22 Best Brownie Recipes To Make When That Chocolate Craving Hits (2024)

As far as simple desserts go, there’s really nothing superior to a platter of gooey, fudgy brownies fresh from the oven. And while brownies may seem classic, this roundup of 22 scrumptious brownie recipes proves that there are dozens of brownie varieties worth mastering, especially if you love all things chocolate. In the mood for a standard brownie? We’re partial to our Chewy Chocolate Brownies recipe. Craving something a tad different that still delivers that iconic brownie flavor? Whip up a batch of rich Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Brownies. No matter the occasion, brownies are always a crowd favorite. Keep reading for a drool-worthy collection of brownie recipes that everyone will love!

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Chewy Chocolate Brownies

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When it comes to baking brownies, texture is key, and chewy brownies really can’t be beat. These chocolate treats come together in less than an hour, and call for ingredients like unsweetened cocoa powder and pure vanilla extract. Make sure you let the brownies cool completely before cutting them, which will result in the chewiest texture.

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Fudgy Brownies

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If you love brownies for their chocolatey decadence, this is the recipe for you. These treats are gooey, fudge-like, and just slightly underbaked because of a few simple tweaks. You’ll start by melting the butter and chocolate together for a thick base, and will then add a yolk in addition to the whole eggs, in order to create a fudge-like texture. Any chocolate fan is bound to love these.

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Red Velvet Brownie Torte

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What happens when red velvet cake and brownies join forces? The answer is this rich and decadent multi-layered treat. The brownie batter is spiked with red food coloring, and the chocolatey result is almost fudgy. A tangy cream cheese frosting officially takes the dessert over-the-top, while sprinkles add plenty of color and texture.

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Malted Chocolate Brownies

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This brownie recipe is unlike any other. Here, chocolate or vanilla malted milk powder is mixed with cocoa powder to add another layer of flavor, and before the brownies bake, a generous handful of chopped malted milk balls (we like Whoppers!) and a pinch of flaky sea salt get sprinkled on top. The result is brownies with a caramelized crunchy topping that’s equal parts malty, salty, and sweet. Yum!

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Salted Caramel Brownie Bites

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There’s a reason that brownies are often paired with salted caramel. As this recipe proves, the duo yields a sweet and salty treat that’s hard not to love. All you need to whip up this dessert is your favorite boxed brownie mix and some salted caramel chocolates, which are nestled into each confection.

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Two-Ingredient Nutella Brownies

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Believe it or not, all you need to make these simple brownies is eggs and Nutella. You’ll start by beating four whole eggs in a stand mixer for six to eight minutes. While you're beating the eggs in the mixer, heat a cup of Nutella in the microwave for a minute, stopping every 15 seconds to stir. Then, whisk together the eggs and Nutella without over-mixing, and pour the batter into a greased pan and bake. That’s it!

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Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Brownies

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This brownie recipe is one to behold. Not only will you find typical brownie batter, but this dessert also calls for a layer of creamy cheesecake mixture, which is then topped with whole Oreo cookies. Then, more thick, chocolatey batter is spread on top and finished off with a cheesecake swirl, which gives these treats a beautiful marbled look.

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Cranberry Cacao Nib Brownies

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While cranberries may not be a popular brownie mix-in, we promise they are worth a try. Here, the fall fruit is joined by cacao nibs, and both are studded throughout the classic dessert for a bit of tartness and eye-catching color. Before placing the pan in the oven, sprinkle the tops of the brownies with an additional spoonful of cocoa nibs for extra crunch.

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Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

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If you’ve got some peanut butter cups lying around the house, that’s basically an invitation to make these stuffed brownies. In order to make sure there’s plenty of peanut butter goodness in each bite, we suggest cutting the peanut butter cups into pieces before folding them into the brownie batter and baking.

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Brownie Batter Babka Bites

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What do you get when you combine brownies and babka? These bite-size treats, of course! Each one features a beautiful golden hue, thanks to an egg wash, and has just the right amount of flaky sea salt for balance. These are best served warm, straight from the oven, which shouldn’t be too difficult considering they only take 35 minutes to make.

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Fudgy Chocolate Chip Walnut Brownies

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Walnuts in brownies aren’t for everyone, but they do manage to add texture and an earthy flavor to the chocolate-filled dessert. Speaking of chocolate, these homemade brownies are also packed with chocolate chips and cocoa to add a bold and delicious chocolatey flavor. Worried about nut allergies? Use pepitas or sunflower seeds instead.

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Peppermint Brownies

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Yes, these brownies are ideal for the winter holidays, but feel free to bake ‘em whenever that brownie craving strikes. What we love about this recipe is that the brownies are topped with a layer of creamy peppermint-flavored chocolate ganache. And that’s not all! The flavorful ganache has a layer of crunchy crushed peppermint candies, which adds even more minty flavor and texture.

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Tahini Swirl Brownies

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Tahini, for those who don’t know, is a paste made from toasted sesame seeds. It’s often used in savory dishes, such as hummus and baba ghanoush, but also adds a wonderful layer of flavor to sweet baked goods. In addition to tahini, this ace brownie recipe also calls for toasted sesame oil, which brings even more rich sesame flavor.

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Ginger Spiced Brownies

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One of the (many) things we love about chocolate is that it can handle plenty of spices, and this brownie recipe is proof of that. Here, the batter is flavored with ginger, cardamom, coriander, allspice, nutmeg, and clove. Crystallized ginger tops the brownies, and adds even more warming flavor.

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Instant Pot Brownies

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Yes, you can make brownies in the Instant Pot, which is good to know if you want a brownie recipe that is really hands off. All you need to do is whisk the wet and dry ingredients together and pour the batter into a round baking pan insert that’s been sprayed with cooking spray and layered with parchment paper. Once the brownies are done cooking, top with a chocolate glaze and chopped pecans for even more flavor.

