One Bowl Brownies
This One Bowl Brownies recipe couldn’t be simpler. After all, you only need one bowl to make them! They are perfectly rich, dense, and have a fudgy texture with a perfect shiny top.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe For One Bowl Brownies
I have been testing this fudgy brownie recipe for six weeks. It may or may not have turned my hair gray overnight. That is a secret between me and my hair stylist.
And I have to say that I was going to tell you all about it, and how I tested it and even chatted with my fellow food science lover Chef Becca to try to figure out how to make these one-bowl brownies uber dense and fudgy.
I ended up settling on a cooler oven temp so that these fudgy brownies would not rise as much, yielding a richer texture. I also ended up increasing the sugar a bit to make them shinier on top (this was upon the recommendation of Chef Becca. Thanks, friend! That worked!).
Part of the deal is that these One Bowl Brownies have to be perfect in their simplicity, unlike fancy brownies such as Gluten-Free Caramel Brownies (which are all about the contrast in textures and flavors). These one bowl brownies have just a bit of a crust on the top, are thick and fudgy on the inside, and are 100% chocolatey tasting.
Simple, but apparently, many tests later, not so simple to perfect!
Anyway, now that the recipe has been perfected, they should be a breeze for you to bake. Make them for your next dessert, weekend baking activity, picnic or just because!
Key Ingredients For This Recipe
Dark chocolate chips
Adding melted chocolate chips to brownie recipes helps make them extra fudgy, silky and chocolatey. I prefer to use dark chocolate chips but you can use semisweet if you’d prefer. You could also use block chocolate instead.
Cocoa powder
When I bake with cocoa powder I prefer to use unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder for the best quality and best taste. You can find this in most baking isles. I wouldn’t use sweetened cocoa powder for this recipe.
Additional Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Step-By-Step Instructions to Make One Bowl Brownies
Step 1: Preheat oven & grease baking dish
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Coat an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 2: Melt chocolate
Place the butter and chocolate chips in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between until the chocolate is completely melted.
Step 3: Mix brownie batter
Add the sugar and mix with a silicone spatula to combine. Add the eggs and beat until completely combined, then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt and stir until combined and no clumps remain (don’t overmix).
Step 4: Bake brownies
Spread the batter in the prepared baking dish. Bake until the brownies are puffed and the center is set up, 28 to 32 minutes. Let the brownies cool in the pan on a wire cooling rack for at least one hour before cutting into 16 brownies.
FAQs and Expert Tips
I did test this easy brownie recipe with maple sugar (I just had to!!), and they browned a bit too much on the edges. If you’re okay with that, and you prefer to use a natural sweetener, then I say go for it. The chocolate does overpower the maple flavor, though.
Err on the side of slightly under-baking these one bowl brownies (28 minutes) if you like a fudgier result. Or let them bake the entire 32 minutes for them to set up completely for a slightly more cakey brownie. It is normal for the center to fall ever so slightly if you are on the short end of the scale.
Once cooled and cut into squares, store them in an airtight container with pieces of parchment paper between layers. Store them at room temperature for 2 to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to a week.
These one-bowl brownies are super chocolatey and dense. Way more so than the healthy brownie recipes I have shared in the past. Once they are cool, cut them into 16 brownies for portion control and see the nutrition facts below.
More Easy Chocolate Dessert Recipes to Try
- I love these Dark Chocolate Matcha Truffles for a healthy(ish) chocolate dessert.
- My Skinny Flourless Dark Chocolate Cake will absolutely satisfy your deep dark chocolate cravings.
- You won’t be able to stop eating these Gluten-Free Buckwheat Chocolate Cookies.
- These Gluten Free Maple White Chocolate Blondies are unbelievable.
- These Raspberry Chocolate Chunk Cookies are my fun twist on the classic chocolate chip!
- You’d never guess these Sweet Potato Blondies have sweet potatoes in them.
- How about a two-ingredient recipe for Chocolate Banana nice cream? Yes please!
