Home » Brownies & Bars » Fudgy Cocoa Brownies
An easy family-sized recipe for rich, fudgy homemade brownies that uses cocoa powder instead of melted chocolate.
Nothing beats a chewy, gooey, glorious brownie. And box mixes do a great job (better than some of the homemade recipes I've tried)!
Box mixes are easy and yield excellent results.
But every time I get a craving for brownies, I never have a box mix in the pantry! And when it's 7:30 on a Tuesday night and I'm craving brownies, I want what I want!
The problem with homemade brownies on such occasions is that most recipes are super fussy AND they make a small batch.
Most homemade brownie recipes call for melted chocolate. Which is delicious. I have a recipe for those too - see Homemade Crackle-Top Fudge Brownies.
But it's 7:30 on a Tuesday night and I'm not channeling Ina Garten here. I just want to throw some stuff in a bowl and get it in the oven.
As for the small batch size... I'm just not turning my oven on and cleaning up the kitchen for an 8x8 pan of anything.
If I'm putting in the effort (even as easy as this recipe is), I want a full 13x9 pan that will satisfy my sweet tooth for a few days!
Plus, brownies are always better the next day!
So, I crafted this recipe. It's easy and it makes a big batch. And even though there's only cocoa powder in these instead of melted chocolate, they are stilt super fudgy and rich!
The best part is that you probably have all of the ingredients in your kitchen right now. Like, you could literally go to your kitchen and make these. Right now.
Go check to see. You got everything? Then go make you some brownies then!
WHAT MAKES THIS RECIPE WORK
VEGETABLE OIL AND BUTTER - The butter makes them taste better but the oil is what makes and keeps them so moist and fudgy!
BLOOMING THE COCOA - You can read more about the science behind it in my recipe for Chocolate Pound Cake, but essentially we need to hit the cocoa powder with HOT liquid to wake and open it up. I use hot coffee because it makes the flavor more intense but you can use hot water too (I promise these don't taste like coffee though!).
Recipe for Fudgy Cocoa Brownies
Fudgy Cocoa Brownies
An easy family-sized recipe for rich, fudgy homemade brownies that uses cocoa powder instead of melted chocolate.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup HOT black coffee (can sub hot water)
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13x9 baking pan with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
- Combine hot coffee and cocoa powder in a small bowl then mix until smooth (mixture will be thick). Set aside. 3/4 c. cocoa powder, 1/2 c. hot coffee
- In a large mixing bowl combine eggs, vegetable oil, melted butter, sugar and vanilla then mix on low speed with an electric mixer until well combined. Once combined, increase speed to medium then continue mixing for 1 minute. 2 eggs, 1/3 c. each oil and butter, 2 c. sugar, 2 tsp vanilla
- Add coffee/cocoa mixture then mix until thoroughly incorporated.
- Add flour, salt and baking soda then mix on low until ingredients are well combined (but don't overmix). 1-1/3 c. flour, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking soda
- If adding chocolate chips or chopped nuts (1 cup each is great), stir them into the batter with a rubber spatula or sturdy spoon.
- Spread brownie batter evenly into pan. Bake at 350 degrees 30-35 minutes or until brownies are mostly firm (a little jiggle in the middle is normal).
Notes
- Baking time will vary with dark or non-stick metal (approx 25-30 minutes) and glass or ceramic pans (approx 40-45 minutes).
- Use regular, dark or Dutch processed cocoa powder.
Thank you, these look delicious.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to make a batch tonight.
Tracey
p.s. I love your Blog.
You're not kidding - I do have everything! I wish I had the energy to make them tonight, but it was Meet the Teacher so I've been at school since 7 and I just got home. Definitely will make them this weekend while we are watching football! Thanks for another great recipe.
ReplyDeleteMandy,
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely hilarious! I totally agree with you on the 8x8 pans and crazy steps and ingredients like unicorn tears!!! You always stick something in that makes me laugh! I have enjoyed your cookbook and your humor!
Thanks so much for all your work,
Margaret J
Made these this afternoon - they are fantastic! Loved that I had all the ingredients on hand! Thanks for another great recipe!
ReplyDeletetry not to leave out the coffee if possible (for those reading).. it brings out the flavor of chocolate. Learned that from a famous chocolatier, and Ina Garten also uses it in her famous chocolate cake. I don't drink coffee, so I keep a small jar of instant granules in the freezer just for stuff like chocolate recipes...l hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteSweet Baby Jesus...that's all I have to say. First I have never made homemade brownies because in the past every single one that I have tried (when someone made them) SUCKED! Not these! Oh emm gee were these good! I was skeptical about the coffee so thank you Terri for saying not to leave it out. I will never second guess you again. These are going down in my drawer for every single time I want brownies. Thank YOU!
ReplyDeleteI've been looking for a brownie recipe with a crunchy top and moist & chewy inside and I think I found it! Making these for tonight's dinner!
ReplyDeleteOh my, these are the bomb!! And yes, make sure you add the coffee, it gives them what my husband calls the "grownup brownie". I will never buy another boxed mix. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteFinally tried this recipe. FINALLY a brownie that lives up to what I am looking for.
ReplyDeleteYou nailed it.
These do sound wonderful. I wrote up a short post on chocolate paired with raspberry wine. I found your recipe and recommend it as a another thing to try with the wine.
ReplyDeleteMariz
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