These Chocolate Chip Brownies will change your life. Skip the box mix because this homemade brownie recipe is easy to make and turns out fudgy and delicious every time. You will want to make these easy chocolate brownies all the time!
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What is your baking style? Do you like plain desserts or jazzed-up desserts? I'm Team Jazz all the way!
Why else would I add Dr Pepper to a chocolate cake? Sounds crazy? Maybe. But if you tried this Dr Pepper chocolate cake, you would be amazed.
I personally like to embellish these chocolate chip brownies with extra candy and toppings. But my family always asks for "plain" brownies or regular chocolate chip cookies. I have also mixed them and made these brookies!
I found this fudgy brownie recipe in an old church cookbook from Goodwill. After a few rounds of recipe testing and tweaking, I developed a dense brownie with a rich dark chocolate color that tastes amazing!
Why You Will Love Brownies With Chocolate Chips
- Easy to make. The batter for these easy homemade brownies comes together in minutes with just a few ingredients.
- Rich dark color and taste. Using dark cocoa powder and chocolate chips gives these brownies an amazing color and chocolaty flavor.
- Seriously, the best homemade brownies! They are fudgy and moist with a crackly top.
Key Ingredients
This simple brownie recipe comes together in minutes with just a few ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.
- Butter - Adds the moisture and fat needed. Melting the butter before adding it to the sugar stops air bubbles from forming when you beat them together. This keeps the brownies from rising too much and baking fluffy.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - We like to use Hershey's special dark cocoa powder to give these homemade brownies the rich dark chocolate flavor and color.
- Eggs - The protein in eggs combines everything as it bakes and adds richness and tenderness.
- Sugar - Sweetens the batter, and also makes them light and tender.
- Vanilla Extract and Salt - Adds flavor and balances out the sweetness.
- All Purpose Flour - Adds structure to the brownie recipe. We want them to be dense and fudgy, so you will not use a lot.
- Baking Powder - Just a little bit gives the lift you need in these fudgy brownies.
How to Make Chocolate Chip Brownies
We have had this brownie recipe from scratch on repeat for years now. All you need are a few basic pantry ingredients and a mixing bowl.
- Line a baking pan with foil or parchment. This makes it easier to lift the brownies out of the pan later. You can also spray the pan with baking spray.
- Melt the butter and whisk in the cocoa powder. Let it cool slightly.
- Beat the eggs, granulated sugar, and vanilla until light yellow and frothy.
- Pour the cooled butter and cocoa mixture into the eggs and beat it again.
- Stir together the dry ingredients and slowly mix them in.
- Gently stir the chocolate chips or any other mix in you like into the batter. Spread in a greased pan.
- The chocolate chip brownies are done when a toothpick inserted in the outside center comes out with some sticky crumbs on it.
Storage Recommendations
On the Counter - Keep the cooled brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days.
In the Freezer - Place in a freezer safe bag with parchment paper between layers and freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw before serving.
Other Brownie Mix-ins
These chewy chocolate brownies are delicious on their own. But if you want an extra decadent treat, change the brownie recipe with some of these extra ingredients. We love these Oreo brownies.
- Chocolate Chips - white, milk, dark
- Nuts - walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts
- Toffee Bits
- Candy - M&M's, Reese's Pieces, Peanut Butter Cups
- Cookies - Oreos, Nutter Butters
Tips and Tricks
- Make sure to beat the sugar and eggs long enough. The mixture should be pale yellow and frothy.
- Mix the cocoa powder into melted butter before adding it to the batter. This mixture gives you a better fudgy texture.
- Do not overbake the brownies! You do not want to end up with dry and crumbly bars, so take them out as soon as a toothpick inserted in the sides comes out with a few crumbs on it. They will continue to bake in the hot pan.
- Let them cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into squares. Hot brownies tend to crumble if you cut them too soon. Give them time to cool and firm up into the fudgy treat you seek.
Recipe FAQs
Beating the eggs and white sugar longer results in a flaky, crackly brownie top when it comes out of the oven. This increases the top layer, which is actually just a meringue.
The flour-to-fat ratio determines this. A fudgy brownie will call for more butter or oil in the recipe. A cakey brownie will have more flour.
Let them cool completely before cutting with a warm knife. Warm brownies fall apart very easily.
You can also use a plastic knife to make perfectly cut brownies. Another option is to chill the pan of brownies in the refrigerator before cutting them.
More Brownie Recipes
- Coffee Brownies
- Reese's Brownies
- Marshmallow Brownies
- M&M Brownies
- Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies - easy copycat
- Dark Chocolate Brownies
- Brownie Dessert
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Recipe
Chocolate Chip Brownies
A pan of these Chocolate Chip Brownies will satisfy any and all chocolate craving you may encounter. This fudgy homemade brownie recipe is easy to make and tastes great.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup dark cocoa powder
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- powdered sugar, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Line an 8x8 baking pan with foil and then spray with nonstick baking spray. (the foil is optional)
- Whisk together the melted butter and cocoa powder and set aside.
