These walnut brownies are what proper brownies should be — crusty and shiny on top, fudgy in the centre, and bursting with walnuts and chocolate chips in every bite.
(Try these soft and chewy Biscoff blondies — they’re brownies but made with everybody’s favourite cookie butter. And chocolate butter mochi is a great gluten-free chocolate brownie option.)
There’s a reason brownies always show up in bake sales — everybody loves them and they’re very easy to make.
But the perfect homemade brownie, now that’s what chocolate dreams are made of.
I’m talking about dark, moist, chocolatey brownies with a perfectly crackly top.
Closer to fudge than cake, slightly gooey, most certainly chewy. Packed with walnuts and chocolate chips.
These are the old-fashioned classic fudge walnut brownies that remind you of grandma or the kitchen smelling wonderful as you come home from school.
Let’s get to it.
Why this recipe works
I love making brownies with walnuts. Hopefully you will too!
- Just as easy as a box mix, but better. I know there are lots of boxed mixes out there but lemme tell you, nothing beats the taste of homemade brownies.
- And it’s so easy to make too. You’re essentially just mixing all the ingredients in a bowl and transferring them to a baking pan. That’s it!
- Freezer friendly. These brownies also freeze well. I usually bake a big batch, freeze them and just thaw when I need to serve them.
- Easy to customize. And the recipe is very easy to customize. Not a fan of walnuts? Leave them out or replace with other nuts like pecans. I give more variations below.
How to make
Ingredient notes
To make this recipe, you’ll need basic pantry staples like baking all purpose flour, baking soda, sugar, eggs, butter.
- Cocoa powder — I use Dutch processed unsweetened cocoa powder
- Espresso or strong coffee — if you don’t care for additional caffeine, you can substitute with water
- Dark chocolate chips — you can also use chopped dark chocolate
- Walnuts — I don’t toast my walnuts but you can definitely do so. Toasting them will add great flavour.
Baking tools
You don’t need a mixer on baking day. Just the following:
- 9×13 inch baking pan
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
I also always recommend an oven thermometer and a kitchen scale. They’ve made me a better baker for sure.
Recipe summary
Making brownies from scratch is one of the first things I learned as a baker. It’s easy and straightforward:
PREP. Preheat oven to 325F and line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
WHISK. In a large bowl, whisk cocoa powder and baking soda.Then add melted butter and whisk until smooth. Espresso comes next; whisk until thick and incorporated.
WHISK SOME MORE. Add sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, eggs and a pinch of salt. Stir until shiny and smooth.
DRY INGREDIENTS. Then add flour, your chocolate chips and walnuts and gently stir until just combined. Don’t over-stir.
BAKE. Transfer the batter to your prepared pan and bake for 30-40 minutes or just until the sides are starting to pull away from the pan and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out with minimal dry crumbs.
ENJOY. Allow to cool in the pan completely before cutting into squares.
Expert baking tips
What makes a brownie fudgy and chewy?
From my experience, two things significantly affect the chewiness factor (is that a thing? Let’s make it a thing) of brownies:
(1) Brown sugar. In this recipe, there’s ½ cup packed brown sugar and I’ve found that adding it helps create that sticky, fudgy texture.
(2) Bake time. Remember it’s better to under-bake than over-bake brownies. Use the baking time in this recipe (or any brownie recipe) as a guide then start testing your brownies about 10 minutes before the end, or just when they start pulling away from the sides of your pan.
The tester or toothpick you insert in the centre must not come out clean.
What you want are bits of crumbs (not wet batter) sticking to it. The brownies will continue to cook as they cool.
(Love everything chocolatey and fudgy? Try this easy fudge pie!)
How to freeze brownies
What I usually do is cut the thoroughly cooled brownies into individual pieces, wrap each one in plastic wrap (wrap them snugly), then with foil. Then I place each one in a freezer safe container or Ziploc bag.
When I’m ready to eat or serve them, I just bring them out and thaw at room temperature.
They’re good slightly chilled too — especially with ice cream — so sometimes I don’t even wait that long.
Brownies stored in the freezer will keep for 1-2 months.
How to cut brownies smoothly
If you want to give out brownies as presents for the holidays or serve them to company, you most definitely want to cut them in nice even squares.
The trick is to allow the brownies to cool completely before cutting. Even better, chill for an hour or so in the fridge.
Then use a warm knife (i.e. run the blade under hot running water then wipe dry) to cut. Remember to wipe the blade clean after each cut and run the blade under hot water again if needed.
I sometimes use my bench scraper too. And if I really want them even I bust out my baking ruler/decorating comb and do math.
Then eat, or share, it’s up to you!
Variations
I love making different kinds of brownies and this is the recipe that I always use as the base. I’ve used it making:
Here are examples of other variations you can explore:
- Leave out the chocolate chips and walnuts for a pure chocolate brownie
- Or add another kind of chocolate for a double chocolate treat
- Add peanut butter swirls for decadent peanut butter walnut brownies
- Or perhaps caramel for walnut caramel brownies
- Marshmallows are a fun addition too
- How about coconut for a more tropical flavour combo?
