The Great Brownie Debate: What's Your Favorite? (2024)

To me, nothing says “I love chocolate” better than brownies. Yet, ask a few chocolate lovers what their favorite brownie recipe is, and you will probably get an assortment of different responses. That’s because brownies come in so many different varieties and flavors, it would be tough to lump them all into the same category. Frosted or unfrosted? Plain or with nuts? Double or triple chocolate? Cream cheese? Mint? Peanut butter? Raspberry? The possibilities are endless.

But before you start adding in all those extra ingredients and flavors, let’s take a step back to first examine the texture of the brownie. 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. Chewy brownies are dense (like fudgy brownies), but have a little more “bite” to them or elastic texture when you chew them.

Personally, I think that a fudgy brownie is the only way to go. But, since we all have different preferences, let's look at different recipes and find the right brownie recipe for you.

The Great Brownie Debate: What's Your Favorite? (1)

The recipe for Ultimate Cakey Brownies has the least amount of butter, sugar and flour in it. A little bit of corn syrup is added to maintain the moistness. Brownie recipes typically don’t have a leavener like baking powder, but this recipe adds a little to give it a lighter texture. The first step is to beat the butter until it is soft, then add the sugar and beat until creamy. This “creaming” step incorporates tiny air pockets into the batter. When the brownies bake, these tiny air pockets expand to give the brownies the cake-like texture.

The Great Brownie Debate: What's Your Favorite? (2)

The recipes for Ultimate Chewy Brownies and Ultimate Fudgy Brownies are very similar. They both have about double the amount of butter, flour and sugar than the cakey brownies. This provides the richness and gooey structure in the brownie.

The Great Brownie Debate: What's Your Favorite? (3)

The preparation method for the denser brownies is also very different. Instead of creaming the butter, the butter and chocolate are melted together to become thoroughly incorporated. Another critical step when adding the flour is to stir just until it is moistened. The more you stir, the more the proteins in flour called gluten begins to develop, causing the batter to be more elastic.

The Great Brownie Debate: What's Your Favorite? (4)

So what’s the difference between fudgy and chewy brownies? The chewy brownie (pictured above) has an additional egg and 1/4 cup more flour than the fudgy brownies, which give the brownie a little more “bite”.

Because baking brownies can be a little tricky, here are some general tips for more brownie baking success…

  1. Grease the bottom only of the pan. The brownie batter needs to cling to the sides of the pan and if the sides are greased the brownies have nothing to adhere to as they rise.
  2. Melt chocolate over low heat. Chocolate scorches, easily ruining its flavor. Be sure to melt it slowly, stirring frequently.
  3. Don’t overmix your ingredients or your brownies may be less tender.
  4. Don’t overbake or you will lose the moist, tender texture. This is easier said than done when there is no surefire way to tell when brownies are done. Follow the directions on your recipe carefully. If you bake enough brownies, your instincts will tell you when they are done.

No matter what brownies you decide to make, they all provide that rich flavor that will satisfy the chocolate craving. Happy brownie baking!

The Great Brownie Debate:  What's Your Favorite? (2024)

FAQs

What makes brownies fudgy vs cakey? ›

Fudgy brownies have a higher fat-to-flour ratio than cakey ones. So add more fat—in this case, butter and chocolate. A cakey batch has more flour and relies on baking powder for leavening. The amount of sugar and eggs does not change whether you're going fudgy or cakey.

What are the positive things about brownies? ›

Brownies are a great source of protein and fiber, which helps you feel full longer. Protein also works as an appetite suppressant, so you won't be as tempted to snack on unhealthy foods later on in the day. There are so many reasons why adding brownies to your diet is a great idea. First of all, they're delicious!

What should a brownie be like? ›

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 happens if I add an extra egg to brownie mix? ›

If you want to get a little more creative with your brownie mix hacks, add an extra egg to the batter. The extra protein will help thicken up the batter and make it fluffier, creating a more decadent, fudgy texture. You can also add the yolk by itself in addition to the 2 eggs a box brownie mix typically calls for.

Is butter or oil better for brownies? ›

Note that while some brownie recipes do call for melted butter instead of oil, the butter can aerate the batter, altering the texture of the brownies and making them cakey rather than fudgy. So, while you can substitute butter for oil and vice versa, remember that it might alter the texture.

Should brownies still be gooey in the middle? ›

To avoid overcooking, remember that brownies will firm up A LOT once taken out of the oven; the brownie should still be wobbly in the middle when you take it out of the oven (there is a lot of butter and chocolate in the mix, both of which are basically liquid when hot, but firm when at room temperature).

Should you use brown sugar or white sugar in brownies? ›

Sugar AND Brown Sugar-use granulated sugar AND brown sugar. The brown sugar makes the brownies extra moist! Eggs-choose large eggs and make sure they are at room temperature. I usually take the eggs out of the fridge 30 minutes before I start.

Is light or dark brown sugar better for brownies? ›

The molasses content in dark brown sugar will make your baked goods moister than if you use light brown sugar. That means that not only is the flavor affected, but the texture will be, too. Light brown sugar will result in a subtler flavor, while dark brown sugar will give your baked goods a richer flavor.

What is a brownie myth? ›

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.

Why are brownies so loved? ›

First, brownies are plain addictive.

They're so delicious. The rich chocolate taste, along with the dense and creamy texture will keep you unwrapping one Dello Mano Classic Luxury Brownie after another. It isn't too soft and fluffy like a chocolate cake, and it's never tough and dry.

Are brownies junk food? ›

Since brownies are not nutritionally dense, they are not usually regarded as a healthy food. However, brownies do have some health benefits that might be surprising due to their chocolate content. Chocolate is a source of antioxidants and has been found to help lower blood pressure and increase good cholesterol levels.

Why are my brownies never fudgy? ›

Achieving a fudgy brownie is all to do with the ratio of fat to flour. A fudgy brownie recipe will use more fat than flour. Generally this is achieved by adding more butter or real chocolate to your brownie recipe. A cakey brownie recipe on the other hand will call for more flour in the ratio of fat to flour.

How do you keep brownies fudgy? ›

Using airtight wrappings (including using plastic wrap right against the brownies) is key to keeping your brownies fresh, whether you're keeping them at room temperature for short-term storage, or planning to freeze them so you can have a fresh brownie ready whenever you need it.

What's the difference between brownies and fudge brownies? ›

Fudge doesn't contain very much besides chocolate, sweetened condensed milk and if you want some inclusions like nuts, marshmallows, cookies, cacao nibs, peanut butter, dried fruit and so on. Whereas brownies contain cacao powder (no chocolate!), flour, eggs, butter or oil, baking powder and nuts.

Are brownies supposed to be fudgy in the middle? ›

Brownies are perfect when the middle is just baked, so it sets to a fudgy, moist consistency - if your flour and baking powder are causing the edges to rise, cook and set too quickly, they will give the appearance of a sunken centre, even if the centre is perfectly cooked.

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