When it comes to legendary desserts, few recipes are as iconic as Ina Garten’s Outrageous Brownies. Originally featured in the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook and seen on the Food Network, these chocolate brownies have earned rave reviews for decades—and for good reason.
There is something magical about this recipe. If you’re a chocolate lover, you’ll love this dessert. Once we tried them, this recipe quickly went in our recipe box.
If you’re looking for the best brownie recipe to impress your family, friends, or guests at a dinner party, this particular brownie recipe is guaranteed to wow everyone.
Ina’s recipe is rich, bold, and packed with a deep chocolate flavor you simply won’t find in a box of brownie mix. Using high-quality chocolate bars, over a pound of chocolate chips, and just a small amount of flour, you’ll achieve a fudgy brownie recipe that’s truly in a class of its own. Plus, it makes a big batch—perfect for large brownies to share (or not!).
Why Ina Garten’s Outrageous Brownies Are So Unique and Good
There are several reasons why Ina’s outrageous brownie recipe stands apart from other baked goods:
- High-quality chocolate: Using a combination of unsweetened chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, and a pound of chocolate chips creates a rich, luxurious chocolate taste.
- Instant espresso powder: A small amount enhances the deep chocolate flavor without making the brownies taste like coffee. It balances the bitterness of instant coffee granules beautifully.
- Minimal flour: Only one cup of flour (or a cup of the flour) is used, resulting in an ultra-fudgy, dense texture rather than cakey brownies.
- Good vanilla: Ina famously insists on using pure vanilla extract—and once you taste these, you’ll understand why!
- Air escape while baking: Dropping the pan mid-way through the baking process to allow air to escape from the brownie batter while baking. It helpsthe brownies to cook evenly without becoming dry.
The finished product is absolute perfection: warm chocolate mixture, gooey centers, and slightly crispy edges. Everything you want in a hot brownie. Whether you serve a large square with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or simply on its own, you’re in for a real treat.
Barefoot Contessa’s Best Outrageous Brownies Recipe Unveiled
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Unsalted Butter 4 sticks
- 28 Ounces Semisweet Chocolate Chips divided, 1 pound plus 12 ounces
- 6 Ounces Unsweetened Chocolate chopped
- 6 Extra-Large Eggs room temperature
- 3 Tablespoons Instant Coffee Granules or Instant Espresso Powder
- 2 Tablespoons Pure Vanilla Extract
- 2 1/4 Cups Sugar
- 1 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour divided
- 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 2 Cups Walnuts chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 12 x 18 x 1-inch baking sheet, which is a half sheet pan. Alternatively, you can line the pan with greased parchment paper allowing it to hang over the sides for easy lifting.
- In a medium heatproof bowl set over a double boiler melt together the unsalted butter, unsweetened chocolate, and one pound of the semisweet chocolate chips. Stirring occasionally until smooth. Allow the melted chocolate to cool slightly into a cooled chocolate mixture.28 Ounces Semisweet Chocolate Chips, 6 Ounces Unsweetened Chocolate, 1 Pound Unsalted Butter
- In a large bowl, stir together the extra-large eggs, instant coffee, pure vanilla extract, and sugar until combined. Stir in the cooled chocolate mixture to the egg mixture. Let it cool to room temperature.6 Extra-Large Eggs, 3 Tablespoons Instant Coffee Granules, 2 Tablespoons Pure Vanilla Extract, 2 1/4 Cups Sugar
- In a medium bowl, sift together the dry ingredients, 1 cup of the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to the chocolate batter.1 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour, 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder, 1 Teaspoon Salt
- Toss the walnuts with the remaining 12 ounces of semisweet chocolate chips with remaining 1/4 cup of flour and fold them into the brownie dough. This prevents them from sinking to the bottom.2 Cups Walnuts
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Smooth the top and bake on the middle oven shelf or oven rack for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean but the center is still soft for that perfect fudgy brownies texture. Don’t overbake! Pro Tip. Ina says to bake for 20 minutes, then rap the baking sheet against the oven rack. This helps the air escape from between the brownie dough and pan. Then bake for the remaining 15 minutes.
- Allow the wonderful brownies to cool thoroughly in the pan before cutting into large squares. Pro Tip. Ideally, refrigerate for 30 minutes to cool completely.
