One Pot Fudge Brownies

These Classic Homemade Fudge Brownies are officially crowned as the BEST classic brownie, achieved with simple ingredients and a one pot stovetop method! This recipe is packed with a drool-worthy chocolate flavor!

The Best Chocolate Fudge Brownies

The wait for the best homemade chocolate fudge brownies is over!

I’ve been testing this recipe for almost a year to make sure it’s just right and as easy as possible to make without sacrificing flavor or texture!

This recipe keeps it simple by using basic baking ingredients and a 10-minute prep time, yet it delivers the most satisfying brownie texture that’s chewy and fudgy with a shiny, crinkle top.

Pair all that delicious texture with its rich, decadent chocolaty flavor and you’ve got a dream brownie. Only it’s not a dream at all, it’s real and achievable for anyone to make right at home!

Wondering what the key to being the best brownie is? There are a few:

• One pot prep!
• Perfectly shiny tops!
• Instructions for 9×13 or 9×9-inch pan.
• Mix of butter and oil for best flavor and texture.
• Even bake (almost no rising around the edges).
• Malted milk powder or powdered milk adds additional flavor!

Homemade Fudge Brownies Ingredients

You won’t find any extraordinary ingredients in this homemade brownie recipe, although I do recommend using high-quality ones. Instead, you’ll notice that all of them, except one, are pantry staple ingredients. That’s because the reason for these being the very BEST brownies isn’t found in the ingredients but rather in the technique.

This way, everyone can take a bite out of the very best, fudgy, chewy brownies ever made in home ovens! To start, you’ll need unsalted butter, granulated sugar, canola oil, vanilla extract, (a lot of) large eggs, flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, and salt.

The only stand-out ingredient that I chose to use is malted milk powder. Though this doesn’t impact the brownie structurally, it does create a better flavor profile. However, it can also be left out if desired.

To finish these homemade brownies, mini semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks are mixed into the warm batter. The warmth from the batter starts to melt the chocolate chips, which in turn results in the shiny, crinkly classic brownie tops we all drool over!

Love nuts in your brownies? Go ahead and mix some chopped walnuts or pecans into the batter right before baking!

These have the absolute BEST fudgey middles and were SO easy to make!

Carol S.

Using Melted Butter = Better Brownies

Instead of creaming the butter and sugar together like you do to make most cookie recipes, you’ll melt the two together on the stovetop. Replacing the creaming process with melting eliminates adding any extra air to the batter that occurs when creaming.

By eliminating the air, we allow the batter to stay dense, giving us a chewy, fudgy brownie with zero cake-like texture that occurs with creaming. The warm butter and sugar mixture is introduced to the brownie batter which then helps the cocoa powder to bloom, giving these brownies an unforgettable flavor!

How To Make Fudge Chocolate Brownies Recipe

1. Prep by preheating the oven and lining your cake pan with parchment paper. This is my favorite parchment paper!
2. Melt unsalted butter over low heat. stir in granulated sugar. Once the mixture begins emulsifying, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool.
3. Stir granulated sugar into the melted butter.
4. Cool the sugar and butter mixture, stirring often to release the heat.
5. Stir canola oil and pure vanilla extract into the cooled butter and sugar mixture until fully combined.
6. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
7. Sift in all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, malted milk powder, and salt. Stir gently until almost all of the streaks from the dry ingredients are gone.
8. Fold the mini semi-sweet chocolate chips into the brownie batter.
9. Pour the homemade brownie batter into the prepared baking pan.
10. Bake the brownies in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.

9×13 vs 9×9-inch Pan For Brownies

This recipe can be used to make either a rectangular 9×13-inch pan of brownies about 1 inch thick or an 8×8 or 9×9-inch pan of brownies about 2 inches thick. No changes need to be made to the recipe except that the smaller pan will need to bake longer because the brownies are thicker.

How To Serve Brownies

Slice the brownies with a plastic knife for the cleanest cuts! These knives have been my favorite for cutting brownies, whether they are warm or room temperature. The brownies slice beautifully without catching on the blade.

There are so many delicious ways to serve these homemade fudge brownies! Keep it simple and enjoy a thick, warmed slice with a tall glass of ice-cold milk or to turn this dessert into a BIGGER treat you can enjoy the fudge brownies with ice cream!

To take it a step further, you can set up a sundae toppings bar for make-your-own brownie sundaes. Start with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream and a heaping dollop of Homemade Whipped Cream then let everyone choose from cherries, nuts, crushed candies, and lots of sprinkles!

Complete the sundaes with a drizzle of Homemade Chocolate Syrup or caramel sauce!

How To Store Fudge Brownies

Store fudge brownies in an airtight container or place slices into a large Ziploc bag with parchment paper separating the layers. You can also tightly wrap the baking dish with aluminum foil or plastic wrap if you prefer. Store the brownies at room temperature for 3 to 4 days.

How To Freeze Chocolate Brownies

You may also freeze these fudgy brownies by first allowing them to cool completely. Then, place slices into a freezer-safe container or Ziploc freezer bag with parchment paper separating the layers. Alternatively, you can individually wrap each brownie with plastic wrap and again in aluminum foil.

These fudge brownies can then be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. To enjoy, simply thaw them at room temperature first!

More Cocoa Powder Brownies Recipes

• Brownies with Cream Cheese – Swirled with tangy cheesecake filling!
• No Bake Cookie Brownies – Fudgy brownies topped with no bake cookies!
• Peanut Butter Crunch Brownies – The best of both dessert worlds: Chocolate AND peanut butter!
• Twix Caramel Brownies – Everything you love about your favorite candy bar in brownie form!
• Flourless Brownies (No Weird Ingredients!) – A naturally gluten-free dessert that’s still delicious!

This recipe was originally published in June 2017 and was updated in April 2024 with a new and improved recipe and photos.