Classic Brownies

Does anything satisfy a chocolate lover quite like a back-to-basics brownie? With minimal ingredients and steps, you’ll go from craving to savouring in no time, even if you’ve never baked before.

Prep Time
15 minutes
Bake Time
25 to 30 minutes
Image
Six square brownies decorated for Halloween like jack o’lanterns, mummies, and Frankenstein, shown on a black plate with bones scattered around

8-inch square baking pan

Parchment paper

Scale OR dry measuring cups

Measuring spoons

Large heatproof bowl

Large saucepan

Heatproof spatula

Medium bowl

Whisk

Kitchen towel OR paper towel

Large rubber spatula

Small offset spatula

Skewer OR toothpick

Wire cooling rack

Servings
16 to 24 pieces
  • ⅓ cup (57 g) unsweetened chocolate, roughly chopped
  • ½ cup (113 g) butter, cubed
  • ⅔ cup (83 g) all-purpose flour
  • 3 tbsp (18 g) cocoa powder
  • ¼ tsp (2 g) salt
  • 1⅓ cup (289 g) Redpath® Dark Brown Sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) pure vanilla extract
Garnish (optional):
  • Flaky salt
Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Lightly grease and line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Leave about an inch of overhang on the sides for easy unmolding.

Step 2

In a large heatproof bowl, combine the unsweetened chocolate with the butter.

Step 3

Fill a large saucepan with about 2 inches of water and place onto stove. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. Fit the bowl of chocolate and butter over the just-simmering water, ensuring the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Stir with a heatproof spatula until melted (see Chef’s Tips); stir constantly to prevent the chocolate from burning. Remove bowl from heat and wipe any condensation from the bottom of the bowl with a kitchen towel. Allow chocolate mixture to cool slightly; 10 minutes.

Step 4

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt until no lumps remain. Set aside.

Step 5

Whisk the Redpath® Dark Brown Sugar into the warm chocolate mixture. Whisk in the eggs one at a time. Add and whisk in the vanilla extract.

Step 6

With a large rubber spatula, fold in the dry ingredients until no streaks of flour remain.

Step 7

Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top with a small offset spatula.

Step 8

Place into the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs.

Step 9

If desired, sprinkle the top with flaky sea salt. Allow to cool completely on a wire cooling rack. Remove from pan, and cut into bars.

Step 10

Store completely cooled brownies in an airtight container layered between parchment paper for 2 days at room temperature, up to 5 days in the fridge, or up to 2 months in the freezer (see Chef’s Tips).

Image
A plate of brownies garnished with flaky salt shown on a white tile counter with a bowl of flaky salt, a bowl of chopped baker’s chocolate, and a bag of dark brown sugar.