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    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Brownies » Fudgy Brownies

    Fudgy Brownies

    Published: Jul 30, 2017 · Modified: Dec 28, 2020 by Barbara Curry · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    4.20 from 5 votes

    Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

    A platter of made from scratch brownies

    Fudgy Brownies are my go-to brownie recipe with a fudgy center and crackly top. A no-fail easy recipe where you’ll get PERFECT brownies every time with only one bowl!

    A batch of fudgy brownies with flaky salt on a black background.

    I hate making a batch of what I hope will be homemade fudgy brownies only to  get dry mediocre brownies. Anytime I have something that doesn’t work out the way I expect it to, I’m on a mission to find a perfect recipe that I can rely on in a pinch.

    I’ve cooked a few recipes out of Melissa Clark’s book, In the Kitchen with A Good Appetite and already have some favorites. She doesn’t have many desserts in the book but her description of her brownies sounded tempting, fudgy and very moist with a sprinkle of flaky salt.  

    Her exact words were “these brownies will change your life”.  Well I was in, and made my first batch to hopefully share with a friend for her birthday. They turned out perfectly fudgy the first time and every time since, and trust me there have been lots of batches!

    Brownies with a fudgy texture in a row on a board.

    How do know when brownies are done

    I think the challenge with brownies is figuring out when they are done.  If you cook them too long you get a dry brownie. For perfectly cooked brownies that are fudgy and moist, take them out of the oven when the edges just begin to pull away from the sides of the pan and the top is set and shiny. 

    You can also do the toothpick test which for brownies you want it to not be runny but still have crumbs that stick to the toothpick. 

    The problem with using the toothpick method is if you’ve waited too long and the toothpick comes out dry, then you’re going to have dry brownies. If you take it out when the edges start pulling away then they won’t be dry. For this brownie recipe in my oven it takes 25 minutes.

    Brownies on a blue and white platter.

     I was pretty sure these would taste good given the ingredients. They contain a little dark chocolate along with cocoa powder and lots of butter.  They cut beautifully once cooled and I had a hard time giving these away.  It makes a big batch so I was able to save a few.

    Let me tell you, these have the perfect texture if you like moist fudgy made from scratch brownies. You don’t taste the cayenne pepper but I think it enhances the chocolate.

    They don’t need nuts or caramel or peanut butter or cookie dough topping, they’re just perfectly rich and decadent all by themselves.  Of course you can add all of those things but I’ve found that I make these over and over again, just the way they are. if you want that fudgy brownie with cream cheese, then try some brownie bites.

    What do you NEED to make homemade brownies from scratch

    ingredients for fudge brownies
    • Butter
    • Dark chocolate
    • Cocoa powder
    • Flaky sea salt
    • Eggs
    • Vanilla
    • Cayenne pepper
    • Flour, sugar and salt

    How do you make the BEST fudgy brownies

    Step 1: Melt the dark chocolate and butter in the microwave and then whisk in the cocoa powder and sugar. Add eggs and whisk until smooth.

    Step 2: Add the dry ingredients and mix just until combined and you don’t see any more white.

    Step 3: Pour into the pan and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Bake just until the edges start to pull away from the pan and the top is set and shiny. 

    FAQ’s and tips

    What type of chocolate should you use for fudgy brownies?

    You only need 3 ounces of chocolate, so use a good quality chocolate like ghiradelli or guittarrd.

    What makes a brownie fudgy?

    The fat is what makes a brownie fudgy, these have two and a quarter sticks of butter, so you don’t have to worry about cakey brownies.

    Can you substitute oil for butter?

    Not in this recipe. You will have flat brownies that don’t have that rich buttery taste.

    Can you make brownies in one bowl?

    As long as your microwave safe bowl is large enough for all of the ingredients, you can make this in one bowl. Cleaning up is the only down side to making baked goods from scratch.

    More BROWNIE recipes

    For those times when you want to jazz up your brownies, here are some of my favorites.

    • Add some raspberries and cream cheese
    • Peanut butter fudge on top is yummy
    • Do you love cookie dough, then these are a must
    • Throw in some pralines for a decadent brownie
    • If you’ve got candy canes, add some peppermint
    • Mini cheesecake brownies for when you just want a bite

    Brownie recipes I want to try

    • Brownies with Reese’s peanut butter pieces sound interesting from A Farmgirl’s Kitchen
    • Brownies in a jar for gift giving is such a great idea – Foodologygeek
    • I want to try these Chocolate Mint brownies – Sally’s Baking Addiction

    If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.

    Brownies with dark chocolate on a board sprinkled with salt.

    Fudgy Brownies

    Author: Barbara Curry
    Fudgy Brownies are my go-to brownie recipe with brownies that are decadent, fudgy and never dry. A no-fail recipe where you get PERFECT brownies every time. 
    4.20 from 5 votes
    Print Pin
    PREP: 15 minutes
    COOK: 25 minutes
    Servings: 24

    Ingredients
     

    • 18 tablespoons butter
    • 3 ounces dark chocolate chopped
    • 1 ½ cups flour
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne
    • ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
    • 2 ½ cups sugar
    • 3 eggs lightly beaten
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla
    • Flaky sea salt
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350º. Line a 9 X 13 baking pan with parchment.
    • Place the chopped chocolate and butter in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on medium power until melted and smooth, stirring every 30 seconds for about 2 minutes.
    • In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and cayenne.
    • Place the melted chocolate in a large bowl and whisk in the cocoa powder and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and whisk until smooth. Gently fold in the flour mixture, mixing just until combined.
    • Place into prepared pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula or knife. Sprinkle with Flaky sea salt.
    • Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the edges just begin to pull away from the sides of the pan and the top is set and shiny.
    • Allow to cool Completely in the pan before cutting.

    Video

    Barbara’s Tips + Notes
    • Use the best quality chocolate for a rich chocolate flavor.
    • Sprinkle generously with flaky salt so that there is a little on each bite.
    • Remove from the oven as soon as the sides start pulling away from the pan.
    • If testing with a toothpick, it should have crumbs on it and not come out clean.
    • You can add chocolate chips or white chocolate chips, try adding about ¾ cup.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 219kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 133mg | Potassium: 71mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 296IU | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg
    Follow Me On SocialDid you make this recipe? Mention @ButterandBaggage or tag #ButterandBaggage on Instagram!

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    Comments

    1. Cait O’Neill says

      January 23, 2020 at 4:02 pm

      These were sooooooo delicious! Thanks so much! For some reason it won’t let me rate them but 5 stars!!!

      Reply
      • Barbara Curry says

        January 23, 2020 at 7:28 pm

        I am so glad you liked them and thrilled to hear that Nikita is making a good recovery.

        Reply

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    Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

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