Rich dark chocolate (served up 2 ways!) forms the basis for an exceptional chewy cake brownie. Made from scratch, you can banish the box mix from your kitchen!
Why this recipe works
- These chewy brownies have a tall cake-like texture
- An easy mix-and-bake recipe comes together quickly
- You can choose to use dark, semi-sweet, or milk chocolate in the batter
A great brownie recipe is like the little black dress of the culinary world. It can be embellished with extras, like in Whiskey Marshmallow Topped Brownies or Triple Chocolate Brownies.
Or it can be left plain in order to just savor the rich chocolate flavor, like with these Rich & Chewy Cake Brownies.
And when you make a homemade brownie recipe, you definitely don't need a box mix. Honest!
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What you need
The ingredients for a brownie recipe are simple and straightforward: flour, sugar (granulated and brown), eggs, vanilla, butter, baking powder, and salt.
Dark chocolate and dark chocolate cocoa power give these brownies a deep rich chocolate flavor, or use semisweet or milk chocolate and regular unsweetened cocoa powder if you prefer. Also, adding espresso powder to the brownie batter helps deepen the chocolate flavor. It’s optional, but highly recommended.
Chocolate chips add a burst of chocolatey goodness, which is why I like to add them to the batter.
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How to make brownies from scratch
Making brownies from scratch is similar to one-bowl quick bread recipes where you mix the dry ingredients, mix the wet ingredients, then fold everything together.
Maybe the hardest part of the whole process is melting butter and chocolate together, and that can be done in a couple of minutes in the microwave.
Step 1: Mix the dry ingredients
In a small mixing bowl, sift the flour and cocoa powder together (I like this sifter), then stir in the espresso powder (if using), salt, and baking powder (photo 1).
Step 2: Make the chocolate base
Combine the dark chocolate and butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and melt on HIGH heat in 30 second bursts, stirring after each interval until smooth, about 1½ to 2 minutes (photo 2). Alternatively, you can melt the dark chocolate and butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth.
Allow the chocolate mixture to cool for 5 minutes. Whisk in the sugar and brown sugar, then the eggs (one at a time), and finally the vanilla (photo 3).
Step 3: Mix the brownie batter
Fold in the flour mixture just until combined. Don't over-mix the batter so that the brownies stay tender. Gently fold in the chocolate chips (photo 4).
Step 4: Bake the brownies
Pour the batter into an 8- x 8-inch baking pan that's been sprayed with baking spray and lined with parchment paper, and smooth the top with a small offset spatula.
Bake the brownies at 350˚F for 28 to 30 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (or maybe with just a few crumbs attached). Once done, remove the brownies from the oven and cool them completely in the pan on a wire rack (photo 5).
Using an 8- x 8-inch baking pan will give you thicker brownies, and ensure that cake-like texture. If you want your brownies thinner, use a 9- x 9-inch baking pan and reduce the baking time by about 5 minutes.
Step 4: Cut the brownies
Carefully lift the parchment to remove the brownie slab from the pan and place it on a cutting board. Cut it into 2-inch squares with a sharp knife, wiping off the knife between cuts (photo 6).
Questions asked and answered
Here are some questions you might have...
That's a matter of personal preference, and "should" doesn't really come into play. Just remember that cake brownies tend to be less dense than their fudgy counterparts.
Generally speaking, you can use either, especially for denser, fudge brownies. However, if you want a lighter, more cake-like brownie then butter is better. The water in butter evaporates while the brownies bake, helping the baking powder to lift the batter.
This will depend on the type of brownies. Cake brownies are done when you can poke a cake tester or toothpick in the center and there's little to no crumbs attached. Fudge brownies are too dense for this test, so it's better to rely on the recommended baking time to know when they're done.
Pro Tip: Cake brownies vs. fudge brownies
You might be wondering what makes this is a chewy cake brownie recipe? And how do they compare against a fudgy brownie recipe? In a word, baking powder. (Ok, that's two words. Work with me here!)
The lift that baking powder provides keeps the brownies from having a dense texture (like, say, flourless chocolate cake), and gives you a cake-like texture. Oh, and this is a brownie recipe with cocoa powder which dries out the batter a little bit. And it has an extra egg for more body.
All right, maybe the difference is more than just baking powder.
Brownie goodness is at hand
These cake brownies have deep chocolate flavor, and are not as heavy as fudge brownies. They're thick and rich, perfect to satisfy a chocolate craving.
If you're looking for an easy fudge brownie recipe from scratch, try my Dark Chocolate Bourbon Brownies. Keep that boozy kick and make it with the bourbon. Or, replace the bourbon with 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Either way you'll get an amazing fudgy brownie to sink your teeth into.
Homemade brownies are best the day they're made, especially with a glass of milk (or your favorite dairy alternative). They also freeze well for later snacking if you tightly wrap them and use an airtight bag or container.
I hereby give you leave to banish the box mix forever! Instead, bake a batch of rich and chewy cake brownies from scratch today. You'll be glad you did!
Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!
Tammy
Related Recipes
If you love brownies, you'll love these ideas using brownie recipes!
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Recipe
Rich & Chewy Cake Brownies from Scratch
Equipment
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons dark chocolate cocoa powder, see Recipe Notes
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder, optional, See Recipe Notes
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 4 ounces dark chocolate, chopped (⅔ cup), see Recipe Notes
- ½ cup unsalted butter, cubed
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Spray an 8- x 8-inch baking pan with baking spray and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang. Set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, sift the flour and cocoa powder together, then stir in the espresso powder (if using), salt, and baking powder.
- Combine the dark chocolate and butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and melt on HIGH heat in 30 second bursts, stirring after each interval until smooth, about 1½ to 2 minutes. Alternatively, melt the dark chocolate and butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth.
- Allow the chocolate mixture to cool for 5 minutes. Whisk in the sugar and brown sugar, then the eggs (one at a time), and finally the vanilla.
- Fold in the flour mixture just until combined. Don't over-mix the batter so that the brownies stay tender. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, and smooth the top with a small offset spatula.
- Bake the brownies for 28 to 30 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (or maybe with just a few crumbs attached). Once done, remove the brownies from the oven and cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Carefully lift the parchment to remove the brownie slab from the pan and place it on a cutting board. Cut it into 2-inch squares with a sharp knife, wiping off the knife between cuts.
- Serve with a large glass of milk (or your favorite non-dairy alternative) and enjoy!
- Homemade brownies are best the day they're made, especially with a glass of milk (or your favorite dairy alternative). They also freeze well for later snacking if you tightly wrap them and use an airtight bag or container.
