Fudgy Dark Chocolate Brownies (Not Too Sweet!)

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I am going to ask you to trust me on this: these are the BEST Fudgy Brownies for real chocolate lovers. They have a rich chocolatey flavor which isn’t overpowered by sugar – unlike most brownie recipes – and a very fudgy, gooey texture. They have both dark chocolate and cocoa powder in their batter, and use my favorite little trick of grinding the sugar to achieve a shiny, crinkly crust every single time. And the best part? They take only 40 minutes start to finish!

Definitely the best fudgy brownies, and probably the only one without heaps of sugar. It gives a perfect chocolatey taste!
– Sana, ★★★★★

This recipe is probably my biggest labor of love (and obsession) ever. I’m a childhood brownie fanatic and have spent years perfecting them. In fact, I created a whole course on brownies with 30+ science experiments. And after far too many failed batches that were too sweet, too cakey, or not shiny enough – finally, came the *perfect* brownies. This recipe has millions of views and thousands of remakes, and most people agree these are the best brownies they’ve ever made!

@bakewithzoha

The literal best brownies I’ve ever had the pleasure to eat. Recipe coming soon. #brownies #chocolate #foodtok #foodvideo #yummy #foodie

♬ BORN FOR THIS – Foxxi
A close-up of a stack of rich, fudgy chocolate brownies with melted chocolate chips, showing gooey texture and a shiny, crackly top. More brownies are visible in the background on parchment paper.

What makes them different

In a sea of countless fudgy brownie recipes, here’s what makes these different (and better, in my opinion!):

  1. Less sugar, more chocolate: Most brownie recipes use more than a cup and a half of sugar, which completely overpowers the chocolate. This recipe uses only 3/4 cup, and lets the chocolate flavor shine. The result is a dessert that tastes rich, decadent and chocolatey – exactly how it should be
  2. Ground sugar to guarantee the shiny crust: This is a simple trick I swear by and also use in my chewy cocoa powder brownies. Grinding the sugar into a powder (not the same as powdered / icing sugar!) helps it dissolve much more easily into the eggs, and you get the quintessential shiny, crinkly crust on your brownies even when they’re not as sweet
Close-up of rich, fudgy chocolate brownies cut into squares, topped with melted chocolate chips and chunks, showing a glossy, textured surface.

My tips to perfect these brownies

Here are my 5 most important tips to help you bake the perfect batch of brownies:

  1. Use high quality ingredients. The two most important ingredients are the chocolate and the cocoa powder – your brownies will taste only as good as them. I recommend a quality dark chocolate between 55-65% cocoa, such as Ghirardelli, Valrhona or Callebaut, and using chocolate bars, not chips. For cocoa powder, I highly recommend Dutch Processed. It has a much smoother taste and imparts a richer color to the brownies. However, 100% unsweetened cocoa powder works, too
  2. Measure precisely with a scale. The ratios in this recipe have been meticulously tested, and messing with them will affect the outcome. If you stuff too much flour into a measuring cup, the brownies will be cakey. If you reduce sugar more, they won’t have a shine. If you reduce butter, they will be dry – and so on
  3. Don’t skip the sugar grinding step, even if you’re using granulated or caster sugar. You can do this in a food processor or grinder. Then whip it into eggs for 3-5 minutes until pale, thick and ribbony – and you should get a shiny crust!
  4. Use a light metal pan. This disperses heat evenly without causing the brownies to burn, and results in crispy edges and a gooey interior. Glass or ceramic pans bake brownies unevenly and take much longer
  5. Don’t overbake. When it comes to brownies, the difference between fudgy and dry comes down to minutes. This is why I bake at a lower temperature of 335F, and lean towards under-baking. Use a toothpick to test for doneness around the ~22 minute mark: it should come out with moist crumbs attached to it.
A stack of four gooey chocolate brownies with melted chocolate oozing out, placed on a parchment-lined wooden board

Step by step photos

Let’s quickly go over the steps with photos to help you visualize this recipe:

A glass bowl filled with chocolate mixture sits on a wooden surface. A red silicone spatula, coated in the mixture, rests inside the bowl.
Melt the butter and chocolate together in the microwave in 20 second increments.
A glass mixing bowl containing two raw eggs and a mound of white sugar, placed on a wooden surface.
Grind the sugar, then add it to a bowl with the eggs.
A glass bowl filled with pale, frothy egg and sugar batter sits on a wooden countertop. Some of the batter is splattered on the rim of the bowl.
Whisk for 3-5 minutes until the mixture becomes pale and thick, and nearly triples in volume.
A glass bowl filled with a pale yellow batter, topped with droplets of vanilla extract, sits on a wooden surface. Some batter is splattered on the sides of the bowl.
Pour in the chocolate mixture, along with coffee dissolved in water.
butter, chocolate, eggs and sugar whisked together in a glass bowl
Whisk on low speed until just combined.
A glass mixing bowl on a wooden surface contains sifted cocoa powder, sugar, and flour, with some ingredients clinging to the sides of the bowl.
Sift in the dry ingredients.
A glass bowl filled with thick brownie batter is being mixed with a red spatula, placed on a wooden surface.
Gently fold with a spatula until just combined.
A glass bowl filled with brownie batter and topped with dark and milk chocolate chips sits on a wooden surface. A red spatula is partially submerged in the mixture, ready for stirring.
Lastly, fold in chopped chocolate or chocolate chips of choice.

Spread the batter in a 9×9″ pan, and bake. Let the brownies rest for 20-30 minutes before slicing. These brownies also serve as a great based for more indulgent desserts. For example, you can turn them into Pecan Pie Brownies by adding a layer of pecan pie filling on top, or mix with cookie dough and upgrade them into thick and fudgy Brookies.

