Best Cocoa Brownies — Fudgy, Soft & Made From Scratch
Super fudgy, easy cocoa brownies made with rich cocoa powder, melted butter, and pantry staples. Crackly top, chewy center — no chocolate bar required.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 9–16 brownies 1x
Ingredients
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10 tbsp unsalted butter
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1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
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3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch-processed preferred)
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2 large eggs
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1/2 tsp vanilla extract
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1/2 cup all-purpose flour
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1/4 tsp salt
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Optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips or chopped nuts
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line an 8×8 pan with parchment.
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Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and whisk in cocoa powder and sugar until smooth.
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Let cool for 5 minutes. Whisk in eggs one at a time, then vanilla and salt.
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Fold in flour until just combined. Add optional mix-ins.
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Pour into prepared pan and smooth top.
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Bake 28–32 minutes until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
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Cool before slicing for clean edges
Notes
Use high-quality cocoa powder for best flavor. Add espresso powder to deepen the chocolate. Store in airtight container up to 4 days or freeze up to 2 months.