Recipe: The Best Fudge Brownies Ever

The Best Fudge Brownies Ever

April 20, 2009 ·

The Best-Ever Brownies

The folks at King Arthur Flour call these their “Best Fudge Brownies Ever”. Pretty big talk, don’t you think? As one who enjoys a good brownie I was definitely game to bake up a batch and see for myself. Did they live up to all the hype?

Well, that depends on how you like your brownies.

If you think brownies ought to be rich and chocolatey, dense and chewy… if a shiny, crackly surface that begs to be broken through with a deftly-wielded serrated knife (or just your eager mitts) is at all inviting to you… if the sight and feel of soft, melted pockets of semi-sweet chocolate cropping up intermittently like decadent little presents makes you stop whatever you’re doing to sit down and savor the goodness …and if, from a highly practical standpoint, you value the ability to remove all of this wonderfulness quickly and easily from its baking pan without any sticking at all…then YES, you will conclude, as I did, that these are, in fact, the BEST FUDGE BROWNIES EVER!

Best-Ever Brownies

The Best Fudge Brownies Ever
From the back of the King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour package

Makes 2 dozen brownies

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 1/4 cups Dutch-process cocoa
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
2 cups chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch pan.

In a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl, or in a saucepan set over low heat, melt the butter, then add the sugar and stir to combine. Return the mixture to the heat (or microwave) briefly, just till it’s hot, but not bubbling; it’ll become shiny looking as you stir it. Heating the butter and sugar a second time will dissolve more of the sugar, which will yield a shiny top crust on your brownies. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl.

Stir in the cocoa, salt, baking powder and vanilla. Add the eggs, beating till smooth; then add the flour and chips, beating till well combined. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake the brownies for 28 to 30 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out dry (though it may have a few crumbs clinging to it). The brownies should feel set both on the edges, and in the center. Remove them from the oven, and after 5 minutes loosen the edges with a table knife; this helps prevent the brownies from sinking in the center as they cool. Cool completely before cutting and serving.

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Tags: brownies, chocolate chips

Desserts

38 Comments

By Maria, April 20, 2009 @ 1:34 PM

Oh yea! I am a fudge girl all the way!! Will have to try these and soon:)

Maria’s last blog post..Recipe for Lemon Angel Food Cupcakes

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By Elle, April 20, 2009 @ 1:40 PM

I knew it was the recipe from the bag! I’ve wanted to make these forever–now I’ll be sure to get to them soon. They look fabulous!

Elle’s last blog post..Guacamole Ice Cream…sort of!

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By Brenda Campbell, April 20, 2009 @ 7:10 PM

I will definitely try these! I have all the ingredients in the house… maybe tonight after the kids go to bed. (I will save some for them tomorrow LOL) But I am a fudge brownie gal totally, it is one of my favorites!!

Brenda Campbell’s last blog post..Choco-Berry Trifle Parfait

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By Cheri, April 20, 2009 @ 7:13 PM

These look amazing! I am hungry just looking at the picture!

Cheri’s last blog post..Garlic Snap Peas

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By Steph, April 20, 2009 @ 7:31 PM

I love a nice crackly top!

Steph’s last blog post..Flour Frosting V2 and Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake

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By Andy, April 20, 2009 @ 8:19 PM

that was the most adorable intro ever. (with great punctuation too!)

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By Lydia (The Perfect Pantry), April 21, 2009 @ 4:47 AM

I’m afraid to make these… because they do look like the best ever, and will have absolutely no self-control around them! But what I love is that I buy this flour all the time, and never bother to look at the recipe on the package. Thanks for making me look.

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)’s last blog post..Greek yogurt (Recipe: lemon walnut yogurt dessert)

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Kathy Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Freezing half the batch is the only self control I’ve been able to muster – out of sight out of mind. Until I open the freezer next, that is!

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Jennifer Reply:
May 20th, 2009 at 4:33 PM
How do these brownies taste after they are frozen? Did you freeze individual servings or an entire “half” pan?

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Kathy Reply:
May 20th, 2009 at 9:06 PM
They froze really well. I cut them into bars and wrapped them individually in press & seal wrap before putting them in a plastic freezer bag.
By Digigirl, April 21, 2009 @ 7:05 AM

I totally agree! I’ve made those before and everyone who’s tried them has agreed – they’re the best!

Digigirl’s last blog post..Easy Chicken Adobo in the Slow Cooker

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By Kristen, April 21, 2009 @ 7:10 AM

Oh yes, these look just about right! Love it!

Kristen’s last blog post..The Fall of a Brownie Purist (Recipe: Black & White Cheesecake Squares)

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By Dani, April 21, 2009 @ 7:27 AM

i am a brownie lover and these dont look like they would dissapoint

Dani’s last blog post..#55) No-Fat Banana Muffins

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By Kara, April 21, 2009 @ 9:02 AM

Best fudge brownies ever? Just the title alone warrants trying these… they look fabulous!