A round white plate with square-cut, best fudgy brownies topped with chocolate chips, arranged in a neat grid on a light textured background. Some crumbs are scattered around the plate.
Print
A close-up of four gooey, fudgy dark chocolate brownies stacked on top of each other, with melted chocolate visible on their surface. More brownies are blurred in the background on a wooden board.

Fudgy Dark Chocolate Brownies (Less Sweet!)

by Zoha Malik

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.90 stars from 69 reviews

Ultra fudgy brownies with a deep chocolatey flavor that’s not overpowered by sugar, and a simple trick to guarantee a shiny crinkly crust!

Yield:16 brownies

Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
40 mins

Ingredients

  • 4 oz high quality dark chocolate, between 55-65% cocoa (113g) – I use Callebaut*
  • 10 tbsp unsalted butter (140g)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar (150g)
  • 2 large eggs, ideally at room temperature
  • 1 tsp instant coffee mixed with 1 tsp hot water
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour (65g)
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder (35g) – it is best to use dutch processed
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 2 to 4 oz chopped chocolate or chocolate chips to fold in at the end (56g to 113g) – I use a mixture of milk and dark; you can also add additional chocolate on top of the brownies at the end*

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat your oven to 335F (conventional) and line a 9×9” baking pan with parchment paper and a light coating of butter. I recommend letting the parchment paper rise to the top of the pan on the sides, so it can be used to lift the brownies out of the pan after they have cooled down
  2. Start by grinding the sugar. Measure it before grinding, then add to a food processor or grinder, and pulse for around 60 seconds, shaking in between, until the sugar looks more like a fine powder. This will be used in step 4 below
  3. Microwave the butter and 4oz dark chocolate in a heat safe bowl in 20 second increments, gently stirring in between, until fully melted and combined. Do not over-heat the mixture as that can cause the chocolate to seize 
  4. In the meanwhile, whisk the eggs and ground sugar using a stand mixer or hand mixer at medium-high speed for 3-5 minutes. You should achieve a very thick, pale and ribbony mixture that is at least triple in volume. This step is important in developing the shiny crust of the brownies 
  5. Pour the melted chocolate and butter mixture into the egg and sugar mixture. Also add the instant coffee mixed in hot water. Whisk at low speed until the mixture is just combined 
  6. Sift in the flour, cocoa powder and salt. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet using a rubber spatula. Be careful not to knock out the air in the batter or over-mix
  7. Lastly, fold in the chopped chocolate or chocolate chips of your choice until just combined. The brownie batter will be thick, and will get thicker as the minutes pass; that’s completely normal
  8. Transfer the batter into the lined pan and spread it evenly using a spatula. The batter might feel thick – that’s just the chocolate starting to firm up.  Optionally, press in more chocolate chunks on the top to give the brownies a pretty look 
  9. Bake immediately in the pre-heated oven for 20-25 min until the brownies look set on the edges, and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with moist crumbs on it (it should not be clean). This usually takes 22 minutes for me. The brownies will continue to cook as they cool down 
  10. Remove from the oven and let the brownies cool to room temperature (about 20 to 30 minutes). Then remove from the pan, cut with a sharp knife, and serve! 

Video Tutorial

Notes

  • Dark chocolate in the brownie batter: This recipe originally had 1 oz semi sweet chocolate mixed with 3 oz of dark chocolate (60-70% cocoa) in the batter. I have now simplified it to 4 oz of dark chocolate (55-65% cocoa) as that achieves the same result. You can definitely tailor the cocoa percentage based on your preference, but ensure at least 55% overall for the best results
  • Chocolate mix in: There is more flexibility on the chocolate you fold into the batter. I recommend chopped chocolate or callets, but chips can also be used. You can use milk, dark, white, or a mixture based on the desire of sweetness you want, and also increase or decrease the quantity. However, I don’t recommend omitting it
  • Coffee: The small amount of added coffee helps enhance the chocolate flavor, you don’t taste it. But if you’re avoiding caffeine, you may skip it
  • Make ahead and storage: You can store these brownies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days, but they’re best eaten within 1 day

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Comments

  1. Fatima Mansoor

    Hi, can i use this recipe for 11×7 inch pan?

    1. Zoha Malik

      Hi there! That should be ok 🙂

  2. tkdkak

    can these and cookies be made egless

    1. Zoha Malik

      So sorry, you can’t skip the egg in these! But I have a new eggless banana bread recipe 🙂

  3. Shaaz

    Hi do you bake it in a fan oven .mine turned out raw and oily underneath .what did I do wrong please

    1. Zoha Malik

      Nope, it’s a conventional (gas) oven. What kind of pan did you use?

  4. Maham

    Hey, i tried this recipe and it tasted really nice. Unfortunately, i didnt get the crinkle top. I followed the recipe to the T, can you please guide me what might have went wrong which led me not to get the crinkle top?

    1. Zoha Malik

      Hi Maham! So many different factors can impact it. What chocolate did you use? cocoa powder? sugar?