- Top your brownies with frosting or chocolate ganache
- Sprinkle with cocoa powder before serving
The possibilities are endless! Add your favourite things for the perfect bar every time.
And if you enjoy all things chocolatey, you’ll enjoy this chocolate tres leches cake for sure!
Recipe FAQs
Coffee makes the chocolate flavour stand out more but if you prefer to not have it in your brownies, you can substitute with the same amount of water.
There are several factors that result to cakey brownies:
– Too much flour. It’s best to measure your ingredients when baking (a kitchen scale is awesome and inexpensive). Accidentally adding too much flour will result to a more cakey brownie.
– Over-mixing the batter. Over-mixing can also result to a lighter, more cakey texture. You want to mix your brownie batter just until it’s incorporated. It’s also best to stir the batter by hand vs. using an electric mixer.
– Over-baking. You want to under-bake brownies a little, too, to get that gooey, fudgy centre. Baking it all the way through will make it more cakey than fudgy.
The main culprit of dry brownies is over-baking. You always want to under-bake than over-bake brownies because they will continue cooking in the pan as they cool.
Walnut brownies will keep for 3-5 days in a covered container on the counter. It will stay fresh for longer in the fridge.
Freezing is my favourite way to store them, though. Frozen brownies will keep up to 2 months.
Other quick and easy chocolate recipes
Looking for more chocolate treats? Try these:
Happy baking!
Did you make chocolate brownies with walnuts and chocolate chips? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
Walnut Brownies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Dutch processed unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ⅔ cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
- ½ cup espresso or strong coffee room temperature
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch salt
- 2 pcs large eggs room temperature
- 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- 5 oz dark chocolate chips
- 3.5 oz walnuts roughly chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F. Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper with slight overhang on each side. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk ¾ cup cocoa powder and ½ tsp baking soda. Whisk in ⅔ cup melted butter until smooth. Then whisk in ½ cup espresso until thick and incorporated.
- Add 1 ½ cups sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 tsp vanilla, 2 eggs and a pinch of salt. Stir until shiny and smooth.
- Add 1 ⅓ cups flour, your chocolate chips and walnuts and gently stir until just combined. Don't overstir.
- Transfer the batter to your prepared pan and bake for 30-40 minutes or just until the sides are starting to pull away from the pan and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out with minimal crumbs.
- Let cool in the pan completely before cutting into squares.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Beca
These are absolutely delicious I make them for friends and family with fresh hen eggs, just delicious!!
Favorite brownie recipe.
Jolina
Happy to hear that Beca!
Heidi
I’m unable to find the measurements for the cream cheese brownies.
Can you help me?
Jolina
Hi Heidi, here’s the link to the recipe – https://theunlikelybaker.com/salted-caramel-cream-cheese-brownies/ – you will find all the measurements and instructions there. Enjoy!
Kelly
Just finished making these and OMG! Best brownies I’ve ever made! We can’t wait to have them after dinner with ice cream! Thank you for the recipe!
Jolina
Awesome! Glad you liked them Kelly! 🙂
Jim
This is a chocoholics dream dessert! Since my kiddos fall into that category I’m making this recipe ASAP with the nuts. I may even sneak a few for myself.
Annie
I made these brownies last labor day and their gone in 60 seconds!!! I usually buy the box mix but decided to try this and now my boys want more and more. Thanks for the recipe!
Jolina
Hi Annie, glad you liked them! I used to make boxed mix brownies too but these from-scratch ones are absolutely better 🙂 Have a great day!
Rina
Hi Jolina, these brownies are very delicious. My husband bring them to work and he is now everybody’s favorite.I think I overbake mine a little the edges crisped but I will practice some more and give them away for the holidays. My husbands coworkers will be happy haha.
Jolina
You will definitely make a lot of people happy baking these brownies Rina! 🙂 Remember if you’re unsure, it’s better to underbake brownies than to overbake them. They will continue to cook in the pan as they cool. Happy baking!
Heath
I like the name of your blog as I am an unlikely Baker. I also love brownies. Never knew you could store them in the freezer that long. I will have to try this recipe.
Jolina
They freeze very well actually! Perfect for bake sales – prep days before, freeze, transport, and just unwrap when you’re ready to serve/sell 🙂
Jennifer
Fudgy brownies are the best brownies. Especially if they are soft and gooey!!!!!!
Marisa Franca
OMG!! I have a serious craving right now for some chocolatey brownies. They look so chewy and moist. You have some great tips on how to keep them that way. And besides the chocolate in the brownies themselves you add chocolate chips. I’m in heaven. This recipe is only for serious chocolate brownie lovers.
Jolina
Yes, for folks serious about brownies only!! 🙂
Veena Azmanov
I love how fudgy these look. Walnuts in brownies are an absolute classic. Now I can’t wait to try this one soon. You make it look so easy.
Arlene Mobley
Homemade brownies are so easy to make and taste so much better! These would not last long in my house!
Jolina
They don’t last long here either lol!!
Melanie williams
Stop making me hungry. These Fudgy walnut chocolatey brownies look super scrummy and yummy xx