I Tried Martha Stewart’s Super-Popular Chewy Brownies (2024)

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Jesse Szewczyk

Jesse SzewczykContributor

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published Aug 5, 2019

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If you ask me, the thing that differentiates a good brownie from a great brownie all comes down to texture. Nobody wants a dry brownie, or one that crumbles when you bite into it. They should be chewy, fudge-like, and rich — and definitely not cakey. So when I came across Martha Stewart’s recipe that is literally called “chewy brownies,” I knew I had to try it.

The recipe uses oil in addition to butter to make them chewy (or so the recipe claims) and uses brown sugar in addition to white to give them a deep caramel flavor. Other than that, the recipe is pretty straightforward and has nothing unusual or unexpected going on. It relies on technique and simple ingredient additions to make the brownies chewy and full of flavor, so I was curious to test them out.

So is Martha’s recipe really worth the hype? And does adding oil really make the brownies chewier? As someone who absolutely hates cakey brownies, I was eager to try it out and see for myself.

How to Make Martha Stewart’s Chewy Brownies

You’ll start by lining a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang so you can easily remove the brownies once they’re baked. Set that aside as you prepare the batter.

You’ll then combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. In a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, you’ll melt the chocolate, butter, and safflower or coconut oil together until smooth. Once melted, you’ll remove the bowl from the double boiler and whisk in both brown and white sugar. Next, you’ll add eggs and whisk vigorously until the mixture is thick and glossy. (This is what gives the brownies their shiny top, so don’t rush this step.) Using a rubber spatula, you’ll gently stir in the flour mixture.

Lastly, you’ll pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, smooth the top, and transfer to a preheated oven. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, then allow to cool completely before slicing into squares.

My Honest Review of Martha Stewart’s Chewy Brownies

If you’re looking for a simple, no-frills brownie recipe to keep in your back pocket, this is it. They came out rich, fudgy, and flavorful — a truly upgraded version of boxed brownies. The top had a beautiful shine and shattered when I cut it, and the center was almost black in color and significantly more chewy than other brownie recipes I’ve made. The addition of oil prevented them from getting too cakey or dry and gave them a dense, fudge-like texture — but not in an overwhelming way. This was a standard, textbook brownie recipe that stuck to the rules and did what needed to be done — and I appreciate that.

While the recipe itself is solid, it’s a bit reserved and forgettable. There’s nothing too flashy about them, and the chocolate flavor is present but not very strong. The best thing about them was their chewy texture, thanks to the addition of oil. While I would definitely consider this recipe good, I don’t think it’s showstopping. It’s a great recipe to tweak and make your own with additional mix-ins. Consider this your basic recipe for brownies that you can dress up or down depending on the occasion.

If You’re Making Martha Stewart’s Chewy Brownies, a Few Tips

When you’re ready to bake Martha Stewart’s brownies, here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Take the time to properly prep your pans: Lining the pan with parchment paper will help you remove the brownies with ease after baking, so don’t skip this step.

2. Don’t get confused by the term “unsweetened” chocolate: It’s just another name for baking chocolate.

3. Don’t skip the oil: Even though it’s just three tablespoons, it’s the secret to making these brownies super chewy. And if you use coconut oil, make sure it’s refined so the flavor isn’t too strong.

4. When adding the eggs to the chocolate mixture, make sure to vigorously whisk the mixture until it’s thick and glossy: This is what gives these brownies their super-shiny top. The recipe calls for whisking them for 45 seconds, which will feel like a long time, but don’t rush it.

5. Allow the brownies to cool before cutting them: These brownies are fairly fudgy, so make sure to let them cool completely before attempting to cut them — otherwise they will stick to your knife.

  • Difficulty to Make: 5/10
  • Taste/Texture: 6/10
  • Appearance: 8/10
  • Overall Rating: 8/10

Have you tried making Martha Stewart’s chewy brownies before? Tell us what you thought!

Read More About This Brownie Showdown

  • Alton Brown Has a Clever Trick for Making the Best Brownies Ever
  • Here’s What We Thought of Ina Garten’s Outrageous Brownies
  • Here’s What Makes Pioneer Woman’s Dark Chocolate Brownies So Fudgy
  • We Tested 4 Famous Brownie Recipes and Found a Clear Winner

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Martha Stewart

I Tried Martha Stewart’s Super-Popular Chewy Brownies (2024)

FAQs

I Tried Martha Stewart’s Super-Popular Chewy Brownies? ›

While the recipe itself is solid, it's a bit reserved and forgettable. There's nothing too flashy about them, and the chocolate flavor is present but not very strong. The best thing about them was their chewy texture, thanks to the addition of oil.

