Easy homemade brownies that are fudgy, moist, and will literally melt in your mouth. All you need is one bowl and a whisk to make the best brownies that are exploding with chocolate flavor! 

Brownies stacked on top of each other.

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Easy Homemade Brownies

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know my chocolate caramel brownies or cake mix brownies recipes have been long-standing favorites of mine. They both use a box mix and are so gooey and delicious. But I think these homemade brownies from scratch may be the new winner.

I’ve been trying to create a from-scratch brownie that’s just as good as our favorite Ghirardelli box mix. After lots of testing, this recipe comes pretty close. My husband even called them the best brownies ever!

These brownies will literally melt in your mouth and can even be made more decadent with a layer of brownie frosting on top!

Key Ingredients

All you need is one bowl and a whisk. It uses pantry staple ingredients and I bet you have everything on hand to make them.

Brownie batter in a glass baking pan.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Butter: Unsalted butter is best for this homemade brownie recipe. Brownies are not meant to have too much salt in them. Melt the butter ahead of time.
  • Vegetable oil: This will moisten the brownies as it is being baked.
  • Sugar: Use both granulated sugar and light brown sugar. Together they make a sweet texture but also the brown sugar will help moisten the brownies giving them that soft texture.
  • Eggs: Leave your eggs out at room temperature. This is a baking tip that will help with your brownie batter when baking in the oven.
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder: For the best brownie recipe, you have to have the chocolate. This cocoa powder will give the delicious chocolatey flavor these brownies need.

How to Make Brownies from Scratch

The steps to making homemade brownies in a four photo collage.
  1. Mix. Whisk together the melted butter, oil, and both sugars in a large bowl. Next whisk in the eggs and vanilla for about one minute.
  2. Combine. Stir in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt into the wet ingredients until just barely combined. Do not over-mix. Then fold in the chocolate chips.
  3. Bake. Pour the batter into a prepared pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
  4. Cool. Remove the baking pan from the oven and let cool in the pan for a few minutes. Use the edges of the parchment paper to lift the brownies from the pan and move them to a cooling rack. Once cooled, use a plastic knife to cut into 16 squares.

Cooking Tips

Follow these quick and easy cooking tips to make the best-baked brownies!

  • Melt butter. Make sure to use hot melted butter to help create the crackly top.
  • Whisk eggs. Make sure to whisk the eggs really well before adding the flour.
  • Don’t overmix. Do not over-mix after the flour has been added, this would create a more dense, cake-like brownie.
  • High-quality chocolate. Use high-quality chocolate for ultimate flavor. This gives you delicious flavor but also helps with baking. You can even use a milk or dark chocolate chip too!
  • Seasonal. Add a cheesecake swirl full of pumpkin spice for a version of chocolate pumpkin brownies or make Halloween brownies.
Homemade brownies cut into squares.
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“Oh my gosh…. These brownies are amazing!!!! I’ve been trying to find a recipe that I could make dairy-free but they’re just not right. These are great thank you.”

Doris
Homemade brownies stacked on top of each other.

Love brownie recipes? Try these fun variations such as brookies, brownie mix cookie recipe or chocolate brownie cookies!

More Easy Brownies Recipes

Homemade brownies stacked to show gooey fudgy centers.

Homemade Brownie Recipe

4.95 from 68 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 16
Easy homemade brownies that are fudgy, moist and will literally melt in your mouth. All you need is one bowl and a whisk to make the best brownies that are exploding with chocolate flavor! 
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Ingredients 

  • ½ cup unsalted butter , melted
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 cup (198 g) white granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (45 g) light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (65 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (45 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher sea salt , can sub for regular salt
  • ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips , optional but recommended

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8" pan with parchment paper and lightly spray with non-stick spray. I like to leave enough parchment paper to easily lift them out.
  • In a large bowl whisk the butter, vegetable oil, sugar, and brown sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk for about a minute.
  • Next add the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Stir just until barely combined. Add the chocolate chips and stir until smooth. Be careful to not over mix.
  • Bake for 28-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes clean. Be careful not to overbake.
  • Allow to cool slightly in the pan and then you can remove the brownies with the parchment paper to finish cooling. Once cooled, cut brownies into 16 squares with a plastic knife.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

This recipe easily doubles. Cook the doubled recipe in a 9×13″ pan. You may need to cook a few minutes longer. 
For variation you could also add in 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans. 
Freezer instructions: 
Allow to cool completely and then wrap individual brownies in plastic wrap. Store in a freezer container or zip top bag for up to 3 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 183kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 36mg, Sodium: 12mg, Potassium: 133mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 207IU, Calcium: 18mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Recipe FAQs

What are the five ingredients for chocolate brownies?

The five ingredients are sugar, flour, cocoa, oil, and artificial flavor. Making homemade brownies helps know what is in the recipe as well as in your body.

What makes brownies fudgy or cakey?

A fudgy brownie is dependent on the ratio of fat to flour. There is usually more fat than flour for a fudgy type brownie compared to a cakey brownie. A cakey brownie has more flour than fat.

Why don’t brownies need baking soda?

Brownie recipes do not have baking powder or baking soda in the ingredients. They are known for being dense and chewy. Cakelike brownies usually have a leavening agent that helps give them their fluffy texture.

What keeps brownies moist?

There are a few factors that help keep brownies moist. Make sure to only cut the brownies when you are ready to enjoy them. This will help keep them moist. Place them in an airtight container or freezer bag to store them. Keep them at room temperature but store them in the refrigerator to store for a few extra days.