Bars & Brownies • Chocolate
Small Batch Brownies
February 22, 2022
Real talk. If there’s an entire pan of brownies in my kitchen, I’m going to eat an entire pan of […]
Real talk. If there’s an entire pan of brownies in my kitchen, I’m going to eat an entire pan of brownies. You too? I get it and you’ll be happy to know I’ve solved the problem for the both of us. I present to you the very best small batch brownies complete with deliciously fudgy centers, chewy edges those crispy, crackly tops we all know and love. These brownies are PERFECT!
It’s no surprise that I love brownies. {because chocolate, duh.} So much so that I devoted an entire week to brownies over on Instagram this month. Hopefully you didn’t miss out on my easy and delicious M&M’s Brownies or these decadent Frosted Shortbread Brownies. If you love your brownies in cake form {and who doesn’t??}, you’ll definitely want to add this Chocolate Cloud Cake to your baking list.
But at the current moment these ooey, gooey, perfectly chocolatey small batch brownies are all I can think about. They are life-changing I tell you!
Why are these small batch brownies so good?
Your sweet tooth is calling and it wants brownies! These brownies are made in a loaf pan and take about the same amount of time to make as a box mix – but they’re 1000 times better!
- Easy to make. These brownies come together in minutes with just one bowl and one egg. No need to break out the mixer. They’re super easy – and super delicious!
- Made with simple ingredients. Just 7 ingredients and a loaf pan stand between you and a batch of these rich, fudgy brownies!
- The perfect dessert for two. This no fuss recipe bakes up 8 small squares or 6 larger squares. Perfect for sharing!
Ingredients you need
We made this small batch brownie recipe with the same ingredients you’ll find in your favorite brownie recipe. Remember, a good brownie is only as good as the ingredients you put in them – so reach for the highest quality chocolate, cocoa powder and vanilla you can find. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Butter
- Chocolate
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Flour
- Cocoa powder
- Vanilla
How to make small batch brownies
Brownies are one of the easiest desserts to whip up at home and you don’t need any fancy equipment. Just follow the step-by-step guide below and you’ll be enjoying a warm batch of fudge brownies in no time!
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Spray the bottom and sides of a 9 x 5″ loaf pan with non-stick baking spray and line with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Melt the chocolate and butter together over a double boiler or in the microwave at 50% power. The mixture should be smooth and shiny.
- Once melted stir in the granulated sugar and brown sugar, mixing until well combined. Set aside to cool slightly. About 5 to 8 minutes.
- Add the egg and vanilla. Whisk to combine.
- Mix in the flour, cocoa powder (and salt if using unsalted butter). Fold the batter with a spatula, being careful not to over mix. Stop stirring when a few streaks of flour and cocoa remain.
- If adding chocolate chips, fold them in now.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, smoothing the top with an offset spatula.
- Bake for 18 -20 minutes or until the edges are set and a toothpick inserted and inch or two from the side of the pan comes out with just a few crumbs remaining.
- Cool the brownies on a wire rack before slicing into squares. Or eat them warm straight from the pan!
Variations
The best part about these brownies is you can customize them any way you like. If you love a really decadent brownie, follow your sweet tooth and try one of these variations.
- Add 1/4 cup semi-sweet or mini chocolate chips
- Mix in 1/4 cup chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts
- Swirl the top with 1/3 cup Nutella
- Sprinkle the top with M&M’s candies or mini peanut butter cups
- Dust with sifted confectioner’s sugar just before serving
- Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and hot fudge!
How to store brownies
The whole point of this recipe is that there are no leftovers. If you do happen to have a few morsels left over, store the brownies tightly covered at room temperature for maximum freshness. For a fudgier texture, store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
You can also freeze the brownies tightly wrapped for up to 3 months. Enjoy them cold (yuummm!) or defrost at room temperature before serving.
FAQ’s
Yes! You can double the ingredients and bake the brownies in an 8 x 8 inch pan. You’ll need to increase the baking time to about 25-28 minutes. Keep an eye on your oven and remove the brownies when the edges are set but the center is still slightly under baked. For cakey brownies, bake a couple of extra minutes.
Absolutely! The brownies will be slightly thicker and will take an extra 2-3 minutes to bake.
Yes. There is no leavener in this recipe so both regular and Dutch-process cocoa powder will work.
Think of this small batch recipe as your own personal size pan of brownies. Cut them in half or in 4, 6 or 8 squares. Or slice them in tiny bite size pieces for a fun ice cream sundae topping.
I hope you love these small batch fudge brownies just as much as we do! If you make them, don’t forget to leave some love in the comments below!
Happy baking brownie lovers!
If you love small batch recipes, try my Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies For Two!
