Best Ever Brownie Recipe - What's Gaby Cooking (2024)

Buckle up friends... this is hands down the BEST BROWNIE RECIPE you will ever make! I've decided that summer 2023 is the summer of the brownie. You already know this is the the year of the cookie at WGC, so the summer of the brownie feels right.

Best Ever Brownie Recipe - What's Gaby Cooking (1)

Table of Contents

Why I Love This Recipe

As someone who has put more than their fair share of brownies- blondie brownies, brownie pudding and crinkle top brownie bites into my body, I feel confident that I can say that this is in fact the Best Brownie Recipe YOU WILL EVER HAVE IN YOUR LIFE. And yes, I am screaming because it's that important.

Before we get into how to make the best brownies from scratch... a story as credit is due to a very special chocolate company. Before we set sail for the Galapagos, we did a quick city tour in Quito, Ecuador. Ecuador is home to some pretty insane chocolate. It's pure. And perfect. And we tasted a LOT of it when we were at Yumbos Chocolate. I'd highly recommend a stop if you're in town. Before leaving, our host offered the group brownies. I mean, who says no to that, right? We bought them out of stock and sat around eating the brownies like vultures. Super on brand for a What's Gaby Cooking trip. Cut to... it was easily the best brownie I've ever tasted in my entire life.

Lucky for you, and for me, the recipe was on the back of the bag of chocolate that I had purchased and now it lives here on WGC. These brownies are the perfect fudgy consistency. They're slightly underbaked so they are extra gooey and chewy while still having crispy edges and crackly tops. These are perfection and I also use them as the base in magic bar brownie to take it all up a notch.

Best Ever Brownie Recipe - What's Gaby Cooking (2)

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Dark Chocolate – This Brownie Recipe is made with pure chocolate rather than cocoa powder. The moisture from the melted chocolate really goes a long way for this flavor and consistency. I've made it with the chocolate from Ecuador, this brand, and this brand - all are amazing.
  • Unsalted Butter – I like to use unsalted butter when baking to control the amount of salt I add to the recipe.
  • White Sugar – Using white sugar yields a chewier brownie.
  • Eggs – Use large eggs at room temperature. If they're straight from the fridge, they will make the butter seize and won't combine evenly.
  • Vanilla Extract – Adds another depth of flavor to this brownie recipe.
  • All-Purpose Flour – This Brownie Recipe uses less flour than butter to achieve fudgy brownies.
  • Kosher Salt – Salt will help balance the sweetness and enhance the flavor.
  • Bonus – If you want to add 1 teaspoon of coffee extract, I support you!

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and substitutions.

How to Make the Best Brownie Recipe

Start by preheating the oven to 325º F. Then combine the chocolate and the butter over medium low heat until smooth. Add in the sugar and stir to combine. Remove from the heat for 15 minutes to slightly cool. Add the eggs and vanilla and stir to combine. Add in the flour and salt and mix until just incorporated and smooth.

Transfer the brownie batter to a sprayed and parchment lined 9x9 baking pan and bake on the middle rack of your oven for 50-60 minutes. (NOTE - I have an oven thermometer to make sure my oven runs true to temp - I bake these for 50 minutes on the middle rack and they're perfect. You might need a few extra minutes depending on your oven but you want them to come out with the slightest jiggle and then set while cooling)

Remove from the oven and let rest on the counter for 1 hour. It will absolutely still jiggle when removed from the oven -this is key and important.If you bake it until it no longer jiggles, you've over-baked them. The 1 hour of cooling on the counter allows the residual heat to continue to bake these by just a bit. After 1 hour, place the baking pan into the fridge and chill for 1 hour. Once they have set for at least the combined 2 hours, slice and serve.

How to Store Brownies

The easiest way to store brownies is to leave them in the baking pan and cover with some tin foil and refrigerate.

However you can also take them out the pan and put them in your glass tupperware and refrigerate or freeze.

