Easy Homemade Brownies

Easy Homemade Brownies are the perfect quick dessert to whip up at home. They only take a few minutes and totally satisfy your chocolate cravings. Just like the recipe promises, they’re easy (and super fudgy)! Plus, I bet you have all the ingredients on hand.

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The Best Homemade Brownies

Sometimes I really cannot believe I’ve been blogging as long as I have.

Long enough to dig up an old recipe for updating and see that it was published in 2010. And that isn’t even the the oldest thing on the site.

Well, this recipe for Easy Homemade Brownies is one that has been around a while. These simple brownies are definitely something we still make at home all the time.

In fact, I’ve even had several family members tell me that this recipe for brownies from scratch is their go-to brownie recipe. My mom has made it so often that she apparently has it memorized.

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Even I still reference my site when I’m making recipes I’ve previously published. Honestly, that is one of the reasons that I started this blog to begin with!

Making Brownies with my Son

I have to share a story about this fudgy brownie recipe that I posted on Instagram a while back.

It goes like this….

Logan is in Home Ec this term.

*proud mom moment*

Logan has been asking me for the past week or so if he could cook something by himself, rather than just assisting me. Every day I had a reason for saying “no,” like it’s 10 minutes till dinner or 20 minutes to bedtime.

Last week during a snow day an hour before he goes to his dad’s he asked again. I said “ok, how about those fudgy brownies from my blog?

You love them and now you can learn how to make them, plus they’re easy!”

Seriously. Did I mention that this recipe is EASY?

These homemade brownies also only require 1 saucepan to prepare them. ONE.

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I cannot tell you how much this means to me after all the years struggling with him being literally the pickiest child I had ever met. He eats pretty much any dinner I make now.

Though I don’t cook fancy for the kids, he is usually at least curious and sometimes interested to try new things. He likes asparagus and Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Balsamic.

He likes steak and pork, salmon, and turkey, and chicken. Especially my recipe for Easy Honey Mustard Baked Chicken.

There was a time I didn’t think I could get him to even taste meat to see if he would like it. No exaggeration.

The rest of my family will confirm it as they are just as amazed as I am that FINALLY Logan is eating. I think Logan is often pretty amazed himself!

To see him interested, excited, willing to taste and learn is more than I thought I’d ever see. Oh, and he watches Food Network more than me, especially things like Chopped, Cupcake Wars, and Cooks or Cons.

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They will round out the Home Ec (Excuse me….Family Consumer Sciences) term with a classroom Cupcake Wars competition – he’s so excited!

Logan is grilling me all the time about what type of cupcakes he should make and PLEASE MOM CAN WE PRACTICE?! There is a little bit of uncertainty about what the guidelines for said cupcake wars are.

I asked him if they were supposed to bake from scratch, because after all they only have one classroom period (which is like less than an hour) to complete the project.

He said he thought they were supposed to use a box mix. That honestly baffled me a little because…hello? we are in a class learning how to cook, why not learn how to cook instead of how to open a box?

I am so proud and so happy after all the crazy pickiest eater in the world stuff that we’ve been through.

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Homemade Brownie Ingredients

These easy homemade brownies call for:

• Salted butter
• Cocoa powder
• Granulated sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Eggs
• Flour
• Chocolate chunks (optional)

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

How to Make Homemade Brownies

To make these homemade brownies with cocoa powder, you first need to melt the butter in a small saucepan. Then, whisk in the sugar and vanilla before stirring in the cocoa powder.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the eggs. Add the flour and stir until just combined, being careful not to over mix. Add the chocolate chunks at this point, if desired.

Pour the fudgy brownie batter into a greased baking pan and bake for 25 – 35 minutes. Let the brownies cool before cutting into them (at least 15 minutes).

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Different Brownie Ideas to Try

Why complicate something so deliciously simple? These easy brownies are the perfect bare bones homemade brownie recipe, and it’s delicious just like this so there is no need to get fancy with it — unless you want to! 

