Brownies are the dessert equivalent of sweatpants: comforting, dependable, and somehow always the right choice. Some people want thick, fudgy brownies that feel like chocolate truffles wearing a crust. Others want chewy brownies with that bendy middle. And then there are the crispy-edge folks (I see you, corner-piece hunters). So instead of pretending there’s one “best brownie,” this post is a choose-your-own-adventure of the best brownie recipes.
Why You’ll Love These Sweet Treats
- Something for every brownie mood. Ultra-fudgy, chewy, cakey, or somewhere perfectly in-between for the ultimate dessert.
- Reliable, repeatable results. Tested methods so you get glossy tops and rich centers without guesswork.
- Quick to make, big payoff. Most recipes come together in one bowl with simple pantry staples.
- Easy swaps and add-ins. Nuts, chips, caramel, peanut butter swirls, or gluten-free options when you need them.
- Crowd-pleasing and bake-sale ready. Brownies that travel well, slice cleanly, and disappear fast.
This best brownie recipe list makes it easy to find your forever favorite. Whether you want gooey, chewy, or classic, every batch turns out bakery-level delicious.
What Type Of Brownies Will You Find On This List?
- Fudgy & dense. Use melted chocolate/butter, minimal flour, and don’t overbake.
- Chewy & classic. Use a little more flour, a touch of baking powder (optional), and whip eggs/sugar for that crackly top.
- Cakey brownies. More flour + leavening, longer bake. (Not my first choice, but no judgment.)
- Gluten-free. Cocoa + chocolate do the heavy lifting; use a 1:1 GF flour blend.
- Low-carb/keto. Almond flour + sugar substitutes + lots of cocoa.
Now let’s get to the brownie recipes that deserve a permanent spot in your rotation.
How Do You Know When Brownies Are Done?
You know brownies are done when the edges look set and slightly pull away from the pan, the top is dry and shiny rather than wet, and the center has just a slight jiggle but isn’t liquid. If you insert a toothpick near the center, it should come out with moist crumbs (not clean like cake, and not coated in raw batter).
The key is to err on the side of slightly underbaked, because brownies keep cooking as they cool, and that’s how you get a fudgy, chewy texture instead of dry squares.
What Makes Brownies Fudgy Vs Cakey?
Fudgy brownies have a higher ratio of fat to flour. More butter and/or melted chocolate and less flour, so they bake up dense, rich, and moist, especially when you pull them out a little early.
Cakey brownies use more flour and often a leavening boost (like baking powder), plus sometimes a bit less fat, which creates a lighter, airy crumb more like chocolate cake.
In short: more fat + less flour = fudgy, more flour + lift = cakey.
What Pan Is Best For Brownies?
A light-colored metal pan is usually the best choice for brownies because it heats quickly and evenly, giving you set edges and a properly baked center without overcooking.
Dark metal pans can brown the edges faster (sometimes too fast), so you may need to reduce the oven temperature slightly or check earlier.
Glass pans hold heat longer, which can lead to overbaked edges before the middle is done, so they often require a longer bake at a slightly lower temperature and careful checking.
If you want the most consistent, classic brownie texture, go with a light metal 8×8 or 9×9 pan.
This No Churn Brownie Ice Cream recipe is an easy homemade dessert loaded with rich, fudgy brownie chunks folded into a creamy chocolate base, no ice cream maker required. Made with simple ingredients like heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, and cocoa powder, it freezes up smooth and scoopable for the ultimate chocolate-lover treat.
Continue Reading
These Brownie Mix Cookies are the ultimate shortcut dessert. They’re rich, fudgy, and perfectly chewy, made with a simple boxed brownie mix plus eggs, oil, and a splash of water. Ready in just 15 minutes, this easy brownie cookie recipe bakes up soft-centered and extra chocolatey (especially with optional chocolate chips) for the perfect quick treat.
Continue Reading
These Air Fryer Brownies bake up ultra-fudgy and super chocolatey. They’re loaded with chocolate chips and a lightly salty crunch from chopped walnuts, all without heating up your kitchen. Cooked at 325°F for 15–17 minutes, this easy air fryer dessert is perfect when you want homemade brownies fast.
Continue Reading
This Brownie in a Mug is the ultimate quick-fix dessert. It’s rich, warm, and fudgy, made right in a microwave-safe mug with simple pantry staples like cocoa powder, flour, milk, and vanilla. Ready in about 6 minutes (including a 1–1:15 microwave cook), it’s the perfect single-serve chocolate treat topped with chocolate chips or a scoop of ice cream.
Continue Reading
These Low Carb Strawberry Brownies are rich, fudgy, and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor. They’re made with sugar-free chocolate chips, buttery brownie batter, and a dreamy chocolate-strawberry frosting. Ready in about 45 minutes and totally gluten-free, they’re the perfect keto-friendly dessert for strawberry lovers.
Continue Reading
These Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies are rich, fudgy, and gorgeously swirled with a creamy cream cheese cheesecake layer for the ultimate red velvet dessert bar. Baked at 350°F for about 30 minutes, they’re an easy, crowd-pleasing treat that’s perfect for holidays, Valentine’s Day, or anytime you’re craving chocolatey red velvet flavor.
Continue Reading
These Vegan Brownies are ultra-rich, fudgy, and deeply chocolatey. These brownies are made 100% egg-free and dairy-free with simple pantry staples like cocoa powder, almond milk, and vegan chocolate chips for a dessert everyone will love. Ready in about 35 minutes, this easy vegan brownie recipe delivers classic brownie flavor and texture without any animal products.
