The Ultimate Chewy Fudgy Brownies (From Scratch)

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After more than a decade of developing recipes in my Virginia kitchen, this is the one I give to friends when they ask for a truly perfect brownie—one that finally delivers on being both chewy and fudgy.

A stack of homemade chewy fudgy brownies with one being pulled away to show a gooey, stretching chocolate center — These brownies have the perfect balance of a crackly top and a rich, fudgy center

Perfectly chewy fudgy brownies get their distinct texture from using melted butter, an extra egg yolk for richness, and brown sugar for moisture. This combination creates a dense, gooey center with that signature paper-thin, crackly top.

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Key Takeaways

This is my tried-and-true blueprint for making the best chewy fudgy brownies right from your own kitchen. Forget the box mix—this from-scratch recipe is surprisingly simple and yields a rich, decadent dessert that tastes like it came from a high-end bakery. The secret is in the technique, not complicated ingredients, ensuring you get that perfect gooey-meets-chewy texture every single time. It’s the only brownie recipe you’ll ever need.

The Best of Both Worlds: Achieves the perfect balance between a dense, fudgy center and a satisfyingly chewy bite.
Simple, Everyday Ingredients: You likely have everything you need in your pantry right now.
Guaranteed Crackly Top: My method ensures you get that beautiful, paper-thin shiny crust every baker dreams of.
Ready for more? Check out other classic dessert recipes like our traditional bread pudding.

Why You’ll Love This Brownie Recipe

You’ll love the deep, rich chocolate flavor, intensified by a secret dash of espresso powder.
The edges are perfectly crisp and chewy—the most coveted part of the pan!
The center stays incredibly moist and gooey for days.
It’s a simple one-bowl recipe, which means cleanup is an absolute breeze.
They’re the ultimate comfort food, perfect for a cozy night in or sharing with friends.
A Touch of Protein: Each brownie contains protein from the eggs, giving it a little extra staying power.
If you love intensely rich chocolate desserts, you have to try our decadent chocolate-filled rolled crepes.

The Brownie That Won the Bake Sale

There’s something so nostalgic about the smell of brownies baking, isn’t there? It takes me right back to my kids’ elementary school bake sales. I must have tested two dozen recipes over the years, chasing that perfect texture. Some were too cakey, springing back like a sponge. Others were all fudge but no chew, dissolving in your mouth too quickly. I was on a mission.

I started treating it like a science experiment, tweaking one ingredient at a time. More brown sugar for moisture and chew. An extra egg yolk for richness. Using melted butter instead of creamed. Finally, after many (delicious) trials, I landed on this version. It was the one that had other parents hunting me down for the recipe, the one that disappeared from the bake sale table in under an hour.

It’s more than just a recipe to me; it’s a memory of community, a little bit of home, and proof that the perfect brownie is not only possible but easy to achieve. It reminds me of the simple joy found in classics, just like a slice of cozy pecan zucchini bread.

Ingredients for Chewy Fudgy Brownies

Ingredients for homemade brownies laid out on a wooden surface, including flour, cocoa powder, sugars, eggs, and chocolate chunks — Simple pantry staples are all you need to make the best brownies from scratch.

This recipe relies on standard pantry staples, but the quality of your ingredients, especially the chocolate, will make a big difference!

Ingredient	Notes / Easy Substitutes
Unsalted Butter	Melted. Using melted butter is key for a fudgy, dense texture, not a cakey one.
Granulated Sugar	Provides sweetness and helps create the crackly top.
Light Brown Sugar	Packed. The molasses content adds moisture and is essential for a chewy texture.
Large Eggs + Egg Yolk	At room temperature. The extra yolk adds fat and richness, enhancing the fudgy quality.
Vanilla Extract	Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
All-Purpose Flour	Spooned and leveled. Too much flour will make your brownies dry and cakey.
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder	I recommend Dutch-process for a deeper, smoother flavor. It’s the star in other fun treats, too, like in our Cosmic Brownie overnight oats.
Espresso Powder	Optional, but highly recommended! It enhances the chocolate flavor without making it taste like coffee.
Salt	Balances the sweetness.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips	Or chocolate chunks. Use a good quality brand you love to eat on its own.