If you do want to mix things up from the traditional, here are some fun ideas to enhance your brownies:

Fudgy Peppermint Brownies

This makes a great brownie variation for Christmas time!

Add chopped candy cane or peppermint crunch white chocolate chips to the batter and add a hint of peppermint extract.

Chocolate Ganache Brownies

Prepare the Easy Homemade Brownies as the original recipe states. After the brownies have cooled, prepare some chocolate ganache and pour it on top of the brownies.

Refrigerate until the ganache is set. Then, remove the brownies from the pan and slice into squares.

Fudgy Walnut Brownies

Add chopped walnuts to the batter. This is great for people who love a little crunch in their fudgy brownies.

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Salted Caramel Brownies

Prepare the fudgy brownie recipe as the original recipe states.

Before baking, pour 1/2 cup of this Caramel Sauce with Vanilla and Bourbon, then swirl it with a knife through the batter.

For a little extra salty taste, sprinkle some fleur de sel on top of the brownies. Then, go ahead and bake as instructed!

Chocolate Orange Brownies

This adaptation is perfect for the person who can’t get enough of that classic orange and chocolate combo.

Orange is definitely one of my favorite flavors to pair with chocolate! Add orange zest and orange extract to the batter.

Halloween Brownies

Add leftover Halloween candy to the batter instead of chocolate chips.

Reese’s Pieces or Peanut Butter Cups would be delicious! Hershey’s Kisses or chocolate bars would work well, too.

Larger candies might need to be chopped up for best results.

Reader Reviews for Easy Homemade Brownies

“I just made these for dessert tonight; only problem is I made the mistake of tasting them, and now I don’t think they’ll make it till after dinner!  Simple & delicious!!”

“keeper!! Made these for a party for 22-23 yo and they said these were the best brownies they ever had. I used cake flour instead of AP but the texture was perfect. no icing required.”

“Omg I made those brownies and they were absolutely amazing they are good for ten year olds like me to make.”

“Absolutely the best brownies EVER! My first time making scratch brownies, made 1 batch plain and one with chocolate chips. We now have a new family favorite desert. THANK YOU!”

“THESE ARE AMAZING! They were gone in ONE NIGHT! I am making a second batch RIGHT NOW! YUMMM”

“I just made these. Oh.my.GOD. They’re the best brownies I’ve ever had!”

“Best brownie I’ve had so far. So fudgy and delicious! It almost killed me to eat a whole piece with all the chocolate!”

“Hey, I decided to try this recipe and OMG I couldn’t wait to eat it,  so I started by Just taking a Lil piece,  then I said no,  “I want more” so I went back for more and then more and more but I had to stop myself couldn’t eat all by myself. Had to share the sweetness with someone else,  so I shared with my husband and brother but I will be making this more often. Thanks”

More Dessert Recipes

These Almond Butter Cookies are the tastiest I’ve tried and make a great addition to your regular cooking baking. They’re the perfect alternative if you have a peanut allergy!

You can use the brownies in this recipe in these Gluten-Free Brownie Trifles.

Chocolate Chip Pecan Blondies are an underrated baked good!

These 4-Ingredient Cookie Butter Blondies whip up in just a few minutes for a quick after school treat. Add in a few mini chocolate chips for an optional 5th ingredient and a tasty touch of chocolate. Or, add colorful confetti sprinkles (the flat, round sprinkle type) to turn this into super cute funfetti cookie butter blondies.

Mascarpone whipped cream and fresh raspberries are layered with brownies in this Raspberry Brownie Parfait. Use these Easy Homemade Fudgy Brownies to make this!

Love this recipe for Easy Homemade Fudgy Brownies?
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Tried a different variation of these Easy Homemade Brownies? Let me know in the comments!

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Let me know if you try this recipe and what you think of it by leaving a comment below.

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Updated from the archives. Originally published December 15, 2010. 

The Kerry Gold Butter gift basket giveaway that was paired with the original post has been removed.

The giveaway is no longer active. The original comments from the giveaway contest remain in this post.