  5. Misbah

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE all your cake recipes!
    I have made this on 2 occasions and my friends and acquaintances who don’t eat sweets have taken a second serving of this brownie. I had tried your Texas sheet cake recipe too and everyone who ate said that it was the best chocolate cake they had eaten in a while! I love that you have this blog that helps amateurs like me bake what I crave💕 I did try to recreate the tres leches recipe but found it to be a lil hard and it didn’t turn out the way I wanted to because of my own mistakes but I genuinely love every recipe of yours! Thanks again for sharing all of it❤️ Hope more such recipes keep coming 😀

    1. Zoha Malik

      AWWWW thank you so so much for the kind review, Misbah! I am so happy you’re trying so many recipes. I’d be happy to help trouble shoot the tres leches cake, too – feel free to email me x

  6. Noura

    I made this recipe today and it was amazing.. all my kiddos love it.. super easy, chocolatey, chewy and tasty.. I love the detailed instructions specially how to know our brownies are done which I was struggling before.. thank you Zoha you are the best.. as usual your recipes always give the best.. I have tried your cheesecake, red velvet cake and layered chocolate cake. Thank you again.. love you

    1. Zoha Malik

      You made my day, thank you so much, Noura! <3

  7. Aisha Shareef

    How to.double the recipe

    1. Zoha Malik

      You can multiply all quantities by 2 and use a 9×13″ pan, but the brownies will be thicker and need a few more minutes to fully bake.

  8. Haleema Zahra

    These brownies were too good..

    1. Zoha Malik

      I’m so glad you like them!

  9. Azfia bilal

    i bake ur recipes in a pressure cooker so 48 – 50 mins when the flame slightly touches the bottom of the pan . moreover it does not create crinkel top because the whipping of eggs and sugar create air bubbles which release while baking and create bubbles on top of final baked brownies.
    another q u are USA based so how do u find halal butter and cheese . which brands do u use plz suggest

    1. Zoha Malik

      Butter and cheese are dairy products that don’t have meat in them, so they’re halal.

  10. Dooda

    I appreciate that you have updated the recipe, but could you please link to your previous one? I do not have a food processor and that recipe was more accessible.

    Thank you in advance!

    1. Zoha Malik

      Hi Dooda! It was the same recipe, just 3 oz of dark chocolate and 1 oz of semi-sweet chocolate, instead of 4oz of dark chocolate. You can follow the recipe as it is without blending if you’ve done that before.

  11. Priya

    Hi,I tried this recipe.It was very tasty.but it was very soft and not holding shape..What might be the mistake?Do I have to bake for more time?

    1. Zoha Malik

      Hi Priya! If they’re not holding shape even after cooling down then yes, might be underbaked. Did you use a glass or ceramic pan?

  12. Sofie

    Best brownies I ever made. Dry not chewy texture and a real heaven in mouth. Definitely recommend.

    1. Zoha Malik

      YAYYY thank you Sofie!

  13. Nashri

    zoha, this turned out sooooooo good. I have been looking for a recipe for ages and this has ended my search, stay blessed

    1. Zoha Malik

      AWW thank you!!

  14. Fatima

    Hey Zoha
    Just wanted to say thank you for this recipe!! It is perfect and I have already made it 3 times in 2 weeks! It’s not too sweet which is perfect!!!

    1. Zoha Malik

      YAYYY I am so happy you like it!

  15. Heba

    best brownies ever , go on

    1. Zoha Malik

      YAY

  16. Sara Khalid

    at which temp should we bake?

    1. Zoha Malik

      Hi Sara! Temp is provided in the recipe

  17. Ifra Fatima

    why did you edit the recipe?????
    I have been following this recipe since past 3 years????? please please please please please please please post the original recipe too or send me the original recipe. PLEAASSSSEEEEEEE

    1. Zoha Malik

      Hi Ifra! Not much has changed from the original recipe haha. There are 2 small updates:
      1) instead of 1 oz semi sweet chocolate + 3 oz dark chocolate (70%), you can use 4 oz dark chocolate (55-65%). This gives the same result with one less ingredient.
      2) I recommend taking the extra time to grind the sugar for the best shiny top. However, if the recipe has worked for you without this step, you can just skip it

      Nothing else has changed!

  18. eshaal

    Hi, I wanted to ask: if I use oil instead of butter, would it make any difference?
    As I have used oil in my previous brownie recipe as well, they always turn out good.

    1. Zoha Malik

      Yes, you cannot swap the butter with oil! completely different ingredient and this recipe is developed for butter:)

  19. Laleena

    Best recipe ever i love love love all ur recipes my go to especially these brownies the tiramisu and cinnamon rolls recipe always a hit and my most trusted recipes ever i could hug you!!

    1. Zoha Malik

      I wanna hug you right back! Thank you so much!

  20. Bayan

    This is by far the best brownie recipe I’ve tried, they turned out soft with a flaky top and were absolutely DELECTABLE, can’t wait to make them again soon

    1. Zoha Malik

      YAY thank you so much, Bayan!

      1. Rizpah

        This was SOOOO delicious Zoha, cant wait to try all your other recipes!!

        1. Zoha Malik

          WOOP WOOP – thank you Rizpah!

  21. Zoha

    best brownies everrr it’s definitely a 5/5!!!

    1. Asma @ Bake with Zoha

      That’s so sweet of you Zoha. Please try other recipes too. You sure will like them. 🙂

  22. TALYA FUAD

    My forever go to recipe for brownies!! Always turn out to be amazing

    1. Asma @ Bake with Zoha

      Hi Talya, honestly the feeling is mutual. Glad you like it so much. 😊

  23. Sana Fatima

    Hands down the best one!
    with a balanced sugar, which is very rare to find in brownie recipes

    1. Asma @ Bake with Zoha

      Totally agree wit you Sana. Finding the sugar balance in brownies is the actual game changer. So glad you tried and loved this recipe. 🙂

  24. Minah Malik

    how come theres no baking powder in them.

    1. Zoha

      You don’t need baking powder in fudgy brownies! To get the fudgy texture we don’t want the brownies to rise, that makes them cakey

  25. Bright

    Can I use oil instead of butter?

