This Easy Chocolate Brownie Recipe makes moist, chocolaty brownies from scratch in one saucepan, and it can be the base for many different flavors. Brownies are such a treat, and there are so many ways to change them up. The possibilities are endless.
I always like to bring something to parties, and when the kids are home they like a treat now and then too. Plus I make so many cupcakes that they like it when I do something different.
Do you make brownies from a box or from scratch? I enjoy baking from scratch, and I suggest you try these at least once. They come together in one pot with chocolate chips you probably already have.
Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 18 to 22 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: about 32 minutes, plus cooling
- 🍽️ Servings: 16 brownies
- ⚡ Calories: 303kcal per brownie
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Rich, fudgy chocolate with pockets of melty chips and crunchy nuts
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, one saucepan
Quick Answer
Melt 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips with a stick of butter over low heat, then stir in 3 eggs, 1 1/4 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. Fold in the remaining chips and chopped nuts, spread in a greased 13 x 9 pan, and bake at 350°F for 18 to 22 minutes, until a toothpick in the center comes out slightly sticky. Cool completely before cutting.
Jump to:
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Melted chocolate chips and butter. Melted fat and chocolate are what make brownies fudgy and dense instead of cakey.
- Low heat. Melting slowly keeps the chocolate from scorching or seizing.
- Chips two ways. Half melt into the batter for chocolate flavor; half stay whole for melty pockets.
- Just a little baking soda. A quarter teaspoon gives a slight lift without turning them into cake.
- One saucepan. Everything mixes in the same pot, so it is quick with fewer dishes.
- Pulling them while slightly sticky. The center keeps cooking as the brownies cool, so they stay moist.
- Cooling completely before cutting. The brownies firm up and cut into clean bars.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- From scratch, but easy. One saucepan and about 10 minutes of prep.
- Pantry ingredients. Chocolate chips, butter, eggs, flour and sugar.
- Moist and chocolaty with melty chips in every bite.
- The perfect base for nuts, chips, swirls or frosting.
- Great for sharing. One pan makes 16 brownies for a party, bake sale or after school treat.
- A brownie family: see all my brownie recipes.
Key Ingredients
Simple pantry staples. Quantities are in the recipe card below.
- Semisweet chocolate chips. Divided: half melted into the batter, half stirred in whole.
- Butter. One stick, melted with the chips.
- Eggs. Three large eggs bind the batter and add richness.
- Granulated sugar. Sweetness and that shiny brownie top.
- All purpose flour and baking soda. Just enough structure and lift.
- Vanilla extract. Rounds out the chocolate flavor.
- Chopped nuts. Walnuts or pecans add crunch; leave them out if you prefer.
See the recipe card below for exact quantities and full instructions.
Variations & Substitutions
- Mix ins: different nuts, milk chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips or white chocolate chips, or a combination.
- Cheesecake brownies: try my quick freezer mint cheesecake brownies, pumpkin M&M cheesecake brownies, red velvet cheesecake brownies or strawberry cheesecake brownies.
- Cookies and cream: my cookies and cream brownies are a family favorite.
- Gluten free: try my gluten free s’mores brownie pie.
- Box mix shortcut: in a hurry? Add any of these mix ins to your favorite box mix.
- Bite sized: bake them in a mold like my mini brownie bites.
How to Make Easy Chocolate Brownies
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 13 x 9 inch baking pan.
- Melt 1 cup of the chocolate chips with the butter in a large, heavy duty saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from the heat.
- Stir in the eggs.
- Stir in the flour, sugar, vanilla extract and baking soda.
- Stir in the remaining chocolate chips and the nuts, then spread the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out slightly sticky.
- Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then cut into bars.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Let the chocolate cool a minute before adding the eggs, and stir quickly so they mix in smoothly.
- Don’t over bake. A slightly sticky toothpick means fudgy brownies.
- Cool completely before cutting for clean edges.
- Love the edges? This Brownie pan gives every brownie its own end piece on all four sides.
- Wipe the knife between cuts for bakery neat squares.
- Storage: keep them covered at room temperature for a few days.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
Top them with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream, or drizzle with chocolate ganache. For more ideas, browse my ice cream desserts and delicious dessert recipes.
Bringing them to a party? Add dark chocolate peanut butter cupcakes or Christmas crack to the dessert table. Find more favorites in my desserts, pumpkin recipes and scone recipes.
Easy Chocolate Brownie FAQs
Insert a wooden pick in the center. It should come out slightly sticky with a few moist crumbs. Clean means they are probably over baked.
Yes. Leave them out or replace them with more chocolate chips, butterscotch chips or peanut butter chips.
Yes. If you are in a hurry, use a box mix and stir in any of the mix ins. I still suggest trying these from scratch at least once.
Usually they baked too long or the batter was over mixed. Pull them when the center is still slightly sticky.
A 13 x 9 inch pan. A brownie pan with dividers also works and gives every piece an edge.
Warm with a scoop of ice cream, topped with whipped cream, or plain on a party platter.
Easy Chocolate Brownie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips divided 12 oz
- 1 stick Butter
- 3 large Eggs
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/4 cup All purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease 13 X 9 inch baking pan.
- Melt 1 Cup morsels and butter in large, heavy duty saucepan over low heat, stir until smooth. Remove from heat. stir in eggs. Stir in flour, sugar, vanilla extract and baking soda. Stir in remaining morsels and nuts. Spread into prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out slightly sticky. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.
Notes
- different nuts
- milk chocolate chips
- Quick Freezer mint Cheesecake Brownies
- pumpkin M & M Cheesecake Brownies
- Red velvet Cheesecake Brownies
- chipotle cinnamon brownies
- butterscotch chips
- Cookies and Cream Brownies
- peanut butter chips
- white chocolate chips
- or a combination of any of these ingredients.
ssamantha9498 says
Cute blog and these look so good!!
candielm says
Thank you for stopping by. Have a great weekend.
bethelderton says
Yummmm! These are baking now! Can't wait to taste them.
candielm says
I hope you enjoy them and maybe added some extra treats to them.
bethelderton says
These are delicious! I added a bit of orange dark chocolate (I had a half bar in the pantry) and it is soooo good! This is now my go to recipe for easy brownies.
candielm says
Oh that sounds great, I have added some wild orange olive oil into it and its great.
Cassie says
Those look yummy!
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candielm says
Thanks Cassie for stopping by my blog. Have a great weekend.
heatherlm4 says
I love brownies and there is no reason to make them from a box when there are so many ways to make them from scratch so easy. Great flavors.
candielm says
Thanks Heather, I agree, there are so many ways to make them. why not?
Christina says
Everyone needs a good brownie recipe. This looks like just the ticket! Thanks for sharing!
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candielm says
Thanks Christina, thanks for also stopping by. Hope you have a great weekend.
Tshanina says
These look yummy! Thanks for sharing!
candielm says
They are really good, just enough chocolate to get you going.
Jill @ E.H.M. says
Yummy! Nothing beats a great brownie.
candielm says
I love brownies and it doesn't matter what kind. They are all good.
homeparty2 says
Looks easy and yummy! Thanks for sharing at the Bloggers Brag Pinterest Party.
KRystal says
These look really good! THanks for sharing, anything "easy" is for me!
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Terri Steffes says
Nothing like brownies to make a statement. My mom says a cook can be defined by how good their brownies are! Thank you for sharing!
Mandee Pogue says
These are mouthwatering. Like my mouth literally watered. I will take two please.
Jenni says
These look awesome!!!
Amy says
Yum! These look amazing. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t love these in my family. Thanks!