- Beat the eggs until light in color. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat again.
- Add the chocolate butter mixture into the eggs and beat until mixed in.
- Sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder and slowly add to the egg mixture. Do not over beat.
- Stir in the mini chocolate chips by hand.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
- Let cool completely before cutting into 9 squares. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 9 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 339Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 150mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 1gSugar: 41gProtein: 3g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*This post was first published in September 2013. It was updated and republished in March 2021.
Jelli
I love both box mix brownies and homemade. The only brownie I don't like is the type that's way too cakey and not chocolatey enough. I do have a problem with your recipe: an 8x8" pan of brownies is just never enough!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Jocelyn. I like to look through those old cookbooks too. My mother has quite a few at her house.
Jocelyn Brubaker
I'm not that into cakey brownies either, bring on the gooeyness! 😉 Thanks Jelli!
Emily
Jocelyn these look divine! I'm a huge brownie fan and I suffer from the same problem of overloading my goodies when all my hubby wants is simple 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
It must be something all of us crazy bakers experience!! 😉 Thanks Emily!!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl
What amazing brownies, I will be slapping anyone's hands away that tries to take my brownies away! 😉
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha! Thank you Pamela!! 🙂
Stephanie @ PlainChicken
I love brownies. These look amazing. The only thing that could make them better is a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Mmmm, now that sounds divine!! Thanks Stephanie!! 🙂
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
Nothing beats a good homemade brownie!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Agreed! Thanks Ashley!! 🙂
Chels R.
Oh how I love a good brownie. Doctored or not, I love em!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Meeee toooo!! 😉
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
Whenever I visit my parents they always ask for just plain chocolate chip cookies, brownies, or "yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting". They love my other inventions, but classics are always fun too! I love these brownies: I am constantly on the hunt for the best brownie recipe. I'll have to add this to the list of contenders! 😀
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you so much Jess!! Glad I could help! 😉
Auntiepatch
Kids! What do they know?! I love everything you come up with!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, right?! 😉 thank you so much!!
Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff
In the past, I have made brownies from scratch ... my family likes the boxed mix! I will try your recipe ... it sounds better that the ones I've used in the past 🙂 My family likes plain too.
Jocelyn Brubaker
There's just something about that boxed mix! 🙂 Thanks Brenda!
Nancy p.@thebittersideofsweet
I sometimes prefer homemade over box, it is a toss up! These look wonderful!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Nancy!! 😉
Gina
Oh my goodness Jocelyn - these look perfect. I so love brownies- I could eat the whole tray if no one was around to stop me.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Gina! You and me both!! 🙂
Madison
YUM YUM YUM! You cannot beat a good, old fashioned brownie. These look like the best!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Madison!! 😉
Tieghan
HA, I am just like you and your family sound just like mine. They are always asking for chocolate chip cookies and simple brownies and cakes. I am into over the top and they are more simple. LOL!
Love these brownies! I always add chocolate chips to mine too!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha! 😉 Thanks Tieghan!
Marcie
These "plain" brownies are gorgeous, moist and chocolatey. There's really nothing plain about them! I can tell just by looking at them that they're perfect without any candy embellishments!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Marcie!! 😉
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting
These look incredibly fudgey!!! I feel like I am always adding "flare" to my recipes and my boyfriend is like, this is good but I would prefer it without the this and that. Umph. Whatever. Hahah.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha! What is with these people of ours not wanting all the delicious extras?? 😉
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
Love these Jocelyn!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Dorothy!! 😉
Averie @ Averie Cooks
I was just on Sally's blog and she made stuffed brownies. Now these. Wow, the universe really wants me to make brownies today. Pinned 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
I really think brownies are in your future 🙂
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent
I love finding old cookbooks as well... So many ideas out there! These brownies look amazing!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Laura!! 😉
Mary Frances @ The Sweet {Tooth} Life
My family asks for plain things too ... what is this? My baking list is SOOOO long now, too (thanks to PInterest:) And I love our boxed brownie mix and "updating it" to be blogworthy. 🙂 Its a problem. But seriously, these look perfect. Fudgy, full of chocolate chips, sprinkled with powdered sugar - ready to take on any chocolate craving!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, I know! Crazy people 😉 Thank you so much Mary!
Erin | The Emerging Foodie
Well hello there, beautiful brownies! These look delicious, Jocelyn! And I love the idea of old church cookbooks. Those have some gems in them! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Erin!! They certainly do! 😉