Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe (2024)

HomeRecipe ListBrownies and BarsDark Chocolate Brownie Recipe

Posted by Aimee 97 comments
Published: Feb 15, 2022 Last Updated: Feb 15, 2022

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Dark Chocolate Brownies prove that sometimes the simplest desserts are the best. Rich and fudgy with a bold cocoa flavor, these one-bowl brownies are a dark chocolate lover’s dream.

Love brownies? Be sure to try our delicious Oreo Brownies! Or give our Brookies a try next, the sweet combo of brownie and cookie.

Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Why These Brownies Work
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Easy Instructions
  • Tips and Tricks
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Easy Dessert Recipes
  • Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe Recipe

Why These Brownies Work

Do you like your brownies light and airy or dense and fudgy?

I’m firmly in the fudgy brownies camp. My idea of the perfect brownie is one that’s tiniest bit underdone with a gooey chocolatey center and a few cracks on top.

  • DARK chocolate for a bolder, richer flavor.
  • 7 ingredient brownie recipe!
  • Moist center with crackly tops.
  • Dusted with powdered sugar.

This brownie recipe takes hardly any effort to make. The batter comes together in one bowl with no special equipment needed.

Bonus: your kitchen will smell like chocolate paradise when these brownies are in the oven!

If you prefer a THICKER brownie, try our fudgy brownie recipe. Truly one of the best!

Ingredient Notes

Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe (2)
  • Dark unsweetened cocoa powder. Use a good quality cocoa powder for best brownies. Hershey’s Special Dark and Ghirardelli dark cocoa are both good choices. I find the cheaper brands, including Nestle, negatively affect the taste of the brownies by giving them a bitter aftertaste.
  • Melted butter. Using melted butter produces a chewier brownie with that soft moist center I love.
  • Chocolate chips – I fold these into the batter before baking to make the brownies even more fudgy and chocolatey. Semi-sweet or dark chocolate morsels are perfect.

Easy Instructions

Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe (3)

Melt the butter in a microwave safe mixing bowl. Combine the melted butter with all the remaining brownie ingredients.

Pour the batter into a square baking dish. Bake for about 25 minutes. Let them cool completely.

Sprinkle powdered sugar over the tops of cooled brownies before cutting and serving.

Tips and Tricks

  • Spread your favorite chocolate frosting over these brownies instead of powdered sugar if you prefer.
  • The dark chocolate brownies will look a little underdone when they come out of the oven. I like them that way! They’ll continue setting up a bit as they cool.
  • For a more well done brownie, add an additional 3 to 5 minutes to the baking time.
  • Line your baking pan with parchment paper. When the brownies are done cooling, you can grab the ends of the parchment paper to slide them out of the pan easily.
  • Take it a step further. Add marshmallows and icing like we did with these marshmallow brownies!
Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe (4)

Recipe FAQs

Can I make these brownies with regular cocoa powder instead of dark?

Yes, this recipe will work with any unsweetened cocoa powder. The darker varieties have a more robust flavor which I especially love in brownies.

What’s the best way to cut gooey brownies?

Brownies can be tricky to cut without tearing. That’s especially true for soft brownies like these! I recommend using a plastic knife to cut brownies. Use medium pressure and a smooth stroke to give the brownies clean edges. Wipe brownie crumbs from the knife between each cut.

Can I make these with nuts?

Nuts are a delicious crunchy addition to these dark chocolate brownies! Add 1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter before baking if you like nuts in your brownies.

Do these brownies need to be refrigerated?

These do not need to be refrigerated but they can be! They’ll firm up a bit more as they chill–and I love the flavor of these cold. If you like them as they are, store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe (5)

More Easy Dessert Recipes

  • Best Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Bread Pudding
  • Chocolate Banana Cake
  • Cake Mix Brownies
  • Pecan Pie Brownies
  • Hummingbird Cake

Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe

4.82 from 22 votes

By: Aimee

Dark Chocolate Brownies prove that sometimes the simplest desserts are the best. Rich and fudgy with a bold cocoa flavor, these one-bowl brownies are a dark chocolate lover's dream.

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 brownies

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup dark chocolate unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup semi-sweet morsels
  • 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar optional garnish

Instructions

  • In a glass bowl, melt butter in microwave for 30 seconds to one minute. Add sugar, flour, cocoa and eggs. Stir with a spoon until well combined. Fold in morsels

  • Line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. Pour batter into dish, spreading evenly. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-28 minutes. I like my brownies a little under done and fudgy. You can add about 3-5 minutes for more well done, if desired.

  • Cool completely. Top with powdered sugar or your favorite frosting recipe. ENJOY.

Notes

  • For even more dark chocolate flavor, swap out the semi-sweet morsels for dark chocolate chips.
  • Spread your favorite chocolate frosting over these brownies instead of powdered sugar if you prefer.
  • The dark chocolate brownies will look a little underdone when they come out of the oven. I like them that way! They’ll continue setting up a bit as they cool.
  • For a more well done brownie, add an additional 3 to 5 minutes to the baking time.
  • Line your baking pan with parchment paper. When the brownies are done cooling, you can grab the ends of the parchment paper to slide them out of the pan easily.
  • Store brownies in airtight container at room temperature or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1brownie, Calories: 329kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 78mg, Sodium: 23mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 33g

Course: Brownies and Bars

Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

If you love chocolate, this Dark Chocolate Brownies recipe is the only brownie recipe you’ll ever need! Gooey, fudgy and decadent brownies are easy to make with simple ingredients.

Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does adding an extra egg to brownie mix do? ›

If you want to get a little more creative with your brownie mix hacks, add an extra egg to the batter. The extra protein will help thicken up the batter and make it fluffier, creating a more decadent, fudgy texture. You can also add the yolk by itself in addition to the 2 eggs a box brownie mix typically calls for.

What if I use milk instead of water in brownie mix? ›

One change is to use milk or heavy cream instead of water. This change will make brownies more moist and gooey since milk is more fatty and flavorful than water. A second change is to use butter instead of oil. For similar reasons to using milk, butter adds a rich and more decadent quality to the batter.

Can you skip the egg in brownie mix? ›

Is it okay to make brownies without eggs? Without eggs, baked goods will become a little thinner and not rise as much in the oven. As long as you replace the moisture from the egg with milk, banana or applesauce, you can make brownies without eggs. And yes, this recipe makes thinner brownies than normal.

What happens if you add extra butter to brownies? ›

Adding Too Much Fat to the Recipe

Whether you use butter, margarine, or vegetable oil, putting too much in your brownie batter causes it to be greasy. Don't worry, you're not alone. Many people fall into this trap when trying to substitute butter with oil.

What happens if I put too many eggs in my brownies? ›

They give brownies a lighter, drier, and more cake-like texture. If you prefer this over the chewy variety, then go ahead and crack in that additional egg. On the other hand, too many eggs will yield brownies that are hard, heavy, and tough.

What can I add to brownie mix to make it better? ›

Vanilla extract – Pure vanilla extract adds rich flavor to brownies. Eggs – Most brownie mixes call for one whole egg. Adding one large egg plus an extra egg yolk gives brownies an ultra fudgy texture.

Are brownies better with oil or butter? ›

the butter brownies actually had a fudgier texture. they were softer, and they really just melted in your mouth. they also had that shiny crust and just better flavor, whereas the oil brownies were actually chewier. they were crunchier at the top and at the edges.

Can I substitute butter for oil in brownies? ›

You can absolutely substitute butter for the vegetable oil. Use the same quantity specified in the directions (for example, if it calls for 1/3 cup of oil, use 5 1/3 tablespoons of butter). Melt it down, then let it cool a bit. You might not ever go back to oil!

How to jazz up boxed brownies? ›

Add a teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso powder. Throw in a handful of nuts—pecans, walnuts, macadamia, whatever you have on hand. Scoop in a palmful of dried or frozen fruit. Add an extra splash of the top-shelf vanilla extract, or a dab of vanilla paste, or a dash of vanilla powder, to the batter.

What can I substitute for 1 egg in brownie mix? ›

Best substitutes for eggs in cakes, cupcakes, muffins, and brownies:
  1. Ripe Banana- (most common) ¼ cup mashed ripe banana = 1 large egg. However, there is a definite banana flavor.
  2. Apple Sauce- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce = 1 large egg. ...
  3. Peanut Butter- 3 tablespoons of peanut butter = 1 large egg.
Jan 20, 2023

Can I use mayo instead of eggs in brownies? ›

It's a swap that makes sense since mayonnaise is made of mostly oil and egg. It provides moisture, which keeps the baked goods soft and tender, just like oil does.

Can I use mayonnaise instead of eggs? ›

Mayonnaise. Eggs are a key ingredient in mayonnaise, so it makes sense that it can be a perfect substitute when you're out of eggs. Use 3 tablespoons of mayo as an egg substitute.

What does adding an egg to brownie mix do? ›

Store–bought brownie mix easily comes together with water, oil, and an egg. What exactly does the egg do? It binds, emulsifies, and adds richness and density.

What happens if you use baking soda instead of baking powder in brownies? ›

If you accidentally add baking soda instead of baking powder to baked goods, they won't rise because there is not enough acid. To fix this, add about one tablespoon of white or apple cider vinegar for every half teaspoon of baking soda to the liquids before mixing with the dry ingredients.

Should you use brown sugar in brownies? ›

Getting the perfect crust for you means choosing a recipe with just the right proportions of granulated and brown sugars. More brown sugar leads to dense brownies with incredible depth of flavor, but the additional moisture can cause their upper crust to be more solid than delicate as a result.

What makes brownies fudgy vs cakey? ›

Fudgy brownies have a higher fat-to-flour ratio than cakey ones. So add more fat—in this case, butter and chocolate. A cakey batch has more flour and relies on baking powder for leavening. The amount of sugar and eggs does not change whether you're going fudgy or cakey.

How does an extra egg affect baking? ›

Too much yolk can overwhelm a dish with "eggy" flavor, and their tenderizing function weakens a cake's structure. Too much white, on the other hand, will create an awkward batter and a dry cake. Using the whole egg gives you the best of both worlds.

What does adding an extra egg to a box cake mix do? ›

Simply add an extra egg and watch your cake's texture turn dense and feather-light. This seemingly small modification will add more moisture and fat, helping you achieve a bite more in line with what your mom or grandmother makes.

How to make brownies fluffier? ›

Unsalted melted butter – Most box brownie recipes call for vegetable oil, but swapping it out with with melted butter helps create chewy, fudgy texture with rich bakery-style flavor. Egg – Since its moisture prevents brownies from becoming dry & crumbly, an egg also helps create the perfect fudgy texture.

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