Best Ever Brownie Recipe - What's Gaby Cooking (3)

Tips & Tricks

  • You MUST use a metal 9x9 baking pan for this Brownie Recipe. Glass doesn't retain heat as well. The disposable ones don't retain heat at all. My fav is super inexpensive and great for all brownies, blondies, bars etc.
  • All ovens run at slightly different temperatures. I'd recommend an internal oven thermometer to ensure your oven is properly heated. They are 4 bucks usually and an essential tool when baking!
  • Don't over bake it and don't skimp on the "resting" time before slicing. It really makes a difference.
  • The Brownie Recipe you'll find below is technically a double recipe as I wanted these to be thick, gooey and chewy. If you alter the ratio of butter to eggs to flour etc, things change. So promise me you'll stick to the simple ingredients below and you'll be in a good place.

Recipe FAQs

How do you make brownies fudgy instead of cakey?

A higher fat to flour ratio yields fudgy brownies while a higher flour to fat ratio will yield cakey brownies.

What are the three types of brownies?

1. Fudgy brownies
2. Cakey brownies
3. Chewy brownies

Is brownie meant to be gooey when you pull it out?

Yes, it will absolutely still jiggle when removed from the oven -this is key and important.If you bake it until it no longer jiggles, you've over-baked them. Allow for your brownies to cool for 1 hour on the counter so the residual heat can continue to bake them by just a bit. After 1 hour, place the baking pan into the fridge and chill for 1 hour. Once they have set for at least the combined 2 hours, slice and serve.

More Brownie Recipes

  • slu*tty Brownies
  • Raspberry Brownies
  • Double Chocolate Mocha Brownies
  • Knock You Naked Brownies

Best Ever Brownie Recipe - What's Gaby Cooking (8)

Best Ever Brownie Recipe

Author: Gaby Dalkin

4.7 from 41 votes

I solemnly swear that this is the only brownie recipe I will ever make for the rest of my life. (NOTE - before you dive into this recipe, please read above and see all the tips and tricks to make sure these come out perfectly for you!)

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Resting Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 55 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 16 people

Ingredients

  • 240 grams dark chocolate (approx 1½ cups regular dark chocolate morsels)
  • 240 grams unsalted butter (2 sticks and 1 tablespoon)
  • cups white sugar (approximately 520 grams)
  • 6 eggs at room temperature
  • 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • cup all purpose flour (approximately 100 grams)
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325° F.

  • Combine the chocolate and the butter over medium low heat until smooth. Add in the sugar and stir to combine. Remove from the heat for 15 minutes to slightly cool. Add the eggs and vanilla and stir to combine. Add in the flour and salt and mix until just incorporated and smooth.

  • Transfer to a sprayed and parchment lined 9x9 baking pan and bake on the middle rack of your oven for 50-60 minutes. (NOTE - I have an oven thermometer to make sure my oven runs true to temp - I bake these for 50 minutes on the middle rack and they're perfect. You might need a few extra minutes depending on your oven but you want them to come out with the slightest jiggle and then set while cooling)

  • Remove from the oven and let rest on the counter for 1 hour. It will absolutely still jiggle when removed from the oven - this is key and important. If you bake it until it no longer jiggles, you've over-baked them. The 1 hour of cooling on the counter allows the residual heat to continue to bake these by just a bit. After 1 hour, place the baking pan into the fridge and chill for 1 hour. Once they have set for at least the combined 2 hours, slice and serve.

Notes

You'll notice that some of the ingredients are listed by weight above - here's the deal... it's just more accurate. The flour is measured by scooping and leveling in my world, so the weighted amounts of flour / sugar are based off that. Trust in the process - these are amazing. My fav handy dandy kitchen scale is here

Nutrition Information

Calories: 354kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 42mg | Potassium: 129mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 466IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @WhatsGabyCookin or tag #whatsgabycooking!

Best Ever Brownie Recipe - What's Gaby Cooking (2024)

FAQs

What does too much egg do to brownies? ›

They give brownies a lighter, drier, and more cake-like texture. If you prefer this over the chewy variety, then go ahead and crack in that additional egg. On the other hand, too many eggs will yield brownies that are hard, heavy, and tough.

What can I add to brownies to make them better? ›

Stir in semisweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chunks, and shards off the block for a chocolate brownie that's even more chocolaty. If you have leftover holiday treats, crumble in candy bars, peppermints, chopped candied ginger, or crushed cookies.

