Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for pan
  • 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Method

  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Line a buttered 8-inch square baking pan with parchment, allowing a 2-inch overhang.
  • Butter lining (not overhang).
  • Put butter, chocolate, and cocoa powder in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; stir until butter and chocolate have melted.
  • Let cool slightly.
  • Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
  • Put sugar, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and mix on medium speed until pale, about 4 minutes.
  • Add chocolate mixture; mix until combined.
  • Reduce speed to low.
  • Add flour mixture; mix, scraping down sides of bowl, until well combined.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan; spread evenly with a spatula.
  • Bake until a cake tester inserted into brownies (avoid center and edges) comes out with a few crumbs but is not wet, about 35 minutes.
  • Let cool slightly in pan, about 15 minutes.
  • Lift out; let cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into squares.
  • Brownies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.