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Perfect Fudgy Brownies

Perfect Fudgy Brownies

These perfect fudgy brownies tick all the boxes: rich with a deep chocolate hit, crunchy with nuts, and pretty as a picture with that signature shiny crinkly top.

Textbook Fudgy Brownies // FoodNouveau.com

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Today’s recipe is anything but fussy. These fudgy brownies are the kinds of treats I make late at night when a brownie craving typically hits. They’re made with basic ingredients, which, if you like to bake, you probably already have at home, and they take 10 minutes to prepare. The hardest thing is to wait for them to come out of the oven, really!

Brownies are one of my favorite desserts, so I’ve made countless batches of them over the years. My love for brownies is deep and wide: I’ll make and eat all variations, blonde or dark, in all shapes or forms, from fancy layered squares to caffeine-spiked, ganache-slathered ones. I’m even known for gifting them in a jar! But frankly, when I dream of a brownie, I usually long for classic, perfect fudgy brownies.

So what makes perfect fudgy brownies?

  • They need to have a thick, rich, fudgy interior with a deep chocolate flavor.
  • They need to feature crunchy nuts, for texture, and chocolate chunks that turn deliciously gooey when you reheat a square right before eating.
  • They must have that paper-thin, shiny, crackly top*.

My Perfect Fudgy Brownies check all the boxes. And the recipe makes a big batch too, so it’s great to satisfy tonight’s craving, and tomorrow’s, and next week’s. Just cut the brownies into squares, freeze them in an airtight container, and they’ll be there when you yearn for them.

Helpful Notes for Making Perfect Fudgy Brownies

  • What makes a good brownie is, first and foremost, the quality of the chocolate you use. Keep top-quality dark cocoa powder (I like Valrhona’s) and dark chocolate chips at home, and you’ll always be 30 minutes away from excellent brownies.
  • The fudgy interior of the brownie is dependant on two crucial steps:
    • Beating the eggs and sugar together. The first step when making brownies is to beat the eggs and sugar together, but don’t you just give it a whip or two: the mixture should become airy and pale, and inflate to several times its size. Aerating the eggs and sugar this way creates the creamy and fudgy interior that makes the dreams of every brownie lover a reality.
    • Baking the brownies. There’s nothing more disappointing than an overcooked brownie—which, really, is just a square of chocolate cake. Without icing. Doubly disappointing! You’ve probably read this again and again: don’t overcook the brownies! What it means is that you should start checking for doneness before you think you should check for doneness. If the baking time is indicated at 25 minutes, start peeking at 16 to 18 minutes. Ovens behave differently, and you may not be using the exact pan size required by the recipe. You can check doneness two ways (if possible, do both tests while the brownies are still in the oven): first, lightly press the center of the brownies. If the batter is still super soft, keep baking. If you can feel it setting, start testing using a toothpick: insert the toothpick in the center of the pan. If the toothpick comes out with wet batter on it, keep baking. If it comes out moist with a few crumbs attached, the brownies are ready. It’s a fine line, and a few minutes can be the difference between underdone and overdone. Don’t worry, though—you only need to make the recipe once to know exactly how long you should bake the brownies using your own equipment. Next time—because there will be many next times, believe me—you can bake them with your eyes closed (but the timer on).
  • Ever wondered what makes the brownies’ signature crackly, shiny top? According to Serious Eats, “[it] is achieved by whisking the sugar into the eggs long enough for the sugar to start to dissolve. When that happens, the dissolved sugar rises to the surface of the brownie as it bakes, creating a shiny, shattery-crisp surface.” So carefully beating the eggs and sugar together not only gives you the wonderful chewy texture, but also the delightful crispy surface. Rewarding, don’t you think?
  • Consider sprinkling the nuts over the brownies instead of folding them into the batter. Most recipes instruct to fold the nuts into the batter as the last step, but I don’t like to risk the nuts not distributing evenly into the treats (yes, I’m a nerd like that). I prefer sprinkling them over the batter once it’s in the baking pan. You can control exactly where the nuts fall, and they get a nice toast while baking, too, saving you the extra step of toasting the nuts before making the brownies.I also like to sprinkle the extra dose of chocolate chips that way too: the nuts and chocolate together create an appealing crust you’ll have a hard time resisting.
  • Take your brownies with a grain of salt. Sprinkle a pinch of fleur de sel or flaky sea salt all over the brownies before baking. It may change your life.

