Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe (2024)

HomeRecipe ListBrownies and BarsDark Chocolate Brownie Recipe

Posted by Aimee 97 comments
Published: Feb 15, 2022 Last Updated: Feb 15, 2022

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Dark Chocolate Brownies prove that sometimes the simplest desserts are the best. Rich and fudgy with a bold cocoa flavor, these one-bowl brownies are a dark chocolate lover’s dream.

Love brownies? Be sure to try our delicious Oreo Brownies! Or give our Brookies a try next, the sweet combo of brownie and cookie.

Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Why These Brownies Work
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Easy Instructions
  • Tips and Tricks
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Easy Dessert Recipes
  • Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe Recipe

Why These Brownies Work

Do you like your brownies light and airy or dense and fudgy?

I’m firmly in the fudgy brownies camp. My idea of the perfect brownie is one that’s tiniest bit underdone with a gooey chocolatey center and a few cracks on top.

  • DARK chocolate for a bolder, richer flavor.
  • 7 ingredient brownie recipe!
  • Moist center with crackly tops.
  • Dusted with powdered sugar.

This brownie recipe takes hardly any effort to make. The batter comes together in one bowl with no special equipment needed.

Bonus: your kitchen will smell like chocolate paradise when these brownies are in the oven!

If you prefer a THICKER brownie, try our fudgy brownie recipe. Truly one of the best!

Ingredient Notes

Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe (2)
  • Dark unsweetened cocoa powder. Use a good quality cocoa powder for best brownies. Hershey’s Special Dark and Ghirardelli dark cocoa are both good choices. I find the cheaper brands, including Nestle, negatively affect the taste of the brownies by giving them a bitter aftertaste.
  • Melted butter. Using melted butter produces a chewier brownie with that soft moist center I love.
  • Chocolate chips – I fold these into the batter before baking to make the brownies even more fudgy and chocolatey. Semi-sweet or dark chocolate morsels are perfect.

Easy Instructions

Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe (3)

Melt the butter in a microwave safe mixing bowl. Combine the melted butter with all the remaining brownie ingredients.

Pour the batter into a square baking dish. Bake for about 25 minutes. Let them cool completely.

Sprinkle powdered sugar over the tops of cooled brownies before cutting and serving.

Tips and Tricks

  • Spread your favorite chocolate frosting over these brownies instead of powdered sugar if you prefer.
  • The dark chocolate brownies will look a little underdone when they come out of the oven. I like them that way! They’ll continue setting up a bit as they cool.
  • For a more well done brownie, add an additional 3 to 5 minutes to the baking time.
  • Line your baking pan with parchment paper. When the brownies are done cooling, you can grab the ends of the parchment paper to slide them out of the pan easily.
  • Take it a step further. Add marshmallows and icing like we did with these marshmallow brownies!
Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe (4)

Recipe FAQs

Can I make these brownies with regular cocoa powder instead of dark?

Yes, this recipe will work with any unsweetened cocoa powder. The darker varieties have a more robust flavor which I especially love in brownies.

What’s the best way to cut gooey brownies?

Brownies can be tricky to cut without tearing. That’s especially true for soft brownies like these! I recommend using a plastic knife to cut brownies. Use medium pressure and a smooth stroke to give the brownies clean edges. Wipe brownie crumbs from the knife between each cut.

Can I make these with nuts?

Nuts are a delicious crunchy addition to these dark chocolate brownies! Add 1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter before baking if you like nuts in your brownies.

Do these brownies need to be refrigerated?

These do not need to be refrigerated but they can be! They’ll firm up a bit more as they chill–and I love the flavor of these cold. If you like them as they are, store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe (5)

More Easy Dessert Recipes

  • Best Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Bread Pudding
  • Chocolate Banana Cake
  • Cake Mix Brownies
  • Pecan Pie Brownies
  • Hummingbird Cake

Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe

4.81 from 21 votes

By: Aimee

Dark Chocolate Brownies prove that sometimes the simplest desserts are the best. Rich and fudgy with a bold cocoa flavor, these one-bowl brownies are a dark chocolate lover's dream.

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 brownies

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup dark chocolate unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup semi-sweet morsels
  • 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar optional garnish

Instructions

  • In a glass bowl, melt butter in microwave for 30 seconds to one minute. Add sugar, flour, cocoa and eggs. Stir with a spoon until well combined. Fold in morsels

  • Line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. Pour batter into dish, spreading evenly. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-28 minutes. I like my brownies a little under done and fudgy. You can add about 3-5 minutes for more well done, if desired.

  • Cool completely. Top with powdered sugar or your favorite frosting recipe. ENJOY.

Notes

  • For even more dark chocolate flavor, swap out the semi-sweet morsels for dark chocolate chips.
  • Spread your favorite chocolate frosting over these brownies instead of powdered sugar if you prefer.
  • The dark chocolate brownies will look a little underdone when they come out of the oven. I like them that way! They’ll continue setting up a bit as they cool.
  • For a more well done brownie, add an additional 3 to 5 minutes to the baking time.
  • Line your baking pan with parchment paper. When the brownies are done cooling, you can grab the ends of the parchment paper to slide them out of the pan easily.
  • Store brownies in airtight container at room temperature or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1brownie, Calories: 329kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 78mg, Sodium: 23mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 33g

Course: Brownies and Bars

Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

If you love chocolate, this Dark Chocolate Brownies recipe is the only brownie recipe you’ll ever need! Gooey, fudgy and decadent brownies are easy to make with simple ingredients.

Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes brownies cakey vs fudgy? ›

Fudgy brownies have a higher fat-to-flour ratio than cakey ones. So add more fat—in this case, butter and chocolate. A cakey batch has more flour and relies on baking powder for leavening. The amount of sugar and eggs does not change whether you're going fudgy or cakey.

Is dark brown sugar better for brownies? ›

A Double Dose Of Sweetness

This results in crispy-topped, fudgy brownies that deliver on both texture and taste, with no dryness. Notably, dark brown sugar will impart a stronger caramel flavor, as it contains more molasses compared to light brown sugar.

What are the benefits of dark chocolate brownies? ›

Dark chocolate, including pure cacao powder contain flavonoids, which are the same antioxidant compounds found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These compounds reduce inflammation and improve blood flow to your brain and heart. They also help lower blood pressure, LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Is brownie made of dark chocolate? ›

They have a rich and deep flavor paired with a fudgy and tender texture. Made with extra dark chocolate, flaky sea salt, and whole wheat flour, these brownies are not overly sweet and each bite melts in your mouth.

What does adding an extra egg to brownie Mix do? ›

If you want to get a little more creative with your brownie mix hacks, add an extra egg to the batter. The extra protein will help thicken up the batter and make it fluffier, creating a more decadent, fudgy texture. You can also add the yolk by itself in addition to the 2 eggs a box brownie mix typically calls for.

Is butter or oil better for brownies? ›

the butter brownies actually had a fudgier texture. they were softer, and they really just melted in your mouth. they also had that shiny crust and just better flavor, whereas the oil brownies were actually chewier. they were crunchier at the top and at the edges.

What happens if I use brown sugar instead of white in brownies? ›

The sweetness level will be the same, but the brown sugar may change the texture of your baked goods. You'll likely notice a more robust flavor, and the finished baked goods' color may also be darker. These color, flavor, and texture alterations come from how brown sugar is made.

Should I bake with light brown sugar or dark? ›

The molasses content in dark brown sugar will make your baked goods moister than if you use light brown sugar. That means that not only is the flavor affected, but the texture will be, too. Light brown sugar will result in a subtler flavor, while dark brown sugar will give your baked goods a richer flavor.

What does adding brown sugar to brownies do? ›

Getting the perfect crust for you means choosing a recipe with just the right proportions of granulated and brown sugars. More brown sugar leads to dense brownies with incredible depth of flavor, but the additional moisture can cause their upper crust to be more solid than delicate as a result.

Which brand dark chocolate is best for brownies? ›

Best Dark Chocolate

When you're shopping for dark chocolate, look for quality bars like Chocolove Extreme Dark Chocolate Bars, which are made of 88 percent cocoa (although anything 70 percent or above will work nicely).

Why is cosmic brownies so good? ›

Cosmic brownies are so dang good because they have that delicious dense, fudgy and chewy texture. So in order to recreate that same richness, I pulled out all the stops to create a brownie just like the real deal. Here's how to achieve that same texture: Use a mix of light brown sugar and granulated sugar.

What does eating dark chocolate everyday do? ›

Dark chocolate is rich in minerals, such as iron, magnesium, and zinc. it can have various health benefits, including reducing inflammation and decreasing the risk of heart disease.

Does Ghirardelli dark chocolate brownies have dairy? ›

Allergens. Contains: wheat, milk, soy. May contain eggs and tree nuts.

How much dark chocolate should you eat per day? ›

What is the daily recommended amount of dark chocolate? The recommended “dose” is approximately 1 to 2 ounces or 30-60g, experts say. Indulge in anything more than that, and you may be consuming too many calories. A 1.45-ounce (41 gram) Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Bar has 190 calories.

Why is dark chocolate not vegan? ›

Chocolate can absolutely be vegan. Most dark chocolate is vegan, but you'll want to inspect the label to be sure. However, chocolate containing dairy products is not vegan-friendly, and the processing of some chocolate products can also make it not vegan.

What makes a brownie chewy vs cakey? ›

While butter is the only fat used in fudgy and cakey brownies, chewy brownies benefit from the addition of canola oil (which is also why this version may remind you of the boxed mixes). The addition of brown sugar is also crucial, because it speeds gluten formation, resulting in a chewier texture.

Why do brownies become cakey? ›

Longer baking makes a brownie more cakey

In other words, it becomes more cakey. Many gooey recipes will still become cakey if left in the oven for (way) too long. It is why many recipes call for pulling a brownie out of the oven before a tester comes out clean.

How to make box brownies chewy not cakey? ›

For chewy brownies, substituting a small part of the flour for strong flour, using whole eggs, and using brown sugar (preferably dark brown) sugar. Also a lot of cakey brownies use cocoa powder, where fudgy brownies require both cocoa and chocolate.

How to make box brownies cakey? ›

When the back-of-box instructions call for water, try some instant espresso or strong-brewed coffee for roasty, toasty notes that pair impeccably with chocolate. Or use milk or half-and-half for even more richness. And for cakey instead of fudgy brownies, add an extra egg for more lift and spring.

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