*Originally published on August 5, 2020
Updated on December 8, 2022:

Sometimes, simple is best. This recipe uses common ingredients and a single mixing bowl to produce the fudgy brownies of your dreams. This is the recipe I based these brownies on, with the addition of peanut butter chips on half of the batch. I also read through the comments and decreased the sugar as suggested.

If you gather up all your ingredients beforehand, this should take no more than five minutes to mix together. It doesn't get much easier than that!

One-Bowl Brownies Recipe:

Ingredients (makes 16 brownies):

  • 1/2 cup salted butter, melted 
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 T. vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa (I used Hersey Special Dark)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
brownies
Photo by Sarina Petrocelly

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a heat-resistant mixing bowl, microwave the butter for a minute to melt it.
  3. Add the two types of sugar and vegetable oil and stir well.
  4. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and cocoa. Stir well to combine.
  5. Gently fold in the flour, being careful to get rid of any dry streaks. Don't overwork the batter at this point; just mix it enough to combine everything thoroughly.
  6. Line an 8"x8" pan with foil or parchment paper and pour in the batter. You can do so now if you want to top it with something.
  7. Bake for 22-25 minutes until done. These are very rich, so cut them into 16 small squares.

Variations:

You can do pretty much anything with this basic brownie recipe. Remember, it bakes chewy and moist, so don't overwhelm it with too many add-ins.

White chocolate, peanut butter, or chocolate chips would all be good, in moderation. You could even top them with some mini marshmallows for the last five minutes in the oven. If you do add chips, they tend to stay at the top of the brownies if you just sprinkle them on. You can even just dress up half of the pan, to keep everyone happy.

Sarina Petrocelly
Born in Laos but raised in Haiti and South Florida, Sarina developed a taste for international cuisine at an early age. Now in Woodbridge, VA, she likes to explore the area for the best authentic dives, freshest local produce, and downright yummiest meals in the DMV. When she’s not out with friends or family, she's home with her musician/artist husband Tony and their Jindo, Hachi. She enjoys cooking and finding activities that can drown out heavy metal guitar riffs.
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