What is the difference between chewy and brownies? ›

So what's the difference between fudgy and chewy brownies? The chewy brownie (pictured above) has an additional egg and 1/4 cup more flour than the fudgy brownies, which give the brownie a little more “bite”. Because baking brownies can be a little tricky, here are some general tips for more brownie baking success…

Why are my brownies not chewy? ›

Chewy brownies must be slightly under-baked. One of the top mistakes to avoid when making brownies is waiting until there's no more crumbs on the toothpick to pull the pan from the oven. By that point they're close to over-baked, and you will lose out on that chewiness you want.

How to make box brownies chewy not cakey? ›

Try using one less egg than called for in the recipe. That will make it more chewy and less cake like.

What are Katharine Hepburn brownies? ›

The brownies are made with unsweetened chocolate, which is also known as baking, plain or bitter chocolate. It is chocolate in its rawest form and this means that unsweetened chocolate is just ground cocoa nibs that have been refined and contain between 50-55% cocoa butter (cacao fat).

Are Ghirardelli brownies chewy or fudgy? ›

Ghirardelli's brownies weren't too sweet and had a denser, more fudgelike texture. They had the most intense flavor of the bunch, which I think came from the chocolate chips and the darker chocolate used in the batter. These were also fudgy, which is my personal preference for a brownie.

How do you know when chewy brownies are done? ›

Gently shake the pan back and forth a few times and look at the middle of the brownies—if you're cooking fudgy brownies, they should wobble or jiggle slightly. They'll finish cooking after you take them out of the oven. If you're cooking chewy or cakey brownies, you shouldn't see any movement in the middle of the pan.

Is melted butter or softened butter better for brownies? ›

If you want a fudgy chocolate brownie, use melted butter. For cakey brownies, beating softened butter and sugar together to create air pockets will make your brownies lighter and cakier.

Are brownies better with butter or oil? ›

the butter brownies actually had a fudgier texture. they were softer, and they really just melted in your mouth. they also had that shiny crust and just better flavor, whereas the oil brownies were actually chewier. they were crunchier at the top and at the edges.

How to make brownies taste like bakery? ›

One change is to use milk or heavy cream instead of water. This change will make brownies more moist and gooey since milk is more fatty and flavorful than water. A second change is to use butter instead of oil. For similar reasons to using milk, butter adds a rich and more decadent quality to the batter.

Which brownie mix is chewy? ›

If you like chewy, sticky brownies, I recommend: Betty Crocker Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix. If you like light, less dense brownies with a picture-perfect sugar top that flakes when sliced, I recommend: Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix.

What happens if you add milk to brownie mix? ›

Brownie recipes traditionally call for water as it serves as a neutral liquid that hydrates the dry ingredients. However, using milk instead of water can impart a creamier texture and richer flavor to your brownies. The milk's fat content adds a smoothness that water cannot provide, resulting in a more indulgent treat.

Why are they called blonde brownies? ›

The name 'blondies' comes from their light color, which contrasts with the dark color of traditional brownies.

What is in brownies on the moon? ›

Description. The most delicious brownies are combined with premium high-quality chocolate cream and vanilla ice cream to give you an experience that is out of this world!

Why are brownie fairies called brownies? ›

They received their name from the fact that they are usually described as brown-skinned and completely covered in hair. In the earliest traditions, brownies are either the same size as humans or sometimes larger, but, in later accounts, they are described as "small, wizened, and shaggy".

What does chewy mean in cookies? ›

Cookies that are dense and chewy incorporate more moisture into the batter. This can be achieved by making substitutions with wet and dry ingredients, or even just changing the way you incorporate certain ingredients. Plus, your particular baking technique and your method of storing cookies can also play a role.

Are brownies supposed to be chewy in the middle? ›

If the brownies still look wet or aren't pulling away, they aren't done. Even fudgy brownies will pull from the edges once they've finished baking. You'll see that the edges look dry while the middle still looks soft or slightly wet. Chewy and cakey brownies will have dry edges with firmer-looking centers.

What's the difference between brownies and fudge brownies? ›

Fudge doesn't contain very much besides chocolate, sweetened condensed milk and if you want some inclusions like nuts, marshmallows, cookies, cacao nibs, peanut butter, dried fruit and so on. Whereas brownies contain cacao powder (no chocolate!), flour, eggs, butter or oil, baking powder and nuts.

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