Food and Recipes Desserts Bars Our Best Homemade Brownie Recipes Cocoa, butter, and sugar—oh my! By Catherine Jessee Catherine Jessee Catherine Jessee is an Assistant Digital Food Editor at Southern Living. She is a writer, recipe tester, and recipe developer with a passion for Appalachian foodways, culture, and history. Prior to joining the Southern Living, Catherine tested and developed recipes for print and digital publications like EatingWell, Food & Wine, Real Simple, Serious Eats, Southern Living, and more. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on July 14, 2024 Close Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox There's something special about a homemade chocolate brownie lovingly made from scratch. I have fond memories of my mom whipping up brownies halfway through a weekend night dinner party at the speed of light, seemingly effortlessly. Before anyone knew it, the house would be as fragrant of cocoa and sugar and butter as it was filled with conversation and laughter and clinking silverware. Sure enough, a tray of brownies cooling on the counter was ready to slice just in time for dessert. A great homemade brownie recipe in your back pocket is essential, and everyone has their favorite. For purists (my mom included), the top must be crinkly and crackly with a rich, chocolaty center and the chewiest edges and corners. For those willing to stretch the limits, though, a solid base recipe has endless possibility for layers, add-ins, frostings, glazes, and toppings. Most of our recipes for homemade brownies, whether they form the base for cheesecake or caramel layers or stand alone, call for Dutch process cocoa, which is slightly less bitter than conventional "pure" or "unsweetened" cocoa. Dutch process cocoa is also slightly darker, which contributes to the rich, concentrated chocolaty look of brownies. Here is a round up of the best homemade brownie recipes, from classic chocolate to caramel and dulce de leche, mint and peppermint, cookies-and-cream, and more. 01 of 11 Homemade Brownies Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Moist in the center, crispy-crackly on top and decadent, this classic, straightforward homemade brownie recipe requires just 15 minutes of active time. get the recipe 02 of 11 Best-Ever Brownies ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: KAY E. CLARKE; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL This recipe uses two 8- by 8-inch baking dishes. Not only does this give them lots of chewy, yummy edges, but also makes them easy to handle, remove, and cut to into squares or diamond shapes—perfect for gifting during the holiday season. get the recipe 03 of 11 Cream Cheese Brownies Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Simple homemade chocolate brownies are swirled with tangy, rich cheesecake filling—cream cheese brownies are a party favorite for potlucks, picnics, and more. get the recipe 04 of 11 Caramel Brownies Stacy Allen, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke, Food Stylist: Jen Riley A gooey layer of sweet, salty caramel is easier than ever to make, using chewy caramels (like Werther's Original). Sandwiched between two layers of homemade brownie—then drizzled on top. get the recipe 05 of 11 Cookies-And-Cream Cheesecake Brownies Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely The only thing that makes cream cheese better—dare we say—is a healthy dose of crunchy and creamy Oreos. Homemade brownies are topped with a rich, smooth cheesecake layer and baked with coarse crumbles of Oreo cookies. get the recipe 06 of 11 Dulce De Leche Brownies Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Storebought dulce de leche makes this homemade brownie extra easy, while a thin layer of cream cheese adds a bit of tang. A touch of flaky sea salt brings effortless elegance and flair. Treat yourself—and others—to this impressive homemade brownie recipe. get the recipe 07 of 11 Mint Julep Brownies Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines Everything you love about a classic mint julep—mint, bourbon, sugar—in a dense, fudgy, bourbon-y homemade brownie. get the recipe 08 of 11 Peppermint Brownies Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Topped with a pepperminty chocolate ganache and a crunchy layer of peppermint candy, these homemade brownies are perfect for mint lovers of all kinds. get the recipe 09 of 11 Dr. Pepper Brownies Shikha Singh Here us out: A dash of soda always makes things better, especially when it comes to baking batters like cakes or brownies. Dr. Pepper, along with a little instant coffee, brings out the rich cocoa flavors even more. get the recipe 10 of 11 Red Velvet Brownies Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners A bright and colorful twist on chocolate brownies and inspired by red velvet cake, these brownies are dense, fudgy, and topped with a lovely tangy cream cheese frosting. get the recipe 11 of 11 Banana Pudding Brownies Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle That's right—banana pudding brownies. Chewy, buttery, and toasty, these brownies harken on blondies, but they've got the warm, aromatic vibe of banana bread and a tangy, creamy, cheesecake-y layer of banana pudding-like filling. Make sure you let these cool completely to set before slicing and enjoying. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit