These One-Bowl Brownies are so incredibly easy. Moist & chewy chocolate brownies made in one bowl. Absolutely the best recipe out there.
Do you love brownies? We sure do. Growing up my mom would make a batch of the boxed mix quite often. She was an amazing cake decorator & treat maker but when it came to brownies & cookies it was different.
For these things easy prevailed. She always used a box mix for brownies & the recipe on the back of the bag for chocolate chip cookies. I don’t know why she never made her own.
She was definitely more than capable when it came to recipe creation. But I didn’t care – those mixes are popular for a reason- they are delicious.
But you see- this is where my mom & I are different. I like to bake all my recipes from scratch whenever I possibly can. That doesn’t mean I don’t have a pantry full of mixes- I do.
Because I use them in other recipes & sometimes I need something a bit quicker. So they ARE there – but when I want a chewy & deliciously over-the-top brownie – I always pull out my one-bowl homemade recipe. It’s my favorite- every time.
One Bowl Brownies Recipe
Now most brownie lovers fall into 2 main categories, much like chocolate chip cookies. You usually like them cake-like or fudgy or thin/buttery. I find that most people that like their cookies thick & cakey also like their brownies that way.
The same goes for the thin & buttery cookies – those are the fudgy brownie lovers. So since I already created the perfect chocolate chip cookie that is the ultimate hybrid for both camps & utterly delicious- I had to do the same for my brownies too.
brownies one bowl
This simple one-bowl brownie recipe definitely is that perfect blend of thick yet chewy. Don’t those just look so delicious? So easy too!!!! They will be your new favorite!
Here are some commonly asked questions
How to cut brownies?
There are many ways to do this depending on how many you want & the appetites of those you are serving. But I like to cut them 3×3 – totaling 9 brownies. Of course, you can cut 4×4 rows for 16 brownies or 2×2 & have just 4 super large brownies. That is really up to you. (note – I’m talking 3 brownies x 3 brownies – NOT 3″x3″)
Do you recommend these as a gift for the neighbors?
These super easy brownies make fabulous gifts for all your friends & neighbors. We like to pick up these disposable pans for gift giving. It makes an excellent gift for the neighbors any time of year.
Everyone loves to receive a gift that brings happiness like dessert, right? We especially like to give these the day before a holiday. You could also gift them with the baking pan & make that part of the gift.
Why are my brownies cakey?
There are a couple of things that can keep your brownies from having that deliciously chewy and fudgy texture we all love.
The first- they could be over-baked. With brownies, it can be better to under-bake them slightly and let them solidify as they cool, rather than overbaking.
The second can be attributed to over-measuring the flour. The proper way is to spoon in and level off – not scooping from the bag. (see notes for proper flour measuring)
recipe one bowl brownies
What is the best way to store these brownies?
These are best left in the baking pan, covered with foil or plastic wrap & left on the counter at room temperature. Honestly, ours never last more than 24 hours, so they most likely won’t be there for long. My family practically inhales these.
Can this recipe be doubled?
I usually like to double this recipe but still bake it in 2 separate pans. This way I can keep the baking time the same, instead of having to figure out how much longer I need to increase the time. Plus I really like the thickness with this recipe & doubling it into another size pan would change that.
What is the difference between Dutch-process cocoa powder and regular cocoa powder?
So Dutch-processed cocoa powder is also referred to as alkalized cocoa. This powder starts with cocoa beans that have been washed in an alkaline solution of potassium carbonate, also used in the production of soap and glass.
By doing this, it neutralizes the acidity of the beans, making the beans neutral. This is important because when they are neutral, they do not react with baking soda. Instead, it is often paired with baking powder.
So – long story short – using regular cocoa powder vs Dutch-process cocoa powder will yield a completely different rise and texture to any recipe you are making.
So I highly recommend paying close attention to the type of cocoa powder called for in each recipe and sticking to it for that reason.
homemade brownies with cocoa powder
What baking dish do you recommend?
I really like to use this metal baking pan when making this recipe. However, I did find this super awesome silicone baking pan that I will be trying the next time I make these. It would sure make releasing the brownies from the pan so easy.
Can brownies be stored in the fridge?
Yes, but make sure they are properly covered because they will tend to dry out when refrigerated. Make sure they are tightly wrapped in the baking pan with plastic wrap.
Also, you will want to place your brownie on a microwave-safe plate & microwave for 15-20 seconds before serving if you are keeping them refrigerated as those marshmallows will be quite hard when cold.