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Pecan Pie Brownies

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Pecan pie fans will undoubtedly love these brownies. Why? For this recipe, traditional brownies are topped with a rich layer of pecan pie filling. That filling is made with crunchy pecans, bourbon, rich brown sugar, and more, and pairs perfectly with the rich chocolate base that the brownies provide.

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Caramel Brownies

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The batter of these chocolate-forward brownies is thick, which is exactly how you want it in order to pair it with a homemade caramel sauce. You’ll generously drizzle that sauce over the brownies once everything has cooled, and top the treats with a sprinkle of sea salt for balance. You’ll likely have some caramel sauce leftover, which you can use as an ice cream topping or a rich dip for apple slices. We won’t tell!

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Salted Dulce de Leche Brownies

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While similar to caramel, dulce de leche is richer and creamier because it’s made with milk. Still, the similar condiment pairs just as well (if not better) with brownies. Here, wonderfully fudgy brownies are topped with generous dollops of that homemade dulce de leche and a generous sprinkle of sea salt. The secret to that irresistible fudginess? Corn syrup.

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Mexican Brownies Recipe

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Fans of Mexican hot chocolate are bound to love this brownie recipe, which includes cinnamon and cayenne pepper in addition to traditional brownie ingredients. While this recipe calls for you to make the brownies from scratch, you can also add the spices to a boxed brownie mix if you’re in a pinch.

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Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

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Not only do these brownies look gorgeous, but they’re delicious too. The trick to that picture perfect swirl is to heat the peanut butter up just a touch before you mix it into the brownie batter, which makes it easier to work with. Then, use a knife to get that stellar swirl effect.

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Coffee-Infused Texas Brownies

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The recipe for Texas brownies (also called Texas sheet cake) is baked in a sheet pan, which means it’s ideal for feeding a crowd. The batter includes buttermilk, assuring a moist crumb, and a cup of strongly brewed coffee, which adds depth of flavor. Then, as if you need another reason to dig in, the brownies are topped with a boiled cocoa and butter frosting. Even with the extra steps and ingredients, these brownies are ready in under an hour.

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Guinness Stout Chocolate Brownies

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Beer and brownies might not seem like a good match, but we promise it works. Why? The malt in the Guinness Stout beer intensifies the flavor of the chocolate in these delicious treats, while an array of chocolate chips brings texture and even more chocolatey flavor. Bake a batch of these brownies for for St. Patrick's Day … or any other day of the year.

22 Best Brownie Recipes To Make When That Chocolate Craving Hits (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.

How do you doctor up boxed brownie mix? ›

For an easy boost to your boxed brownie mix, sprinkle in about a half cup of add-ins to give brownie batter a personal touch. Although nuts, chocolate and peanut butter chips, and mini marshmallows are easy wins here, this method invites creativity, and the options are truly limitless.

How much butter instead of oil in brownies? ›

Replacing Oil with Butter

It couldn't be easier to substitute butter for oil using a 1:1 ratio. This should work with olive, canola, vegetable, and coconut oils. Simply melt and cool the butter to room temperature, then continue with your recipe. (If the recipe calls for ½ cup oil, use ½ cup melted and cooled butter.)

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

If you opt to add more eggs, say double the amount, something interesting happens. Even though you are adding more moisture, the air bubbles that you catch in the extra eggs add volume, which decreases the density of your final product. This makes your brownies rise and gives them a much more cake-like texture.

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.

How to jazz up brownies? ›

Give your brownies some extra flavor by adding chopped candy bars to the mix. Whether it's peanut butter cups, peppermint patties, or nutty chocolate bars, adding your leftover Halloween candy (or whatever holiday candy you have laying around) will make your brownies over-the-top good.

Should you chill brownie mix before baking? ›

Recently, as I was reading through the comments on all our brownie recipes, one suggestion in particular stood out: Refrigerate the batter overnight for a richer, chewier brownie.

What can you add to your brownie mix to pump up the chocolate flavor? ›

Add coffee or instant espresso powder to your brownies for an even deeper, more complex chocolate flavor. Swirl them with peanut butter, cream cheese, or even pumpkin filling to mix things up. Mix in nuts, add a marshmallow topping, or spread on your favorite frostings for fun, simple, or seasonal twists.

How to jazz up Betty Crocker brownie mix? ›

Add nuts. Mix in chopped walnuts, chopped pecans or sliced almonds for a crunchy texture and nutty flavor. Add chocolate or chopped candy bars. Think chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, chopped peanut butter cups.

Do all brownie mixes need eggs? ›

Is it okay to make brownies without eggs? Without eggs, baked goods will become a little thinner and not rise as much in the oven. As long as you replace the moisture from the egg with milk, banana or applesauce, you can make brownies without eggs. And yes, this recipe makes thinner brownies than normal.

Are you supposed to use the whole box of brownie mix? ›

Just measure out half the dry mix then add half of each of the other ingredients. Put into smaller pan. Bake for a bit more than half the time and check till done. I would make the whole box and freeze what you don't need.

Why do you put oil instead of butter in brownies? ›

It makes them richer, adds a fudge-like texture, and enhances the flavor of the chocolate. In addition, it's an incredible preservative, so the brownies stay moist for longer! Olive oil has been gaining popularity in recent years as a substitute for butter and other vegetable oils in baked goods.

Can I use melted butter instead of 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 oil is best for brownies? ›

A good quality brownie mix.

Use Grapeseed Oil as the vegetable oil. I use Grapeseed oil in all my baking where oil is an ingredient. It's light and flavorless, so that allows the cake or the brownie flavor to really shine.

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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