    1. Zoha

      Hi Bright, no, that will not work well 🙁

  26. Ananya S

    I was so excited to make them but when I went to rotate my pan halfway – the entire pan fell to the floor😭
    I could only taste a little from the leftover in the pan but it tasted amazing 💔💔

    Will definitely try again:)

    1. Zoha

      OH NOOO I am so sorry to hear that ahhaa

  27. Maryam Naveed

    SOOOOO GOOODDD. I only bake frm the recipies you post 🥹🥹❤️ and my gosh am i in love with all of them. I do not own callebaut or dutch cocoa powder but whatever i had even that made it so brilliant i wonder what dutch cocoa powder qould do . thankyou for all your hard work Zoha 🥹❤️

    1. Zoha

      :’) Truly what an honor! Thank you!

  28. Mariyaahh

    Hii!! How much °C we have to bake it after the batter is ready? Btww love your recipes ✨

  29. Cat

    Okay I am an avid baker, have never left a review for any recipe ever, BUT I just had to comment. These brownies are amazing and truly the best I’ve ever made! I doubled the recipe and baked in 9×13 inch pan for about 34 minutes. Cool completely before cutting. The crumb is super soft and chocolatey. Super thick and just fudgy enough. 12/10 Definitely recommend!!!

    1. Zoha

      Aw Cat, thank you so much! You made my day :’)

  30. Jacqueline

    i found them to be very very bitter. i’m not sure if it was from the 60% dark chocolate that i used, or if it was from the coffee, but it was sooo bitter. and it wasn’t rlly fudgy either, it was cakey, and i whipped those eggs and sugar for a WHILE

    1. Zoha Malik

      Hi Jacqueline. the cakiness is likely due to overbaking, or adding too much flour (if you didn’t use a scale).

    2. Lorraine Joseph

      Were your eggs room temperature. That makes a big difference.

  31. Hib

    Should the eggs and sugar mixture have to be fluffy and light in color? I did it last time and my brownies turned out a bit cakey.

    1. Zoha

      Hi Hib! Yes, I do recommend getting it to that stage

  32. Neha

    Hi Zoha! I was wondering which semi-sweet chocolate you use for the recipe? For the percentages you gave most chocolates fall in the milk chocolate category so I was a bit confused, and would also like to hear what your recommendation would be. Thank you in advance!!

    1. Zoha

      i believe i used ghirardelli semi sweet chocolate!

  33. Muna

    I’ve never been good at baking brownies UNTIL TODAY!!! Came across your recipe and it is the bestest ever. So simple yet the results are divine. Thank you so much for all your hard work and sharing such incredible recipes with us.

    1. Zoha

      BRB CRYING

  34. Saniya Khan

    Just came here to tell you you are incredible!

    1. Zoha

      Aw love you!

  35. Princess Sumayya

    hi zoha…
    I love your recipes
    I always use your recipes
    you’re the only person who I trust on recipes.thanx you soooo much..

  36. Dina

    Hi zoha
    I was wondering if I can safely reduce the sugar to 1/2cup without I dramatically effecting the sugar?
    I’m sure it WILL affect it but I was just wondering if it would still turn out okay with 1/2cup sugar?

  37. Maryam Aamir

    the brownies baked, were effing H.O.L.Y!!
    I topped the with mini oreos for extra chews and it made them delicioso🤌🏻🫶🏼
    thank-you so much for trying so many recipes on trials and ending up sharing the best one with us.

    1. Zoha

      YUMMMM thank you so much for the love!!!

  38. Jenny

    This was THE BEST RECIPE I have ever tried. I doubled it to fit my pan and added m&ms to it and actually I nearly cried. It was like I aced perfection. Definitely recommend. 😍

    1. Zoha

      Oh my gosh, Jenny! Thank you so much!

  39. Harriet

    Just found and can’t wait to try it yummy recipes

    1. Zoha

      Hope you love it!

  40. Joy

    Hey Zoha, thanks for this amazing recipe! From one brownie lover to another, could you please share any tips to avoid brownies from caving in at the center? Mine sometimes come out of the oven fine but as they cool down, the center sags, leaving oddly taller side brownies compared to the center slices. Please help!

    1. Zoha

      Hi Joy! This is probably happening because your brownies are still underdone in the center but the edges are fully cooked. I recommend using a light colored metal pan, not ceramic or glass, for more even baking. See if that helps!

  41. Felicia Kalb

    I want to make this recipe but only have 8×8, how do I modify?

  42. Zoé

    these are the best brownies I have ever made, all my family and friends are fans !!

    1. Zoha

      Made my day, thank you!!!!

  43. Serena

    Excellent bittersweet chocolate flavor and perfect texture. Followed the recipe except for 2 subs – a 4 oz Ghirardelli semi-sweet baking bar instead of dark chocolate and King Arthur Flour Triple Cocoa Blend powder instead of dutch-process. The only sad part was I didn’t get the nice paper-y crust despite beating the eggs and sugar as directed. But I’ve never achieved that in homemade brownies so it’s probably me or my oven. 🙂

  44. Emma

    Amazing brownie recipe!! I actually took more butter and browned it to make 140g and it was very good! Some people might find the brownie a bit too salty but I think it pairs well with the dark chocolate! Thank you Zoha 🙂

  45. abrar Shan

    I tried this recipe; it was good, but I couldn’t achieve a crinkly top. I don’t know why. I also made sure that I followed the instructions properly.

  46. Zainab

    Hi, I have been making this recipe since months but it doesn’t work for me now 🙁 Like I do not get the shiny crust, instead I get a very matte finish. I have been using the same brand of all ingredients and I make sure to whip my eggs and sugar very well too.

    Could you please help troubleshoot?

