• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Flour de Liz

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About Liz
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About Liz
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Flour de Liz » Brownie + Bar Recipes » Fudgy Chocolate Brownie Recipes

    Published: Aug 28, 2017 · Modified: Nov 14, 2020 by Liz Pollio · 10 Comments

    Better Than Box Mix Brownies

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    For the longest time I did not think it was possible to make brownies from scratch that taste better than brownies from a box mix.  Box mix brownies are so ooey and gooey and fudgy and just plain perfect.  I also don't believe in making something from scratch if it tastes just as good purchased, so I needed to come up with a brownie recipe that was just as easy as a box mix, but tasted even better. And I did just that.  These fudgy brownies are so ooey gooey and fudgy in the middle with that perfect crackly top that brownie dreams are made of.

    Fudgy brownies on a piece of parchment paper on top of a marble surface

    All you need is a bowl and a spatula. When starting the recipe, make sure the milk is hot.  It doesn't need to be boiling, but cocoa powder won't dissolve unless it's in a hot liquid.  I don't have a microwave so I put the butter and milk in a pot on the stove, and by the time the butter is melted, the milk is hot enough for the cocoa powder.  But a microwave makes it super easy to melt the butter and heat the milk.

    Top view of fudgy brownies on the parchment paper on top of a marble surface

    Using a combination of the melted butter and the vegetable oil helps make the insides of these brownies so chewy and gooey. The whites from the two egg yolks can be saved and used for so many other delicious recipes, so don't toss those!  The espresso powder is optional.  They won't make the brownies have a coffee-like flavor, but rather they enhance the chocolatey flavor.  If you don't have it or don’t want to use it, feel free to skip it! And most importantly, the chocolate chips are optional, but honestly, why wouldn't you add them? If you don't have chocolate chips, you can use m&ms or chop up a candy bar, or use whatever delicious chocolate you have on hand! I promise you won't regret it! 

    Close up batch of fudgy brownies on parchment paper on top of a marble surface with the front right brownie pulled out at an angle with a bite taken out of it and some crumbs in front of the bite mark

    If you think you don’t have the skills to bake from scratch, this is the recipe for you! This is also a great recipe to make with kids.  This recipe is truly as easy as a box mix, and they taste so good I promise you'll never go back to the box! (Bonus: when you make these for other people and they rave about how delicious they are, you won't be caught in an awkward position when they ask for the recipe, and you can proudly say you made them from scratch!)

    📖 Recipe

    Close up batch of fudgy brownies on parchment paper on top of a marble surface with the front right brownie pulled out at an angle with a bite taken out of it and some crumbs in front of the bite mark
    Print Recipe
    5 from 5 votes

    Better Than Box Mix Brownies

    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Servings: 24 brownies

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup milk
    • 1 stick butter
    • ¾ cup cocoa powder heaping
    • ½ cup vegetable oil
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 egg yolks
    • 3 cups sugar
    • 1 ½ cups flour
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt Diamond Crystal
    • 1 tablespoon espresso powder (optional)
    • 1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper.
    • Heat milk and butter in a microwaveable-safe mixing bowl for 1-2 minutes, till butter is melted and milk is hot.
    • Add cocoa powder and oil to the hot milk and melted butter and stir till well combined.
    • Mix in eggs and egg yolks.
    • Stir in sugar.
    • Add in flour, salt, and espresso powder until combined.
    • If using chocolate chips, stir in now.
    • Pour the mixture into the lined pan and bake for 30 minutes. The brownies will seem undercooked.
    • Let cool completely (uncovered overnight if possible) and cut into squares. Enjoy!

    More Fudgy Chocolate Brownie Recipes

    • A perfect stack of three fudgy Red Wine Brownies.
      The Ultimate Easy Red Wine Brownies
    • A stack of three extra fudgy chocolate cherry brownies.
      Extra Fudgy Double Chocolate Cherry Brownies
    • Close up side view of a peppermint mocha brownie, with other peppermint mocha brownies blurred in the background. The brownie in focus is at an angle so the corner is facing the camera. The peppermint mocha brownies are dark brown brownies with a thin white layer in the center from the peppermint bark square
      Peppermint Mocha Brownies
    • side view of bailey's s'mores brownies with three layers: the bottom layer is a lighter brown graham cracker crust, the middle layer is a darker brown brownie, and the top layer is white marshmallow with a toasty light brown color on top
      Bailey's S'mores Brownies
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Adina says

      December 17, 2017 at 10:36 am

      5 stars
      I think I’m going to make these tonight!

