Cocoa Brownies - Recipe Girl (2024)

This is one of those… I-need-a-good-and-chocolatey-dessert-that-is-totally-quick-and-easy… kind of recipes. I promise.

My husband’s family was coming over sort-of last-minute recently. The sort of last minute where your husband says, “Oh yeah, I invited my family over for dinner tonight,” and forgets to tell you until the day-of. Yeah, that kind of last minute. The dinner part was easy- just grilled chicken and salad. And I’m never, ever, ever big on buying already-made dessert from the grocery store, so I pulled a baking cookbook off my shelf that I hadn’t really used yet to see if I could find some easy inspiration in there. I did! I spotted brownies: Cocoa Brownies

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These brownies came together and were in the oven in about 15 minutes. And with the way those brownies look right there… why would you ever want to eat a boxed version? Seriously. I mean, I’d eat a boxed brownie for sure- they’re good and all. But this homemade brownie recipe pretty much rocked the house over a boxed mix.

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Here’s the lady we get to thank for this brownie: Alice Medrich. If you’re not familiar with her already, Medrich is an 8-time, award-winning cookbook author and pastry chef, and she is considered one of the country’s foremost experts on chocolate and chocolate desserts. I can’t believe this is the first thing I’ve baked from this Chewy, Gooey, Crispy, Crunchy cookbook! Why the heck did I wait so long? I can’t wait to bake more from this book- all kinds of cookies and bars, and Medrich even includes several wheat-free and dairy-free options. I’d say it’s a good cookbook to have on the shelf for those who get strong urges to bake often (like me!)

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These brownies turn out to be extremely soft and gooey in the center. The tops crinkle ever-so-slightly, and turn out a slight crunch that the tops of brownies are supposed to have.

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Needless to say, they were a big hit as an after-dinner dessert. My husband’s family is known for enjoying their chocolate, and they gave these a major thumbs up.

I say… they were a lifesaver. Dear husband, I love you so… but please give me a day or two’s notice next time if you’re going to invite a crowd to dinner 🙂

Find out more about Alice Medrich by visiting her website, and you can purchase her Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy cookbook on Amazon.

Cocoa Brownies - Recipe Girl (5)

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4 from 1 vote

Cocoa Brownies

These are ooey, gooey delicious brownies!

Recipe Details

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 35 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: brownies, cocoa

Servings: 16 brownies (2 inch sized)

Calories: 160kcal

Author: RecipeGirl.com (via the cookbook: Chewy, Gooey, Crispy, Crunchy Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cookies by Alice Medrich)

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line the bottom and all 4 sides of an 8 inch square pan with foil. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven.

  2. Melt the butter in a medium, heatproof bowl set directly in a wide skillet of barely simmering water. Add the sugar, cocoa and salt. Stir until the ingredients are blended and the mixture is hot. Remove the bowl from the skillet and set aside briefly until the mixture is only warm, not hot.

  3. Mix in the vanilla, then add the eggs, one at a time, mixing vigorously with a rubber spatula after each addition. When the mixture looks thick, shiny, and well-blended, add all of the flour at once and stir until you cannot see it any longer. Then mix vigorously for 40 strokes with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Spread the batter evenly in the lined pan.

  4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick plunged into the center emerges slightly dirty looking. Cool on a rack. Lift the edges of the foil liner and transfer the brownies to a cutting board. Cut into 16 or 25 squares. May be kept in a covered container for 2 to 3 days.

Notes

  • Gluten free folks: I have not tried this recipe as gluten free yet, but there is not a whole lot of flour in the recipe, just cup, so I'm hoping that a gluten free flour blend can be substituted in this recipe without too much trouble. If you try it, please let me know of your experience with it!

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 160kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 44mg, Sodium: 47mg, Potassium: 19mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 274IU, Calcium: 7mg, Iron: 0.4mg

Cocoa Brownies - Recipe Girl (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between chocolate brownies and cocoa brownies? ›

Cocoa brownies also tend to be softer, while chocolate-based brownies are fudgy and chewy. Cocoa brownies are richer in chocolate flavor, while chocolate brownies are lighter and sweeter in flavor.

