Like a Box Brownies

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This easy homemade brownies recipe makes wonderfully cakey, fudgy brownies with crave-able, crisp, crackly tops and chewy centers. They are just like the ones made from a box but even better.

The Best Homemade Brownie Recipe

For some time I’ve been searching for a way to make brownies from scratch without losing that brownie mix feel. It took a lot of brownie making and a whole lot of brownie testing (someone had to do it!) but I think I finally found it, and gosh am I excited to share it with you.

These simple brownies have a texture like “box mix” brownies but are actually made totally from scratch. There’s no crazy method here, you just whisk everything together in a bowl. And they are exploding with fudgy chocolate flavor and are just the right combination of cakey and fudgy/chewy. They even have that classic brownie “crack” on the top. Everyone needs a good, solid brownie recipe under their belt. This is the one!

Closeup of a brownie with a bight out of it. There are more brownies stacked behind it.

What Makes These Brownies So Good?

Boxed brownies are pretty delicious but these are even better. Here are some of the reasons you have to try them.

  • Texture. Making these brownies with oil (many homemade brownie recipes use butter instead) gives them a delightfully moist, fudge-like texture. They are the perfect combination of cakey and chewy and are an absolute dream to sink your teeth into.
  • Rich chocolate flavor. As brownies should be, these wonderfully fudgy treats are filled with deep, rich chocolate flavor.
  • Quick and easy. No fancy mixing method and no tricky twists and turns. This recipe is so simple and easy to throw together. You’ll only need to spend 10 minutes of active time in the kitchen before letting the oven do the rest of the work.
Ingredients for homemade brownies separated into bowls.

What You’ll Need

Here’s a list of ingredients needed to make these moist, flavorful brownies. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below for exact measurements.

  • All-purpose flour – Feel free to use your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour instead.
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder – I used to use Hershey’s special dark cocoa in these, but they changed it a few years back and now I prefer regular cocoa in these. The final texture is better.
  • Baking powder – For just a bit of rise, contributing to that cakey texture.
  • Salt – For flavor and always needed.
  • Vegetable oil – I have tried butter in these brownies and while it works, the oil definitely produces the more intended mix of cakey/fudgy texture.
  • Sugar – For sweetness and moisture.
  • Vanilla extract – Vanilla extract actually helps soften some of the bitterness of cocoa.
  • Eggs – For binding things together and adding chewiness.

How to Make Brownies from Scratch

In just 10 minutes you could be popping these amazing homemade brownies in the oven. What are you waiting for? Here’s how to do it. Don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.

  • Prep. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9×9 square baking pan.
  • Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
  • Combine the wet ingredients. Mix together the oil, sugar, and vanilla extract. Add the eggs and mix to combine.
  • Put it all together. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix to combine.
  • Bake. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Tips for the Best Homemade Brownies

Are you prepared for some seriously tasty brownies? Pay close attention to these simple tips and tricks and you’ll be well on your way to making them from scratch.

  • Don’t over-mix. When mixing the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients, mix just until incorporated. Over mixing the batter will cause the glutens in the flour to overdevelop, giving you a tough, dense brownie.
  • Make it mess-free. You can either grease your brownie pan or line it with parchment paper. Either way will do. If you choose to grease the pan, do so liberally. If you go the parchment paper route, I suggest using a piece that extends over the sides of the pan. This will allow you to easily remove the brownies from the pan for cutting when the time comes.
  • Oil, not butter. Many brownie recipes call for butter instead of oil. I promise you that oil is the best call here. It adds an incredibly rich, fudginess to the dessert that butter just doesn’t. Trust me. I’ve done all of the experimenting for you. So make these brownies without butter, please.
A stack of homemade brownies surrounded by chocolate chips.

Serving Suggestions

On their own, these brownies are some of the best you’ve ever tasted but with the addition of a scoop of ice cream, some whipped cream, and/or a delicious sauce they are out of this world fantastic. Here are some ideas to get you inspired.

Overhead of a stack of like a box brownies.

How to Store Brownies

Allow the brownies to cool completely before slicing and arranging them in a single layer in an airtight container. If you need to stack the brownies, separate any layers with parchment paper to prevent them from sticking. Alternatively, you can slice the brownies and wrap individual pieces in a double layer of plastic wrap. Store them at room temperature for up to 1 week or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Can I Freeze These?

You can! Store the brownies just as you would if you were to keep them at room temperature or in the refrigerator (see the section above titled “How to Store”) except place them in the freezer instead. They will stay good for up to 3 months. Allow the brownies to thaw in the fridge before devouring them.

More Easy Brownie Recipes

I love brownies so, naturally, I have spent some time playing with recipes and developing new takes on the classic. Here are some of my favorite brownie recipes for you to try.

Watch How To Make Them

Read Transcript

Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon facebook facebook icon print print icon squares squares icon
A stack of homemade brownies. The top one has a bite taken out of it.
Recipe

Quick and Easy Brownies

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 12-16 Brownies
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This easy homemade brownies recipe makes cakey brownies that taste like box mix brownies! With perfect crisp crackly tops and chewy centers, these brownies hit all the right notes.


Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup (98g) all-purpose flour (measured properly)
  • 1/2 cup (57g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp + 1/8 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup (180ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 cups (310g) sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×9 square baking pan, or line it with parchment paper, leaving some over hanging on the sides for easy removal from the pan later.
  2. Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt to a medium sized bowl and set aside.
  3. Add the oil, sugar and vanilla extract to large mixing bowl and mix together until well combined.
  4. Add the eggs and mix until well combined.
  5. Add the dry ingredients and mix until well combined, but don’t over mix.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
  8. Allow brownies to cool completely, then use the overhanging parchment paper to remove the brownie from the pan. Cut into bars. 
  9. Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature. Best if eaten within 5-7 days. 

Notes

Recipe modified from AllRecipes.com

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Brownie
  • Calories: 203
  • Sugar: 18.9 g
  • Sodium: 50.8 mg
  • Fat: 11.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 25 g
  • Protein: 2.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 34.9 mg

Categories

Share a Comment

Have a question? Use the form below to submit your question or comment. I love hearing from you and seeing what you made!

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

428 Comments
  1. Addison Gold

    This recipe is fantastic. I made a few adjustments (I know, I know…), that I thought I’d put in here for anyone else who stops by. I cut the sugar down to a scant 1 cup, swapped 1/4 cup of flour for additional cocoa (so it was 1/2 cup flour and 3/4 cup cocoa), and used only 2 eggs for a slightly different texture. I’ve been looking for a recipe exactly like this one, and I’m so glad to have a go-to that’s not from a box, and that I can make with gluten-free flour. Thank you!!!






  2. Anna

    Where has this been all my life?! I never write reviews, this is my FIRST REVIEW EVER because this recipe delivered. I was craving box mix but limiting grocery runs and this filled my craving. I do bake other brownie recipes but theres something about box mix that bring sleepover nostalgia during these times. Thank you! Never going back to the box! Highly recommended!!






  3. Daisy Louw

    I’m not a fan of chocolate brownies, so when a sudden (and surprising) craving for it struck me, the angels must have led me straight to this recipe. I’ve made it twice already – in 2 weeks! The second time around I doubled the recipe, so hubby & I had it for supper on Saturday, tea on Sunday & for a midnight snack again Sunday night. Needless to say that I started Monday morning with some serious High Intensity Interval Training, but it was all worth it. The boys haven’t even tasted it yet, but it’s going straight to the Family Favourites recipe book. Thank you for persevering until you got this recipe perfect!






  4. Doug

    This recipe changed two lives. My wife and I are in our early 60’s. For decades we fell into the traditional roles of me tuning up and repairing our old Volkswagen beetles while Ella did the cooking. I thought boiling an egg was an accomplishment. …Anyway, in 2015 Ella was going through chemotherapy for lymphoma. She rarely had an appetite, had low energy and had lost a lot of weight. One evening she said she had a hankering for brownies. We had no mix and it was snowing. I found your recipe, it was easy to make, turned out perfectly and Ella loved it. …And I found out that I like to cook! Ella recovered, and said she wanted to do new things herself, such as learn how to fix her car. Now I’m the main cook, Ella is our mechanic and we’re both happier for it.






  5. Rikkisha

    I’ve made this recipe twice and I’ll be using it as my go-to brownie recipe from now on. When I made it the first time I followed the recipe exactly (except my cocoa wasn’t dark chocolate) and added pecans. Delicious. 
    When I made it the second time I used more cocoa than the recipe called for (my preference…again, the recipe is great as written), subbed some of the white sugar with brown sugar, and added pecans. Double delicious!






  6. Jan Turner-Wilson

    After using this recipe for a year – it is tried and tested. I made it for a friend’s daughter who can’t have lactose but is fine with eggs. It is now everyone’s favourite for any baking occasion, perfect every time. My only change is that as I only have 1 set of cup measures- I mix all the dry ingredients in one bowl then all the wet in a separate jug then mix together. Today I added some broken up Easter eggs that were still hanging about instead of chocolate chip/chunks and cherries. Thank you so much. Jan from Wokingham, UK 

  7. Lisa Bailey

    Easy instructions – easy to bake and taste great !!  I can’t eat dairy and these are Cakey and Chocolatey and crispy texture on top just like they say 😃 yummy warm and definitely gone back for seconds yum yum 






  8. Kyla

    This was so easy to make and so delicious! I added some dark chocolate chips and some heavy whipping cream! My family loved them!!!






  9. S Mason

    Fabulous!!!! I ve made it 6 times double of every ingredient using 8×12 cake pan. twice with chopped walnuts, and twice with cheesecake swirl. All six time, perfect. And it is sooooo easy. This recipe is great. Id give a 10 star if they had it. Thank you for sharing the recipe with us;

    SM






  10. Randy Walker

    I just made these. they take about 15 minutes longer in an 8”x8” pan. They puffed up and got crispy around the edges. The insides sank and got fudgy.

  11. Tracey

    I have been looking for a homemade “box brownie knockoff” recipe for forever!! I’ve tried a few and nothing has been good enough to make again. So thank you for posting this years ago and keeping it posted! I have been so disappointed to go to make recipes from Pinterest, only to find that the blog owner has deleted or moved them, and a search doesn’t bring it up! I’m so glad I finally found your recipe 😍 absolutely perfect!






Lindsay
About Lindsay

I’m the baker, recipe developer and photographer behind Life, Love and Sugar. I love sharing trusted recipes with helpful tips to give you great results.

Scripture I’m Loving

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29