      Reply
      • Liz says

        December 17, 2017 at 10:41 am

        Let me know how they turn out! They're super easy and SO good. I highly recommend the addition of chocolate chips 🙂

        Reply
    2. Richelle says

      February 02, 2022 at 1:44 pm

      5 stars
      I made these last weekend and they are every single thing! Chewy, fudgy, made for chocolaholics. Perfect warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. chef's kiss.

      Reply
      • Liz says

        February 02, 2022 at 3:24 pm

        I am so thrilled to hear you love them as much as I do!! A perfect go-to recipe when you need chocolatey deliciousness!

        Reply
    3. Jillian says

      February 11, 2022 at 10:53 am

      5 stars
      These were one the best brownies I have ever tasted. When I NEED gooey chocolate, I run to this recipe!

      Reply
      • Liz says

        February 11, 2022 at 8:34 pm

        I'm so so glad you like them!! They're a perfect go-to for a gooey chocolate fix!!

        Reply
    4. Cynthia says

      February 23, 2022 at 12:36 am

      Have you tried this recipe with a little less sugar? I tend to like my desserts on the less sweet side and was wondering if the texture would still be good if I cut out 1/2 cup or so…?

      Reply
      • Liz says

        February 24, 2022 at 7:12 pm

        Hi Cynthia! I have not tried this. I think it should be fine, it just may be a little bit more gooey of a brownie, but as long as you don't mind that I would think it should be okay. If you do try it, let me know how it goes!!

        Reply
    5. Katie says

      April 30, 2023 at 3:49 pm

      Hi, I'm a very very new baker and was wondering what would happen to the texture/moisture if you used 1 1/2 cups sugar to match the flour ratio? Thank you

      Reply
      • Liz Pollio says

        April 30, 2023 at 9:28 pm

        Hi Katie, I'm so excited you're starting your baking journey! I have not tested the recipe with that much of a sugar reduction. My best guess is that it will not ever fully bake into brownies (though, it seems the worst that would happen is that you eat it out of the pan with a spoon instead of cutting it into squares!). If you try this, please let me know how it turns out. I will also try to test this in the coming weeks and let you know how it goes. And if I can answer any more questions as you get more into baking, please let me know, I'm happy to help!

        Reply

    Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Baking doesn't have to be complicated to be delicious! Flour de Liz is full of creative and fun recipes that you won't find anywhere else! The desserts are easy to make, don't require any fancy kitchen equipment, and they're so delicious you'd never know just how easy they are to make!

    About Liz

    A headshot of Liz holding Gizmo, a small Yorkie with his tongue out.

    I started creating my own recipes when I realized that baking blogs usually shared complicated and time-consuming recipes that needed a lot of kitchen equipment and a lot of ingredients. But I knew that baking did not need to be difficult! As much as I love to make these super simple recipes for my friends and family, I also love being able to share them with you!

    Learn more about me →

    Trending Recipes

    • angled view of cookie cake with alternating brown and white frosting dots around the outside, and one slice pulled out part-way and angled. Multi-colored sprinkles are on the cookie as well as the marbled surface the cookie is on.
      Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
    • A bowl of Nutella Whipped Cream in a small white bowl on a brown cutting board.
      Two Ingredient Nutella Whipped Cream
    • top down view of birthday marshmallows in the left hand side of the frame with excess cornstarch sprinkle coating on the right hand side of the frame. All on a white surface.
      Birthday Marshmallows
    • A hand reaching to a bowl of cinnamon toast crunch puppy chow sitting on a blue napkin.
      Cinnamon Toast Crunch Puppy Chow

    Summer Recipes

    • Slice of rasberry rosé cake in front of the full cake and a bowl of raspberries.
      Raspberry Rosé Sponge Cake with Easy Homemade Jam Filling
    • three bourbon peach sweet tea cupcakes in ombre pink paper wrappers topped with buttercream frosting.
      Kentucky Bourbon Peach Sweet Tea Cupcakes with Canned Peaches
    • three white ribbed ramekins of no-churn nutella ice cream next to a rose gold spoon.
      Homemade 3 Ingredient No-Churn Nutella Ice Cream
    • side view of the inside of a sangria poptart that has been broken in half and the two halves are stacked on top of eachother with the filling facing out. inthe background are whole sangria poptarts.
      Sangria Poptarts

    See more Summer Recipes →

    Copyright © 2023 Flour de Liz on the Cookd Pro Theme