I've made a lot of brownies in my day — Healthy S'mores Brownies, Healthy Tahini Brownies, even Chickpea Brownies — but these? These are the best brownie recipe I've ever made, and I'm not saying that lightly. Dense, fudgy, intensely chocolatey, and finished with a secret ingredient that takes them completely over the top. You're going to want to bookmark this one. If you love a good chocolate moment, you'll also want to check out my Healthy Brookies and Easy Paleo Brownies!
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ✅ Recipe Name: The Best Brownie Recipe
- 🕒 Ready In: ~45 minutes
- 👪 Serves: 16–20 brownies
- 🥬 Main Ingredients: Dutch-process cocoa powder, dark chocolate, butter, white and brown sugar, eggs, flour, instant coffee powder, vanilla bean paste
- 📖 Dietary Info: Nut-free, vegetarian, gluten-free option available
- 🥣 Best For: Bake sales, dinner parties, holiday dessert trays, satisfying serious chocolate cravings
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Ultra-fudgy, bakery-style brownies with a rich chocolate depth and secret coffee trick — dense, indulgent, and everything a brownie should be.
The Best Brownie Recipe
I consider myself a certified brownie connoisseur — I've tested more brownie recipes than I can count, and I have strong opinions about what makes a truly great one. The biggest offense in the brownie world? A cakey brownie masquerading as a fudgy one. No thank you. A proper brownie should be dense, rich, and almost underbaked-looking in the center — not fluffy, not dry, not cake-like.
These best ever brownies nail every single element. The secret is a combination of Dutch-process cocoa powder and melted dark chocolate for a double chocolate hit, a low flour ratio to keep things dense and fudgy, and my personal game-changer: instant coffee powder. It doesn't make these taste like coffee at all — it just adds an incredible depth and complexity that makes the chocolate flavor truly sing. Once you try this technique, you'll add it to every brownie recipe forever. If you love indulgent chocolate desserts, you'll also want to try my Healthy S'mores Brownie Recipe and Healthy Pumpkin Brownies for more chocolate obsession!
Why You'll Love This Best Brownie Recipe
- Genuinely fudgy, not cakey. The low flour ratio and high chocolate content give these that dense, rich texture that makes a brownie a brownie.
- Double the chocolate. Dutch-process cocoa powder and melted dark chocolate in the batter means maximum chocolate flavor in every single bite.
- The secret coffee trick. Instant coffee powder deepens the chocolate flavor without any detectable coffee taste — it's a total game-changer.
- Bakery-worthy results at home. These taste like the best brownie from a high-end bakery, but you made them in your own kitchen.
- Feeds a crowd. A 9x13 pan means plenty to share — perfect for bake sales, gatherings, or keeping on the counter all week.
Ingredients needed for the best brownie recipe
Here’s a little bit about everything that goes into the best brownie recipe:
- Dutch-process cocoa powder: 1 cup gives these brownies a deep, intense chocolate flavor. Dutch-process is less bitter than natural cocoa powder and dissolves beautifully into warm melted butter — don't substitute here if you can help it.
- Dark or semisweet chocolate: 6oz gets melted directly into the batter, plus another 4oz folded in at the end for pockets of melted chocolate in every bite. Use good quality chocolate for the best results.
- Instant coffee powder: 1½ tablespoon is the secret weapon. It adds complexity and depth to the chocolate flavor without making these taste like coffee at all.
- Melted butter: 1 cup keeps these brownies super moist, rich, and flavorful — don't swap for oil here.
- White sugar + brown sugar: A combination of 1½ cups white sugar and ½ cup brown sugar hits the perfect sweetness level. The brown sugar adds a warm, molasses-like depth, and the coffee powder cuts through it so these never taste overly sweet.
- Vanilla bean paste: 1 tablespoon brings an intense vanilla flavor that vanilla extract just can't match. Worth picking up if you don't have it!
- Eggs: 4 eggs bind the batter and add structure and height while baking.
- All-purpose flour: Just 1 cup — this is intentionally low to keep the brownies dense and fudgy rather than dry and cake-like.