Kara’s last blog post..Hecho en Mexico

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By amy, April 21, 2009 @ 9:33 AM

i havent had my chocolate fix today and this just screamsss EAT ME!

amy’s last blog post..

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By Amy (Sing for your supper), April 21, 2009 @ 9:58 AM

I definitely agree! I made these a few weeks back and decided that I had found my new go-to brownie recipe! By far the best brownies I’ve ever had…

Amy (Sing for your supper)’s last blog post..Tuesdays with Dorie…Bread+Chocolate=LOVE

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By Shan, April 21, 2009 @ 10:51 AM

Never tried these, but I’m a big fan of the KAF On the Fence Brownies (on the fence between fudgy and cakey. Similar to the consistency of Betty Crocker mix). And I’ve tried a bunch of other KAF recipes. Not a stinker in the whole pile. This company knows it’s stuff. Doubt you could go wrong with anything they recommend

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Kathy Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:29 PM
That’s very good to know – now I’m really eager to make a lot of their recipes!

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By marguerite, April 21, 2009 @ 11:12 AM

Those are beautiful!

marguerite’s last blog post..Hard Arnold Palmer… oh yeah!

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By Esi, April 21, 2009 @ 2:37 PM

I have so many bags of KA (stocked up since TJs discontinued it). I will have to try. They look amazing!!!

Esi’s last blog post..Spring Cianfotta

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By Nadine, April 21, 2009 @ 8:21 PM

I just made these… and they’re fantastic!!

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Kathy Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Isn’t that recipe incredible? So glad you liked them too!

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By Faygie, April 22, 2009 @ 1:18 PM

This is my go-to brownie recipe. They really ARE fabulous!

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By Risa, April 22, 2009 @ 3:23 PM

I love the concept of your new site. I wish I had found it earlier. These brownies look amazing!

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By Rachel, April 22, 2009 @ 11:00 PM

They look amazing! How long do you think they would take in the oven if they were cupcake sized?

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Kathy Reply:
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:14 AM
Hi Rachel,

I imagine they’d take a little less time to bake them in a cupcake pan. I’d definitely keep a close eye on them through the oven window – as long as you do the little toothpick test for doneness you should be fine. Good luck!

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By mary, April 23, 2009 @ 12:49 PM

I work at King Arthur, just down the hall from the test kithcen. There are days when there are 6 different chocolate brownies that we have to taste and rate- just to make sure we have the best recipe. It’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it. :0) Mary @ KAF

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Kathy Reply:
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Mary, you just might have the best job on the planet!!

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By Christine, April 28, 2009 @ 10:26 AM

What is the consistency of the batter like? Is it on the liquidy and pourable side, or is it a little denser? I’m toying with the idea of adding a layer of caramel to the center of these (I know, I know…I’m asking for a dessert coma), but that usually tends to work best with a thicker, drier batter.

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Kathy Reply:
April 28th, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Wow, a caramel layer! That might make these the Best-est brownies ever I’d say the batter is on the denser side, kind of sticky. Definitely not liquidy like a cake batter. My guess is it could probably support the caramel. Would love to know how it comes out!

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Christine Reply:
May 5th, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Two words: fan-TASTIC!
The batter worked quite well at supporting the melted caramel. It was a bit on the moister side than the usual batter I use to make caramel brownies with (which caused it to be a messy process), but the end result was just fantastic. I will definitely be making these again!
Thanks for the recipe!

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By shasa, May 29, 2009 @ 6:38 PM

i tried making these, and they werent shiny at all =(
do u have any idea what might went wrong?

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Kathy Reply:
May 29th, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Hmmmm…the only thing I can think of is maybe you accidentally left out an ingredient? I’m known to do that myself quite often! Or maybe your sugar didn’t dissolve quite enough to get the shiny top?

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By Lou, July 4, 2009 @ 5:58 AM

Mmmmmmm, they look mouthwateringly tasty!

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By A-Man, February 19, 2010 @ 12:18 PM

Your fudge brownies look extraordinary yummy. Thank you for the post and the pictures.
A-Man´s last blog ..German yeast dumplings

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By Karen, February 20, 2010 @ 10:48 AM

I make these whenever I need brownies for something, like today when hosting 10 students for a recital. Most of the time I use either half or all Ghirardelli Sweetened Cocoa instead and it comes out extremely scrumptious. Thanks for posting it as it has become an entertaining staple around here!
Karen´s last blog ..Enter Leroy, Stage Right

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Kathy Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:53 PM
Awesome! I definitely view brownies as household staple items too

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By Memoria, March 7, 2010 @ 12:40 PM

I’ve made these before, and they are my go-to brownies. I love making them, and I love the process of melting the butter and sugar together. I recognized these brownies as soon as I saw the crinkly top. YUM!! Lovely photos and blog you have here!
Memoria´s last blog ..Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

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