Easy Chocolate Brownies – You probably have everything you need to make these chocolaty treats!
Easy Chocolate Brownies
As much as I love dessert, I don’t always feel up to making something.
I have to admit something to you … my oldest son is the brownie maker at our house. He loves to make these brownies – and asks to make them every so often.
This Basic Brownies recipe is one of the very first recipes I got when I moved out on my own. It’s been my go-to brownie recipe for over 25 years!
The great thing about this recipe is that it uses pantry staples – so you probably already have everything on hand. I love that these cook up so thick and fudgy!
Although we usually enjoy them just plain like this – sometimes, we add mini M&M’s, or add a thick layer of chocolatey frosting or doctor them up some other way.
If you’re looking for a simple, basic brownie recipe that doesn’t disappoint – definitely give these a try!
Brownies Recipe
- all-purpose flour
- granulated sugar
- baking cocoa
- baking powder
- salt
- vegetable oil
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- chopped nuts (optional)
How to make Brownies from scratch
Time needed: 40 minutes
How to make Brownies from scratch
- Preheat oven and prepare baking dish.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly spray a 9×13-in. baking dish with cooking spray.
- Prepare the batter.
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, combine the oil, eggs, and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined – Do NOT over mix.
- Put the batter in the pan and top with nuts.
Spread the batter into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with nuts if desired.
- Bake.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center tests clean.
Brownies: FAQs
Yes, you can! Allow the brownies to cool completely. Wrap the brownies tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. Freeze them for up to 3 months. To defrost the brownies, remove all of the wrapping and allow the brownies to thaw to room temperature.
Since these brownies are chocolate, your dog should NOT eat them – it could cause a serious medical emergency.
In an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap.
At room temperature, they’re best eaten within 3-4 days.
Microwave your brownie on a microwave-safe plate for a few seconds – or place it on a baking sheet in the oven for a few minutes to heat it through.
How did you like these homemade brownies?
Aren’t these the most perfect brownies ever?! As I mentioned, they’re a big hit in the Love Bakes Good Cakes house – and I’m hoping they’re a new favorite in yours as well!
Comment down below if you run into any problems and I’ll see if I can help you out! Tell me, did you make any additions or leave anything out?
On the contrary, if you loved this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a comment as well! Other readers love to see success stories!
Other recipes you may enjoy
- Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars
- The Best Lemon Bars EVER
- Pecan Pie Bars
- Cookie Lover’s Red Velvet Bars
- Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
Basic Brownies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup baking cocoa
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs slightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped nuts optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, combine the oil, eggs, and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined – Do NOT over mix.
- Spread the batter into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with nuts if desired.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center tests clean.
Notes
- Not a fan of nuts? Leave them out.
- My family loves to top the cooled off brownies with this chocolate frosting recipe!
Nutrition
Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary significantly between brands. Always be sure to read labels. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Likewise, recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them.
Originally published on November 11, 2013. Updated on September 5, 2020.
Oh my goodness those look like all kinds of fudgey, yummy goodness!
This is not a runny batter mix. It is a doughy mix.
Very odd to me as I have always had a runny batter mix.
It’s in the oven now though, we will see how it turns out.
Hi Jamie, brownies are my favorite snack or dessert! Your brownie look so good! Enjoy the week and see you Friday! Julie
Nothing I love more a good brownie!! Would love for you to come over and link up at my link party http://mommyondemand.com/create-bake-5/
Thanks for sharing. I will be making these. Brownies are my fave and these look delish!!!
I do have all the ingredients! But know what I like best? 13 x 9. I get a little annoyed by those wimpy 8 x 8 recipes. I mean, really!
Thank you for linking, Jamie. Think I can convince my son to bake these?
Love brownies, as a kid, brownies were my first baking experience!! Andi
Great brownie recipe – can't wait to try it! Thanks for sharing…
DebNJoizee919@aol.com
There really isn't anything better than a nice fudgey brownie! These look great!! I'll be sharing on FB and Pinterest today. 🙂
Great brownies Jamie!!
