Old-Fashioned Fudgy Brownies From Scratch
In my never-ending search to find an even better recipe for brownies than my current favorites like Loaded Cream Cheese Oreo Brownies and Turtle Brownies, I gave a new recipe a spin. I found the recipe by way of searching for a fudgy chocolate cake recipes but make no mistake, these are brownies and not cake. They’re rich and chocolaty without being super intensely chocolaty. If you’re looking for a recipe that tastes like what you probably grew up on (which was boxed mix brownies) without being from a boxed mix, these are for you. They’re homemade fudgy brownies but with a slight bit more lift and less density to them than many of my other brownie recipes that use this brownie base. By no means are they cakey, but they’re not the densest fudgy brownies of all time. I used a simple vanilla buttercream frosting for the brownies that’s fast and easy to make. It’s sweet enough without being too sweet, it’s full of robust vanilla flavor, creamy, and tastes like the kind of frosting my grandma used to make.
What’s in Homemade Fudgy Brownies?
These fudgy brownies from scratch are so incredibly easy to whip up. One bowl, no mixer, and you’ll have them in the oven in no time. Just as fast as using a boxed mix. Get out your:
Butter Semi-sweet baking chocolate (I used Trader Joe’s 72% Pound Plus Bar) Sugar Eggs Flour Vanilla Salt
And to make the white frosting for the brownies, you’ll need:
Butter Confectioners’ sugar Milk Vanilla
…(Or cheat and buy it. Although this really is the BEST frosting for brownies).
How to Make Fudgy Brownies
To make fudgy brownies from scratch, melt the butter and chocolate together in a microwave-safe bowl. Wait a minute or two before adding the wet ingredients — you don’t want to scramble the egg! Whisk in the dry ingredients, then transfer the batter to a 9-inch, foil-lined pan. Bake just until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs but no batter. To make the buttercream frosting for the brownies, beat room temperature butter until light and fluffy. Then, add in the powdered sugar and vanilla. For a thinner frosting, add a splash of milk.
How to Make Brownies More Fudgy
Curious how I made these homemade brownies ultra fudgy? Lucky for you, I’m a food blogger and I love spilling my secrets! The trick to making perfectly fudgy brownies from scratch is to amp up the fat content. You’ll notice that this recipe uses equal parts butter and flour — that’s not an accident! There’s also 4 ounces of chocolate (1/4 pound), which also adds fudginess. And, of course, slightly underbaking the brownies keeps them fudgy!
How to Store Frosted Brownies
If you’re a fan of chilled chocolate desserts or brownies, by all means, store them in the fridge. If you’re more of a room temp person but worry about the frosting not being refrigerated, I personally don’t worry about buttercream frosting that’s stored at room temp for a few days. Generations of grandmothers have been doing it and we’re all here, but of course to each their own storage paths. I can go either way with this recipe as to chill them or not. In the summer, I think they’d be lovely served chilled from the fridge whereas in the winter, room temp is more to my liking.
Tips for the Best Fudgy Brownies
The brownies bake for quite awhile, about 45 minutes in a 300F oven, which is quite a bit different than the standard 350F for brownies that are generally done in 25 minutes or so. There is no leavener (baking soda or baking powder) in the recipe. I rarely use leaveners in brownies because that makes them rise, which makes them cakier, and I don’t like cakey brownies but it’s worth pointing out since I know someone will write and ask. I haven’t tried to make the brownies gluten-free but I imagine that you’d have pretty good success using a cup-for-cup style of gluten-free flour intended for baking. Shortcut for those who don’t want to make frosting — buy a tub of fluffy white frosting. It will save the day and no one will be any wiser if you run out of time or energy for making brownie frosting.
More Easy Brownie Recipes:
The 15 Best Brownie Recipes – The BEST 15 scratch brownie recipes that are FAST, EASY, and decadent!! If you LOVE super fudgy, rich brownies and are a chocaholic, SAVE these recipes!! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes!
The Best Fudgy Sea Salt Brownies – Only 7 ingredients in these EASY, one-bowl, no-mixer brownies that are MY NEW FAVORITE BROWNIES!! Super fudgy, slightly chewy edges, crackly top, and ultra dark chocolate paired with sea salt for the HOLY GRAIL of brownies!!
Loaded Oreo Cream Cheese Brownies – Ultra fudgy brownies topped with cream cheese, white chocolate chips, chocolate chips, and Oreos! Loaded to the max and so good! Easy, no mixer recipe that’s as easy as using a mix!
The Best Turtle Brownies – Super fudgy and loaded with chocolate, pecans and caramel! So.crazy.good!
Texas Sheet Cake Brownies – Easy, fudgy, no mixer brownies that are rich, chocolaty and decadent! The classic Texas sheet cake frosting makes them totally irresistible!
Chocolate Coconut Brownies – Like eating a Mounds candy bar that’s on top of rich, fudgy brownies! Easy and oh so good!
Andes Mint Brownies – Super fudgy brownies loaded with Andes! Chocolate + mint is the best! Meet your new favorite brownies and so easy!
The Best German Chocolate Brownies – Rich, ultra fudgy brownies topped with the best German chocolate frosting! Sinfully delicious! Easy, no-mixer recipe that’s an automatic hit with everyone!
Chocolate Chip Brownies – Thick, rich, and a chocolate lovers dream!! Fudgy in the center with chewy edges and studded with chocolate chips! If you’re craving chocolate, this EASY homemade brownie recipe is just what you need!!