  47. Husna

    tried this recipe today and brownies turned out great. everyone loved it. you can check the picture on pinterest, I’ve commented. thanks💖

  48. claireeeee

    No description needed. Pure bliss in a pan.

  49. vin

    Hello! can we use speciality blend coffee instead of instant coffee?

  50. Haifa

    Where can I find the recipe tutorial video?

  51. Haifa

    Hi Zoha 💗 Your recipe looks so delicious! I’m a brownie girl — I’ve tried so many recipes, but I never get them just right. Sometimes they’re overcooked, sometimes too gooey, and sometimes they turn out like cookies 🥴. But your recipe gives me hope and confidence! Unfortunately, my oven isn’t working right now 😭. I do have an air fryer though — could you please help me adjust the temperature and time? I’ll be using a 7-inch round pan. Thank you! 💕

    1. Zoha

      AWWW I hope this recipe works out for you! If you have an air fryer I recommend reducing the temperature by 25F but air fryers really vary based on the brand so it’s hard to give an exact time and temperature. You might have to play around a bit

  52. Mehreen

    Turned out amazing! Was gone in minutes. I have a question, if I want to reduce sugar, what would be the ratio then? I love the fudgy chocolaty flavor.

    1. Zoha

      Yayyy!! 🙂 I don’t recommend reducing the sugar as it helps with the texture. Try using a darker chocolate instead 🙂

  53. Orlagh

    These are unbelievable! 100% recommend!!!

    1. Zoha

      WUHU!

  54. Shabna Fawmey

    came out really well zoha ❣️

    1. Zoha

      Yay thank you!

  55. Himabindu Guddila

    These turned out amazing. I like the step by step instructions you provide its very easy to follow.

    1. Zoha

      Thanks so much!

  56. Vedanti

    These are THE BEST brownies I have ever had. I am a great fan of the Ghirardelli triple chocolate brownies but your recipe beats them. Amazing chocolate flavour and still so soft and rich.

    I read your comments and 1.5x the recipe to make it in a 9×13 pan and it came out beautifully.

    1. Zoha

      I am so incredibly touched, thank you SO much!

  57. Marin

    These tasted great but they didn’t resemble a Brownie to me. The texture is like a ganache or a chocolate truffle. A fudgy Brownie should still have a slight cakey texture as well as being fudgy too. I followed the recipe & instructions to a T. It’s more like a dense flourless chocolate cake. The flavours were spot on though, the texture i wasn’t a fan of.

    1. Zoha

      Hi Marin, if those are your preferences for texture, you would benefit from adding ~1/2 tsp baking powder 🙂

  58. Irtaza

    Hi whats the average number of brownies that can be made with this exact recipe, and like whats the rough calories per piece?

  59. Ramlah

    i was super bored one weekend and was searching EVERYWHERE for the perfect brownie and when i stumbled upon Zoha’s page and read her story all i thought was “perfect!” i followed the recipe and did everything as told and they came out sooo beautiful tasted exactly like the ones from the shops! my family loved them. i dont like it too sweet so i used 80% dark chocolate and used a bit less milk chocolate and i also added a couple walnuts and it was the most beautiful thing ever!

    1. Zoha

      Aww, so so happy you liked it!!! 🙂

  60. Sajidha Sayeek

    tried ur recipe awhile ago..
    Soo yummy 😍🤤
    tysm for such mouth watering recipe dr
    highly obsessed 😋

    1. Zoha

      Thank you so much!

  61. Bhavs

    hi Zoha
    i tried the brownies and it was the most delicious lot I have ever had. only thing i realized later was, i made the brownies in a 7″pan instead of a 9″ suggested in your recipe. By how much should I reduce the ingredients for a 7″pan?

    1. Zoha

      Hi Bhavs! If they worked fine, why bother changing the quantities? You’ll just have thicker brownies and can increase the baking time 🙂

  62. Amena

    Perfect!!!
    Made 2 batches on the first go, have also tried your Nashville chicken sliders and they were bomb too

  63. Kimberly

    Hi Zoha! I’m thinking of baking brownie for my class party of 22 person this friday, and saw upon your recipe. I would like to know how much is your serving for this recipe and if i can multiply the ingredients😊

  64. Salwa

    Probably the best brownies recipe I’ve tried yet- perfect sweetness and very fudgy!:))

  65. Mysha

    hi,
    i follow grams as im from the uk. have you tested this recipe using the grams provided in your recipe? i checked one or two of the measurements and some of them are inaccurate 🙁
    thank you!

  66. Shifa Shaikh

    Tastiest brownie ever and it’s even easy to make 🫶🏻😋

  67. Anonymous

    I made the brownies and did not enjoy them unfortunately.

    At first I was quite skeptical about the 3/4 teaspoon of salt, but I trusted the recipe, and turns out the brownies were way too salty!!

    Additionally, I used a 9inch square pan as said by the recipe, but there wasn’t even enough batter to fill up the pan, so the brownies were thin.

    Overall the brownies had a cakey texture which I did not like and were not fudgy.

    I had high hopes for this recipe with all the good reviews, and was left disappointed unfortunately.

  68. Elena Burloi

    Hi.

    These were delicious! It was my first time baking fudgy brownies and I am really happy that I used your recipe.
    I cut it in 20 squares (pretty small, about a big bite each). Can you estimate the number of calories that 1 piece might have?

    Thank you

  69. Marzia

    Hii Zoha, can you please tell me that should we bake on both rods or only bottom??
    thank you

  70. Irene

    Link for both chocolate

  71. Irene

    semi sweet chocolate 28 gram …which brand Link pls

  72. Dee

    Waiting for my batch to cool. I used walnuts instead of choc chips/pieces. Next time I’d use a smaller baking pan, because I like chunky brownies, and these are thinnish. Maybe I screwed somewhere. I trust your recipes since the bomb Easy Chocolate Cake.

