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 asks for "plain" brownies or regular chocolate chip cookies all the time.
I found this fudgy brownie recipe in an old church cookbook from Goodwill. After a few rounds of recipe testing and tweaking I came up with a dense brownie with a rich dark chocolate color that tastes amazing!
Why These Homemade Brownies Work
- Easy to make. These 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 brings everything together 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 air tight 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 are looking for an extra decadent treat, change the brownie recipe up 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 over bake 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 are looking for.
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.
This is determined by the flour to fat ratio. 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.
*The post for Homemade Chocolate Chip Brownies was first published on September 2013. It was updated and republished on March 2021.
Leia
Hi! Great receipt! This was my first “from scratch” batch of brownies, not made with the box. I used Ghiridelli cocoa & chips & these are by far the best I’ve ever had! I’ll be trying more of your recipes!
Loren
I've made MANY many brownie recipes of all varieties, and this is one of the best cocoa-based brownie recipes I've ever tried! Delicious! Thanks for posting!
John Osborn
This might be a good recipe but it is quite possibly the worst website and instructions I have ever fought through. Most of this page is basically nonsense, to include the directions before the ingredients. I hope to never have to come back to this page again.
Jocelyn
I guess you missed the big JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top of the page??? One click and it takes you right to the printable recipe card. I don't know how much easier I can make it for you...
Lovely layla
Trying this recipe tonight! Can't wait to taste the goodness! Thank you for the recipe 🙂
Josefina
Hi! I just wanted to thank you for sharing this amazing recipe, this was my first time making brownies from scratch and these are by far the best i've ever tasted... ever!!!
A hug from Chile
Josefina.
Rosemarie Groner
These look amazing! Tying my apron on now! Thanks for the post!
Pamila
Going to make these hoping doubling the recipe works. I am very excited. I work with a group called piecemakers we make quilts for cancer patient to bring them God's word and comfort while they are dealing with chemo and all the other trials of fighting the beast.
Jocelyn Brubaker
I have doubled the recipe before using a 9x13 baking pan. I hope your group enjoys the brownies!!!
Always Nesting
My favorite words - easy and chocolate. Can't wait to make these and I love it that the ingredients are pantry friendly.
Linda White
Been putting chocolate chips in my brownie recipe for years and we love the that way! I put 1 cup of regular size chips in mine though! My recipe calls for 3 eggs.
Ala
I'm just dying over these, I can't wait to get my chocolate on again this week! I bet you're feeling the same way, aren't you glad you went the plain (but absolutely decadent) route this time? 😀 I know I am!
Audrey
The recipe says add 1/4 cup hot chocolate to eggs. Is this 1/4 cup of the mini chocolate chips melted??
Thanks!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Sorry that wasn't clear...you are going to add some of the melted chocolate mixture into the eggs to temper them. I changed the directions to say that better. I hope you enjoy the brownies!
Sandy
I have made these twice now and with fantastic results. I did make a substitution though. I used half brown sugar and half white. Amazing brownies. I will NOT use a boxed mix again. Thank you!!!!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Woo hoo! I am so glad to hear that! These brownies have converted me from box mixes too! Great substitution using half and half sugar...I usually do that in most of my baking too, but not in these. I will have to try it 🙂
Rachel
I just made these tonight! They made my kitchen smell amazing.
Cant wait to try them!
Thanks! 🙂
-your faithful reader in Taipei, Taiwan
Courtney
I just made these I skipped the chocolate chips and added crushed candy canes to fit the holiday season. I am so excited I have never actually made brownies from scratch before. I make everything else from scratch so I am very excited!! 5 minutes left on the timer!
Ariel
I am confused, the directions say to mix in hot chocolate but it isn't listed in the ingredients? Am I reading this wrong? Can you elaborate for me? Thanks- these look delicious and I am anxious to make them!
Jocelyn Brubaker
There is no hot chocolate mix in these brownies. You need to stir in the melted butter that has the cocoa powder in it...hot chocolate 🙂
Rosanna
Best homemade brownie recipe!!! Thanks for posting 🙂
Amy Huntley
MMMM! I think Brownies are by far one of my favorite desserts! These look so good!
Jocelyn Brubaker
One of mine too! Thanks Amy!
Renee @ Awesome on $20
I think you showed great restraint in the plain department. 😉 I'm interested to try this recipe. My favorite brownies are made with melted chocolate, but cocoa powder is usually cheaper, so I'm always on the hunt for a good cocoa brownie.
Jocelyn Brubaker
I did too! Lol! Thanks Renee!!
Laura@baking in pyjamas
I love the idea of putting chocolate chips into the brownies, I shall bare that in mind next time I bake a batch. Delicious!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Laura!! 🙂
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
These brownies are absolute perfection! I desperately need a brownie fix right now at 11:11PM!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Chung-Ah!! 😉
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl
I love a good homemade brownie - these look perfect, Jocelyn!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you Ashley!! 😉