Brownies Recipe 

Ingredients:

For the Brownies:

• ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup (40g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup (65g) all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ¾ cup (135g) semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks (optional)

Optional Toppings:

• Chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
• Additional chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line an 8x8 inch (20x20 cm) baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Prepare the Batter:

1. Melt the butter: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter until completely liquid. Let it cool slightly.

2. Mix wet ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth and creamy.

3. Sift in dry ingredients: Sift in the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Gently fold everything together using a spatula or wooden spoon. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in cakey brownies.

4. Add chocolate chips: Fold in the chocolate chips (optional), ensuring they are evenly distributed in the batter.

3. Bake the Brownies:

1. Spread the batter: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly using a spatula.

2. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs (not completely clean). The brownies will continue to firm up as they cool, so be careful not to overbake them.

4. Cool and Serve:

1. Cool the brownies: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the brownies to cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes. Once slightly cooled, lift them out using the parchment paper and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

2. Cut and serve: Once the brownies are completely cooled, cut them into squares. You can top them with ice cream or a drizzle of chocolate sauce for extra indulgence!

Baking Tips:

• Fudgy texture: To ensure your brownies are fudgy, don’t overmix the batter and keep an eye on the baking time. A slightly underbaked brownie yields a fudgy center.
• Extra rich: For extra richness, add a handful of chocolate chunks or chopped nuts on top before baking.

Enjoy your delicious, gooey, and rich brownies!