  73. Ileri

    Hi, so (we listen we don’t judge), I’ve never made brownies before, but I wanted to make a batch on Christmas (for some reason) so I followed this recipe to the tea and when I saw how thick the batter was I was about to cry, but I just trusted the process and baked it nevertheless. When I tell you those were the best brownies ever…I’m not even lying. My sixth form is having a bake sale for charity, I’m definitely bringing a batch of these (that’s if my siblings don’t finish them the night before)

    1. Zoha Malik

      HAHAHA HUGS you made my day!!

  74. Jessica

    Hi Zoha
    My batter was really good(I tasted /licked it 🤭🤫). I put it in the oven for 180°C cause 335°F – 180°C and for 22 minutes. I went back to check on the brownies and smoke came out of the oven and when I took it out ,my pan and the brownies burnt . I don’t know what has gone wrong . I followed the same temperature and timing and all the measurements of the brownies were right. So if you know what could possibly have gone wrong could you PLEASE help me .

  75. Sabrina

    Hi Zoha, I can’t wait to try this recipe just shopping for all the ingredients. Can you please confirm what semi sweet chocolate it? Any particular brands you recommend? I am based in the U.K. and I can’t really find semi sweet.
    Also, is there any alternative to Valrohna that you will recommend for cocoa powder?

    Thank you in advance!

  76. aizel

    Hello. is it ok to store it in the fridge? or the texture will change?

  77. Sadaf Idris

    can I make this in air fryer

    1. Aneeqa Arshad

      Hey zoha
      Can you tell me if I can add add half white and half brown sugar for the total sugar ratio?

      1. Zoha Malik

        Yes, that’s fine, but try to blend them both!

  78. Faiza Malick

    Heyy ! The brownies turned out amazing, I loved the taste, also I achieved a great shiny crust but the edges and the bottom layer of the brownie was too soft. It didn’t turn out to be crispyyy. So will you please let me know what mistake I might have made. Was the butter too much or the eggs ? Waiting for your response 🙂

  79. Shezray Sohaib

    BEST (& easiest) brownie recipe I have ever made. So SOO delicious!!

  80. Hania Faisal

    Tasted heaven!

  81. Saamiah

    We don’t get semi sweet choco chips In the UK, what can we substitute it for?

    1. Zoha

      just use more dark chocolate 🙂

  82. Vishaka Subramaniam

    hii can i make these in a 9×13 inch pan? if so how do i adjust the baking time? and i dont have a stand mixer, can i use a hand mixer instead?

    1. Zoha

      You will have to 1.5x all quantities for 9×13″ pan, same baking time. And yes hand mixer works!

  83. Maryam

    I made these ooey gooey fudgy brownies using this recipe and I’m a fan😍 Zoha’s recipes are always foolproof and i find myself coming back to this page for more. Appreciate all the effort and love you pour into your recipes Zoha ❤️

    1. Zoha

      Thank you so much, Maryam!

  84. Sana Mazhar

    Its the best brownie recipe ever, these came out perrfeccttt!! There is nothing that needs to be changed, just perfect! 🙃 thankU for such an incredible recipe ❤️

    1. Zoha

      Thank you so much, Sana!

  85. Nazreen

    Hi Zoha, I only have 8×8 inch pans. How should I adjust the baking time?

    1. Zoha

      Add ~2-3 minutes!

  86. Abigail

    Hi Zoha, my brownies always turn out too oily, what must be the reason? I always follow your recipe correctly but still and also they don’t come out neatly as your’s as shown in the pic and video. I absolutely love the taste b
    though but it feels too oily. Please do reply.
    It’s not easy to find caster sugar/fine sugar here in India, it’s expensive and granulated sugar that I get, has big granules. I have used powdered sugar in this recipe, does it make a difference? But please explain the oily part

    1. Zoha

      For sugar, you should get granulated sugar and grind it. Powdered sugar is different.
      For the oiliness – I am not sure, they shouldn’t be oily. What kind of butter and chocolate are you using?

  87. Naurin

    hey zoha , I am about to try this recipie, I wanted to know if its okay to add vanilla essence and also, will 3/4 tsp salt make it too salty?

    1. Zoha

      You can add vanilla if you like, and no, I don’t think 3/4 tsp is too salty. Feel free to reduce to 1/2 tsp to be safe, though!

  88. M

    Hi Zoha! Do you think it’ll taster better if we brown the butter first(on a stove) and then add chocolate to it

    1. Zoha

      You can def do that!!

  89. Sundus Shakeel

    Hands down these are the best brownies I’ve ever made and eaten. 🙌🏻 This is really a full proof recipe that I’ve tried this multiple times and it was never a fail. And I’m not even exaggerating when I say this. Simple thankyou for existing girl and bringing the best dessert recipes our way. 😍♥️

    1. Zoha

      Awwww thank you So SO SO much, Sundus!! God bless you!

  90. Madeeha Adeel

    Best recipe

    1. Zoha

      Thank you!

