Easy and Fudgy Brownies with Cocoa
Rich, dense, and full of deep chocolate flavor, these easy fudgy brownies made with cocoa are the perfect homemade indulgence.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder optional for slight lift
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips or chunks optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- Mix butter and sugar: In a medium bowl, whisk the melted butter and granulated sugar until smooth and glossy. This helps create that crackly top.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Mix until everything is fully combined.
- Stir in the cocoa powder: Add the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. It should look dark, shiny, and thick at this point.
- Add dry ingredients: Gently stir in the flour, salt, and baking powder (if using). Mix just until there are no more streaks of flour.
- Fold in chocolate chips: If using, fold in the chocolate chips or chunks for extra gooey bites throughout the brownies.
- Pour into pan: Pour the batter into your prepared pan and spread it out evenly with a spatula.
- Bake the brownies: Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs. Don’t overbake—you want them fudgy.
- Cool before cutting: Let the brownies cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes before lifting them out and slicing into squares.