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Fudgy Chocolate Brownies

Some people prefer their brownies cakey. We developed this recipe to satisfy our craving for a bar that was just the opposite: dense, fudgy, and full of deep chocolate flavor.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 16

Ingredients

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan or heatproof glass dish. Line the pan with parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch overhang on two sides. Set aside. Place butter and chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water; stir frequently until chocolate and butter are melted, about 7 minutes. Remove bowl from heat; let cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.

    Step 2

    Stir sugar into cooled chocolate mixture until combined. Whisk in eggs one at a time, whisking until smooth after each addition. Whisk in vanilla. Gently fold in flour and salt.

    Step 3

    Pour batter into prepared pan, and smooth top with an offset spatula. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Step 4

    Run a knife or offset spatula around the edges of the pan. Using parchment, lift brownies out of pan and onto the rack. Transfer to a cutting board; cut into 2-inch squares. Brownies can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

  2. Nutty Chocolate Brownies Variation

    Step 5

    Follow instructions for Fudgy Chocolate Brownies, folding in 1 1/2 cups (4 1/2 ounces) walnut halves, finely chopped, after the flour and salt. Proceed with the recipe.

  3. Fudgy Chocolate Brownie how-to

    Step 6

    Dusting the bottoms of the cooled brownies with sugar prevents them from sticking together when stacking; you can also place a piece of parchment or waxed paper between them.

Reprinted with permission from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook by Martha Stewart. © 2005 Clarkson Potter
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