Continue Reading
These Lemon Brownies are a bright, tangy twist on classic brownies. They’re dense and fudgy with fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, topped with a sweet lemon glaze for the perfect citrusy bite. Ready in just 30 minutes, this easy lemon brownie recipe is the ultimate spring-and-summer dessert for lemon lovers.
Continue Reading
These Zucchini Brownies are insanely moist and fudgy, using shredded zucchini to add natural moisture for rich chocolate brownies that don’t taste “veggie” at all. Baked at 350°F for 30–35 minutes and loaded with gooey chocolate chips, this easy zucchini brownie recipe is the perfect way to use up summer zucchini.
Continue Reading
These Cottage Cheese Brownies are ultra-fudgy, rich, and secretly protein-packed, using blended cottage cheese to create a moist, velvety texture without needing loads of butter or oil. With deep chocolate flavor from cocoa powder and dark chocolate chips, this easy brownie recipe bakes at 350°F in 25–30 minutes for a lighter (but still decadent) dessert.
Continue Reading
These S’mores Brownies combine rich, fudgy chocolate brownies with a buttery graham cracker crust and a gooey, toasted marshmallow topping for the ultimate campfire-inspired dessert bar. Perfect for parties and bake sales, this easy s’mores brownie recipe delivers all the classic s’mores flavor, no fire pit required.
Continue Reading
These Keto Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies are the ultimate low-carb dessert mashup. They’re rich, fudgy chocolate brownies swirled with a creamy cheesecake layer for a gorgeous marbled bite. Made with sugar-free chocolate chips, butter, eggs, and cream cheese, they bake at 350°F for 45–50 minutes for an easy keto treat that tastes totally indulgent.
Continue Reading
These Keto Mint Brownies taste just like an Andes mint. You’ll love these rich chocolate “brownies” topped with a creamy peppermint frosting, all made fast in the microwave with no baking required. Done in under 30 minutes and around 6 net carbs per serving, they’re an easy low-carb dessert for potlucks, holidays, or anytime a mint-chocolate craving hits.
Continue Reading
These Five Ingredient Keto Flourless Chocolate Brownies are rich, moist, and taste just like the real thing. This sweet treat is made with simple staples like sugar-free chocolate chips, butter, eggs, sweetener, and vanilla for an easy low-carb dessert. Baked at 350°F for 30–35 minutes with just about 2–3 carbs per serving, they’re the perfect quick keto brownie recipe for chocolate cravings.
Continue Reading
These Peanut Butter Brownies are rich, fudgy homemade brownies with swirls of creamy peanut butter for the ultimate chocolate-and-peanut-butter dessert combo. With just 10 minutes of prep and about 40 minutes total time, they’re an easy, crowd-pleasing treat for parties, potlucks, or weeknight cravings.
Continue Reading
These Black Bean Brownies are ultra-fudgy, rich, and secretly wholesome. They’re made by blending black beans, cocoa powder, eggs, oats, and vanilla into a smooth batter for a naturally higher-fiber, higher-protein dessert. Baked at 350°F and loaded with optional chocolate chips, they’re an easy brownie recipe that tastes indulgent while using simple pantry ingredients.
Continue Reading
These Lunch Lady Brownies are the ultimate nostalgic dessert. They’re thick, fudgy sheet-pan brownies with a crackly top and a rich, creamy chocolate frosting that tastes just like the classic school cafeteria treat. With simple pantry ingredients and an easy 9×13 bake, this lunch lady brownie recipe is perfect for potlucks, parties, or anytime a chocolate craving hits.
Continue Reading
This Edible Brownie Batter is a quick, no-bake chocolate treat that tastes just like real brownie batter, but safe to eat thanks to heat-treated flour and no raw eggs. Ready in about 10 minutes with cocoa, butter, brown sugar, and optional chocolate chips, it’s the perfect spoonable dessert or brownie batter dip.
Continue Reading
What are the best brownie recipes for rich, fudgy brownies?
The best fudgy brownie recipes use a higher fat-to-flour ratio, minimal leavening, and a shorter bake time to keep the center dense and moist. For ultra-rich flavor, choose recipes that use melted butter (or butter + oil) and plenty of cocoa or melted chocolate.
What’s the difference between fudgy brownies and cakey brownies?
Fudgy brownies are dense and moist with a soft, almost truffle-like texture, while cakey brownies are lighter with a fluffy crumb. The difference comes from ingredient ratios. More flour and leavening creates cakier brownies, while more fat and chocolate creates fudgier brownies.
How do I get that shiny, crackly brownie top?
For a crackly top, thoroughly mix the sugar with warm melted butter and eggs until glossy before adding dry ingredients. This helps dissolve the sugar and creates that thin, delicate crust when the brownies bake.
What pan is best for brownies: glass or metal?
Metal pans usually bake brownies more evenly and help achieve crisp edges with a fudgy center. Glass pans tend to bake slower and can lead to firmer edges, so you may need to reduce the oven temperature slightly and add a few minutes.
How do I cut brownies cleanly without tearing them?
For clean slices, cool brownies completely, then chill for 30–60 minutes before cutting. Use a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts (or warmed briefly) to get neat, bakery-style squares.
Whether you’re team fudgy brownies, crave that chewy, crackly-top bite, or love a brownie loaded with swirls and chocolate chunks, these best brownie recipes make it easy to bake a pan that tastes bakery-level at home. Save this post for your next craving, and choose the brownie style that fits your mood!
Leave feedback about this