Name: The Best Brownies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 0.66666668653488 cup all-purpose flour; 0.75 teaspoon kosher salt; 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped; 0.5 cup unsalted butter; 1.25 cups white sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Prep Time:

15 mins

Cook Time:

30 mins

Additional Time:

35 mins

Total Time:

1 hrs 20 mins

Servings:

9

Yield:

9 brownies

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Virtually everyone who posts a brownie recipe online claims that theirs is the best, and in keeping with that time honored traditional, I will do the same. These really are the best brownies. And I'm sure you'll agree when you make them, just as long as we're on the same page regarding which type of brownie we're talking about.

These are "fudgy" brownies, so if you prefer cake-like brownies you came to the wrong place. Please leave. But, before you do, I have to make sure you realize those are just a slightly thinner piece of chocolate cake. You can call it a brownie, but it's cake. Which brings me to my most common complaint about fudgy brownies. They're just a thinner piece of fudge.

That's not a problem with this easy recipe. We get the moist, dense, chocolaty goodness of fudge, yet the brownie still features the texture and crumb of a baked good. The keys are using pure chocolate instead of part cocoa, as well as actually baking the brownie all the way through. Not over-baked, but just cooked enough (so as not to be left with raw, gummy dough once cooled).

Besides producing a proper inside texture, cooking the brownies long enough also gives us that signature shiny, crispy, flaky top crust, and (my favorite part)chewy edges. Of course, if you want to toss in some nuts feel free. But these are so perfect, I didn't feel the need. Either way, I really hope you give these a try soon. Enjoy!

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Ingredients

⅔ cup all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
½ cup unsalted butter
1 ¼ cups white sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter an 8-inch square baking dish or pan, then line with parchment paper if desired to make getting the brownies out easier.
Mix flour and salt together in a bowl; set aside.
Place chopped chocolate and butter into a heatproof bowl and set over a saucepan with 1 inch of very gently simmering water. When the butter and almost all of the chocolate is melted, stir until smooth. Turn off the heat and set aside.
Mix sugar and eggs in a mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer until very airy, thick, and creamy, about 5 minutes. Mix in vanilla extract, then slowly drizzle in the melted chocolate mixture, while mixing on high speed.
Dump in the flour mixture and mix on low speed just until the flour disappears. Use a spatula to transfer the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread as evenly as possible.
Bake in the center of the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out virtually clean, about 30 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Use a spatula to lightly press down the higher parts of the brownie around the edge of the dish. Let cool to room temperature, 20 to 30 minutes, before removing and cutting into 9 pieces.

Chef's Notes:

If you want to double this recipe and use a 9x13-inch baking dish, that will also work, although I believe they'll be a little bit thicker and take a little bit longer to bake. Buttered foil will also work instead of parchment paper.

You can use 1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon fine salt instead of kosher.

Make sure you use chocolate that is 99 to 100% pure cacao.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

296	Calories
16g	Fat
38g	Carbs
4g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 9
Calories 296
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 16g	21%
Saturated Fat 10g	50%
Cholesterol 68mg	23%
Sodium 179mg	8%
Total Carbohydrate 38g	14%
Dietary Fiber 2g	6%
Total Sugars 28g
Protein 4g
Calcium 20mg	2%
Iron 2mg	13%
Potassium 107mg	2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.