baking/recipes/sweets

Brown Butter Brownies Recipe

Posted May 9, 2012 by Stephanie

I have a thing for those Two Bite Brownies they sell at Costco. It’s embarrassing, but I get unreasonably excited when I see the nice Costco staff sampling them. They’re just so delicious. So soft, so fudge-y, so good. And they’re perfectly portioned. Not that I ever could just eat one brownie, but still, it feels good knowing that if I wanted to, I could just have one and stop there – not that that’s ever happened!

I’ve never actually bought Two Bite Brownies. I usually get my fix at my mom’s house where there are 5 people in the household to help polish off that giant clear tub of cupcake-shaped chocolately-chewy deliciousness. I like to think that they don’t mind when I grab a ziplock bag and fill it up to take home. I figure, they don’t really need all 120+ brownies, do they?

I’ve made quite a few homemade brownies in my time, but none of them have ever held a candle to Two Bite Brownies. None of them had even come close, until I made Bon Appetit’s Cocoa Brownies with Browned Butter and Walnuts. Bon Appetit’s brownies are insane. They blow Two Bite Brownies out of the water. First of all, these brownies are five to six bites each. They’re incredibly fudgey in the middle and chewy on the edges. The suspended walnuts add a welcome contrast in texture and heightens the nuttiness of the brown butter.

I first came across the recipe for these brownies at my local grocery store, on a late night grocery run with Mike (does anyone else love grocery shopping in the middle of the night?). The cover of Bon Appetit caught my eye. A tower of gloriously glossy brownies studded with walnuts was piled high, the headline proclaiming: Best-Ever Brownies. Warning: You WILL eat the whole tray. With a claim like that I absolutely had to make them. Only problem was, I didn’t actually want to buy that issue of Bon Appetit, so I did what anyone would do: I took a sneaky iPhone photo of the recipe.

I told Mike about my sneaktastic skills in a triumphant whisper:

Me: Guess what?
Mike: What?
Me: I took a photo of the brownie recipe! Heehee!
Mike: Couldn’t you have just looked on bonappetit.com?
Me: Uh…

Okay, so I’m not the most clever brownie baker out there.

But good news! You don’t need to be clever to bake these brownies; it’s a super simple recipe. There isn’t even any chocolate melting. All the chocolate goodness comes from cocoa powder. If you ever had any reservations about cocoa powder brownies, they will be resolved after you make this recipe.

I made the recipe that night. The brownies were finished and cooled at about 2 in the morning. And darn it, the staff at Bon Appetit were right: they were the best-ever brownies. As for the the warning about eating the whole tray…Only Mike and I will ever know the truth.

The recipe for these brownies was so good that I actually went back and bought that issue of Bon Appetit. And I went on to get a subscription as well. I don’t feel too bad about my sneaky photo.

These Brown Butter Brownies are so much better than Two Bite Brownies. They’re like the Next Generation is to Voyager, Batman is to Robin, or Usher is to Bieber. These brownies defy logic. I never thought I’d like a brownie that didn’t have actual melted chocolate in it. I never thought I’d like brownies with nuts. I never thought I’d be begging you to try this recipe, but I am!

You definitely need these brownies in your life.

i am the best, i am better than the rest: i am brown butter brownie!

Cocoa Brownies with Browned Butter and Walnuts Recipe from Bon Appetit
yield: 16 brownies, 211 calories each

  • nonstick vegetable oil spray
  • 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder (spooned into cup to measure, then leveled)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs, chilled
  • 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon unbleached all purpose flour
  • 1 cup walnut pieces

Position rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 325°F. Line 8x8x2-inch metal baking pan with foil, pressing foil firmly against pan sides and leaving 2-inch overhang. Coat foil with nonstick spray. Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Continue cooking until butter stops foaming and browned bits form at bottom of pan, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; immediately add sugar, cocoa, 2 teaspoons water, vanilla, and 1/4 teaspoon (generous) salt. Stir to blend. Let cool 5 minutes (mixture will still be hot).

Add eggs to hot mixture 1 at a time, beating vigorously to blend after each addition. When mixture looks thick and shiny, add flour and stir until blended. Beat vigorously 60 strokes. Stir in nuts. Transfer batter to prepared pan.

Bake brownies until toothpick inserted into center comes out almost clean (with a few moist crumbs attached), about 25 minutes. Cool in pan on rack. Using foil overhang, lift brownies from pan. Cut into 4 strips. Cut each strip crosswise into 4 brownies. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

31 Comments

  1. Hillary says:

    Hello there!
    Thanks for the Brown Butter Brownies recipe.
    I’ll create one for sure, my kids are gonna like it :)
    If you don’t mind, can I submit your Brown Butter Brownies photo in http://www.foodporn.net ?
    It’s a food photography site full of all DIY food pictures from members around the world. Or perhaps you’d like to submit by yourself? Let me know when you did, so I can share it.