I have similar recipe and I'd like to add some chocolate chips inside as well 🙂
I love a good brownie 🙂 Looks delicious Jamie! Thanks for sharing at Share Your Stuff Tuesdays!!
Hi Jamie,
Brownies looking so soft and delicious. And i do have all the ingredients so i am going to give a try to recipe.
Thanks for the share.
These look so good! I've been on the hunt for a brownie recipe since mine disappeared. I've been using a doctored cookie recipe but I'm going to try this one. Stopping by from Posed Perfection.
Angela @Angela Says
Dear Jamie, I love good old fashioned brownies. These look moist and rich and absolutely delicious. Blessings, Catherine
Sometimes, a simple brownie is better than any jazzed up version you can find. Thanks so much for sharing at Simple Supper Tuesday.
Those look so decadently gooey and fudgy (just the way I like them), that your brownies look anything but basic. A definite must-try. Great photos too by the way.
You can never go wrong with a great brownie and your recipe looks great! Thank you so much for taking the time during this busy season to share your wonderful post with Full Plate Thursday. Have a wonderful weekend and hope to see you again real soon!
Miz Helen
My son makes microwave brownies. I think I like your recipe more. Thanks for sharing it with us on foodie friday.
I've never baked brownies, Jamie! Yours look just fab. Cheers
Hey Jamie,
Your brownies look amazing. Thanks so much for sharing with Wednesday's Adorned From Above Link party.
Debi and Charly at Adorned From Above
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
It's my bedtime and now you have me craving a brownie (or two)! Thanks for sharing at Inspire Us Thursday on Organized 31.
Hi Jamie! I've never been able to make good brownies other than from a box so think I'm going to have to try these out. Thanks for sharing on the weekend re-Treat link party!
Britni @ Play. Party. Pin.
I'm going to go make these right now!
In the oven right now! I, well, we, I'll share with Mr. B, can't wait!
I'll admit it…in the past I have used boxed brownie mix. But I was looking for….well, a basic chocolate brownie recipe that did not have all of the "yucky" stuff found in the boxed mixes. I made these brownies for the first time a few weeks ago and were such a hit! No fancy or fake ingredients and really not much more time than my old boxed mix. Tomorrow making these for the third time. This is officially my go-to recipe! Thank you 🙂
I am so glad you enjoyed them, and that they're your go-to recipe now!! 🙂 That makes my day – I shared your comment on my Facebook page, too!
I made these today, weren't as gooey as these pictures, but tasted amazing! They were very sweet which suits me fine, but I'd perhaps make them again with less sugar so my Dad can have them; he's not got a sweet tooth! Thanks for the great recipe 🙂
I love trying new basic brownie recipes. Especially if they are fudgy an rich! 🙂
This looks like an awesome recipe, Jamie! I don't have a go to brownie……or I haven't until now!!
Jamie this is just the way I love my brownies – I just love the chocolately, yummy basic brownie and these look perfect!
Can u make without baking powder it's the only thing I don't have
I really like the basic brownies. . And my alaga said it taste good and yummy. . .thank you for this recipe. . Godbless
these brownies are so very good! they saved our hurricane weekend! 🙂
I made them. Turned out great! Thank you!
This is so simple to make! It’s everything you want in a brownie! Thank you for sharing! I’ve been making your recipe for brownies and have ALWAYS gotten compliment on them! Apart of me wants to share this recipe and the other part of me doesn’t!
I made these today. I also made the icing from the link in the recipe notes. They were both FANTASTIC!!! The recipe is very easy, and they turned out rich and gooey. The icing turned out great also. The icing recipe makes twice as much as you’ll need for the brownies, so bear thst in mind. Everyone in the house loved it. It’s gone now. Didn’t last long.
I followed the recipes to a “t”, with the exception of having to bake the brownies for 35 minutes instead of 20-25,, but that may be my oven.
Thanks for a great go-to brownie recipe.
This has been my go-to scratch brownie recipe For years. Basic ingredients, simple directions. Thank you for posting a very doable recipe!
I made these brownies and they turned out perfect! They were just right, not to fudgy, not too gooey, and I love that the ingredient list is so simple. I will most likely be using this recipe more often.