be customized with chopped nuts or extra chocolate chunks for added texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Brownie Batter
- 200g / 14 tbsp unsalted butter (1 3/4 US sticks)
- 200g / 1 1/4 cups dark chocolate chips (7 oz)
- 1 cup (175g) brown sugar, loosely packed
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (75g) plain flour
- 1/4 cup (30g) cocoa powder
- Pinch of salt
Optional Mix-ins
- 180g / 6 oz dark chocolate block/bar, roughly chopped
- 1.5 cups roughly chopped walnuts or other nuts
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) or 160°C (fan forced).
- Prepare Baking Pan: Spray a 20cm (8″) square baking tin with oil and line it with baking or parchment paper leaving some overhang to easily lift out the brownies later.
- Melt Butter and Chocolate: Place the butter and dark chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each until completely melted and smooth. This usually takes about 1 minute and 30 seconds.
- Add Sugar and Eggs: Stir in the brown sugar and vanilla extract into the melted chocolate mixture. Then add the lightly beaten eggs and mix thoroughly until the batter is smooth and molten.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the plain flour, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt to the wet mixture. Stir gently until the batter is fully combined and smooth.
- Add Optional Mix-ins: Fold in the roughly chopped dark chocolate bar and walnuts if using, distributing them evenly in the batter.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking tin. Bake for 24 minutes for a very gooey center, 28 minutes for a fudgy but moist texture (recommended), or 32 minutes for a moist fudge-cake consistency. Adjust baking time by reducing 2 minutes if you don’t add extra chopped chocolate.
- Cool and Serve: Let the brownies rest in the pan for 10 minutes before lifting them out using the parchment overhang. Allow to cool completely for at least 20 minutes before cutting into squares. Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Microwaving butter and chocolate in short bursts prevents scorching and ensures a smooth melted mixture.
- Using parchment paper with overhang makes it easier to lift the brownies out of the pan without breaking them.
- Baking time highly affects brownie texture, so test with a toothpick according to your preference for gooey or fudgy centers.
- Chopped walnuts or other nuts add a nice crunch but can be omitted for nut-free brownies.
- Extra chopped chocolate mixed into the batter creates pockets of melted chocolate throughout.
- Store brownies in an airtight container to keep them fresh and moist.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 24-32 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
