The short answer: for this one-bowl brownie recipe, whisk ½ cup melted butter with 1 cup sugar, beat in 2 eggs and vanilla, then fold in ½ cup cocoa, ½ cup flour, salt and a little baking powder. Bake in a lined 8-inch pan at 350°F for 22 to 27 minutes, until a toothpick shows moist crumbs.
- Key numbers: 350°F · 8-inch square pan · 22 to 27 minutes · cool 1 hour · 16 squares · about $0.17 a brownie
- Top moves: melt the butter, beat the eggs hard for a shiny top, and pull them a little early
- Free and paid next step: get the free recipe book starter pages (we email it to you), or plan baking day with the Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99).
Our picks for brownie recipe
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Meal Planner & Grocery List
Weekly meals, a grocery list sorted by aisle, and pantry and freezer inventories so you shop once and waste less.
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Family Recipe Binder
Section dividers, four recipe page layouts with room for the family story, 4x6 and 3x5 cards and a conversion chart - print it or type into the fillable version.
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Times, safety notes and prices in this brownie recipe were checked November 4, 2026. The sections below cover ingredients, the method, pan sizes, fudgy vs cakey, add-ins, cost and storage. For a creamy cocoa custard dessert rather than a baked bar, make our chocolate pie recipe.
Brownie ingredients (8-inch pan, 16 squares)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Butter | ½ cup (1 stick), melted | Salted or unsalted |
| Granulated sugar | 1 cup | |
| Eggs | 2 large | Room temperature mixes best |
| Vanilla extract | 1 teaspoon | |
| Unsweetened cocoa powder | ½ cup | Natural or Dutch-process |
| All-purpose flour | ½ cup | Spoon and level |
| Salt | ¼ teaspoon | Skip if using salted butter |
| Baking powder | ¼ teaspoon | |
| Chocolate chips | ½ cup | Optional |
How to make brownies
- Prep the pan. Heat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment, leaving overhang to lift them out.
- Melt and mix. Melt the butter and whisk in the sugar while it's warm.
- Beat in the eggs. Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk hard for about 1 minute, until glossy. This builds the crackly top.
- Add the dry ingredients. Sift or whisk in the cocoa, flour, salt and baking powder. Stir just until no streaks remain. Fold in chips if using.
- Bake. Spread the batter evenly and bake 22 to 27 minutes. Start checking at 20.
- Test. A toothpick 1 inch from the edge should come out with moist crumbs. The center finishes setting as it cools.
- Cool, then cut. Let them cool at least 1 hour. For clean squares, chill 30 minutes and use a hot, dry knife.
Don't taste the batter. FDA's flour safety guide warns that raw flour and raw eggs can carry bacteria.
Brownie pan size and time chart at 350°F
| Pan | Batch | Time | Pieces |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 by 8 inch | 1 batch | 22 to 27 minutes | 16 |
| 9 by 9 inch | 1 batch | 20 to 24 minutes | 16, thinner |
| 9 by 13 inch | 2 batches | 28 to 33 minutes | 24 |
| Mini muffin tin | 1 batch | 12 to 15 minutes | 24 bites |
| Glass pan | Any | Add 3 to 5 minutes, at 325°F | Same |
Fudgy vs cakey brownies
| Style | What to change |
|---|---|
| Extra fudgy | Use ⅓ cup flour and add ½ cup chocolate chips |
| Classic chewy | Follow the recipe as written |
| Cakey | Use ¾ cup flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and cream the softened butter and sugar instead of melting |
6 brownie add-ins and toppings
- Walnuts or pecans: ½ cup, toasted.
- Peanut butter swirl: drop 3 tablespoons warm peanut butter on top and swirl with a knife.
- Peppermint: add ½ teaspoon peppermint extract and top with crushed candy canes for the holidays.
- Espresso: stir 1 teaspoon instant espresso into the melted butter to deepen the chocolate.
- Salted caramel: drizzle caramel over the cooled pan and finish with flaky salt.
