Blue Ribbon Fudgy Brownies (Lazy Day Recipe) + Video
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This Fudgy Brownie recipe makes a perfectly chocolaty, moist, and delicious treat. 1 bowl and 25 minutes until you can dive into this fabulous treat! These are the best brownies with the perfect fudgy texture. Now is the time to make these perfect brownies!
We’ve got some sweet news! Our readers have been telling us how they’ve entered our beloved brownie recipe in contests—yes, even at state fairs—and walked away with top honors! 🏅
So, we’re giving these brownies a well-deserved new title: Blue Ribbon Brownies! If you haven’t tried them yet, now’s the time to see what all the fuss (and ribbons) are about!
There are so many different ways to make this chocolatey dessert. So, whether you like your brownies fudgy, cakey, or healthy, I have the perfect recipe for you.
Snickers Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies are loaded with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as the base for the out-of-this-world treat.
The brownie is topped with a peanut butter frosting that is second only to your grandma’s peanut butter fudge.
Double Chocolate Pecan Cake Brownies are the perfect brownie for every occasion or no occasion at all.
Rich, moist, chewy, loaded with chocolate and pecans… What more could you ask for?
Desserts that are made without processed sugars are a great choice for us. Fudgy Walnut Black Bean Brownies are a perfect choice. Decadent and healthy!
Making Fudgy Brownies from Scratch – Video
Be sure to watch the video to see us make this brownie recipe from start to finish! Look for it in the recipe card, at the bottom of this post.
Brownie Recipe Fudgy, Chewy, or Cakey
The consistency of your treats has everything to do with the ingredients that you use when you’re making them.
There are many different variations when it comes to making this fudgy brownie recipe.
For a fudgy or chewy dessert, look for a recipe that contains a higher fat to flour ratio of ingredients.
Typically substitutions like applesauce and pumpkin puree don’t result in a fudgy consistency.
If you want your bars to have a more cake-like texture, be sure that you are beating the ingredients to incorporate air.
Many cakey desserts also contain extra eggs to help give them a different consistency.
Need to serve a crowd?
This recipe doubles perfectly. Just use a 9×13 baking dish and double recipe. Watch the cooking time, as you may need to cook them for 20-25 minutes.
Don’t overbake them!
To ensure the fudgiest consistency possible, it’s important that you don’t over bake them. Baking for too long will dry out the center and harden the edges.
How to Tell When Brownies are Done
Place a toothpick into the center of the pan. If it comes out clean, or with just a few stray crumbs on it, they are ready.
You might also start to notice a crinkly top, which is another sign that these perfect fudge brownies are just about done.
Pay attention to the cook time and baking time, and don’t overbake to get the best flavor.
The toothpick test is the best way to make sure that these fudgy chocolate brownies are done and ready to eat.
Best Way to Serve Fudgy Brownies
When I make this easy brownie recipe, we usually just snack on them warm from the oven.
But, if you want to take them up a notch, you can serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of homemade chocolate syrup.
I’ve also seen people add a tiny bit of flaky sea salt to the chop for a sweet and salty flavor – and also drizzle caramel on top of these amazing brownies.
The fudgy center is the perfect texture for your sweet tooth. This is why it’s one of my favorite desserts. There’s nothing like a warm brownie, straight from the oven.
Does cocoa powder quality matter?
One of the most important ingredients you’ll use in this fudgy brownie recipe is cocoa powder. But, not all varieties are created the same.
The most common type of cocoa powder is regular unsweetened cocoa powder. And, it’s what most people have in their kitchen pantry right now.
But, the best choice for making brownies from scratch is Dutch-process cocoa powder.
Dutch cocoa is processed using a special method that creates a darker color and gives it a milder taste.
This is the variety of cocoa that is most commonly used in making chocolate. So, if you want a truly authentic, chocolate taste, look for Dutch-process rather than regular unsweetened powder.
Brownie Mix-Ins and Toppings
There are many different add-ins that will work in this fudgy brownie recipe. Here are a few of my favorites simple ingredients that you can use to top these yummy cocoa brownies:
- Nuts
- Chocolate Chips
- Butterscotch Chips
- Pieces of your favorite candy bar
- Marshmallows
- Crushed pretzels
- Peanut butter chips
- White chocolate chips
- Dark chocolate chunks
- Chopped chocolate bars
Every Christmas I make a 9×9 pan of brownies for our friends and neighbors. I mix in 1/2 cup of milk chocolate chips for an extra decadent treat.
You can also drizzle a bit of melted chocolate right on top, too!
You can have a lot of fun making these delicious brownies by changing the mix-ins each time you bake them.
This is just another reason why this is the best homemade brownie recipe!
How to Store and Freeze Brownies
You can cut your treats into equal serving sizes, and store them in an airtight container when they are completely cooled.
Store them at room temperature and eat them within 2 to 4 days for the best results.
These seriously fudgy brownies store and freeze well, and don’t forget that you can pop them in the microwave for a few secrets to have moist brownies full of that deep chocolate flavor in no time at all.
Freezing Instructions
If you’d like to keep your leftovers for more than 4 days, you should freeze them. Just wrap each square in plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out.
Then, place each individually wrapped square in a freezer bag. They will stay good this way for up to 3 months.
Finally, when you want to eat your leftovers, just let them thaw on the counter until they are ready to eat. You can warm them in the microwave for a few seconds to warm them up if you like.
How do I cut brownies?
It’s important to let the whole batch cool down in the square pan before trying to cut it into serving sizes.
If you try and cut the chocolate brownies while they are hot or even warm, they will crumble and not hold together very well.
For the best homemade brownies to be able to cut and be served perfectly, let the pan cool, then use a sharp knife to cut.
You can then use a rubber spatula or a metal spatula to scoop out all the servings of these perfect fudgy brownies that your sweet tooth can handle.
How do I keep the brownie batter from sticking to the pan?
Make sure that you grease the bottom and the sides of the pan well so that the cakey brownies don’t stick. You can also line the pan with parchment paper, too.
No matter if you use a metal pan or a glass pan, you’ll want to have a prepared pan so that the fudgy brownies come out easily when being served.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
Don’t miss a thing! Follow us on
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Other Brownie Recipes
Blue Ribbon Fudgy Brownies (Lazy Day Recipe) + Video
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper, set aside.
- Place butter in a large microwave safe mixing bowl, melt completely.
- Add sugar, cocoa, vanilla and eggs. Whisk to combine well. Add remaining ingredients
- Whisk until completely combined, but do not over mix.
- Pour into prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before cutting.
- Enjoy!
Video
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published May 2013, updated and republished November 2024
Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.
The BEST brownie I have ever eaten! This is just the perfect amount of chocolate, gooey and delicious!
Outrageously gooooooood❤️
Hi Kath,
We are so happy you enjoyed them! They are my favorite. Have a great day!
TSRI Team Member,
Holli
Second time making them I added 2 tbsps. of sour cream, pumpkin pie spice and only added 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips. I also baked them in a meatloaf shaped pan so that they would bake higher.
Don’t know what I did before I found this amazing recipe! It’s so easy to make, and the brownies turn out absolutely delicious. Thanks, Donna!
Hi Tiana!
We’re so glad that you enjoyed our recipe!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn