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The BEST Crinkle Top Brownies.
Watch the How To Video:
Because there is a lot to celebrate today, and because it’s FRIDAY…and because everyone knows that Friday’s deserve chocolate.
So if there was ever a classic brownie recipe to have in your back pocket, it’s this one. Trust me on this. They remind me of the brownies I’d eat as a kid, and I’m really not sure there’s anything better. These are light, a little fudgy, extra chocolatey, perfectly sweet, and they have the most flakey, crinkly top ever. Oh my gosh, SO GOOD.
Before I dive into the delicious details, let me explain the reason I am sharing them.
As most of you know by now, my younger brother Red took home his first Olympic gold medal last week in Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle in PyeongChang, South Korea. If you missed my recap post, you can read part one here and part two here. I said from the start that I wasn’t going to make any fancy Olympic themed food. One, because I am not good with decorating food in fancy ways, and two, because I just didn’t have any great ideas.
That said, after returning home from Korea last week, I felt the need to create a recipe that I knew Red would love. I mean, he did win GOLD, so a celebratory dessert is certainly in order. Right?
Yes, yes, yes. For sure.
Here’s the thing, Red’s a semi picky eater, and doesn’t like anything fancy. His favorite desserts are Special K-Bars (cookbook recipe), chocolate chip cookies, and brownies.
I have a lot of brownie recipes on HBH, but I don’t have one brownie recipe Red would actually eat. Red likes his brownies simple. Chocolate, no frosting, maybe some powdered sugar, and preferably eaten slightly warm. So basically the brownies my mom would make us when we were kids. The ones that came straight out of the Betty Crocker box.
Not going to lie, I loved them too…which is why I am SO excited about these brownies. I really cannot stress enough just how good they are.
When I set out to make these crinkle top brownies, I thought for sure that I’d make them first try and they’d be perfect. I think I felt so confident because I’ve made a hundred and one brownie recipes. But guys, I tested these brownies over and over and over. It was so important to me that they would have the perfect texture, not be dense or cakey, and have the most flakey, crinkly top.
They needed to be perfect, just like the ones I remember eating as a kid with my brothers.
It took a while, used up a lot of eggs…and even more butter.
Like two full days of testing, way over a dozen eggs, probably pounds of butter. Six batches later (possibly more, I lost count), I finally got them right. My freezer is now full of brownies. It’s awesome and very dangerous.
So what’s the secret to that perfect texture and crinkly top?
Real melted chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and a good amount of whisked eggs.
The chocolate is obvious, but the whisked eggs? You need those to create that crinkly top. Whisking the eggs prior to mixing them in the batter creates air within the eggs that helps to create that crinkly top. It might seem like an unnecessary step, and a waste of a clean bowl, but just trust me on this, it’s what makes these brownies great.
While that and all the semi-sweet chocolate…and butter.
YUMMMMMM.
Red has yet to try these brownies, seeing as he’s still in South Korea, but I’m feeling pretty confident that he’s going to love them.
Speaking of Red, he is competing one last time tonight in Men’s Snowboard Big Air, alongside two of his USA teammates, Kyle Mack and Chris Corning. Kyle is a super close friend of the family, who’s honestly almost like another brother. Pretty excited for the both of them, but I have my fingers crossed for Kyle on this one, as Big Air is much more his event. Make sure to watch tonight at 8pm EST on NBC!
Annnddddd with that, I’m thinking these brownies are the perfect chocolate treat to eat while cheering the boys on.
Lastly, if you make these Crinkle Top Brownies, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Crinkle Top Brownies
Servings: 20 brownies
Calories Per Serving: 252 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13 inch pan with parchment paper.2. In the microwave, melt together the butter and 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (stir at 30 second intervals) until melted and smooth. Stir in the sugar, vanilla, and instant coffee. 3. In a small bowl whisk the eggs for 1 minute until bubbly on top. Stir the eggs into the chocolate mix. Add the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder. Stir until just combined. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips.3. Evenly spread the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 28-30 minutes or until the brownies are just set. Let cool (or not) and dust with powdered sugar. Enjoy!
Notes
*For extra thick brownies, bake them in a 9x9 inch square baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes.Â
The BEST, enough said.