At Healthy Seasonal Recipes, we specialize in cooking with fresh veggies and creating weeknight meals. Sign up HERE to get more produce-forward dinner ideas for FREE! If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought! Happy Cooking! ~Katie
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One Bowl Brownies
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 16 brownies 1x
Description
These one bowl brownies require 10 minutes of hands-on prep work and are perfectly dense, moist, and fudgy. The easiest brownie recipe ever? Definitely!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/4 cup (natural) cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Place butter and chocolate chips in a medium microwave safe bowl. Microwave 30 seconds. Stir the butter and chocolate and return to the microwave. Microwave again for 30 seconds and stir until the chocolate is completely melted. (Repeat for an additional 15 to 30 seconds if needed to fully melt the chocolate.)
- Add sugar and mix with a silicone spatula to combine. Add eggs and beat until completely combined. Add vanilla and mix until completely combined. Add flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt and stir until completely moistened.
- Spread batter in the prepared baking dish. Bake until the brownies are puffed and the center is set up, 28 to 32 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire cooling rack for at least one hour before cutting into 16 brownies.
Notes
Cooking Tip:
Err on the side of slightly under-baking these one bowl brownies (28 minutes) if you like a fudgier result. Or let them bake the entire 32 minutes for them to set up completely for a slightly more cakey brownie. It is normal for the center to fall ever so slightly if you are on the short end of the scale.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 28 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie
- Calories: 187
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 94mg 4%
- Fat: 11g 17%
- Saturated Fat: 7g 35%
- Carbohydrates: 23g 8%
- Fiber: 2g 6%
- Protein: 1g 3%
This is the go-to from now on! Super Bowl Sunday and these are in the oven. Superb~
Good recipe, it’s just that I forgot oven at 180C and it came out cakey with dry edges, so be careful with that, 28 min.too long. But very nice bitter choc flavour with a hint of matcha, lovely with an expresso. I used Lindt 70%choc,also added 4 tbsp yogurt, 1/2 cup coco sugar, some chopped walnuts and a swirl made of some batter with 2tsp matcha. Flour was almond meal and buckwheat.wish I could save it in Pintetest. Thanks!
Glad to know it came out with your modifications Laura. Sounds like you had fun! Thanks for coming back to review.
We loved them fudgy! Perfect when we needed some decadent to snack on!
I’m so glad you liked them. Thanks for coming back to review too!
This was such an easy yet quick to make brownie recipe. I topped each portion off with a big scoop of ice cream and everyone loved it. Thanks for sharing.
Sam- thank you for the comment and rating, and you have the right idea over there! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
You had me at brownies and then you add in one bowl!? I’m in! Thanks for sharing such a tasty and easy recipe!
Laura,
Thanks so much for your comment! I too am a sucker for brownies that are less clean up and easy!
These brownies are perfect! I am so glad you tested all those variables!
We have made these many times and they come out perfectly each time! Love these!
Lauren, thanks for the comment and rating! I’m so glad it’s become a favorite recipe for you!
And just like that I’m craving brownies!!!!
Ha ha Jocelyn! Have at ’em!
These look marvelous, Katie. I love how easy they are to whip up too! xo, Catherine
That’s so nice of you Catherine. Have a wonderful day.
Mmmmmm… I love brownies… Yummy…
Thanks so much James, have a great day.
Oh my goodness! Those are some downright gorgeous and fudgy looking brownies, Katie!
I’m so glad that you finally developed the recipe to meet your expectations, but what a bummer that you’re sick of them. If you’re wanting them out of your face, feel free to send them my way. m’kay? 😉
Ha! Will do my friend! And thanks again for your help!
It’s a perfect recipe! I’m definitely doing it.
That’s awesome Marta, let me know what you think!
brownies have to be one of my favourite things to make.. and i haven’t ever tried one that i didn’t like. definitely have to try out this recipe – they look wonderful! Xx
That’s so true! Hope you do Thalia.
i need a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream to go with this!
Now that’s a great idea!
It sounds like dream recipe for a dream dessert!
Why thank you my friend!