  91. Hammadah

    Hi Zoha! You know what, this recipe is da bomb! I am not a fan of brownies, but this one is exceptional. Tried so many recipes, but this one is the best. No words needed. Btw, may I know is it possible if we keep the batter overnight and bake on the next day? Thanks! Lots of love from Malaysia

    1. Zoha

      Awww, you totally made my day, Hammadah! Thank you so so much!!! I recommend baking straight away for the best results 🙂

  92. Shehnaz Shaik

    I’ve already tried several other recipes of yours and I know for a fact that your recipes come with 200% taste guaranteed. I am a fan! The brownies are perfect. I used Ghirardelli chocolate and in the end added chopped walnuts instead of chocolate chips. It comes together perfectly and I’m worried I might finish them off by myself. You’re the best Zoha❤️

    1. Zoha

      Aww thank you SO much, Shehnaz! Your kind support means the world to me 🙂

  93. Ramla Zulfiqar

    zoha if we bake these brownies in gas oven which is not conventional. it has no fan, at which temperature should we bake and for how many mins and will it give the same result?

    1. Zoha

      no fan is the same as conventional 🙂 So the same as my oven!

  94. Reena

    I added 1TBSP more coffee, just because I love how coffee brings out the chocolate flavour. These brownies came out so darn good! Just the right amount of gooey and flaky. This will definitely be my go to brownie recipe! Thank you Zoha!! 🙂

    1. Zoha

      YAYYY thank you so much, Reena!!!

  95. Zainab

    Hi, Zoha! The brownies turned out amazing.
    However, I was wondering if we can replace some white sugar with brown sugar in this recipe? As I usually add some brown sugar in my brownies and wanted to ask how it would turn out in this recipe.

    1. Zoha

      You can replace half of the white sugar with brown if you want to try it out!

    2. M

      Same question. The brown sugar gives it that chewy texture so can we add half brown sugar and half white sugar

      1. Zoha

        You can definitely make that swap – I don’t think it makes a huge different

      2. Zainab

        Hi. So I tried these today by adding some brown sugar and here’s what I did:
        1. Replaced 1/4th quantity of white sugar with brown sugar
        2. The taste was amazing however, there wasn’t much of a difference
        3. This batter baked quickly. I am not sure about the science behind it but my brownies were done in 15 minutes.

        Overall. I would prefer sticking to the original recipe because it is perfect! You can try adding brown sugar but it’s not worth the effort imo.

        1. Zoha

          So helpful! Thanks for sharing, Zainab

  96. Faiza

    Best best best!

    1. Zoha

      Thank you!!

  97. Karen

    This looks fantastic. Can we bake it a day ahead? How would you suggest we store it?

    1. Zoha

      I think brownies are best fresh! Otherwise keep at room temp in an airtight container.

  98. Shadma

    Mine turned out very bad. Too bitter to eat. There was no fudge aswell.

  99. Ams

    I’m not much of a baker and I’ve tried making brownies before and never got it right. This was the best and easiest brownies ever and I was over the moon about the flakey top. I’ve baked this 3 times already since Eid and plan on baking it again this weekend for my husband’s work and I’m quite excited about it. Thanks Zoha!

    I tried your one serve chocolate cake and that was a hit too!!

    1. Zoha

      Thank you SO SO SO much!! Really glad that you like this recipe <3

  100. Andrea

    Hi Zoha!!!
    My first time to bake brownies and this recipe never failed me!! Thank you for this wonderful recipe.
    I just want to know if I can add nuts on top or mixed with the chocolate batter?
    Im excited to try your other recipes!!

    1. Zoha

      Aww, thank you Andrea! You can definitely mix in nuts – i recommend toasting them first for the best flavor

  101. Kaira

    Hii
    Would love to try this recipe but how much should I make if my pan is of size 12″×10″ ?
    Please would love to know

    1. Zoha

      I would say multiply all quantities by 1.5x!

  102. Rubab

    This is the best brownie recipe ever. l really appreciate you Zoha for giving us the perfect recipe. Can’t wait to try your other creations soon.
    Love and Dua your way💖

    1. Zoha

      Thank you so much for the love!! 🙂 <3

  103. Hana

    this really are the bestttt brownies recipe!!It was so easy to make and really delicious. Im telling you if you try this recipe you wont search for any other recipe..this has become my fav recipe

    1. Zoha

      Thank you SO much, Hana!!!

  104. Sushmitta

    Hello Zoha,

    I tried your recipe to the T. baked for good 25 mins however it was uncooked in the centre and looked perfectly baked on the sides. I was confused whether to bake it for somemore time or leave it to cook on it own coz of the internal heat. when did the toothpick test, it came out wet with liquidy batter. hence naked it for more 5 – 8 mins but i lost the crinkly top and the sheen ;-( which was there earlier.

    i know each oven behaves differently, however if you can suggest any tips or advise here.

    1. Elba Peter

      Really yummy!
      I might minus the coffee next time but a keeper recipe!!! Flawless in looks and very fudgy and thank you for all the tips!!

      1. Zoha

        Thank you, Elba 🙂

  105. Asha

    Hi,

    Can’t wait to try these..quick q. Can I use all semi sweet chocolate instead of of the 60- 70% dark. If that’s ok, should I reduce the amount of sugar?

    1. Zoha

      You can use semi sweet chocolate and don’t reduce sugar 🙂

  106. Sumbul Fatima

    Hi Zoha,

    Thank you for such a delicious and easy brownie recipe. I made it for my friends and they loved it. I really love how you put small details in your recipe like using tin containers for baking. I baked it in ceramic and it took a little more than what was mentioned in the recipe. It turned out so good at the end.

    Regards
    Sumbul

    1. Zoha

      Hi dear Sumbul,

      Thank you for trying my recipe and writing such a kind review. I am glad this recipe worked for you!

      Love,
      Zoha

  107. Aminath

    Ever since, I tried her recipe I had never opt for any other. I swear it’s the best brownies I had. Easy steps to follow and the final product is gooey and delicious.

    1. Zoha

      Awww ❤️ Thank you so much!!

