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How Do I Make Chewy Brownies?
Good Question

2009_07_13-Brownies.jpgQ: I love brownies — chewy brownies — but whenever I make them, they turn out more like cake than like ooey gooey chewy brownies.

Is there a recipe you can recommend or are there proportions in baking brownies I should be mindful of when baking these chewy delights? - Sabine

 
 

Sabine, we generally look for recipes that are "fudgy" when baking chewy brownies, like the one pictured above from Martha Stewart.

Fudgy Brownies at Martha Stewart

But if you want really specific advice on getting the right brownie consistency, check out this piece from Fine Cooking and a tip from a reader.

How To: Make Cakey, Chewy or Fudgy Brownies
Reader Tip Roundup: 01.22.2007

Readers, do you have really reliable methods for getting those chewy, gooey brownies?

Related: Recipe: Fudge and Walnut Oatmeal Cookies

(Image: Martha Stewart)

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Good Questions, Sweets, baking, brownies, chewy

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Comments (16)

Here's a great recipe for chewy brownies that are disguised as cookies...and actually, you could probably bake them as bar cookies, aka brownies. Enjoy!
http://lauraxlei.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/king-arthurs-fudge-drops/

posted by Laura Zolnoski on July 17th 2009 at 10:48am
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When I want a chewy brownie, I usually look for a recipe w/more AP flour and no baking powder (which are the opposite of a "cakey" recipe). And no fancy "creaming process"... just beat the heck out of it w/a wooden spoon & with all the ingredients in the same bowl. That should develop some of the gluten & give it some "tooth". Cake-like brownies need a more even hand so they're lighter.

posted by keltrue on July 17th 2009 at 10:53am
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I have to thank Laura Zolnoski, in fact, I owe you one. For THE LONGEST time I've been curious about these fabulous brownie-like cookies from a local market in town that I've been indulging in for years. The link you provided has to be them. I can't wait to try out this recipe!

They are divine, folks.

posted by hobsy on July 17th 2009 at 11:31am
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I'm still looking for a chewy brownie recipe too. I tried a KAF recipe last night. It gave me a great crackle crust (my second requirement for brownies), but they weren't very chewy. I've tried so many recipes, but I can't find any that give a chewiness like box mixes!

Thanks for the hint about the brownie cookies, Laura. I'm going to try it next time.

posted by jamiealyse on July 17th 2009 at 11:32am
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For chewy brownies, I add a generous amount of corn syrup (you can reduce the sugar to make up for the sweetness) and extra fat (butter, oil, whatever your recipes uses) and it always gives me chewy rich brownies. Also, I find most brownies, if properly stored, get better and chewier in the days after making them (if you have patience to wait!)

posted by jmorri26 on July 17th 2009 at 12:02pm
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Cakey brownies often mean they've been slightly overcooked.. try doing your recipe, but taking them out of the oven a few minutes earlier. It could be that your oven is stronger than the recipe makers.

posted by Sian on July 17th 2009 at 12:57pm
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Don't use a recipe that has baking powder in it because it'll make them rise too much. I use a recipe from my mom's old Better Homes and Gardens dessert cookbook, but I add an extra ounce of chocolate:

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
3 ounces chocolate, melted and slightly cooled
1/2 cup a.p. flour

Preheat oven to 325 F.

Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla and egg and mix well. Add melted chocolate and mix well. Add flour and mixx until just combined.
Pour batter into a greased 8 x 8 square pan and pop into the oven for 30-35 min. The edge pieces are the chewiest.

posted by kitchengraffiti on July 17th 2009 at 1:00pm
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I use the recipe on the back of the bar of unsweetened Bakers Chocolate. You might want to use classier chocolate but I am perfectly happy with Bakers and the brownies always get raves. You melt the butter & choc together, and there's no creaming involved. They are dense and not at all cake like.

posted by Charlotte on July 17th 2009 at 2:43pm
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I was looking for a chewy / fudgy brownie and came across this recipe.

http://www.dianasdesserts.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/recipes.recipeListing/filter/dianas/recipeID/1136/Recipe.cfm

I must admit I was a bit skeptical because of the name, but I gave it a try anyway, and so far this recipe seems to fit the bill.

posted by Sweet Tart on July 17th 2009 at 3:32pm
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I second Charlotte about the recipe on the Baker's Box. My ultimate favorite brownie recipe is from Maida Heatter, she repeats it alot but I found it in the chocolate deserts book and it's the one with instant coffee in it. The Baker's recipe is easier and faster though, with equally fudgy results, so I make it more often.

posted by shlowzi on July 17th 2009 at 4:06pm
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Use 1 less egg.

Want more cake-y brownies? Add an egg.

posted by cara_mia on July 17th 2009 at 4:31pm
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According to my old Joy of Cooking, it has more to do with the size of pan you cook them in than the ingredients. For the same recipe given (Brownies Cockaigne), it tells you to cook in a smaller (9x9 inch) pan for cakey brownies and a larger (9x13 inch) pan for fudgy brownies. I always use the 9x13 and love the fudgy-chewy result.

posted by angorian on July 17th 2009 at 9:20pm
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angorian is right also about the larger pan. I use a 9x13 for the Baker's recipe.
I am not baking right now (trying not to eat sweets at home just now) and even thinking about this brownie recipe is making me nuts!

And I thought I was over my chocolate cravings!

posted by Charlotte on July 18th 2009 at 5:18am
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cooking for less time/higher temp- experiment until you get the texture you want

I want brownies now!

posted by lz on July 20th 2009 at 11:46pm
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I always thought it had to do with the ratio of flour: sugar, but can't remember where I read that. I think more sugar than flour means fudgy, and more flour than sugar= cakey. Time to make 2 pans of brownies to experiment!

posted by buffy415 on July 24th 2009 at 1:38pm
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Just saw the responses to my post - I hope you enjoyed them all! Yum!

posted by Laura Zolnoski on September 13th 2009 at 6:16pm
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