Looking for more brownies? Try these easy and delicious recipes:
Small Batch Brownies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 squares 1x
- Category: Brownies & Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Rich, fudgy small batch brownies made in a loaf pan with just 7 simple ingredients. This foolproof recipe is the perfect dessert for two!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate bar)
- 1/4 cup (57 g) salted butter, cubed
- 1/2 cup (92 g), minus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons (24 g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup (63 grams) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 2 tablespoons (10 g) Dutch process cocoa powder, sifted
- 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, optional
- flakey sea salt, for sprinkling on top
Note: If using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the batter when you add the flour and cocoa powder.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray a 9×5 inch loaf pan with non-stick baking spray and line the bottom and sides with parchment paper. Allow the edges of the parchment to hang an inch or two over the edges of the pan for easy removal of the brownies once baked.
- Melt the chocolate and butter over a double boiler on low heat. Stir frequently until smooth and shiny. Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave in 30 second increments at 50% power.
- Once melted, add the sugars and whisk until well combined. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Add the egg and vanilla and whisk to combine well. The batter will be smooth and shiny.
- Add the flour, cocoa powder (and salt if using unsalted butter). Use a large spatula to fold the batter together, being careful not to over mix. Stir only until a few streaks of flour and cocoa remain.
- Fold in the chocolate chips if using.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes or until the edges are set and a toothpick inserted an inch or two from the edge of the pan comes out clean or with a few crumbs remaining.
- Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack before slicing into squares.
- Sprinkle with flakey sea salt before serving if desired.
Notes
If using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the batter with flour and cocoa powder.
Store brownies tightly covered at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
May be frozen for up to three months.
M&M's Brownies
20 Comments
Anonymous
February 13, 2024 at 1:24 amAmazing and the perfect amount!!!!!!!
valerie
January 5, 2024 at 1:36 amvery easy. was able to make the whole thing in a regular cereal bowl which made clean up simple and quick. i appreciated the weights because using a food scale made it that much easier. like someone else mentioned, i also had to bake for an extra 15 mins.
Sasha
January 4, 2024 at 11:35 pmThese are excellent! But I had to bake them for additional 15 min
Syuhaidah
June 2, 2023 at 3:44 pmmy go to brownie recipe whenever my kiddos asks for one! easy to whip up and ready in under an hour. will try doubling the recipe next time
Melanie
May 7, 2023 at 10:59 pmMade these today and oh my goodness, they were gooey and delicious. If I double the recipe what size pan do I need to use?
Heather Mubarak
May 8, 2023 at 1:25 amSo happy to hear it!! If doubling the recipe, an 8×8 pan works great!
Paloma
December 22, 2023 at 3:32 amIs it safe to use self rising flour instead of all purpose flour??
CuteFay
March 28, 2023 at 8:30 pmThank you for sharing the recipe. Taste amazing! 🙂
Amy
February 12, 2023 at 12:48 amI don’t usually make small batch recipes but I couldn’t resist trying these. They turned out perfectly!! Thanks for a great recipe.
Shelby
January 1, 2023 at 5:52 pmWhy does it show a recipe triple the proportions of this one when I hit print? Not that I am complaining about extra chocolate in my life 😉
Allison
December 2, 2022 at 9:35 pmThese brownies are incredible! I loved how this recipe included a bit of melted chocolate too, instead of just cocoa powder – I’m all for a richer brownie! These are delicious and so easy to make. It was the perfect dessert for two!
Lena
October 6, 2022 at 10:09 amPerfect brownies! So soft and its just the right texture. I have tried multiple recipes and this is the BEST! I reduced brown sugar to 20g and granulated sugar to 65g to suit my asian taste bud 😛 This will definitely be my go to brownies recipe from now on. Thank you!!!
Donna
November 3, 2023 at 4:09 pmI don’t have dutch process, just regular cocoa powder! Will it work instead??
Heather Mubarak
November 3, 2023 at 4:37 pmYes, the brownies will be a bit lighter in color and a tad less rich – but still delicious! Enjoy!!
Geetika Reddy
March 30, 2022 at 2:39 pmThe recipe is amazing….loved it…very addictive. The only issue I didn’t get the height i wishes…used the same size loaf pan as suggested
Steph
March 20, 2022 at 5:45 pmThese are the best brownies I’ve ever made ! I added some Trader Joe’s chopped espresso chocolate and they stayed good for several days ! Yum
Kat
March 6, 2022 at 2:32 amSo, so delicious!! Next time I will make them in my smaller loaf pan so they are thicker (user error; the recipe is PERFECTION). You can see them on my grid at @kat_omeara on Instagram. Thanks so much for these detailed and accurate directions!
Kelly
February 26, 2022 at 1:15 amHeather!! These are decadent!! I think small batch baking is the new way to go. Love that it’s one bowl and super easy to make. Didn’t change a thing-
Nancy P.
February 23, 2022 at 6:04 pmI made these last night and they might be our new favorite!! So easy and delicious!
Kristina
February 23, 2022 at 12:20 amThese will not disappoint you! Easy and taste just lovely!