Wanting to make The Best Homemade Chocolate Brownies? Look no further than these decadent frosted brownies. Simple ingredients and the perfect brownie to frosting ratio, plus sprinkles. What more could you ask for?
Meet the BEST homemade chocolate brownies. I call them “The Best” because, I’m super picky about brownies. And if I’m being honest, I’m simply not a brownie fanatic. Brownies tend to be either overly sweet or too rich and it’s just not the dessert I crave. But if I do make homemade brownies, this is my go-to recipe, along with the recipe from my cookbook. It’s simple, straightforward and yields ridiculously delicious brownies.
This brownie was adapted from a recipe that a former coworker gave to me. Back when I worked in the ER, Jan (a pediatric nurse) would bring in the most fantastic frosted brownies from time to time. It felt like winning the lottery if I just so happened to be working the same night that she brought them in. And I loved how her brownies always had these little round sprinkles on top. Everyone and I mean everyone loved Jan’s Brownies and to this day, I still do and so does my family. I originally posted a similar version of this recipe 9 years ago. In 2001 I really had no clue what I was doing with this blog, how to use camera or write a coherent recipe instructions.
The latter is still questionable.
Recently I decided to make them with updated fresh new photography and recipe instructions. And I remembered just how incredible they truly are. The only change I made to Jan’s winner of a recipe was swapping in butter for shortening, because I never have or use shortening, even if it is organic. However unsalted butter is an excellent substitution. In fact, I think it lends a better flavor and helps with a more tender crumb texture. Then I topped the brownies with my FAVORITE homemade chocolate frosting recipe and of course, all the sprinkles.
The end result is a moist, slightly fudgy and cake-y chocolate brownie. And a frosted brownie is the best kind of brownie. You won’t want to share these. I promise.
To make these Homemade Chocolate Brownies you will need:
- unbleached all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- kosher salt
- unsweetened chocolate
- unsalted butter
- granulated sugar
- large eggs
- pure vanilla extract
I frosted these brownies with my homemade chocolate frosting.
Preheat your oven to 350℉ (or 180℃) and grease and line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment.
In a mixing bowl, combine the 1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Set aside.
Next, roughly chop the 4 ounces of unsweetened chocolate.
Add the chopped chocolate to a medium saucepan along with 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter.
Heat on low, stirring occasionally until melted. Remove off of the heat to cool for a minute.
Then add the 2 cups of sugar to the chocolate mixture.
Whisk until combined.
Next, crack and add in 4 large eggs, one egg at a time.
Whisking after each one.
Lastly, measure and add in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
The batter should be thick and glossy and smell heavenly.
Pour the chocolate batter into the mixing bowl with the flour.
Switch over to a rubber spatula, gently fold and mix the dry ingredients.
Stop once the flour is incorporated.
The batter should be thick and luscious.
Next, spoon the brownie batter into your prepared pan.
Next, with an offset spatula, spread the batter out evenly and maybe even tap the pan on the counter to get it to settle into the pan. Finally, bake on the middle rack of your preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes. Rotating the pan halfway through baking.
For a more fudge-y brownie, slightly under bake by a minute or two.
Once baked, allow the brownies to cool for 20 minutes. Use an offset spatula or butter knife and run it around the edge of the brownies. Using the parchment “handles” remove the brownies to a wire rack to finish cooling.
In the meantime, make the homemade chocolate frosting.
Frost once brownies have cooled.
Use an offset spatula to spread the frosting.
Covering the entire brownie in an even layer.
Lastly, sprinkle with fun colorful sprinkles.
Slice. Serve. And devour.
I call dibs on a corner piece!
Enjoy! And if you give these Homemade Chocolate Brownies recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
The Best Homemade Chocolate Brownies
Ingredients
- 1½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 recipe chocolate frosting
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉ (or 180℃) and grease and line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt and set off to the side.
- Roughly chop the chocolate into chunks and add it along with the butter into a medium sauce pan. Heat over low heat, stirring often until all the chocolate is melted. Remove off of the heat and let it cool slightly.
- Next, whisk in the sugar to the chocolate mixture and then add in one egg at a time, whisking after each additional egg. The batter should thicken significantly because of the eggs.
- Lastly add in the vanilla.
- Pour the chocolate mixture into the dry ingredients and, using a rubber spatula, combine just until the flour gets incorporated.
- Next pour the brownie batter into the prepared baking pan, spread out evenly with an offset spatula and bake on the middle rack of your preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until a tester comes out with only a few crumbs attached. Bake for less time for a more fudgy brownie.
- Let cool before frosting and serving.
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THANK YOU in advance for your support!
This looks amazing! I will definately give it a try!
I hope I will manage as I am not a great cook!
You can do it, Dominique!
Hey Laurie,
The vanilla extract wasn’t included in the instructions as to when to add. Thanks! Delicious brownies!
Thanks Amanda! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe! ❤️
I have not used any of your recipes, but I definitely appreciate you are a scratch baker.
Thank you, Marylyn 🙂
I’m on my second batch of your brownies. They are delicious. However, my batter is thinner than yours. Could it be because I must use plant based margarine due to severe allergies in my family. Thank you for the recipe.
This maybe a silly question but do you spray the pan then line it with parchment paper or vis versa?
You don’t need to spray your pan to add parchment paper to it. Just make sure the paper covers the pan in all the right places.
I made these last night and they were SUPERB!! I am wondering if anyone ran into the same issue I did… I followed the recipe exactly and baked mine for an extra 5 mins (25 mins total) and they were still not done in the middle. There was a crust on top like the pictures show, so I didn’t realize that they really needed more time and I was terrified that I’d “overbake” them. I wish I had left them in longer, but they were still totally rich and delicious. The frosting was delicious, but these brownies are so yummy that you don’t really even need it. I’ll definitely be making these again!!
These brownies absolutley live up to their name of “the best brownies”! These brownies are now requested by my children to be their birthday cake. Fabulous recipe, thank you so much!!