Brownies

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If you love chewy brownies, you’ll love this recipe! A combination of butter and oil gives these Brownies that chewiness you expect from a boxed mix, but made from scratch.

Brownie squares on a yellow circle plate.


 

Recipe ingredients

Brownie ingredients arranged in individual bowls and labeled.

Ingredient notes

  • Water: The easiest way to measure boiling water is to bring a full kettle to boil, then measure out the amount you need.
  • Instant espresso powder: Sold in small jars, this instant coffee substitute boosts chocolate flavor in a big way.
  • Oil and butter: The trick to a chewy brownie is to keep the saturated fat (butter) low, but to raise the unsaturated fat (oil, eggs). We still want a little butter for flavor, but oil in the brownie batter is a one-way ticket to Chewy Town.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Move the oven rack to the lowest position, preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and prepare a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan with a foil sling. Before you pour in the batter, butter or grease the bottom and sides of the pan.
A foil sling (foil lining a baking pan).
  1. To start, grab a large mixing bowl and add the cocoa powder and the espresso powder. Then pour in the boiling water and whisk until smooth. Next, whisk in the unsweetened chocolate until it melts smoothly into the cocoa/water. Then add the oil and the melted butter and whisk again. At this point it will look curdled.
Brownie batter in a bowl.
  1. After that, add the eggs, the extra yolks, and vanilla and whisk again until combined. Then whisk in the sugar, then the flour and salt. Once that’s all mixed in, fold in the chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.
Brownie batter in a bowl with chocolate chips on top.
  1. Spread the batter (it will be thick) into the bottom of the prepared baking pan and smooth the top a bit.
Brownie batter in a pan.
  1. Bake the brownies at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes, rotating halfway through the baking. Bake just until a toothpick inserted into the center of the pan comes out clean, with a few crumbs attached.
Baked brownies in a pan.
  1. This is important! Once the brownies are finished baking, move the pan, with the brownies still inside it, to a wire rack and let them cool for 1 ½ hours (yes, really!) before lifting them out of the pan using the foil sling. Then let them cool another hour (this will be hard, but do it!) before cutting into squares.
Brownie squares on a yellow circle plate.

Recipe tips and variations

  • Foil sling: Cut two long lengths of foil that match the two sides of the baking pan: 9 inches and 13 inches. Next, place the sheets in the pan overlapping and perpendicular to each other, like a T, letting the extra foil come up over the edges. Press the foil into the corners of the pan, and smooth out the bottom. Then you can grease the foil with nonstick spray. Press the extra foil against the outside of the pan, but don’t trim it off. That’s what you’ll use to gently lift out the brownies once they’re completely cool.
  • Glass pan: If using a glass baking pan, cool the brownies in the pan 10 minutes, but then lift out using the foil sling (the glass pan may continue cooking the brownies when they are out of the oven).
  • Under-baking: It’s better to take the brownies out a little too early rather than a little late. This keeps them moist.
  • Cool completely: COMPLETELY. You need to wait if you want them to be truly chewy.
  • Storage: Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
  • Freezing: Slice into squares and wrap in foil before freezing. Thaw at room temperature.
  • Walnuts: Love nuts? Add 3 ounces toasted walnuts in place of half the chocolate chips in Step 3.

More bars to bake

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Brownie squares on a yellow circle plate.

Brownies

If you love chewy brownies, you'll love this recipe! A combination of butter and oil gives these brownies that chewiness you expect from a boxed mix, but made from scratch.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 24 brownies
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Calories 217
5 from 9 votes

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Adjust the oven rack to the lowest position and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make a foil sling for a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan. The first sheet should be 13 inches wide and the second sheets should be 9 inches wide. Lay sheets of foil in pan perpendicular to each other with extra foil hanging over the edges of the pan. Push foil into corners and up the sides of the pan, smooth foil flush to pan. Coat foil with nonstick spray.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together boiling water, cocoa powder, and espresso powder (if using). Whisk in unsweetened chocolate until smooth. Whisk in oil and melted butter (mixture may look curdled).
  • Add eggs, yolks, and vanilla and whisk until smooth and evenly combined. Whisk in sugar, then whisk in flour and salt until smooth. Stir batter with a rubber spatula (scraping the bottom of the bowl), then fold in bittersweet chocolate.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan and spread into corners, smoothing the top. Bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean with a few crumbs attached, about 30 to 35 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking time.
  • Transfer baking pan to a wire rack and cool brownies for 1 ½ hours. Using foil overhang, lift brownies out of the pan. Return brownies to wire rack and cool completely, about 1 hour longer. Cut brownies into 2-inch squares.

Notes

  1. Water: The easiest way to measure boiling water is to bring a full kettle to boil, then measure out the amount you need.
  2. Instant espresso powder: Sold in small jars, this instant coffee substitute boosts chocolate flavor in a big way.
  3. Oil and butter: The trick to a chewy brownie is to keep the saturated fat (butter) low, but to raise the unsaturated fat (oil, eggs). We still want a little butter for flavor, but oil in the brownie batter is a one-way ticket to Chewy Town.
  4. Foil sling: Cut two long lengths of foil that match the two sides of the baking pan: 9 inches and 13 inches. Next, place the sheets in the pan overlapping and perpendicular to each other, like a T, letting the extra foil come up over the edges. Press the foil into the corners of the pan, and smooth out the bottom. Then you can grease the foil with nonstick spray. Press the extra foil against the outside of the pan, but don’t trim it off. That’s what you’ll use to gently lift out the brownies once they’re completely cool.
  5. Glass pan: If using a glass baking pan, cool the brownies in the pan 10 minutes, but then lift out using the foil sling (the glass pan may continue cooking the brownies when they are out of the oven).
  6. Under-baking: It’s better to take the brownies out a little too early rather than a little late. This keeps them moist.
  7. Cool completely: COMPLETELY. You need to wait if you want them to be truly chewy.
  8. Storage: Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
  9. Freezing: Slice into squares and wrap in foil before freezing. Thaw at room temperature.
  10. Walnuts: Love nuts? Add 3 ounces toasted walnuts in place of half the chocolate chips in Step 3.

Nutrition

Serving: 1brownie (2″ x 2″)Calories: 217kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 3gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 83mgPotassium: 99mgFiber: 2gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 30IUCalcium: 15mgIron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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