Our Chocolate Brownies recipe is fudgy, quick, chewy, and easy to mix together in a bowl. Enjoy them plain, dusted with powdered sugar, or with chocolate frosting on top.

Love have tons of bar recipes you will love, like Peanut Butter Bars, Rice Krispie Treats, Butterscotch Blondies, S’mores Bars, and Sugar Cookie Bars!

Three fudgy brownies stacked on top of each other, showing the perfect chewy texture.

Why I love these brownies:

  • Pantry Ingredients – I bet you already have everything you need to make these easy homemade brownies, made with cocoa powder. Just simple ingredients that come together for a delicious result.
  • One Bowl – No mess to clean up, and easy enough for kids to make.
  • Great Base Recipe– they’re thick, chewy, and delicious served warm from the oven or use them as a base recipe for Mint Brownies, German Chocolate Brownies or Peppermint Brownies. We love serving them with ice cream and hot fudge sauce on top, for hot fudge sundaes.

How to make Brownies:

Combine Wet Ingredients: Mix sugar and oil in a large bowl then add the eggs, mixing after each one is added. Stir in the cocoa powder until it’s well incorporated.

Add Dry Ingredients: Dump in the salt, flour, and vanilla then stir until combined.

Two images showing how to make brownie batter from scratch.

Bake the easy chocolate brownies at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Although it will be tempting to cut right into them, I have found that they are best after they cool completely! Frost with homemade chocolate frosting, if you’d like.

Add chocolate frosting after the brownies have cooled, if desired.

Freezing Instructions:

Baked and cooled brownies freeze well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, or on the counter. Frosted brownies can also be frozen.

A chocolate brownie with chocolate frosting on a plate, with a bite taken out.

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Recipe

Prep 15 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Total 45 minutes
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Ingredients
 
 

Brownies:

Chocolate Frosting (optional):

  • 1/2 cup butter , room temperature
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 2-3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 5-6 Tablespoons milk (or half and half, or cream)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
  • Mix sugar and oil in a mixing bowl.
  • Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each egg is added. Add vanilla.
  • Add dry ingredients: cocoa powder, salt, flour, and stir until combined.
  • Bake: Pour batter into a greased 9×13'' baking pan and spread into an even layer. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool completely before frosting.

Chocolate Frosting:

  • Cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add cocoa powder and salt and mix until well combined. 
  • Add vanilla. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, mixing well until you reach your desired frosting consistency. Spread frosting over cooled brownies.
  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Notes

Oil: You could use a combination of half butter half oil, or all butter. I’ve found using butter results in more cake-like brownies.
Make Ahead Instructions: Make brownies 1-2 days ahead of time and store covered in the refrigerator. 
Freezing Instructions: Baked and cooled brownies freeze well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, or on the counter.

Nutrition

Calories: 433kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 4gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 226mgPotassium: 118mgFiber: 2gSugar: 43gVitamin A: 269IUCalcium: 24mgIron: 2mg

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I originally shared this recipe in April 2015. Updated January 2019 and March 2024.

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About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    These were a breeze to make and the whole family loved them!! I debated about the frosting because I didn’t want to dig out my mixer, but I’m glad I did! What an easy and delicious recipe!! Thank you!

    1. We are working on getting that fixd! Thanks for bringing it to our attention. If you double or triple you will need to use additional pans!

  2. 5 stars
    I made these for a barbecue and they were delicious! Everyone just loved them. I would definitely always frost these because the top forms kind of crust on the top. The frosting hides any cracks in the crust. Also, the frosting is just too good. Make the frosting!

  3. Oh wow! These are super! From the second I saw the recipe, I knew it was going to be perfect. I tried a lot of brownies but the best recipe made everybody sick, 🤢. This is great, not so greasy, not so puffy, just perfect! By the way, I have always been a fan of thick brownies so O added 1/2 tsp of baking powder, perfection!

    Thanks!

  4. 5 stars
    I’ve never made brownies from scratch…and now I’ll never go back to boxed brownies! I did not frost them, but used powdered sugar instead!

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