-This recipe was first published in March 2021 but has been updated with slight changes in Nov 2022-
If you’re a beginner baker, this is the recipe to try and master. It’s easy. Then take them to every party, pot luck, dinner gathering and trust me..it will be such a hit!
The first time I baked brownies, it was a disaster only because I used a wrong-sized cake pan. It was too small and not deep enough and so the brownie batter did not cook in the middle resulting in a gooey ooey mess. So be sure to have the right sized pan. The one I have is 21 x 21cm.
Start by planning ahead and taking out the butter, dark chocolate and eggs from the fridge at least half hour prior to baking. Once ready, start by melting the butter and chocolate in a saucepan over very low heat.
I use a double boiler (from Ikea). I set it above a saucepan of simmering water and melt the ingredients in it. But use a saucepan and it’s fine.
Once melted, remove and set aside.
While the butter and chocolate is melting, I whip out a mixing bowl and place in the sugar. I crack in the eggs, one by one and give it all a good whisk/mix. Mix in the vanilla essence too. Whisking the sugar and eggs together will give the brownie a nice crackly crust on top.
Once the chocolate + butter is nicely melted and cooled slightly, I add this into the sugar+ egg mix.
Lastly add in flour (and nuts if using) and stir. DO NOT OVERMIX.
Pour into cake pan lined with baking paper. Bake in pre-heated oven at 170C for 35-45 minutes. I bake mine for about 40 mins. I hope you give this recipe a try for your next pot luck. Good luck!
Did you try this recipe?
Please do let me know if you've tried it, by leaving a comment or tagging me on IG @thesuddencook.
Brownies
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Saucepan
Ingredients
To be melted together:
- 125 g salted butter At room temperature.
- 180 g dark chocolate At room temperature. The quality of chocolate is important. I find Cadbury Baking Dark Chocolate to be awesome.
In a bowl whisk/mix together and set aside:
- 200 g caster sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
Others:
- 160 g plain flour
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven at 170C. Grease then line a square cake pan with baking paper. The paper can be used as handles to lift the brownie out of the pan.
- Melt butter and chocolate (best to break apart the chocolate) in a saucepan over very low heat and stir frequently until melted. Remove pan from heat once done.
- In a mixing bowl, use a hand whisk and mix/whisk together caster sugar, eggs and vanilla essence.
- Add the chocolate + butter mixture into the sugar + egg mixture. Sieve in flour and mix. Add nuts (about 100g) if using.
- Transfer to baking pan and spread evenly with spatula or back of spoon.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes. Insert toothpick to check for done-ness. If you see a thin chocolate covered coating - that's fine. If you see runny batter it needs to cook more.
Notes
- I bake my brownies for 35-40 mins. Every oven is different so please experiment what timing works for you.
- Be sure butter, chocolate and eggs are at room temperature.
- Be sure your cake pan is of the right size.
- Whisking the sugar and eggs together will encourage a nice brownie crust on top.
- Use GOOD quality dark chocolate. Good luck!
These brownies really were so easy to make!! They were a hit with my kids and our whole family! 🙂
Wow so happy to hear!
Brownies are the favourite chocolate treat in my households. I’ve tried numerous recipes and all get us excited. And your recipe looks delicious, with Macadamia nuts? It’s surely one I have to try. Just need to get the nuts first. Lol.
It’s great even without the nuts:)
nice and simple recipe, I had the same problem when I first made brownies
yes the right sized pan is so important!
These were so good!!! Kids favourite supper by far! Thanks
Great!! So happy to hear:)
These look like my kind of brownies! I love the addition of the macadamia nuts as well. Such a great recipe 🙂
It is a great recipe and super quick!