      1. Madiha Em

        Hey Zoha, I tried your rownie recipe and they turned aaaa-mazing!! 👌🏼 Now I have a party at home, how can I make them in large quantities? I have a tray size of 12×10 inches. Is there any way I can prep them a day ahead and just do little mixing and baking next day??? Any tips on that??

        1. Zoha Malik

          Hi Madiha! I recommend making brownies fresh for the best results. A 12×10″ tray is just a little bigger than a 9×9″ tray so you can do 1.5x all the quantities.

  108. Aaliya

    I have taken these brownies to every party I get invited to and it’s the only dessert that’s ALWAYS the first to go!

    Now when I get invited to my friends houses im almost expected to take these brownies all the time ??
    But I don’t mind because they’re so easy to make and god damn delicious!!!

    Props to the chef! Much love ☺️❤️

    1. Zoha

      Awww thank you so much, Aaliya!!! I really appreciate it <3

  109. Hera

    Can we replace butter with vegetable oil :p.want to make it now but dont have butter and need to shop it;p

    1. Zoha

      Hi Hera! Unfortunately no 🙁 Oil brownies are very different from butter brownies

  110. Haseeb

    This is probably my 10th time I’m making these brownies. Everyone at my office loves them. Little do they know that its zoha’s recipes all the way to Lahore!!

    1. Zoha

      Awwww!!!!! Made my day, truly!!! Thank you for loving my recipe, Haseeb 🙂

  111. Maithili

    Can we make it eggless?

    1. Zoha

      Hi Maithili! Unfortunately you cannot make this recipe eggless as it relies on whipping air into the egg mixture. I hope to share an eggless version in the future.

      1. sameera

        Hi zoha I wanted to try making these just wanted to ask do I put in large eggs or normal size eggs.Thank you

        1. In

          hi zoha, if i am making double the quantity in one tray, would the baking time/ temperature be affected? If so could i know the new time and temperature to bake them at please

          1. Zoha

            Hi In, what size pan are you using? That will determine time and temperature.

  112. Abeeha

    This was really a great recipe! Not only did it turn out delicious but was a super easy recipe to follow! No extra dramas! Loved it. Thankyou so much!

    1. Vaishnavi Mande

      can I use hung curd instead of egg?

  113. Urooj

    Best brownie recipe i have come across and definitely the only one that I need now. ??

    1. Zoha

      I am SO happy to read that – thank you so much Urooj! <3

  114. Alina

    Can we replace milk chocolate with the dark chocolate if we don’t like dark chocolate?

    1. Zoha

      I don’t recommend doing that! Milk chocolate is already sweet and will make the brownies sweet instead of rich and chocolatey. What you can do is replace all the chopped chocolate added in the end with milk chocolate.

  115. Kav

    Recipe was super easy. Worked like a charm and the taste was incredible!!!! I used mixed pieces of chocolate for the top and it was delicious! Thanks Zoha!

    1. Zoha

      Lovely! So glad you enjoyed this, Kav! <3

  116. Sana Fatima

    Definitely the best fudgy brownies, and probably the only one without heaps of sugar. It gives a perfect chocolaty taste. Love it!

    1. Zoha

      Ah yes – had to make sure my recipe didn’t have 1.5 cups of sugar :p Thank you for trying it!

  117. Hasna koppan

    I swear they are the bestttt. It was so easy to make and really delicious. Im telling you if you try this recipe you wont search for any other recipe .you are amazing zoha?

    1. Zoha

      Aww, thank you Hasna! These brownies are definitely a staple in anyone’s repertoire.

      1. Priyanka Paul

        Best brownies ever!!

  118. Ainne

    I have tried your brownies recipe and let me tell you, its hands down best brownie recipe ever. I no longer fail at making them and they are gone before even i could get second piece of it… everyone at home loves them ☺️

    1. Sinon

      hi zoha I haven’t made this yet but I was wondering no baking soda?

      1. Zoha

        It’s not needed in brownies as we don’t need them to rise 🙂

    2. Melissa

      how long can we store them after baking on room temp and in fridge

      1. Zaiba

        Hey zoha no doubt amazing recipe I don’t know what went wrong the butter was too much and the brownie turned extremely fudgy and count even slice it .. pls do help

    3. Zoha

      :’) Makes me so happy to hear this. Thank you for trusting my recipe!

      1. Zainab

        hello Zoha, I have a question.
        I don’t want my brownies to be Soo sweet. I do t want to add to much sugar. what should I do?

        1. Param

          Hi Zoha,

          Question about the use of eggs. What is the equal replacement of eggs in most of your recipes like cakes, cookies and this brownie recipe? Your recipes are very tempting and i wana try them but i dont eat egg.

          1. Zoha

            HI Param. For any recipe in which you aren’t whipping eggs to add air, you can replace 1 egg with 1 tbsp flax seed mixed in 3 tbsp of water. However, in this recipe, the eggs are whipped, so that sadly won’t work

  119. Maryam

    Love these brownies, Zoha you are Baking Queen!

    1. Dina

      Hello
      Could I do 1/2c sugar total?

      1. Ananya Sahay

        From the recipe:

        Don’t mess with the butter, chocolate, and sugar ratio

        I have tested the ratios of this recipe meticulously, so don’t try to reduce the butter or sugar and expect the same results.

      2. Dina

        Hello?

        1. Zainab

          if you reduce the sugar then you will not get the crinkle top . I have tried this.

          1. Zoha Malik

            Yup! But it’s not as important as flavor for some people 🙂

    2. Zoha

      Haha, thank you thank you!!!!

      1. Mehreen

        I love these brownies!

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Chocolate chip cookies on a white background