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Easy Chocolate Brownies

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This super simple chocolate brownie recipe is rich and chocolatey with a perfect flaky crust and they whip up in no time. Made from scratch with cocoa, this quick recipe will become a favorite!

stack of homemade dark chocolate brownies on a red plate

Small Batch Brownies

You ever get in the mood where you feel like going to the gym but you don’t feel like going? Yea, I’m in that mood tonight.

Instead, I’m making brownies. I’m always in the mood for brownies.

I love that these Simple Dark Chocolate Brownies mix up in about 5 minutes (not even kidding) and they make the perfect small batch. Just 9 brownies so I’m not tempted with a family size pan.

They went a bit viral on Instagram, see them up close and personal here.

I love this brownie recipe so much that I use it as the base in my popular Halloween Swirl Brownies.

sliced chocolate brownies on tin foil

Ingredients

Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card.

  • Sugar – The base of these brownies is granulated sugar.
  • Flour – All purpose flour. I haven’t tested with others.
  • Cocoa powder – I like to use Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder, but you can use your favorite unsweetened brand.
  • Salt – Salt provides balance to the sweet and enhances the chocolate flavor.
  • Baking powder – A leavening agent, baking powder helps give rise to the brownies.
  • Chocolate chips – I suppose chocolate chips are optional, but I find them mandatory. I like to use Ghirardelli baking chips, which are larger than standard chocolate chips.
  • Eggs – Two large eggs, preferably at room temperature.
  • Vegetable oil – Oil gives the brownies a moist, tender texture, and helps them rise.
  • Vanilla extract – I know that vanilla extract has went up in price (there is a vanilla bean shortage), but please please use vanilla extract and not imitation vanilla. I like to buy it at Sam’s or Costco, which makes it slightly more affordable. Without it, your brownies will be bland – it really helps enhance the chocolate flavor.

How to make basic Chocolate Brownies

Making brownies from scratch is super easy. Dangerously easy, you might even say.

First, combine sugar, flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder, and chocolate chips in a bowl. Be sure that the chocolate chips get coated with the mix.

bowl of cocoa powder, flour, and chocolate chips

Next, in a measuring cup, combine eggs, vanilla and oil. Mix up wet ingredients with a fork.

measuring cup with oil, vanilla extract, and egg

Then, pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

brownie batter in a baking dish

Finally, spread the brownie batter into a greased 8×8 square pan. You can line the pan with parchment paper or foil for easy removal.

Bake at 350° F for 25-30 minutes. The top should be crackly and a toothpick inserted into the center should come out cleanly.

stack of three brownies on a red plate

Equipment you’ll need

  • 8×8 Baking Dish – This is a small batch of brownies. If you need a family size, I’ve got you covered with my Better Than Box Mix Brownies.
  • Mixing bowl – You only need one for this recipe. I love this set.
  • Measuring cup – I like to mix the wet ingredients right in a measuring cup – that way you only dirty one mixing bowl. Two birds, one stone.
Super simple homemade brownie recipe that makes rich, chocolatey brownies with a perfect flaky crust | Persnickety Plates

FAQs

How to store them

Leftovers should be stored covered at room temperature for up to a week.

Can I freeze them

Yes, brownies freeze well (though this small batch never has leftovers for me). Wrap them in parchment paper, drop them into a freezer bag, and store in the freezer.

How to keep the chocolate chips from sinking

Have you ever made cake or brownies and had all your chocolate chips sink to the bottom? If you have, I have a solution for you.

Toss the chocolate chips in the dry ingredient mixture so they’re fully coated.

That’s it. It helps suspend the chocolate chips in the batter. (p.s. it also works with berries (like in my blueberry muffins), nuts, fruits, etc.)

More brownie recipes you might like:

Click here to view my entire collection of bars and brownie recipes.


If you MAKE & LOVE this recipe, share it on Instagram and tag me @melissa_pplates and/or #persnicketyplates so I can see it. I LOVE seeing what you make & I’ll share it in my stories!

It is VERY HELPFUL to me and other readers if you leave a review after you make my recipe. Please come back & let me know how it turned out!

Super simple homemade brownie recipe that makes rich, chocolatey brownies with a perfect flaky crust | Persnickety Plates

Easy Chocolate Brownies

Melissa Williams | Persnickety Plates
This super simple chocolate brownie recipe is rich and chocolatey with a perfect flaky crust and they whip up in no time. Made from scratch with cocoa, this quick recipe will become a favorite!
4.82 from 32 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9 brownies
Calories 289 kcal

Ingredients
 

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350° F and line an 8 x 8 baking dish with parchment paper and lightly spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, add the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, and chocolate chips and stir together. Be sure that the chocolate chips get coated with the mix.
    1 cup granulated white sugar, ½ cup all purpose flour, ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, ½ cup chocolate chips
  • In a measuring cup (or a small bowl), add the eggs, oil, and vanilla. Mix with a fork until well combined.
    2 large eggs, ⅓ cup vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula until just combined.
  • Pour into the prepared baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Let cool then slice.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to a week. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 289kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 3gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 151mgPotassium: 81mgFiber: 2gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 75IUCalcium: 26mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Tried this recipe? Tag me!Mention @melissa_pplates or tag #persnicketyplates!

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Originally published October 18, 2012



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  1. Cindy says

    5 stars
    These brownies are so delicious and perfectly gooey. The family loved them! I will definitely make them again!

  2. LuckiiStarz says

    5 stars
    This recipe is very moist and perfect. This may sound like a fake comment but it isn’t trust me.

  3. Stella says

    4 stars
    Great tasting brownies

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