If you’ve ever found yourself on a quest for the perfect fudgy, chocolate-packed square, look no further—these Best Homemade Brownies are about to become your new obsession. Imagine a tender, chewy interior edged with slightly crisp corners, rich with deep cocoa flavor and the surprise of melty dark chocolate chips in every decadent bite. The beauty of this recipe lies in its elegant simplicity and the magical transformation that happens in your oven. Trust me, once you taste them, you’ll understand why these are confidently called the Best Homemade Brownies, and you’ll want to make a batch for every cozy night in, holiday celebration, or just because you simply deserve some chocolate bliss.

Best Homemade Brownies Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

You won’t need a long list or hard-to-find supplies—just a handful of pantry staples, each selected for the way it influences the Best Homemade Brownies’ luscious texture, flavor, and signature shine on top. Here’s what makes every piece so distinctly delicious:

Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the brownies and gives those crackly tops everyone loves.
All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure, keeping the brownies dense yet not cakey.
Cocoa Powder: Delivers a big dose of chocolate flavor—sift if lumpy for ultimate smoothness.
Powdered Sugar: For ultra-tender crumb and an irresistible melt-in-your-mouth quality.
Dark Chocolate Chips: Pockets of rich, gooey chocolate in every bite for next-level decadence.
Sea Salt: Enhances cocoa notes and balances out the sweetness.
Large Eggs: Bind everything together and add a little loft without making brownies cakey.
Canola Oil or Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Keeps brownies moist and gives a supple, chewy bite—both work great, so use your favorite!
Water: Just a splash for extra moisture without altering the flavor.
Vanilla: Rounds out the flavors and gives depth—don’t skip it!

How to Make Best Homemade Brownies

Step 1: Prepare the Pan

Preheat your oven to 325°F—lower than usual, since a gentler bake means moister brownies. Lightly spray an 8×8-inch baking dish with cooking spray, then line it with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang on the sides for easy lifting later. Give the parchment a quick spray, too—no sticking allowed!

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, dark chocolate chips, and sea salt. Mixing these first ensures every bite of your Best Homemade Brownies gets an equal distribution of chocolatey goodness and proper rise.

Step 3: Whisk the Wet Ingredients

Grab a large bowl and combine the eggs, your choice of canola or olive oil, water, and a splash of vanilla. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and fully blended; this step is key to making brownies that are cohesive but never overmixed.

Step 4: Combine and Stir

Gently sprinkle the dry mix over the wet mixture, and fold everything together with a spatula until just combined. The batter will be thick, glossy, and a little sticky—resist over-mixing, which can lead to tough brownies.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Pour (okay, scoop!) the batter into your prepared pan and smooth out the top with your spatula. Slide it into the oven and bake for 40 to 48 minutes. Start checking around minute 40—a toothpick inserted should have a few moist crumbs but no raw batter. Remember, it’s better to slightly underbake than overdo it, as the Best Homemade Brownies will continue to set as they cool.

How to Serve Best Homemade Brownies

Garnishes

You can jazz up each square with a classic dusting of powdered sugar, a light drizzle of melted chocolate, or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate brownie sundae. A few chocolate shavings or a sprinkle of sea salt flakes on top make these Best Homemade Brownies instantly bakery-worthy.

Side Dishes

Pair your brownies with a glass of cold milk, a dollop of whipped cream, or fresh berries for a refreshing twist. For an elegant dessert spread, serve alongside warm espresso or a tangy fruit salad to balance all the chocolatey richness.

Creative Ways to Present

Cut brownies into bite-sized squares for a party platter, layer them into trifles with berries and cream, or use them as a base in an ice cream sundae bar. Get adventurous—crumble a brownie over yogurt for a breakfast treat or sandwich a scoop of gelato between two steamed, slightly warm brownies for legendary ice cream sandwiches.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Best Homemade Brownies keep phenomenally well at room temperature. Store them in an airtight container, and they’ll stay moist and chewy for up to three days (if they last that long). Make sure they’re fully cooled before sealing to prevent any sogginess on top.

Freezing

To freeze, let the brownies cool completely, then wrap each square individually in plastic wrap. Place them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to three months. When brownie cravings hit, you’ll always have a stash of homemade goodness ready to go!

Reheating

If you like your brownies extra gooey, pop a piece in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds; the chocolate chips will get delightfully melty. From frozen, let them thaw at room temp, or gently warm in the oven at 300°F for 8 to 10 minutes for a fresh-from-the-oven experience.

FAQs

Can I use a different size baking pan?

For the classic, thick and fudgy Best Homemade Brownies, stick with an 8×8 pan. A larger pan will make the brownies thinner and overcooked, while smaller or oddly shaped pans may cause uneven baking.

Can I substitute butter for the oil?

You can swap melted butter for oil if you prefer a slightly richer, more classic brownie flavor. The texture will be a bit less chewy and a touch more cake-like, but still mouthwateringly good.

Are these brownies gluten-free?

This recipe calls for regular all-purpose flour, but you can absolutely substitute a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour with excellent results. Make sure your cocoa and chocolate chips are gluten-free too.

What kind of cocoa powder works best?

Either natural or Dutch-processed cocoa powder will produce rich, decadent brownies. Dutch-processed gives a deeper color and slightly mellower flavor, so choose based on your chocolate preference for the Best Homemade Brownies.

How do I know when the brownies are done?

Insert a toothpick into the center—if it comes out with a few moist crumbs (not raw batter), they’re ready! Brownies will continue to set as they cool, so don’t worry if they look a tiny bit underdone coming out of the oven.

Final Thoughts

There’s truly nothing like sharing a pan of the Best Homemade Brownies with friends and family, or even sneaking a piece while they’re still warm and gooey. I hope this becomes your go-to recipe for every celebration, late-night craving, or just because you deserve something extra sweet. Give it a try—you might just find it’s the only brownie recipe you’ll ever need!

Best Homemade Brownies Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 19 reviews

Author: anna
Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 12 brownies 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

Indulge in the rich, chocolatey goodness of these Best Homemade Brownies. Easy to make and even easier to devour, these brownies are a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.

Instructions

Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Prepare a baking dish.
Mix dry ingredients: Combine sugar, flour, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, chocolate chips, and salt in a bowl.
Combine wet ingredients: Whisk eggs, oil, water, and vanilla in a separate bowl.
Combine mixtures: Stir dry mix into wet mix until just combined.
Bake: Pour batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake for 40-48 minutes.
Cool and store: Cool completely before slicing. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for later enjoyment.

Notes

*For a fudgier texture, reduce sugar to 1 1/4 cups.
**Olive oil adds a rich flavor, while canola oil yields a lighter texture.
***To prevent overbaking, it’s better to slightly underbake than to leave them in too long.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American