What an incredibly versatile recipe. I used a mixture of white, semi-sweet and dark chocolate in this, and cut down the sugar to 1 cup. Baked in an 8×8 pan for 40 minutes, and the brownies came out extremely fudgy (still moist with less sugar), with a beautiful cracked top. Many thanks from sunny Singapore, Tieghan!
Hi Bella,
Thank you so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Merry Christmas!?? xT
Can we add a twist to these brownies by adding the frozen caramel used in the Caramel Mocha and Nutella Brownies? Any modifications to the brownie recipe if we do?
Hi Helen,
I’ve not tried that, but I’m sure it will work well for you. Let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
This. brownies. OH. MY. GOD.
I’ll be short: I’ve never made brownies before, in fact I had YEARS without eating a homemade brownie. These did not disappoint, is the first time a recipe took me the time that it says (40 min in total) and the first time were I get the amount that i’m supposed to (20 brownies!!!). Thank you so so so much, this was so easy and delicious.
Hey Valeria,
Fantastic! Thank you so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Happy Holidays!? xx
Love making this! Question…can i use espresso powder instead of instant coffee? if so, what is the ratio?
Hey Talia,
Yes, you can use and equal amount of espresso powder. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
I LOVE these brownies (and all HBH recipes- you are the best!)
I want to make them a bit festive for a holiday party- do you think I should crush some green/red M&Ms and mix them in? Or add green/red sprinkles or M&Ms on top?
Hey Chloe,
Awesome! Love to hear that you liked the recipe, thanks a bunch for trying it out! I think either of those options would be great! Happy Holidays! xx
Your recipes are the best Tieghan! Love these brownies. Easy, delicious and quick!
Hey there,
Wonderful! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Hi 🙂 I finally found my go-to brownie recipe! These were a hit with my family and co-workers! Wish I had the instant coffee, but they were AMAZING nonetheless! Thank you so much for sharing.
Hi Angela,
Thanks so much for trying this recipe out, I am thrilled to hear that it was enjoyed. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Everyone in my family says these are the BEST brownies and always requests them. So easy, but take to the time to whisk the eggs!
Hey there,
Happy Friday! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks to much for giving it a try!! xTieghan
These are delicious when warm! But I don’t think they are as good the next day because the outer layer gets harder.
Thanks so much for the feedback, I really appreciate it! xTieghan
I missed the note about smaller pan for thicker brownies. Will definitely do that next time. We are at 7000 ft so I think I will cut a bit of sugar and add a bit of flour. Loved the flavor and crinkle effect!
Hey Cori,
Awesome! I love to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! Happy New Year!? xTieghan
These are incredible brownies! So fudgy inside with a crunchy layer outside. I also didn’t find them too sweet. Definitely recommend giving them a try!
Hi there 🙂 I’ve made this before and absolutely adore it! What could I use as a good substitute for butter? I need to make this recipe lactose friendly for a dinner party this week.
Hi there! I would use apple sauce or mashed banana to sub for the butter! 🙂 xTieghan
Delicious! But the top is not as crinkly as seen in your photo. I followed the recipe.
I baked on convection bake – is that the reason why my brownies are not crinkly?
Hey Cassie,
Happy Friday!! I so appreciate you giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed!! The key for the crinkle top is to really make those eggs nice and foamy. xTieghan
I have no idea what I did wrong. I used a 8×8 pan so I cut the recipe in half like you suggested. My brownies are really dry & crumbly. The only thing I can think is maybe because I used 2 normal sized eggs instead of 2 large eggs? What are your thoughts on what could have caused this?
Hey Ashlin,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try, sorry they did not turn out for you. Since you used a smaller pan and cut the recipe in half, did you also reduce your baking time? xTieghan
I keep making these over and over again because they never last for more than one or two days in the house. So gooey and chocolatey and delicious ? Thank you!
Hey Kim,
Happy Friday!! I so appreciate you giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
These taste like boxed brownies ( in the best way)! Worked well w vegan butter
Hey Carley,
Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try, I am delighted to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
This recipe is easy to follow, and the brownies come out deliciously every time! Out of all the brownie recipes I’ve tried, this one beats them all by far.
Hey Erna,
Awesome! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! Have the best weekend:) xTieghan