Simple Fudgy Brownies
When a super easy, yet rich chocolate dessert is in order, these Simple Fudgy Brownies, adapted from Alice Medrich, are the answer. An unusual technique creates incredibly dense, dark, and delicious brownies!
The keys to this Best Brownie Recipe are a paper-thin, slightly crinkled top and a soft, fudgy interior. It’s what chocolate lovers crave and what brownie aficionados will adore!
Why You Should Make
- This is an Alice Medrich brownie recipe. She’s an author, pastry chef, and former owner of the renowned chocolate dessert shop, Cocolat. She is known for Americanizing the chocolate truffle. Her recipes are phenomenal.
- Her unusual technique makes for some of the best brownies you’ll ever taste!
- If you have a chocolate lover near and dear to you, these are the perfect treat.
Frequently Asked Questions
First, they’re baked at a high heat for brownies, 400 degrees instead of 350 degrees. Then, after they’re pulled out of the oven, the pan is set in an ice water bath to stop the cooking process.
Putting the hot pan into an ice water bath stops the cooking process. The batter contracts and becomes dense and intense.
Look at the recipe ingredients. Fudgy brownies have a larger ratio of fat to flour. For Alice Medrich’s New Classic Brownies recipe, the fat comes from 2 eggs, 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, and 1/2 cup butter. The flour amount is 1/2 cup, so definitely more fat than flour.
Not over-cooking and not incorporating too much air into the batter also helps make for fudgier results.
Coffee and/or espresso accentuates the flavor of chocolate without making the result taste like coffee. Adding a tablespoon of coffee or a teaspoon of espresso powder to the batter will give a boost to the chocolate flavor.
Expert Tips
This Alice Medrich-inspired recipe has one of the most unusual baking techniques I’ve seen. But it’s worked each time I’ve made these winners! They’re an irresistible cross between brownies and fudge! Plus, they’re perfect for the chocoholic in your life!
- These brownies are baked at 400° for only 20 minutes before being plunged into an ice bath. Weird, huh? But don’t knock ’em till you bake ’em!
- But besides this out-of-the-box method, there are a few tips for making brownies, like lining your pan with non-stick foil for easy removal and cutting.
- PRO-Tip: Use a metal pan NOT a glass pan. The glass will shatter when you plunge the hot brownies into ice water.
- I like microwaving my chocolate and butter to avoid having an extra pan to wash. Do it gently by stopping, stirring, and restarting until melted. I typically use 30-second increments, then shorter zaps as the chocolate melts.
- You can stop when there are a few small unmelted bits as the residual heat will continue the melting process. You can always microwave a few seconds more if your chocolate isn’t completely smooth. You do not want to overheat as that can ruin the chocolate.
- PRO-Tip: Mix by hand so you don’t add any extra air into the batter.
- Use a wooden spoon or silicone spatula and just mix until the flour is incorporated.
- Chill before cutting for perfect squares, but serve at room temperature.
Ingredient Notes
- Butter – Use salted butter as salt is a flavor enhancer.
- Unsweetened Chocolate – Use the best chocolate you can afford. Ghirardelli is good, but Scharffen Berger is the best.
- Granulated (white) Sugar – Regular white sugar
- Bown Sugar – Adds extra moisture and caramel undertones.
- Vanilla – Use only pure vanilla extract. Imitation vanilla cannot compete.
- Table Salt – Fine salt incorporates more easily than kosher salt.
- Eggs
- All-Purpose Flour
More of the Best Brownie Recipes
- Fudgy Kahlua Brownies
- French Silk Pie Brownies
- White Chocolate Brownies
- Truffle Brownies
- Fudgy Skillet Brownies
- More of the Best Brownie Recipes
- Plus all our favorite Chocolate Recipes
Simple Fudgy Brownies
Dense, simple fudgy brownies adapted from Alice Medrich's New Classic Brownies.
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons butter
- 4 ounces of unsweetened chocolate
- ¾ cups sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400º. Line an 8-inch square metal baking pan with nonstick foil.½¼¾
- Melt butter and chocolate together in the microwave stopping every 30 seconds to stir. When almost completely melted, stir until smooth.
- Stir in sugars, vanilla, and salt. Stir in eggs one at a time, followed by the flour. Stir until very smooth, about 1 minute, until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Spread batter in prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes.
- Prepare a water bath. Pour ice water into a large roasting pan or kitchen sink to a depth of about 1 inch.
- Remove pan from oven and place in a water bath...avoid getting any water on brownies. Let cool completely, then lift out and cut squares.
Notes
Do not use a glass pan as it will shatter when placed in ice water.
Use the best quality chocolate you can afford for the best results.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1 brownieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 178Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 91mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 15gProtein: 2g
We just returned from 2 weeks in Switzerland with a couple of days in the Italian lakes district and here it is Father’s Day. We needed something sweet!
Sleep deprivation and fancy, complicated desserts are not a good mix. When I asked the hubby what he wanted for Father’s Day, he replied, “Beer and Mousse.” Knowing him, beef was expected, too. As usual, I took liberty with his suggestion and decided on these super-rich brownies for dessert.
I discovered them in 2010, coincidentally after we arrived home from a family trip to Italy. Brownies and chocolate chip cookies are my go-to desserts when the brain is fried. There are never any complaints.
Mini-photo of the kids at the Vatican, circa 2010. After this trip, Nick said I should make these simple fudgy brownies again ASAP.
34 Comments on “Simple Fudgy Brownies”
Who doesn’t love a fudgy brownie? Interesting method too, definitely will give this a try.
Ooo these brownies look impeccable! This is indeed a unique technique, but I.see why and how it works for reaching that fudgy texture.
I haven’t made any brownies for years, so may be I should finally make a batch!
Look at that beautiful flaky light outer crust and then that fudgy center! The perfect bite!
There’s just something about homemade brownies that tastes like heaven. So good!
These were a hit at bookclub!
These brownies look so fudgy!! What a delicious dessert that’s so easy to make!
ooooh the fudgier the brownie-the better!
Hi Liz! We saw you guys in Switzerland on Instagram! What an awesome trip it must’ve been! We really have to visit ourselves as well.
The water bath brownies are something we haven’t seen before, but your description (between brownies and fudge) immediately won our hearts:)
The ingredients are simple and your method is super easy to follow, so it’s definitely a must-try!:)
Sending you lots of hugs!
This looks superb!! Yummy fudgy brownies 🙂
Definitely a delicious treat for Dad, Father’s Day or any day!
Brownies are totally one of my go-to desserts, and these look like a great recipe to try out! I love them served warm, with a bit of ice cream!! Yum, Liz!!
Welcome home Liz!!! Thank you so much for letting us tag-a-long on your amazing trip! It was so cool seeing all the pics you shared.
Thanks for sharing this recipe too. Who doesn’t need a fudgy brownie every now and again, lol…thanks again, Liz…
Well cookies and brownies are always my go to dessert! I’m so happy to add this one to my mix! Sounds like one fabulous vacation!
Liz, these look perfect. I just printed your recipe. Thank you for all your recipes I have~!!!