How do I properly measure the flour?
The official way is to spoon the flour into the measuring cup & level off. This makes sure the flour isn’t packed tightly into your measuring cup, adding more than you need, as that will make your recipe too dry.
However – if you fluff your flour with a spoon, then gently scoop the flour into the measuring cup, taking care to not pack the flour – that should work for this recipe.
best one bowl brownies
How to make One Bowl Brownies
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a 9×9″ pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds. (until mostly melted & then stir the rest until completely melted)
- Once the butter is melted, whisk in the granulated sugar until smooth.
- Then add in the eggs, vanilla and instant coffee granules.
- In another small microwave-safe container, melt a 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips in the microwave. You can do this at 50% power in 30 second increments until melted.
- Once the chocolate is melted, whisk it into the sugar mixture until smooth – about 1 minute.
- Use a large rubber spatula to stir in the flour, cocoa powder and salt. Don’t over-mix. Stir until just combined.
- Fold in most of the remaining chocolate chips – reserving a small portion to add to the tops of the brownies.
- Pour into the prepared pan. Top with the reserved chocolate chips.
- Bake 30 minutes or until toothpick test is clean.
- Allow to cool before cutting.
- Optional – dust with confectioners sugar before serving.
Can I add other mix-ins to these brownies?
Yes- I really love to mix in peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, chopped-up candy bars & so much more. Just another reason why I love brownies, they are versatile & can adapt to whatever your craving.
What is the best way to cut brownies?
There are a number of ways to get the best cuts when it comes to portioning out the brownies – check out my tips below.
- Use a hot knife, wiping clean after each cut.
- Use a plastic knife – this is my favorite. Not sure why, but they work better.
- Make sure the brownies are completely cooled after baking.
- If the decorations allow, (meaning they won’t be ruined by refrigeration) – chilling the brownies always makes it so much easier to cut them cleanly.
easy one bowl brownies
Ingredients for One Bowl Brownies
- butter (salted) melted
- granulated sugar
- whole large
- pure vanilla extract
- instant coffee granules
- milk chocolate chips – divided
- all-purpose flour
- cocoa powder – unsweetened – not dutch process
- table salt
Can brownies be frozen?
Like most other baked goods, you can freeze brownies. They don’t always maintain their chewy texture once thawed though, so make sure you properly wrap the brownies & keep them airtight.
Also, they may sweat when thawing, which will make them moist or wet on the outside. They will still taste the same, but might not be as aesthetically pleasing as when they were fresh.
Can I leave out the coffee?
Yes – you can leave out the coffee. It isn’t completely necessary – however, it does give a nice rich flavor -without a coffee flavor. It just enhances the flavor of the chocolate – so I highly recommend giving it a try with the coffee before deciding against it.
one pan brownies
Products I love when making One Bowl Brownies…
This brownie recipe is so simple and delicious – and you probably already have many of these items on hand like I do! OR If you’ve never made brownies from scratch before, you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love this favorite dessert. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making these delicious treats.
- milk chocolate chips
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- mixing bowl
- spatulas
- parchment paper
- silicone baking pan
- this metal baking pan
If you love this Easy Brownie recipe, you’re going to love these other treats too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
Frostbitten Red Velvet Brownie Bites
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One Bowl Brownies
Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons butter (salted) melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs whole large
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon instant coffee granules
- 11.5 ounces milk chocolate chips divided
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder – unsweetened not dutch process
- ½ teaspoon table salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a 9×9" pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds. (until mostly melted & then stir the rest until completely melted)
- Once the butter is melted, whisk in the granulated sugar until smooth.
- Then add in the eggs, vanilla and instant coffee granules.
- In another small microwave-safe container, melt a 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips in the microwave. You can do this at 50% power in 30 second increments until melted.
- Once the chocolate is melted, whisk it into the sugar mixture until smooth – about 1 minute.
- Use a large rubber spatula to stir in the flour, cocoa powder and salt. Don't over-mix. Stir until just combined.
- Fold in most of the remaining chocolate chips – reserving a small portion to add to the tops of the brownies.
- Pour into the prepared pan. Top with the reserved chocolate chips.
- Bake 30 minutes or until toothpick test is clean.
- Allow to cool before cutting.
- Optional – dust with confectioners sugar before serving.
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Taste of the Frontier cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Blair says
Wow, these look amazing! You can never go wrong with a good brownie, and better yet if there’s only 1 bowl involved. Love the white chocolate addition!