30 Minute Fudgy One-Bowl Brownies
These quick one-bowl brownies are perfect for when you need a chocolate fix fast. They’re chewy, delicious, and have a classic crinkly top. The recipe uses both melted chocolate and cocoa powder for a really intense chocolatey flavor. They make for an easy cleanup too because you only use one bowl! Quick homemade brownies with minimal clean-up, coming right up!

There is just something so comforting about these SUPER fudgy brownies. They have crinkled tops, are warm and gooey on the inside and have just the perfect amount of chew. They are 30 minute brownies that you can make in one bowl just like my red velvet brownies or brownies with cream cheese frosting.
As a trained professional baker, I also played around with this recipe and decided it was the perfect brownie batter to make homemade brookies with! You can also jazz up this quick brownie recipe with ice cream, whipped cream, or this decadent brownie frosting. Or, eat them straight out of the pan- sometimes that the best way!
If you are looking for something dairy free, try these dairy free brownies!
When I was developing this recipe, it was really important to keep it simple. No extra bowls and separating wet and dry ingredients. I wanted the best one bowl brownie recipe – I tested this recipe 6 times to get these brownies perfect!
Seriously, throw away the box mix of brownies because these are SO much better and so easy to make! Grab your bowl and spatula and let’s get baking!
Ingredients Needed
- Unsalted butter– you will melt this with the chocolate
- Semi sweet chocolate chips– you can use milk or bittersweet but I think semi sweet gives the best flavor
- Granulated sugar- When you whip the sugar with the eggs, you get the shiny crackled tops.
- Eggs– These need to be at room temperature to mix well with the sugar.
- Vanilla Extract– This helps with flavor.
- All purpose flour– We only use a bit of this to keep the brownies fudgy.
- Cocoa Powder– For extra chocolate flavor.
- Kosher Salt– To bring out the flavor.
This recipe uses both melted chocolate and cocoa powder for a really intense chocolatey flavor. The rest of the ingredients are fairly standard baking pantry staples. It’s more important to pay attention here to how the ingredients are used.
How to make brownies in one bowl
Use your preference of hand mixer, standup mixer, or mix by hand.
- Preheat your oven at 350 F and line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper OR spray with a nonstick spray.
- Melt the butter and chocolate in the microwave at 30 second increments until melted. Don’t go over 90 seconds! Then allow the chocolate to cool for 5 minutes before adding your eggs. (We don’t want chocolate scrambled eggs here!)
- Mix in the eggs and sugar with a whisk or a hand mixer and mix on high speed for 3 minutes. The whisk creates air bubbles which creates the crackled brownie tops. If you use a spatula for this you will have different results. Switch to a spatula to add in the vanilla.
- Now you can add the dry ingredients into the batter. Stir until combined and there are no longer any dry streaks.
- Bake for 25-28 minutes and allow to cool before diving in. The brownies will cut much easier if you allow them to cool all the way.
Best type of pan for baking brownies
The best types of pans for baking brownies are either glass or a light colored metal baking tray because they are even conductors of heat. What you dont want to do is bake them in a dark colored pan because it will get too hot and possibly burn the brownies.
Best Chocolate to use for brownies
I like to use a semi sweet dark chocolate for brownies because it gives off a super rich chocolate flavor. Bittersweet chocolate can be used too. A milk chocolate would make the recipe sweeter. The best kind of chocolate to use is from a bar that you chop up. In this recipe I used chocolate chips because it’s what I had on hand and they still came out delicious!
Recipe TIPS
- To get the crinkled shiny tops- Make sure you are whipping the eggs and sugar well. The longer you whip the eggs in the chocolate, the lighter the brownie will be and give you that classic crackly top. This also helps to create a taller brownie because of all the air that is getting incorporated into the batter.
- Make sure the brownies bake evenly– Line the pan with parchment paper and hold it down with clips while pouring the batter in. Check the photo above! Make sure to remove the clips before placing it in the oven.
- Best way to cut brownies– Cut the brownie square vertically in half, then cut the halves in half again. Then do the same horizontally. You’ll have 16 perfect squared brownies.
Toppings
You can frost these brownies with my brownie frosting or add these fun ingredients to the top of the brownies before baking:
- m&ms
- pretzels
- Oreos
- walnuts
30 Minute Fudgy One-Bowl Brownies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (113.5 g) butter, unsalted
- 6 oz (170.1 g) semi sweet chocolate chips, about 1 heaping cup
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 3 (3 large) eggs, large
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (62.5 g) flour, all purpose
- 1/4 cup (21.5 g) cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F and line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick baking spray. Clamp down the sides of the pan with clips to hold the parchment paper in place.
