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

4.82 from 22 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 happens if you use milk instead of water in brownie mix? ›

One change is to use milk or heavy cream instead of water. This change will make brownies more moist and gooey since milk is more fatty and flavorful than water. A second change is to use butter instead of oil. For similar reasons to using milk, butter adds a rich and more decadent quality to the batter.

What can I add to brownie mix to make them better? ›

Nuts and chocolate are a flavor combination made in heaven. In addition to scattering nuts on top of brownies, you can also add them directly to the batter, then bake as usual. Walnuts, pecans, almonds and peanuts all work beautifully. Just be sure to toast the nuts beforehand for extra depth.

What does adding more water to brownie mix do? ›

It is important to follow the instructions carefully to ensure the brownies turn out as expected. If you add too much water, the brownies may turn out too cake-like, and if you add too little water, they may be dry and crumbly.

What does adding coffee to brownie mix do? ›

The first and easiest upgrade you can give to your boxed brownie mix is to add a tablespoon of instant coffee to the batter. Adding coffee to your brownies boosts their flavor because its bitter quality balances out sweetness, making it less overpowering. It allows that delicious chocolate flavor to really shine.

Is it better to make brownies with butter or oil? ›

Oil Brownies: These were chewier with crunchier edges and a crunchier topping. They were more matte on top with a far less crinkly shiny brownie 'skin. ' They tasted more like box mix brownies. Butter Brownies: These were much fudgier, softer, and had a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Do brownies taste better with milk or water? ›

Brownie recipes traditionally call for water as it serves as a neutral liquid that hydrates the dry ingredients. However, using milk instead of water can impart a creamier texture and richer flavor to your brownies. The milk's fat content adds a smoothness that water cannot provide, resulting in a more indulgent treat.

Can I substitute butter for oil in brownies? ›

You can absolutely substitute butter for the vegetable oil. Use the same quantity specified in the directions (for example, if it calls for 1/3 cup of oil, use 5 1/3 tablespoons of butter). Melt it down, then let it cool a bit. You might not ever go back to oil!

What makes brownies fall apart? ›

Various causes include overbaking, underbaking, cutting the brownies too quickly, and lacking oil and fluid contents in the recipe. Underbaked and overbaked brownies turn out to be crumbly. When cut sooner before cooling down can make the brownies crumb.

Can you mix brownie mix too much? ›

Over mixing brownie leads to too much air incorporation and can leave your brownie looking and tasting like a chocolate cake. Under mixing will lead to insufficient combination of your core ingredients and so the brownie texture will not form to perfection.

How do you doctor up boxed brownie mix? ›

Scope out your kitchen for add-ins.

Boxed brownies can be their own blank slate for just about any snacks, sweets, or baking scraps you've got in your pantry or fridge. Add a teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso powder. Throw in a handful of nuts—pecans, walnuts, macadamia, whatever you have on hand.

What does extra oil do to brownies? ›

Whether you use butter, margarine, or vegetable oil, putting too much in your brownie batter causes it to be greasy. Don't worry, you're not alone. Many people fall into this trap when trying to substitute butter with oil. The exchange isn't a one-to-one ratio.

Can you use butter instead of water in brownie mix? ›

With coffee instead of water, the brownies will taste even more chocolatey as the coffee enhances the flavors of chocolate, while the butter will make the brownies much richer and fudgier than the oil will.

Can I use butter instead of oil in boxed brownie mix? ›

You can substitute butter for oil in any brownie mix unless the package says otherwise. Maybe you're just an old-school baker who swears by butter, but when you skim through the directions on a box of store-bought brownie mix and see it calls for vegetable oil, it seems a little off.

How much instant coffee should I add to brownie mix? ›

The Pioneer Woman suggests replacing water with milk and adding one to two teaspoons of espresso powder or instant coffee to brownie mixes. America's Test Kitchen recommends swapping water for ¼ to ¾ cup of coffee to enhance your chocolate brownies.

How much ground coffee to add to brownie mix? ›

Almost all brownie mixes call for water, plus a handful of other ingredients. The trick: Replace the water with coffee. You don't need much, generally ¼ to ⅓ cup. We already know that adding espresso and coffee flavor to chocolate desserts supercharges chocolate flavor, and the same principle applies here.

What happens if you bake with milk instead of water? ›

Yes, you can substitute milk for water when preparing SuperMoist cake mixes, however, the cake may be slightly drier than if prepared with water. Also keep in mind that milk will add calories and change the nutrition slightly.

What happens if you substitute milk for water in a cake mix? ›

Baking tip #2: adding milk to your box cake mix in place of water adds a dense texture to your dessert leaving it moist and flavorful like a homemade cake. Or, if you prefer, you can add buttermilk, giving your cake a tangy flavor to balance out the sweetness.

What happens if you make cake with milk instead of water? ›

Use milk instead of water

Most box cake recipes will tell you to add water to the mix. Instead, try adding milk using the same proportions. This will make the cake richer and creamier because it ups the fat content. You can even use buttermilk here for a pleasant tang.

What happens if I substitute water for the milk in a cake recipe? ›

In this case, substituting water with extra butter for milk should produce a cake with little or no noticeable differences. The taste, weight and texture of the cake should be similar, and there should be no crumbling or dryness if the recipe and baking times are followed.

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