OH MY YUM! Classic Chocolate Brownies from Scratch Recipe for the win! There truly is nothing better than a piece of warm chocolate brownie! Add vanilla bean ice cream, and I might shed a happy tear!
Classic Chocolate Brownies from Scratch Recipe
You can't go wrong with a plate of classic chocolate brownies made from scratch! These are pure chocolate goodness!
I love that you can add toppings or just stick to the classic chocolate taste
When it comes to brownies, do you like a centerpiece or a crusty edge piece? I am all in for the crusty, chewy edge piece whenever possible. The crackly crust and chocolate flavor is just yum!
My husband bought me a Brownie Pan a few years ago that turns the entire pan into edge pieces, and I might have swooned.
While I love boxed brownie mixes and being able to make the perfect brownie recipe adaptions it is fun to be able to make scratch brownies.
Ingredients
Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients needed to make epic Classic Chocolate Brownies from Scratch! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.
- Softened Butter
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Vegetable Oil
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla Extract
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Salt
Optional Toppings: Powdered Sugar, Milk Chocolate Chips, Powdered Sugar + Milk Glaze, Chocolate Syrup, Caramel, Butterscotch Chips, walnuts, pecans, chocolate chunks
Equipment Needed
- Hand Mixer/ electric mixer / wooden spoon
- 8x8 Baking Pan
- Parchment Paper
Preparation and Storage
Make Ahead: For a make-ahead version, Bob’s Red Mill recommends refrigerating any brownie batter you don’t plan to use immediately in an airtight container up to the day before you bake your brownies. Do not keep brownie batter at room temperature for over two hours, as it contains eggs.
Storage: According to C&H Sugar, you can keep leftover brownies with no perishable ingredients, such as cream cheese, at room temperature for three to four days. They can remain in the fridge for five days.
Freezing/How to Freeze: For grab-and-go homemade brownies, you can freeze leftovers by wrapping individual brownies in a layer of plastic and foil and transferring them to a large, freezer-safe Ziploc bag. You can also wrap the pan in plastic and foil and freeze the entire block. Enjoy leftovers within three months.
How to Reheat: You can reheat brownies using your microwave or oven, depending on how many you need to prepare.
Recipe Variations + Tips for the Best Classic Chocolate Brownies from Scratch
Substitutions: You can replace the white sugar with brown sugar, which contains molasses, at a 1:1 ratio if you want your brownies to have a slight caramel flavor.
Vegetarian Option: This dessert recipe is 100 percent vegetarian!
Vegan Option: To make this brownie recipe vegan, vegans should replace the butter and eggs with plant-based substitutes.
Gluten-Free: Swap the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour to make it safe for a gluten-free diet.
Alcohol-Free Option: This recipe is for classic chocolate brownies. Check out our Bourbon Cherry Brownie recipe for a boozy take on traditional brownies.
Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: The written recipe makes 16 servings and scales readily to your desired yield.
Make It Spicy: Add a few dashes of ground cayenne and cinnamon powder to make spicy-sweet Mexican Chocolate Brownies.
Sugar-Free: The written recipe contains 13 grams of sugar per serving. Replace the white sugar with a sugar-free alternative to make it sugar-free.
Recipe Tips
- We like to cut fudgy brownies with a plastic knife.
What to Serve with the best brownies
In our home, there’s never a wrong time for a brownie that oozes chocolatey delight in every bite, and they are an easy dessert to make for a large group! Here are some pairing suggestions to inspire your menu planning.
Sides: Broccoli Casserole, Apple Stuffing, Carrot Soufflé, BLT Pasta Salad, Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon, Air Fryer Baked Potato, Jiffy Cornbread with Sour Cream, Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams, Southern Style Green Beans, CrockPot Bourbon Baked Beans
Main Dishes: Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheddar Chicken, Stovetop Meatloaf, Chicken Casserole with Ritz Crackers, CrockPot Rosemary Pork, Cracker Barrel Chicken & Dumplings, CrockPot Macaroni & Cheese with Ham, CrockPot Salisbury Steak, CrockPot Ham & Cheese Grits
Desserts: Ooey-Gooey Butter Cake, Lemon Bars, Lemon Icebox Pie, Best Rice Krispie Treats, Bisquick Blueberry Cobbler, Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding, Bisquick Apple Cobbler, Bisquick Peach Cobbler, Molasses Cookies, Banana Bread, Buckeye Bars, Cherry Bars
Drinks: Coke Slushie, Red Robin Freckled Lemonade, Copycat McDonald's Sweet Tea
When to Serve
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Snack time
- Potlucks
- Cookouts
- Christmas
- Comfort food
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Classic Scratch Made Chocolate Brownie Recipe
Ingredients
- ⅓ Cup Butter softened
- ⅓ Cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
- 1 Cup White Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ¾ Cup All Purpose Flour
- ½ Teaspoon Baking Powder
- ¼ Teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the sugar. Add in the cocoa, vanilla, vegetable oil, and eggs and mix well. Stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt last. Mix until well combined and so no lumps remain.
- Spread the batter into a greased 8x8 baking dish. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the brownies comes out clean. Let the brownies cool before cutting.
- Optional topping for brownies include: powdered sugar, chocolate chips, powdered sugar + milk glaze, chocolate syrup, caramel, and butterscotch chips.
Kitchen Tools
- Hand Mixer
- 8X8 Pan
- Parchment Paper
Nutrition
Recipe originally shared on May 8, 2015. Updated December 2020
Jennifer
I can't wait to try this! Believe it or not, I've only ever made brownies out of a box.
Andrew
Great recipe! These look very moist! #yum!
valmg
I love really moist and soft brownies. My MOm would love it with the powdered sugar on top.
Cathi
Oh my goodness! I'm seriously going to have to make these brownies for my chocolate loving husband. Tonight! Happy chocolate brownie Father's Day to my man!!
Scott
Mom used to make them from scratch, but sadly my best have come from a box. Have to give homemade another try.
Josie - Eat Thrive Glow
This brownie looks delicious and decadent! Now I'm craving chocolate!
Anne
These look delicious. I usually use a boxed mix for brownies, but I should try to make them from scratch.