- Brownie sundae: serve warm with ice cream.
Brownies travel well for parties and cookie boxes. See our Christmas desserts, Thanksgiving desserts, best desserts and Christmas baking list. For cookies, try our chocolate chip cookies. For more beginner sweets with short ingredient lists, browse easy dessert recipes.
What homemade brownies cost
On November 4, 2026, Walmart listed Great Value butter at $2.96 a pound, a 4-pound bag of sugar at $2.97, a dozen eggs at $1.67, an 8-ounce tin of cocoa at $4.73, a 5-pound bag of flour at $1.97 and 2 ounces of pure vanilla at $5.12. Using those prices, one pan costs about $2.71, or $0.17 a brownie for 16. The optional chips aren't included. Cocoa and vanilla are the biggest costs, at about $0.88 and $0.43 a batch.
Those store prices beat the September 2026 U.S. averages in BLS data of $3.96 a pound for butter and $2.27 a dozen for eggs. Track baking staples in a grocery price book, and see how to grocery shop on a budget for buying them on sale.
Storing brownies
Keep brownies covered at room temperature for 3 to 4 days, or refrigerate them up to a week. To freeze, wrap the uncut slab or single squares in plastic and foil for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter for about an hour.
Craving something sweet but lighter? Our healthy dessert recipes list 20 treats under 280 calories.
Plan baking day and save the recipe
- Meal Planner & Grocery List, $3.99. A weekly menu grid and an aisle-sorted grocery list.
- Family Recipe Binder, $6.99. Fillable recipe pages and cards for your family brownie recipe.
- Family Life Admin Bundle, $15.99 (
$23.95bought separately). Includes both printables above plus three more family organizers.
For a no-bake treat, use edible cookie dough made with heat-treated flour and no raw eggs; ordinary cookie dough is not a ready-to-eat substitute.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest brownie recipe from scratch? Melt ½ cup butter, stir in 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla, then add ½ cup cocoa, ½ cup flour, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon baking powder. Bake in an 8-inch pan at 350°F for 22 to 27 minutes.
How do you make brownies fudgy instead of cakey? Use more fat and chocolate than flour, melt the butter, don't beat in extra air, and pull them while a toothpick still shows moist crumbs. Cakey brownies use more flour, more leavening and creamed butter.
How do you know when brownies are done? The edges look set and pull away slightly from the pan, the center no longer jiggles, and a toothpick 1 inch from the edge comes out with moist crumbs, not wet batter.
Why did my brownies come out dry? They were most likely overbaked or had too much flour. Measure flour by spooning it into the cup and leveling it, and check them 3 to 5 minutes before the time ends.
How do you get a shiny crackly top on brownies? Whisk the sugar into warm melted butter, then beat the eggs in hard for about 1 minute. Dissolving the sugar this way helps form the thin, glossy crust.
Can you eat raw brownie batter? You shouldn't eat raw brownie batter. FDA warns that raw flour and raw eggs can carry harmful bacteria, so don't taste raw batter. Bake it fully first.
How long do brownies last? Covered at room temperature, brownies stay fresh about 3 to 4 days. Wrapped well, they freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw them on the counter.
How do I plan holiday baking without overspending? The Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) from HomeBase Paper Co. has a weekly menu grid and an aisle-sorted grocery list, so you buy cocoa, butter and eggs once for every recipe.
Where can I keep my family brownie recipe? The Family Recipe Binder ($6.99) from HomeBase Paper Co. has fillable recipe pages, dividers and recipe cards, so your brownie tweaks and pan times stay written down.
Does HomeBase Paper Co. sell the meal planner and recipe binder as a set? The Family Life Admin Bundle ($15.99, $23.95 bought separately) from HomeBase Paper Co. sells the meal planner and the recipe binder as a set, plus three more household printables.
Sources
- FDA: Handling flour safely fda.gov
- BLS: Average price, butter, salted, per lb data.bls.gov
- BLS: Average price, eggs, grade A large, per dozen data.bls.gov