Rich Brownies
A satisfying vegetarian built around unsweetened baking chocolate, unsalted butter and granulated sugar — roughly 65 minutes start to finish, and rated medium to make. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for oven and pan. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (1)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian — no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Gluten Dairy Egg
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Preheat the oven to 175 C (350 F) and line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy lifting.
- Combine the chopped chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and melt gently over a pan of barely simmering water, stirring until smooth, then remove from the heat and let cool for a few minutes.
- Whisk the sugar into the warm chocolate mixture, then beat in the eggs one at a time followed by the vanilla, mixing until the batter is glossy and thick.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt, then fold them into the chocolate mixture just until no dry streaks remain, taking care not to overmix.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly into the corners with a spatula.
- Bake for 22 to 28 minutes, until the top is set and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs rather than wet batter.
- Cool the brownies completely in the pan on a wire rack, then lift them out using the parchment and cut into squares.
You'll use: Oven · Pan · Saucepan · Whisk
Ingredient substitutions
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
- Eggs
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (baking) · 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water per egg
Tips & common questions
How long does Rich Brownies take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 8 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of butter?
Try olive oil (¾ the amount). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Rich Brownies vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Rich Brownies is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Toffee blondies.jpg by Bryan Ochalla, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.