Is 8x8 or 9x9 better for brownies? ›

A 9x9" metal (aluminized steel) pan yielded crisp-edged, somewhat dense brownies that were unremarkable. An 8x8" glass pan made brownies with cakey, crackly-on-top corners and a very thick, gooey texture within.

What are the three types of brownies? ›

Brownie textures fall into three general camps… Cakey, fudgy and chewy. Cakey brownies, like the name implies, are light, moist and airy, with a slightly fluffy, cake-like interior. Fudgy brownies are moist, dense and gooey, with almost the texture of fudge, but not quite as compact.

Should you beat eggs before adding to brownie mix? ›

Cookbook author and food stylist Jerrelle Guy might have given away the secret: In an article for The Kitchn, Guy suggests the secret to a "glossy" and lifted brownie — like the ones you see in bakeries and restaurants — is to beat the eggs and the sugar together for 10 minutes before adding additional ingredients.

What does adding milk to brownies do? ›

One change is to use milk or heavy cream instead of water. This change will make brownies more moist and gooey since milk is more fatty and flavorful than water. A second change is to use butter instead of oil. For similar reasons to using milk, butter adds a rich and more decadent quality to the batter.

How to doctor up box brownie mix? ›

Adding a layer of cream cheese, marshmallow fluff, caramel, or peanut butter goes a long way towards turning a mix into something special. You can add this layer before or after baking the brownies.

How to elevate your brownies? ›

Vanilla extract – Pure vanilla extract adds rich flavor to brownies. Eggs – Most brownie mixes call for one whole egg. Adding one large egg plus an extra egg yolk gives brownies an ultra fudgy texture. Chocolate Chips – Even if your brownie mix contains chocolate, plan to add chocolate chips.

What is the best pan to bake brownies in? ›

For this, glass or metal are the best.” If you prefer a cake-y brownie with a consistent texture throughout, a heavy ceramic pan could be the right choice. Can you make brownies in a muffin pan? Yes, you can bake individual-serving brownies in a muffin pan.

Do two loaf pans equal a 9x13? ›

A 9×13 baking dish. The batter that fills two loaf pans is perfect for one baking dish. We didn't even need to adjust the cooking time that much; since the baking dish is more shallow, it bakes in about the same time as a loaf pan, even though it's bigger. We kept an eye on it and may have added 5 or 10 minutes max.

What makes brownies fudgy vs cakey? ›

Fudgy brownies have a higher fat-to-flour ratio than cakey ones. So add more fat—in this case, butter and chocolate. A cakey batch has more flour and relies on baking powder for leavening. The amount of sugar and eggs does not change whether you're going fudgy or cakey.

What are Katharine Hepburn brownies? ›

The brownies are made with unsweetened chocolate, which is also known as baking, plain or bitter chocolate. It is chocolate in its rawest form and this means that unsweetened chocolate is just ground cocoa nibs that have been refined and contain between 50-55% cocoa butter (cacao fat).

What is the number one brownie mix? ›

Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix

Even if you are in the market for a solid block of fudgy goodness, this is more than enjoyable. And it's definitely the best brownie mix brand if you love a cakey brownie.

What happens when you bake with too much egg? ›

Eggs also contain a variety of proteins that create the structure of a cake, and when beaten, they can act as a leavening agent by adding air to the cake batter. However, if you add too many eggs to your cake batter, then your end result could be spongy, rubbery, or dense.

What happens if you add too much egg? ›

If there isn't enough egg, your batter or dough may not be able to hold its structure or could end up overly dry or dense. On the other hand, if there is too much egg, your baked goods could lose their shape due to excess liquid, or have a rubbery (or even overly cakey) texture depending on the recipe.

What happens if you use too much eggs? ›

Side Effects of Eggs:

Daily consumption of eggs can result in an increase in good cholesterol as well as bad cholesterol, which can predispose an individual towards the risk of cardiac disorders. Consuming eggs in excess can result in weight gain due to the high amount of saturated fats.

What to do if you added too many eggs? ›

If the batter is runny enough to drip from the bowl without a spatula, you'll know you've added too much. To fix this, Delishably instructs adding 1 tablespoon of flour at a time until it thickens up. The ideal consistency will depend on what you're baking.

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