Brown Butter Brownies

Brown Butter Brownies are my go-to dessert when I want something truly decadent. After making them countless times, I can confidently say they are the richest, fudgiest brownies you’ll ever taste. The secret? Brown butter. It adds an incredible depth of flavor that makes these brownies so much more than your average chocolate treat.

Whether you’re making them for a special occasion or just because you’re craving something indulgent, this recipe is one you’ll come back to again and again. Trust me, I’ve tested them enough to know they’re foolproof!

This post was originally published in June 2014 but has been updated with new photos and additional information to help you easily recreate the recipe in your own kitchen!

Why Brown Butter Makes These Brownies Better

If you’ve never baked with brown butter, you’re in for a treat. I use brown butter all the time in both savory and sweet recipes. Here’s why brown butter takes them to the next level:

• Intensifies flavor: Browning the butter caramelizes the milk solids, creating a nutty, toffee-like flavor that makes the chocolate taste even richer. This flavor also shines in my Brown Butter Blondies and my Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Frosting.
• Adds complexity: The subtle nuttiness balances the sweetness, making each bite more flavorful. For this reason, I love to make Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes instead of adding regular butter to plain mashed potatoes.
• Creates a fudgier texture: The moisture from the butter combined with the sugar creates that perfect chewy, fudgy consistency.

Once I started making brownies with brown butter, I swore I’d never go back, and I haven’t.

What Makes These Brown Butter Brownies Special

After making this recipe so many times, I’ve refined it to perfection. Here’s why they’re always a hit:

Customizable: Add walnuts for a satisfying crunch, or leave them out if you prefer a nut-free version.

Deep chocolate flavor: The combination of brown butter and rich cocoa powder creates an intense chocolate taste. There also isn’t very much flour in this recipe, adding to the dense chocolate flavor.

Easy to make: You only need a saucepan and a spoon, no mixer required!

Key Ingredients You’ll Need

You only need a handful of pantry staples to make these incredible brownies. Here’s what makes them stand out.

• Brown butter: The star of the show. It adds a rich, caramelized flavor that makes these brownies taste gourmet.
• Cocoa powder: Natural unsweetened cocoa powder gives the brownies a deep chocolate flavor. I’ve tested with both natural and Dutch-processed cocoa. Both work, but natural gives a more classic brownie taste.
• Eggs: These help create structure and give the brownies their chewy texture.
• Vanilla extract: Enhances the chocolate and brown butter flavors.
• Walnuts (optional): For added crunch and texture. I’ve made them with and without nuts. Both versions are equally delicious.

Exact quantities are listed below in the recipe card. Note: the recipe card allows you to easily scale the recipe and will automatically adjust the ingredient quantities.

How to Make Brown Butter Brownies

Always refer to the recipe card below, but here is a visual summary.

Learn From Me: Tips for Perfect Brownies

After making these brownies more times than I can count, I’ve learned a few tricks to get them just right:

• Don’t over-brown the butter: It goes from perfect to burnt quickly. The moment you smell that rich, nutty aroma and see golden flecks, remove it from the heat.
• Cool the butter mixture slightly: Let it cool until warm before adding the eggs, otherwise, you’ll end up with scrambled eggs.
• Use parchment paper: This makes it easy to lift the brownies out of the pan for clean slicing.
• Let them cool before cutting: It’s tempting to slice into them right away, but letting them cool gives you cleaner, more defined squares.

Ways to Serve and Enjoy Brown Butter Brownies

These brownies are perfect on their own, but if you want to take them up a notch, try serving them with:

• A scoop of ice cream: Warm brownies with vanilla ice cream are a match made in dessert heaven.
• Caramel or chocolate sauce: For extra indulgence, add a sweet drizzle of homemade caramel sauce or warm chocolate sauce over the top.
• A sprinkle of sea salt: A pinch of flaky sea salt enhances the chocolate flavor and balances the sweetness.
• Brownie sundaes: Cube the brownies and layer them with whipped cream, ice cream, and toppings for a fun dessert.

FAQs: Brown Butter Brownies

This is a super easy recipe to make, but here are some of the questions I’ve gotten.