The Ultimate Chewy Brownie Recipe

This is the BEST chewy brownie recipe. These brownies are both fudgy and gooey! With just 10 pantry ingredients, they have double the chocolate and a classic crinkle top. Made easier by melting ingredients in the microwave, and they fit perfectly in a standard 9-by-13 inch baking pan.

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Homemade brownies are one of my favorite desserts to make. I have many different varieties besides classic chewy brownies. Some of my other favorites are gooey caramel brownies, cookie stuffed brownies, and peppermint cloud brownies.

I'll tell you the secrets to chewy brownies, and give you a recipe for the ultimate brownie recipe. These classics are rich, chocolatey, dense, and flavorful, and make a full 9-by-13-inch pan. Plus try the Best Frosting For Brownies if you want to top them off!

In short, this is the BEST fudgy brownie recipe. It uses a genius blend of chocolatey goodness to create perfectly dense, chewy brownies every single time. They're my favorite dessert especially when warm with vanilla ice cream.

Jump to:

• Homemade vs. Box Mix Brownies
• Ingredients in this chewy brownie recipe
• How to make chewy chocolate brownies
• Brownie recipe add-ins
• Tips for the best chewy brownies
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More easy brownie recipes:
• The Ultimate Homemade Chewy Brownies

This chewy fudge brownie recipe uses the microwave to help minimize the mess while baking. It's a no-nonsense recipe that results in moist brownies that don't taste underdone!

These brownies are made with unsweetened cocoa powder and melted chocolate, which gives them a dark, intense flavor. Frosting on top packs in a powerful punch of sweetness that ties everything together. 

Homemade vs. Box Mix Brownies

If you're a fan of boxed brownie mixes, and especially love the crowd-favorite, Ghirardelli brownie mix, you'll love these EVEN more.

Boxed brownie mixes usually result in dense, chewy brownies and that's what we've become accustomed to. That being said, a homemade brownie will be much more tender, have real chocolate and vanilla flavor, and a more authentic buttery melt-in-your-mouth texture.

That being said, I love a boxed mix sometimes, and have a dedicated post to delicious mix-ins for boxed brownies if you're interested!

Ingredients in this chewy brownie recipe

One of my favorite aspects of this ultimate brownie recipe is that it's so easy to follow and has only 10 ingredients! Most of the ingredients can already be found in your home:

• Unsalted butter - I use unsalted so I can control the amount of salt in the recipe. If you only have salted butter on hand, you can just reduce the salt in the recipe by a pinch.
• Semisweet chocolate - This adds richness and texture to the classic chewy brownies. You can use bittersweet chocolate here if you want a less sweet brownie, but semisweet will give you the typical brownie flavor.
• Unsweetened cocoa powder - You'll need this for the deep chocolate flavor a true fudge brownie recipe calls for. Don't use Dutch processed, regular unsweetened cocoa is perfect.
• All-purpose flour - You can swap this for gluten-free all-purpose flour and make gluten free homemade brownies!
• Baking powder - The leavening boost the eggs will need to help these brownies bake into chewy deliciousness! Otherwise they'd be hockey pucks!
• Salt - Use regular table salt or a finely ground sea or Himalayan salt. It distributes better in baked goods than Kosher salt.
• Granulated sugar - Adds needed sweet flavor and structure to this baked good.
• Light brown sugar - The added molasses in brown sugar helps create a caramelized chocolate flavor in the brownies.
• Eggs - Always use large eggs in baking, as that is what was used to test the recipe. Using larger or smaller eggs would change the chemistry and liquid amount in the brownies.
• Vanilla extract - Even a splash of vanilla extract brings out the caramel and chocolate flavors in baked goods.

Can the brownies be frosted?

Absolutely! Let the brownies cool completely, then top with my favorite brownie frosting.

Add nuts with your frosting!

In fact, if you have a crowd that doesn't love nuts, but you do, this is a great place to add them to your brownies. Right after I frost the brownies I sprinkle half the pan with chopped walnuts of pecans before the frosting sets.

That way I get my brownies with nuts, and others don't have to eat them!

How to make chewy chocolate brownies

The best chewy brownies are made by following the right baking method, and including correct amounts of each ingredient.

The mixture of white and brown sugar, melting the butter, cocoa, and chocolate together, and beating the egg mixture just the right amount all contribute to chewy brownies.

To make chewy brownies melt the butter, chocolate, and cocoa together in the microwave to intensify the cocoa and chocolate flavor. I let this mixture cool a bit before mixing it into the other ingredients. 

Meanwhile, beat the sugar, eggs, and vanilla until pale (about 2 to 3 minutes). Stir in the cooled chocolate mixture, followed by the dry ingredients.

Transfer the brownie batter into a parchment paper-lined 9-by-13-inch pan or a quarter sheet pan.

Bake for about 30 minutes, then cool before slicing.

What makes brownies chewy?

Wondering how to make homemade brownies more chewy? Well, I achieve perfectly chewy brownies using a few tricks:

• Using a mixture of granulated and brown sugar creates the perfect sweetness and chew, since the brown sugar has a bit of molasses in it. 
• Four whole eggs help with leavening, making the brownies rise. It also makes them rich and chewy.
• Beating the sugar and eggs until pale helps amp up the chewy factor as well.

How to tell when homemade brownies are done

For this ultimate brownie recipe, I bake the brownies for about 27 to 30 minutes at 350ºF.

You'll know the brownies are done when a toothpick inserted into the center of the pan comes out with a few crumbs, but is not wet.

Overcooking brownies is easy because you can't tell doneness by the color. The toothpick test is great, but if in doubt remove the brownies from the oven! They will continue cooking slightly in the pan.

How to cut chewy brownies cleanly

First, you'll need to let the pan of brownies cool completely. Then, run a sharp chef's knife under warm tap water and pat it dry.

Press the knife into the brownies until it cuts all the way through. Wipe the knife carefully with a towel that's been dampened in warm water and repeat this process until you've cut the entire pan into squares.

Avoid sawing the knife back and forth while cutting the brownies. This creates jagged edges and tears them apart.

You can also use a plastic knife to cut brownies. Like the disposable kind you take on a picnic! It acts as a non-stick knife and cuts clean slices.

Tips for the best chewy brownies

• For a dark chocolate taste, swap the semisweet chocolate for bittersweet chocolate. The brownies have enough sugar to keep them sweet with darker chocolate. 
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. 
• Frost using my favorite brownie frosting recipe and top with chopped nuts, if desired.

Frequently Asked Questions

More easy brownie recipes:

When it comes to brownies, there seems to be an unlimited number of options. Here are some of my favorites.

• Gooey Caramel Brownies
• Peppermint Cloud Brownies
• Fudgy Squash Brownies
• The Ultimate Cookie Stuffed Brownies

Let me know how it went!

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Recipe, food styling, photography Tara Teaspoon. Updated August 2023