Finally: Be patient. You may want to dig in right when the brownies come out of the oven, but brownies are not only easier to cut, but also at their very best flavor- and texture-wise once cooled to room temperature. You can speed up the cooling process by setting the pan over a rack in a well-ventilated corner of your kitchen, or even by refrigerating them right after baking. Have a coffee or a glass of wine while you wait—your patience will be rewarded, I promise.

 
Perfect Fudgy Brownies // FoodNouveau.com

Perfect Fudgy Brownies

These perfect fudgy brownies tick all the boxes: rich with a deep chocolate hit, crunchy with nuts, and pretty as a picture with that signature shiny crinkly top. 
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:22 minutes
Total Time:32 minutes
Author Marie Asselin, FoodNouveau.com

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease a 9 x 13 inch (23 x 33 cm) baking pan with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper, letting two sides overhang (this will make it easier to unmold the fudgy brownies later on.)
  • In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Set aside ½ cup (85 g) of the chocolate chips, then add the remaining chocolate to the melted butter. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and let cool while you go on to the next steps.
  • Sift the flour and cocoa powder together into a medium bowl, when whisk to thoroughly combine. Set aside.
  • Break the eggs into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or into a large mixing bowl, if using a hand mixer, and beat on low speed until smooth. Add the sugar and stir at low speed until incorporated, then increase the speed to medium-high and beat for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture is pale and thick. Turn the speed back down to low and slowly add the reserved melted butter and chocolate mixture. Using a spatula, fold the flour and cocoa mixture into the batter and mix just until combined.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the nuts all over, then top with the reserved chocolate chips. Finish with a sprinkle of fleur de sel or sea salt flakes.
  • Bake for about 22 minutes, or until the edges of the brownies look dry and crunchy and the center is shiny and barely set. The brownies should look dry but still very soft if you tap the center with the tip of a finger (the brownies will finish setting while they cool.) Keep a close eye on the brownies from 20 minutes on because only a few minutes separate fudgy brownies from cakey brownies!
  • Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely to room temperature before cutting.
  • SERVING: Serve these perfect fudgy brownies at room temperature, or zapped in the microwave for a few seconds if they were refrigerated. These brownies are absolutely decadent served warm, topped with Sicilian-Style Vanilla Bean Gelato.
  • STORAGE: These perfect fudgy brownies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze the brownies, in an airtight container, for up to 2 months.

Did you make this?

Tell me how you liked it! Leave a comment or take a picture and tag it with @foodnouveau on Instagram.

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Author: Marie Asselin

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes

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  1. There’s something magical about brownies. And getting the ‘perfect’ textbook brownie is such a struggle! Only a few bakeries I’ve been to have lived up to that. But these look just like the brownies sitting in the window at those fancy $5 a pop bakeries. :) Great post, Marie!

  2. Brownies are one of those things I usually glance at and keep moving. They’re good, don’t get me wrong, but they’re generally a dime a dozen. But you did two things here that really caught my eye (and made me very happy!). First, those hazelnuts on the top look SO good. Second, your wonderful and comprehensive how-to approach is just the kind of thing I like to see here. After all, if I’m going to read about brownies, I want a perfect primer. Great work.

    • I agree that not all brownies are created equal! I’ve had my share of disappointing brownies, and the thing that usually upsets me the most is when brownies actually have the texture of a cake, cut into squares. That’s not brownies in my book! I’m not surprised you like the format of this post, because your comprehensive, how-to approach is exactly what I like about your blog, too! Cooking and baking nerds for the win!

  3. This post makes me want to make brownies right now! They look so good, and I like the idea of putting the nuts on top.

  4. And now I want brownies….
    My favourite part of the brownie is that crackle top that you mention! Love it! Also the corners. I will fight you for the corners ;)

    • Ha! When writing the post, I was actually debating with myself as to whether I prefer corners or center brownie pieces. I think I like both! The crunch of corners is amazing, but the oozy, fudgy centers are hard to resist, too :)