What does too much cocoa powder do to brownies? ›

Cocoa powder is a staple for brownies and chocolate cakes alike. But adding cocoa powder alone may transform your brownies from fudgy to cake-like. SBS Australia notes that cocoa powder has a texture similar to flour. Therefore, adding too much cocoa powder can dry out the batter.

What is a brownie? ›

A chocolate brownie, or simply a brownie, is a chocolate baked confection. Brownies come in a variety of forms and may be either fudgy or cakey, depending on their density. Brownies often, but not always, have a glossy "skin" on their upper crust.

Why are they called brownies? ›

It is considered that Baden-Powell named the Brownies after Juliana Horatia Ewing's 1870's story, The Brownies, about a couple of helpful Brownie children. The brownie is one of the most intriguing creatures of British folklore.

Which cocoa powder is best for brownies? ›

Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder

It makes amazingly rich, dark, and tender cakes, fudgy, moist brownies and cookies, and incredibly luscious frosting.

Is it better to use chocolate or cocoa powder for brownies? ›

As compared to those made with just chocolate or a combination of the two, cocoa brownies are reliably superior in terms of texture and flavor.

What not to do when baking brownies? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Brownies
  1. Not picking the right recipe (for you). ...
  2. Not letting the chocolate cool after melting. ...
  3. Not using the right pan for the job. ...
  4. Waiting until there are no more crumbs stuck to the toothpick. ...
  5. Cutting into fresh-baked brownies too soon.

Should you sift cocoa powder for brownies? ›

If you don't get rid of them, they can bake up into dry spots in your brownies. Take the extra few seconds to sift the amount of cocoa powder called for in the recipe with a sifter or a fine mesh strainer.

Is 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder too much? ›

Cacao is very powerful on the central nervous system and eating large quantities can interfere with calcium retention. Don't consume more than 40 grams (or four to six heaped teaspoons) of raw cacao a day.

What is a fairy brownie? ›

brownie, in English and Scottish folklore, a small, industrious fairy or hobgoblin believed to inhabit houses and barns. Rarely seen, he was often heard at night, cleaning and doing housework; he also sometimes mischievously disarranged rooms.

What are brownies called now? ›

11, the organization announced Brownies will now be called Embers. Embers is the program for seven and eight-year-old girls. Parents whose kids are in Girl Guides received an email explaining the change.

What are the three types of brownies? ›

Brownie textures fall into three general camps… Cakey, fudgy and chewy. Cakey brownies, like the name implies, are light, moist and airy, with a slightly fluffy, cake-like interior. Fudgy brownies are moist, dense and gooey, with almost the texture of fudge, but not quite as compact.

What country invented Brownies? ›

Brownies are thought to be of US origin, the name derived from their color (brown) and from the mythical pixie-like characters common in children's stories from the same time period. One story suggests that brownies were invented at the Palmer House in Chicago in 1892.

What are Brownies called in USA? ›

In 2008 another reorganization took place. All levels were changed to have Girl Scouts at the start of their name, e.g. "Girl Scout Brownies" instead of "Brownie Girl Scouts", and levels were changed to be by grade only instead of by age or grade.

What are Brownies called in England? ›

In the United Kingdom, Brownies were originally called Rosebuds. Rosebuds was started in 1914 and was originally for girls aged 8–11. Rosebuds was renamed to Brownies in 1915.

Can you substitute chocolate for cocoa powder in brownies? ›

Dark Chocolate

Choose a bar with a higher percentage of cocoa for a more intense, chocolate flavor. Dark chocolate is an ideal substitute for cocoa powder in brownies.

What is the difference between baking chocolate and cocoa? ›

Cocoa powder is lower in fat and higher in nonfat cocoa solids than unsweetened chocolate. That means it's more concentrated with cocoa flavor, so to get the same final chocolate flavor in a recipe, you'll need less cocoa powder than unsweetened chocolate.

How to substitute melted chocolate for cocoa powder in brownies? ›

Use 30 grams of cooking chocolate for every 24 grams (three tablespoons) of cocoa powder that's required, and 15 grams less butter or oil.

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