Description
This recipe uses browned butter to create brownies with a deeply flavored, irresistibly chewy texture.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips or chunks
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the butter foams, then subsides, and brown bits form at the bottom, giving off a nutty aroma. This is brown butter. Immediately pour the brown butter into a heatproof bowl, scraping in the browned milk solids.
- Whisk the granulated sugar and brown sugar into the warm brown butter until fully combined. The residual heat helps dissolve the sugars, which contributes to chewiness.
- Whisk in the eggs one at a time until just incorporated. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into an 8×8 inch baking pan lined with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes. The edges should look set, and a toothpick inserted near the center should come out with moist crumbs attached, not wet batter.
- Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before slicing. Cooling allows the structure to set for the best chewy texture.
Notes
- Browning the butter concentrates its flavor and changes its fat structure slightly, which inhibits gluten development and promotes a denser, chewier final product compared to using melted or softened butter.
- Using a higher ratio of brown sugar to white sugar helps retain moisture, further supporting chewiness.
- Cooling the brownies completely before cutting prevents them from crumbling and firms up the chewy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 25
- Sodium: 100
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 50