  2. dla seniora says:

    I newer eat brownies. thanks for recipe. I’ll try it. Regards:)

  3. Lauren says:

    This is the most amazing recipe ever! I have made them several times since the recipe came out They will knock the socks off anyone you make them for (if you dont eat them all yourself)

  4. Lynna H. says:

    ohh, brown butter in brownies? you got me!

  5. Megan Q. says:

    I love a good brownie but I don’t usually like to bake. However, you totally convinced me to make these with your story – thanks!

  6. Dawn R. says:

    Wow! I need these in my life!

  7. Sophie says:

    I love that you just subscribed to Bon Appetit, because your photos and blog’s style treatments remind me so much of my favorite food magazine. Though your brownie photos have way more movement and life to them than BAs! You do an amazing job, Steph!

    I’ve been on the same 30-year-old brownie recipe forever, but I’m ready to try these for sure!

  8. Quick, post a big pic of salad or something! Every time I stop by here I see those delicious brownies. I’m dieting and I’m weak, I tell ya. (They look soooo good!)

  9. Thanks for the brown butter brownies recipe. It seems like you have found your new favorite brownie recipe.

  10. Gene says:

    The first batch was a hit. 25 minutes from the second batch. Running an extra lap tomorrow to keep the waistline in check. Love it….

  11. Deebb says:

    Yay…I had a similar recipe yrs ago but i lost it..

    Melt butter over saucepan***

    Thanks

  12. Marcus says:

    Looks amazing! Will definitely try this asap. Thanks!

  13. Mary says:

    I’m usually not a brownies fan. But when I saw the photo, I felt I had to give this recipe a try. I used whole wheat flour instead. Overall, it was moist. Not a bad recipe and easy to follow. Thanks!

  14. Any brownie recipe with very little sugar?e

  15. Nicole says:

    I’ve been meaning to make these for months but had a feeling they would be trouble. Yummy, gooey, delicious trouble….And boy was I right. The BEST brownies I have EVER made. Thank you for sharing!

  16. Very good information. Lucky me I discovered your blog by accident (stumbleupon).

    I have saved it for later!

  17. Under normal circumstances i’d never make a brownie with nuts in but these look and sound soooooo tasty i think i’m willing to overlook it. I shall be cooking them for our new group of students on Monday. thanks for the recipe.

    Jen xx

    PS, You’re pictures are awesome!

  18. NAHEED says:

    Your work is inspirational…. Great Brownie Recipe!! Great Blog!!

  19. Incredible! I can’t believe I am still here and not making these brownies already. Thank you so much for sharing the brown buttered goodness. Bookmarking the blog now.

  20. alexandra says:

    that brownie looks delicious

  21. Sherry says:

    Hi,
    i love ur blog. the photo is attracting me…which let me no choice to bake this lovely brown butter brownies…
    It was awesome…gooey and chocolatey! really love it and it taste more better when cold…slowly melt in ur mouth!
    Thanks again for the recipe!

  22. Marie says:

    Made this as pot brownies. Best I’ve ever had.

  23. Anne says:

    is it okay if i use all purpose flour?

    as in I don’t know if it is bleached or not but mostly it is because here in our country it doesn’t say weather it is unbleached or bleached. So yeah, there is no telling of which is which!

    HELP!!
    –Anne

    1. steph says:

      Yes, all purpose will work regardless if it’s bleached or not.

  24. Sitting at my desk with coffee in hand wishing for something chocolatey and then your brownies appear…if only I could make them appear in the physical form. They look outstanding! I am that person who makes every brownie recipe she finds and everything inbetween…I might be an addict!

    1. Helen says:

      I stumbled accross your blog yesterday in search of treats to bake for the Holidays. I just took the brownies out of the oven, and I have to admit, it was a challenge to leave enough batter to bake! That stuff is soooooo good “raw”, I can’t wait to try the brownies once they’ve cooled enough to eat! So here’s to many more pleasant surprises from your blog. You have a new follower! ;-). Happy Yummydays!!

  25. Jen says:

    I have only made cocoa brownies once and I lost a contest with that recipe at work, I have to admit that I did not really like them either. You have convinced me to try a cocoa brownie once again. I mean, you really sold it!!!!

  26. Sam says:

    Is it the same to use dried fruits? Does it make a difference?

  27. Madeline says:

    Thanks so much for the delicious recipe! I just made these and it took about just 10 min. for my family to devour over half of the brownies! They’ll probably finish it all within 30 min. The melted browned butter makes all the difference. I also added milk chocolate chips and rough chopped pecans. Thanks again!

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