Your Own Private Notes
Notes
Tips for the Best Results
• Always use good vanilla and best ingredients for authentic chocolate taste.• To create the ideal warm chocolate mixture, melt your chocolate slowly using a double boiler rather than rushing over direct heat.
• Ina says to bake for 20 minutes, then rap the baking sheet against the oven rack. This helps the air escape from between the brownie dough and pan. Then bake for the remaining 15 minutes.
• Cool the brownies completely before slicing to get clean, large squares and avoid crumbling. . Ideally, refrigerate for 30 minutes to cool completely.
• Store the brownies wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and placed in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
• And next time, if you’re hosting guests, make a big batch ahead of time—they freeze incredibly well too!
Nutrition
Serving Suggestions: The Perfect Way to Enjoy Outrageous Brownies
These wonderful brownies are so rich and delicious that they hardly need anything extra — but if you’re looking to make your dessert truly unforgettable, try one of these easy ideas:
- Classic A La Mode. Serve a large square of warm brownie with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. The contrast between the hot brownie and the cold, creamy ice cream is pure heaven! If you love a hot dessert, reheat a piece gently in the microwave for 10-15 seconds and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Simple and Elegant. Dust the tops of your large brownies lightly with cocoa powder or powdered sugar before serving for a bakery-style finish.
- Decadent Drizzle. Drizzle melted chocolate, caramel sauce, or even a spoonful of warm peanut butter over the finished product for an extra luxurious treat.
- Coffee Companion. Pair a fudgy brownie with a fresh cup of coffee or espresso to highlight the subtle coffee flavor from the instant espresso powder in Ina’s outrageous brownie recipe.
- Brownie Sundae Bar. Set up a simple brownie sundae bar for parties — offer toppings like chopped nuts, whipped cream, berries, sprinkles, and different sauces. Let guests build their own dessert masterpiece!
- Grown-Up Twist. For an adults-only version, serve warm brownies with a shot of espresso or a small glass of dessert wine — the deep chocolate flavor pairs beautifully with both.
The beauty of Barefoot Contessa’s brownies is that they store beautifully. Whether you’re serving them at a dinner party or saving a few for later, wrapping them in plastic wrap and storing them in an airtight container will keep them moist and delicious.
Recipe Variations: Fun Mix-Ins for Outrageous Brownies
While Ina’s outrageous brownie recipe is absolutely perfect on its own, sometimes it’s fun to customize your brownie batter with a few extra goodies. Here are some delicious mix-in ideas to try next time you bake:
- Nuts. Stir 1 to 1½ cups of chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds into the finished batter before baking. They add a satisfying crunch to the fudgy brownies.
- Dried Fruit. Add a handful of dried cherries, cranberries, or raisins for a sweet, chewy bite that pairs beautifully with the deep chocolate flavor.
- Peanut Butter Swirl. Dollop small spoonfuls of peanut butter on top of the chocolate batter and swirl gently with a knife for a rich, nutty twist.
- White Chocolate Chips. Swap out half of the semisweet chips for white chocolate chips to create a beautiful contrast in flavor and color.
- Dark Chocolate Chunks. For true chocolate lovers, folding in chopped dark chocolate makes the chocolate taste even more intense.
- Espresso Boost. Double the instant espresso powder for an extra bold, mocha-like brownie (perfect for a grown-up dessert).
- Caramel Bits. Add caramel baking bits or drizzle caramel sauce over the batter for gooey, irresistible pockets of sweetness.
- Mini Marshmallows. Stir a cup of mini marshmallows into the batter for a Rocky Road-inspired brownie variation.
- Oreos or Candy Bars. Chop up Oreos, Snickers, or Reese’s and fold them into the batter for a true crowd-pleaser at any dinner party.
👉 Pro Tip: If you’re adding mix-ins, gently fold them into the brownie dough just before pouring it into the baking pan to keep the batter smooth and avoid overmixing.
Incredible Brownie Flavor
If you’ve ever wondered why the patrons of the Barefoot Contessa store fell head over heels for these baked goods, one bite of these outrageous brownies will tell you everything you need to know.
Rich, dense, and packed with incredible chocolate flavor, this fudgy brownie recipe is truly one of Ina’s greatest hits.
Bake a batch today and enjoy the magic of Ina’s outrageous brownies for yourself!
This worked exactly as written, thanks!