How to make the best brownie recipe
Step 1 — Make the chocolate base
In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of Dutch-process cocoa powder, 6oz of chopped dark chocolate, and 1½ tablespoon of instant coffee powder. Whisk to combine. Pour 1 cup of hot melted butter over the mixture and stir until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth. If needed, microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring between each, until completely combined. Set aside to cool slightly.
Step 2 — Beat the sugar and eggs
In a separate large mixing bowl, combine 1½ cups white sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste, and 4 eggs. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat for 5–6 minutes until the mixture is thick, pale, and fluffy. This step is important — don't rush it!
Step 3 — Combine
Slowly beat the cooled chocolate mixture into the egg and sugar mixture until well combined.
Step 4 — Fold in flour and remaining chocolate
Using a spatula, gently fold in 1 cup of flour and 1 teaspoon of salt until no flour pockets remain. Fold in the remaining 4oz of chopped chocolate.
Step 5 — Bake
Pour the batter into your prepared baking dish and spread to the edges with a spatula. Bake for 22–24 minutes, until the edges are set and the center has a very slight wobble.
Step 7 — Cool and slice
Let the brownies cool for at least 1 hour before slicing — this is key for clean cuts and the perfect fudgy texture!
Erin's Expert Recipe Tips
- Don't skip the mixing time on the eggs and sugar. Beating for a full 5–6 minutes creates that signature papery, crinkled brownie top — it's worth every minute.
- Use a metal pan, not glass. Metal conducts heat more evenly and gives you better edges on your brownies.
- Slightly underbake is always better than overbaked. Pull the brownies when the center still has a tiny wobble — they'll finish setting as they cool.
- Let them cool fully before slicing. I know it's the hardest part, but cutting into warm brownies results in crumbly, messy slices. One hour minimum!
- Use good quality chocolate. Since chocolate is the star of this recipe, the quality of your chocolate matters — Ghirardelli or Guittard are great accessible options.
- Storing: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–5 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
- Freezing: Wrap each brownie tightly in plastic wrap and store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
The edges should be set and the center should have a very slight wobble. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out with moist crumbs — not wet batter and not completely clean. If the toothpick comes out dry, they've gone a touch too far.
Yes! Swap the all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour that contains rice flour, xanthan gum, and potato starch for the best texture. Note that gluten-free versions may need 24–28 minutes in the oven.
Not at all! The instant coffee powder enhances the chocolate flavor rather than adding a coffee taste. It's one of those ingredients that makes people ask "what's your secret?" without ever guessing what it is.
Cut into thick squares and serve as-is, or top with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream for serious indulgence. A shot of espresso or a cup of black tea on the side is also chef's kiss.
Absolutely! Chopped walnuts, pecans, a swirl of peanut butter, or extra chocolate chips all make amazing additions.
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
Find more indulgent, crowd-pleasing chocolate desserts here:
If you tried this recipe or any other recipes on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Follow @erinliveswhole on Instagram and tag me in any of the recipes you make so I can repost them!
Best Brownie Recipe Ever
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350F and grease 9x13 metal baking dish with non-stick spray.
- In a bowl, whisk together cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and instant coffee powder.
- Melt butter in separate dish and immediately pour hot butter on top of chocolate mixture. Stir until all melted. If chips aren't melting, place in microwave in 15 second increments until totally melted. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat together white sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla for 5-6 minutes or until fluffy, thick, and creamy. Slowly beat in chocolate mixture until all combined.
- Using a spatula, mix in flour and salt slowly until all combined and no flour pockets left. Fold in remaining chocolate chips.
- Pour into prepared baking dish spreading to edges with spatula. Bake for 22-24 minutes or until set. Let cool for an hour before cutting into.
Danica says
Made these GF w/King Arthur GF flour. DELICIOUS! Erin killed it again! I didn't have instant coffee substituted with 1 tablespoon brewed coffee. It worked well. YUM!
Erin says
Hi Danica, so happy you loved them and made them your own!!