This brownie recipe from scratch is the best you'll ever try! I've tested so many different brownie recipes, and this is the only one that turns out perfect every time. My recipe isn't too sweet, too dry, too cake-like - it's just right! Each bite is so rich and fudgy that your family won't believe they're homemade!
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Chewy From Scratch Brownies
There are many variations of the best brownie recipe available online and in cookbooks. But this is the only one I trust and use for every occasion. You don't need any special ingredients or equipment - just basic pantry staples and a mixing bowl! My family and friends always rave about these brownies, and I'm sure yours will, too.
So forget the store-bought mixes, and let me share my tried-and-tested recipe instead. It's simple, easy to follow, and guaranteed to satisfy your chocolate cravings.
Just don't expect them to last very long - these brownies are always the first to go at parties and potlucks!
Ingredients for Brownies from Scratch
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Sugar
- Oil
- Vanilla extract
- Eggs
- Flour
- Cocoa powder
- Baking powder
- Salt
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
How to make the Best Scratch Brownies
- There are a few keys to making these easy homemade brownies. All of them combine to make the centers chewy and the tops ultra crinkly.
- Mixing up the brownies is super easy. I melt the chocolate chips in a large bowl and add the rest of the sugar and wet ingredients, eggs last, to give the chocolate time to cool off. After that, simply mix in the dry ingredients!
- Unlike a quick bread or cake, you actually do want to mix this batter pretty well. I mix it for about 1 minute until there aren't any lumps left and it's smooth and glossy.
- I baked these in a 9x13 pan and they are about 1 inch thick. If you'd like thicker brownies, you can bake them in a 8x8 pan but you will need to adjust the cooking time to be a little longer since the brownies will be thicker.
Best Scratch Brownies Variations
These brownies might be the best you've ever tasted... but that doesn't mean you can't get creative with them! Here are a few variations to try:
- Chocolate chips: Try milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet for a different level of sweetness. White chocolate will work, too! You could even mix and match by using multiple types of chocolate chips.
- Nuts: Add in chopped nuts, such as walnuts or pecans, for some crunch and texture. Roasted hazelnuts would also give these brownies a richer, nuttier flavor.
- Fruit: Fold in some dried fruit, like cherries or cranberries, for a burst of tartness.
- Candy: Have you ever tried a brownie with chopped-up candy mixed in? It's delicious! Add pieces of your favorite chocolate bars, caramels, or small candies, like M&M's, to the batter.
- Swirl: Create a marble effect by swirling in some cookie butter, peanut butter, or other spread to the batter before baking.
- Toppings: Once baked and cooled, you can get creative with toppings. Try melted chocolate drizzle, salted caramel sauce, or even whipped cream cheese frosting!
Best Brownie from Scratch Recipe tips
- Using oil instead of butter keeps the center of the brownies chewy and fudgy.
- The eggs help the brownies stay moist but give the top it's nice crackle.
- Adding melted chocolate to the batter also contributes to the chewy center of the brownies.
- The baking powder and eggs also contribute to the crinkly top by encouraging the brownies to rise and then fall.
I hope you love this brownie recipe from scratch as much as I have. It's so perfect and easy I want to make it every single day! Just kidding. Kind of.
How to Store a Brownie from Scratch
Refrigerating isn't necessary for these brownies. They’ll last up to 4 days at room temperature when stored in an air-tight container.
However, if you want to prolong their shelf life a little more than 4 days, you can pop them in the fridge for up to a week.
You can also freeze your yummy brownies – that's if you have any left! To freeze, put them in a freezer-safe bag or container. This also works with a whole slab of brownies. They'll be good in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When ready to enjoy, simply thaw them at room temperature or pop them into the microwave for a quick defrost.
Scratch Made Brownies FAQs
A brownie's texture always comes down to the ratio of ingredients used. For a fudgy brownie, you want to use more fat and less flour. For a cakey brownie, you would use less fat and more flour.
We use oil and melted chocolate in this brownie recipe from scratch. The combination of these ingredients is more than enough fat to make super fudgy and chocolatey brownies!
In the long run, yes, it’s cheaper to make your own brownies from scratch! You can make multiple batches of brownies once you've bought all of the ingredients. Whereas if you buy a pre-made mix, it would only make one batch.
Plus, homemade brownies taste way better and are usually made with better-quality ingredients. Win-win!
Ideally, you'd want to bake your brownies on the middle rack of your oven. This will ensure even baking and prevent the top from burning.
But if you only have a top or bottom rack, go for the bottom. This is because heat rises, so the top of your oven will be hotter. Baking on the top rack could cause your brownies to cook too quickly on the outside, leaving the inside undercooked.
This all comes down to personal preference! Glass pans warm up slower but retain heat for longer. Metal pans conduct heat faster, so your brownies may cook more quickly.
Both work well for baking brownies, so use whichever you have on hand or prefer!
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Best Brownie from Scratch Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 cups sugar
- ¾ cup oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 eggs (large)
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Melt chocolate chips in a large bowl. This is most easily done in the microwave by heating in 30-second intervals, mixing between each interval until the chocolate chips are almost all melted, stirring to melt the remaining chips.
- Add sugar, oil, and vanilla extract. Mix to combine.
- Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well between each addition.
- Sift together dry ingredients.
- Add to the wet ingredients and mix until well combined and the batter is smooth.
- Pour into a greased or lined 9x13 pan and bake for 30-35 minutes. If you like more fudgy brownies, remove them from the oven when a toothpick comes out almost clean. If you like chewy brownies, remove them from the oven when the toothpick comes out clean.
Ritu Parna
Hi There,
Thanks for sharing such a great recipe with us. My family loves this recipe. I made this recipe and served it to my friends at my house.
Jenna Taylor
So easy to make. So yummy. Just wish I had vanilla ice cream to go with! I baked in a 8x8 dish and they are huge!! They are as deep as the pan, so if you like some mamma jamma sized brownies. Do that. I also baked for 60 min since they are so thick and they came out melt in your mouth chewy.
Alli
So glad you liked them, Jenna!
Sara
These are the most delicious brownies I've ever made and I've made a lot of great ones! They are the perfect blend of fudgey and chewy and the flavor is perfect. I love the crispy part on top. I've never been able to get that with my other recipes. Thanks so much Alli. These are now our favorites.
Alli
So glad you liked them, Sara!!
Alli
Chewy and perfect!