Easy Homemade Brownies

Name: Easy Homemade Brownies
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 cup vegetable oil; 2 cups white granulated sugar; 2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 4 large eggs ((size large)); 1 cup all-purpose flour; ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa; ½ teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon salt

The best things in life usually don’t come in a box, and neither do these easy homemade brownies! The best part? They only take five minutes to throw together and use only staple ingredients.

The worst part of this recipe is the same situation: they only take five minutes and use only staple ingredients, making them all too easy for those last minute indulgences!

These brownies are fudgy in the middle and slightly crunchy on top. They’re so delicious, perfect to pair with a scoop of ice cream. I dare you to think outside of the box!

Homemade brownies, sliced into squares in a stack.

Easy Homemade Brownies
How to Make
How to Store
Easy Homemade Brownies Recipe

Chances are, you have all the ingredients for these easy homemade brownies on hand. I love whipping these up last minute to surprise the family, and for events too – it just doesn’t get any easier!

They never disappoint. I know you’ll love them too, and question why you ever ran to the store for a mix. Craziness.

They’re so simple to make that you will realize you never needed a boxed brownie mix to start with!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Pantry + Staple Ingredients – You probably have everything you need!
No “iffy” Ingredients – When you skip the mix, you skip any strange additives!
Easy to Serve – Customize these brownies with your favorite toppings for a family-friendly dessert everyone will love!

Ingredients and Substitutions

See printable recipe card for complete ingredients and instructions.

Vegetable Oil
White Granulated Sugar
Vanilla
Eggs
All Purpose Flour
Unsweetened Cocoa
Baking Powder
Salt

How to Make

Prep – Preheat oven as directed and grease pan.
Mix Wet Ingredients – Beat oil, sugar and vanilla, beat in eggs.
Mix Dry Ingredients – In a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt.
Combine – Gradually add into your mixture and blend well.
Bake as directed.

Brownie ingredients being mixed in a white bowl.

Tips

Did you know? Slicing your brownies with a plastic knife is the ultimate trick. I don’t know why it works, but it does!
You can use a smaller pan, but your baking time will be a little higher.

A close up of a tray of cut and cooked brownies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does cutting brownies dry them out?

Try not to cut your brownies ahead of time, as the edges will dry out a bit after they’ve been cut. No matter how tightly you wrap them, the oxygen will still create harder edges.

Why do brownies taste better the next day?

My self control would never allow me to wait until the second day, but some people believe that the cooling process allows the ingredients to meld together better if you wait!
That makes this the perfect dessert to make ahead (if you have more willpower than me, that is).

Do brownies cook better in glass or metal?

Because metal is a better heat conductor than glass, it’s a great choice for your brownies. But don’t worry, they’ll be delicious in a glass pan too, I promise!

Serving Suggestions

A brownie topped with ice cream on a white plate.

How to Store

Room Temperature – Layer your brownies with parchment paper (to prevent sticking) in an airtight container. They will keep for 3-4 days when stored at room temperature.
Refrigerator – Brownies store well in the refrigerator, as the moisture is trapped for longer. You can store these homemade brownies in the fridge for up to a week in an airtight container.
Freezer – You can also freeze these brownies. Wrap as a full block or individually, wrapping tightly in plastic wrap and storing for up to 4-6 months.

A homemade brownie on a plate, with a scoop of peppermint ice cream on top. Gold spoon rests to the side.

Homemade brownies on a wooden cutting board

5 from 2 votes