Equipment Needed

8×8 Inch Metal Baking Pan: Metal heats evenly. A 9×9 pan works, but brownies will be thinner and need less baking time.
Parchment Paper: Essential for lifting the brownies out cleanly.
Large Mixing Bowl: A one-bowl recipe means less cleanup!
Whisk & Rubber Spatula

How to Make Chewy Fudgy Brownies Step-by-Step

A 4-image collage showing the steps to make chewy fudgy brownies: 1. Whisking eggs and sugar into a glossy batter. 2. Folding in dry ingredients with a spatula. 3. Adding chocolate chips to the batter. 4. Pouring the finished batter into a pan. — Step-by-Step Guide to Making Chewy Fudgy Brownies

Prep Your Pan and Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 inch metal baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides to act as a “sling.” This makes it so much easier to lift them out later!
Melt Butter and Sugars: In a large, microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Whisk in the granulated and brown sugars until fully combined. The mixture will look gritty.
Whisk in Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs and extra egg yolk, one at a time, along with the vanilla extract. Now, whisk vigorously for about 1-2 minutes. You’ll see the mixture become thick, pale, and glossy. This step is crucial for creating that crackly top!
Fold in Dry Ingredients: Add the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt to the bowl. Switch to a rubber spatula and gently fold until just combined. You want to see a few streaks of flour remaining.
Add Chocolate Chips: Pour in the chocolate chips and fold a few more times until the flour streaks disappear. Be careful not to overmix! Overmixing develops gluten and leads to tough, cakey brownies.
Bake to Perfection: Pour the batter into your prepared pan and spread it into an even layer. This method is just as easy as making our amazing peach bars with fresh peaches. Bake for 30-35 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with moist, fudgy crumbs attached, but not wet batter.
Cool Completely: This is the hardest part! Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 2 hours. Cutting them while warm will be a gooey mess. Once cool, use the parchment sling to lift them out and cut them into squares.

Expert Tips for the Best Results

Don’t Guess Your Measurements: Baking is a science! Spoon your flour into the measuring cup and level it off with a knife. Packing it in adds too much flour and will ruin the texture.
Room Temperature Eggs are Key: Cold eggs can cause the melted butter to seize and harden. To warm them up quickly, just place them in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes.
Trust the Toothpick Test: The difference between a fudgy brownie and a dry one is just a minute or two. You want moist crumbs on the toothpick. If it comes out clean, they’re likely overbaked.
For Extra Clean Slices: Once cooled, you can pop the whole pan in the fridge for 30 minutes. Use a large, sharp knife, wiping it clean between each cut.
For a fun twist, try one of the flavor variations from our Butterfinger caramel crunch mini pies.

What to Serve With Chewy Fudgy Brownies

A tall, cold glass of milk (the ultimate classic pairing!)
A scoop of vanilla ice cream for a perfect à la mode dessert.
A dollop of fresh whipped cream and some berries.
A hot cup of coffee or an espresso to complement the rich chocolate.
For a lighter, contrasting side, try it with a scoop of the best summer peach fruit salad.

Storing and Reheating Tips

Counter: Store uncut brownies in the covered pan or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Freezer: These brownies freeze beautifully! Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. They’ll keep for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter.
Reheating: To get that fresh-baked gooeyness back, pop a brownie in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Facts	Per Serving (1 of 16 brownies)
Calories	213 kcal
Carbohydrates	27g
Protein	3g
Fat	11g
Saturated Fat	7g
Cholesterol	45mg
Sodium	88mg
Potassium	95mg
Fiber	1g
Sugar	22g

Disclaimer: Nutrition information is estimated for your convenience and may vary based on the specific ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs About Chewy Fudgy Brownies

What makes brownies chewy vs fudgy?

The texture of chewy fudgy brownies comes from a high fat-to-flour ratio. Using melted butter, more brown sugar for moisture, and an extra egg yolk for richness creates a dense, fudgy center and a delightful chew.

What is the secret to making brownies chewy?

The main secret to chewy brownies is using brown sugar, which contains molasses and adds moisture and chewiness. Also, be careful not to overbake them, as this will dry them out and make them cakey.

How do I make my brownies extra chewy and fudgy?

To make extra chewy fudgy brownies, ensure you use melted butter, an extra egg yolk, and don’t overmix the batter once you add the flour. Pulling them from the oven when a toothpick shows moist crumbs is key.

What happens if you put an extra egg in brownies?

Adding an extra whole egg will add more liquid and protein, making chewy fudgy brownies more cakey and airy. However, adding just an extra egg yolk adds fat and richness, which enhances the fudgy, dense texture.

Why don’t my brownies have a crackly top?

The crackly top on chewy fudgy brownies comes from whisking the eggs and sugar together vigorously until the mixture is thick and pale. This dissolves the sugar and creates a thin meringue-like layer on top during baking.

Final Thoughts

I truly hope this becomes your go-to brownie recipe. It’s simple, reliable, and ridiculously delicious. If you make it, please let me know how it turned out! You can leave a comment and a rating below—it helps me and other readers so much.

Hungry for more? Click follow on FB and Pinterest to fill your feed with flavor!

Happy Baking!

Karen

P.S. Don’t forget to Pin this recipe for later and check out another fun dessert like these fried strawberry cheesecake sandwiches for more sweet inspiration!