- In a microwave safe bowl combine the 1/2 cup butter and 6 oz chocolate. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time stirring in between until the chocolate is completely melted. Up to 90 seconds total. Let the chocolate cool for 5 minutes.
- Add in 3 eggs and 1 cup sugar and whip using a whisk or the whisk attachment on high speed for 2 minutes.
- Switch to a spatula and add in 1 teaspoon vanilla mix until combined. Next add in the 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 cup cocoa powder, and 1/2 tsp kosher salt. Mix until combined.
- Pour the batter into the lined baking pan and bake for 25 minutes for super fudgy brownies. Allow to cool before cutting in to them!
So good! So easy! Definitely going to be a staple in our house. My 4 year old was able to make them with a little help from me and our whole family loved them!! Love the fudgey texture inside and the crackly crust on the outside!!
Thank you so much Kylie!!! I am so glad you guys enjoyed them!! Thank you so much for your rating and comment!
Literally (and I mean literally; I’m not just saying that for effect) the BEST brownies I’ve ever had. So easy and quick too! Thank you, Sam!!
Thank you SO much Catie!!! This just made my day, literally!!! YAY!
These brownies are INSANE!!! I made them for holiday cookies boxes for my neighbors and every single person who ate them is begging me for the recipe!! I added crushed candy canes to the mix and it came out incredible – the perfect holiday treat! My biggest gripe with brownies is that they can be cloyingly sweet but these are the perfect amount of sweetness and oh so delicious. In fact, I’m whipping up another batch right now!!
Thank you Arielle!!! YAY so happy to hear you and everyone loved them! I know what you mean about super sweet brownies, so glad you love these, thank you so much for your rating and comment!!! Peppermint addition sounds amazing!!
I was looking on line for a some type of Brownie Recipe that is would go over really well at my house. My nephew polished them off in no time . He said can you not double or triple the recipe . I am so happy for the recipe it is a real comfort food for when you are asked to make some thing quickly.
Thank you for your sweet comment Joanne! I am so glad these hit the spot. Thank you so much for making them!
The last time I made brownies the outside cooked fast and hard but the middle was still liquid – how do I avoid that with this recipe?
Hi! I wish I could help you but I don’t know what recipe that was, that wont happen with these!
Delicious. Fudgy. Exactly what we were looking for.
YAY great thank you so much!
SO GOOD! Easiest brownies, plus they’re gorgeous, a good mix of fudgy and cakey, and I want to make them again already.
So happy you loved them Sarah!! Thanks so much for your rating and review!!
These are seriously the BEST FREAKING BROWNIES I’ve ever had—and my family agrees! And so easy too!! I love the fudgy brownies with crispy edges, and this recipe delivers! Just perfection. I have to stop myself from making them too often!
Thank you so much Angela!! I am SO happy you love them, thank you so much for your comment and rating!!!
These were fabulous 🤤
So glad to hear it! Thank you for your rating and review Eva!
Can I double this recipe and use a 9 x 13 pan?
Yes you totally can, I would check the brownies after 35-38 minutes and see if they are done. The edges should be crisp but the center may still be alittle jiggly for fudgy brownies.
Just made these. They worked perfectly, and kids have just told they are, literally, the best brownies they’ve ever eaten! Thank you so much, you are now a god in our house!
Omg you made my day! Thank you Ellie! Im so glad the family loved these yay! Thanks so much for letting me know and you 5 star review!!
Wow! These were so easy and so fudgy!!
They had the perfect crackly top on them! My hubby thought they were a little too bitter for his taste so I was wondering if I could leave the cocoa out of them? If I did, would I need to add a tad more flour? I’m wanting to make these for an event this weekend.
Hi Cindy! Thank you SO much for your 5 star review!! If your husband thought they were too bitter it could be because you used bittersweet chocolate instead of semi sweet chocolate in the recipe. If thats not the case you could technically replace the flour with the cocoa but then it might alter the taste a different way. I would first try a less bitter chocolate to melt with the butter. Hope this helps!
I made these on Super Bowl Sunday and everyone LOVED them!!! I made your frosting for them as well and put Valentine’s sprinkles on them. Are we able to freeze frosted brownies??
SO fun! Thank you for letting me know Tonya! You can totally freeze them, just add them to a freezer safe bag and get rid of as much air as possible and freeze for 2 months.
I made these last week for my neighbors birthday and another for my small group. I made your icing recipe but added cocoa for double chocolate and added candy sprinkled on. So good and all enjoyed. I’m making another batch for tomorrow. Thank you much
I’m so honored you felt these were good enough to share Diane! Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know!
This is a great recipe❤️ I baked them for 25 minutes and they turned out just like you said, fudge and crackled top. Delicious 😋
I love that crackly top! Thank you so much for rating and reviewing Shelia. I hope these get to become a repeat recipe in your house!