Whether you’re looking for an easy chocolate treat or something special to impress your guests, these easy, from-scratch homemade brownies will hit the spot.

Making the best homemade brownies from scratch is easier than you might think! This recipe is simple and delicious, perfect for a quick and satisfying chocolate dessert. If you’re looking for an easy, crowd-pleasing homemade brownies recipe, you’ve come to the right place! These delicious brownies are made from scratch, and they’re sure to please everyone. Plus, they’re perfect for a special occasion or a festive get-together. You won’t be disappointed!

I should also mention these easy brownies only require a few ingredients, and most of them you likely have in your kitchen already. Best of all, they’re super customizable – you can add whatever flavors you like!

This recipe is for classic brownies, but feel free to get creative with variations. I’ve made over 8 variations with this base classic from-scratch brownies recipe and loved everyone… especially the perfect-for-a-crowd Peanut Butter Frosted Brownies recipe–the best brownie recipe ever… in my opinion! That recipe will make its debut soon. So keep an eye out!

THE BEST HOMEMADE BROWNIES ARE MADE WITH SIMPLE INGREDIENTS, FROM SCRATCH, AND OVEN BAKED

Skip the boxed brownie mix, it’s time to prepare some homemade brownies from scratch! Simply follow the instructions in this step-by-step recipe, and soon you’ll be enjoying your own fresh-from-the-oven brownies. If you’d like to skip to the best part… the full printable recipe card, it can be found at the bottom of this post.

HOMEMADE BROWNIES – SIMPLE INGREDIENTS, SIMPLE PROCESS

Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

1. Butter – a whole pound. Yep, you read that right. 😉
2. Granulated Sugar (3 cups) and Brown Sugar (just a cup) – between the two you will need about two pounds of sugars
3. Eggs – 8 whole eggs which will weigh about a pound. This recipe is starting to look like a chocolate “pound brownie,” right?
4. Vanilla Extract
5. All-Purpose Flour
6. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (processed, dutch, dark cocoa powder, or natural cocoa powder is all fine cocoa powders to use) – no need for milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate to make get a rich chocolate flavor BUT you could definitely add a cup of chocolate chips or even added peanut butter chips if you’d like to. This would change the consistency slightly, offering a more gooey brownie by adding chocolate chips.
7. Salt

A lot of brownie recipes out there call for baking soda and/or baking powder as a leavening agent. As you can see in the ingredients list, this recipe has no baking powder or baking soda. The eggs in this recipe are used as the only leavening agent. This helps create the delicious texture between a cake-like brownie, fudgy brownies, and gooey brownies.

To make this easy brownie recipe you will also need some equipment:

• stand mixer – I would not recommend using a hand mixer or no mixer as this batter will be very thick when done
• measuring cups or kitchen scale
• Scraper to clean the bowl and spread the batter
• cookie sheet – this makes an entire cookie sheet of brownies which is perfect for a party, family gathering, potluck, and more.
• oven

Let’s get started!

MAKING BROWNIES FROM SCRATCH:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare a cookie sheet with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.

Cream the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar together with a stand mixer – about 2 or 3 minutes. Slowly add the eggs in one at a time. Once fully incorporated mix in the vanilla extract.

In a separate mixing bowl (medium bowl), mix the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until combined. The batter should be thick and similar to soft cookie dough or thick buttercream frosting. Do not over mix the batter. Stop mixing immediately once the dry ingredients are incorporated.

Pour the batter onto the prepared pan. Spread the brownie batter evenly in the cookie sheet pan.

Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick poked into the center of the brownies comes out clean.

Cool completely before cutting. Cut the cookie sheet of homemade brownies into squares–24 very large brownies or 48 “regular” size brownies.

You can also cut them into different shapes with fun cookie cutters for a more personalized homemade dessert or cool, cut into two halves, fill with your favorite ice cream to make fun ice cream sandwiches like these festive heart-shaped ice cream sandwiches.

CHOCOLATE BROWNIE RECIPE VARIATIONS

This homemade brownies recipe is a classic from-scratch recipe. It can stand on its own–no frosting or toppings needed BUT that doesn’t mean you can’t. If you’re looking for homemade brownie recipe variations, try one of these:

My recipes for each variation are coming soon. Stay tuned!

• Mint Oreo Brownies
• Cookies and Cream Brownies
• Caramel Brownies
• Peanut Butter Frosted Brownies
• Turtle Brownies (caramel, pecan and pretzel)
• Smores Brownies
• Death By Chocolate Brownies
• Peppermint Bark Brownies
• Mini Smores Brownie Trifles

With its rich chocolate flavor, this is also fabulous brownie recipe to use in vanilla ice cream brownie sundaes!

HOMEMADE BROWNIES–BROWNIE RECIPE TIPS AND FAQs

CAN I HALVE THIS BROWNIE RECIPE?

Yes, you can. Simply use a 9×13 square pan and follow the cooking instructions of this homemade brownies recipe. You may need to adjust the bake time by 5 minutes.

CAN I FREEZE BROWNIES FROM SCRATCH?

Yes! You can freeze homemade brownies. It’s easy, simply place the homemade brownies in a zip-top freezer bag. The homemade brownies can be frozen for up to 3 months. To thaw the homemade brownies, place them on the counter for 1-2 hours.

CAN I ADD NUTS TO THIS BROWNIE RECIPE?

Yes, this from-scratch brownie recipe can have nuts added to it. It’s optional but would be so delicious. Generally, you can add up to 2 cups of chopped nuts without changing the recipe. The usual type of nuts used in brownie recipes are pecans or chopped walnuts.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE FLOUR?

I’m sure you could substitute other types of flour in this recipe, but I would not recommend doing so on my recommendation as I haven’t tried it myself.

If you’re looking for a kitchen-tested gluten-free brownie recipe, check out my friend’s recipe over at Life After Wheat.

There are few things better than homemade brownies. 😊 There’s something about homemade brownies that just feels special. As if they were made just for you, and no one else. I don’t know what it is about homemade brownies that make them so special, but homemade brownies from scratch are my go-to recipe any time I have a chocolate craving or family get-together.

So, what are you waiting for? Make homemade brownies from scratch! I know you will give it 5 stars for being the best brownies ever.

For more delicious free recipes, check out my dessert recipe index.

THAT’S A WRAP! HERE’S THE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE FOR THE BEST BROWNIES. ENJOY!

This recipe came from my cousin-in-law. She shared these amazingly delicious brownies with us at our 2021 Johnson Family Reunion and it was love at first bite! This magnificent recipe has been passed down through the generations of her family, mother to daughter, again and again.