What’s the Difference Between Fudgy, Chewy, and Cakey Brownies? (2024)

FAQs

What’s the Difference Between Fudgy, Chewy, and Cakey Brownies? ›

While still moist, you can expect cakey brownies to have a center that's more fluffy and less soft and gooey than fudgy or chewy brownies. Additionally, the butter and sugar are usually creamed together, rather than starting with melted butter or oil.

Fudgy brownies have a higher fat-to-flour ratio than cakey ones. So add more fat—in this case, butter and chocolate. A cakey batch has more flour and relies on baking powder for leavening. The amount of sugar and eggs does not change whether you're going fudgy or cakey.

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.

The Eggs in Chewy Brownies

The protein and fat in the egg yolk help create extra chewiness and richness. Unlike many recipes, we use cold eggs instead of room temperature to prevent the brownies from doming and to increase moisture with a tighter crumb texture.

To test for doneness with a toothpick, insert a toothpick into the center of the brownies and pull it back out. For fudgy brownies, you'll want to see some moist crumbs attached to the toothpick when you pull it back out. If it looks like it's covered in brownie batter, the brownies will need to bake a bit longer.

The perfect treat for chocolate-lovers everywhere, these Chocolate Fudge Brownies are gently crisp on top and gorgeously gooey inside… total chocolate heaven! So grab your apron and mixing bowl and fire up your oven to 180°C (160°C for fan assisted ovens)/ Gas Mark 4 – let's bake up a batch!

Both have chewy textures. However, blondies have a much lighter and softer taste than brownies. The ingredients used in brownies are where the two recipes diverge the most. Blondies use vanilla extract and brown sugar instead of cocoa powder to get their flavor, while brownies use chocolate and cocoa.

Is it ok to eat raw brownie batter? Traditional brownie recipes have raw eggs and raw flour in them, so they are not technically safe to eat.

In brownies, both butter and oil will offer a moist, tender texture, but only butter will give the dish the aeration needed for rising brownies well. If you use a cake brownie, butter is a better option because it helps rise the batter. For denser, fudge type brownies, oil is permissable.

When the back-of-box instructions call for water, try some instant espresso or strong-brewed coffee for roasty, toasty notes that pair impeccably with chocolate. Or use milk or half-and-half for even more richness. And for cakey instead of fudgy brownies, add an extra egg for more lift and spring.

Why are my brownies burnt on the edges raw in the middle? ›

To determine when it's baked, we would recommend looking for a solid crust on top of the brownie, but a good wobble in the centre when you shake the pan. If the middle is raw but the edges are burning, your oven is too hot.

Fudgy brownies are moist, dense and gooey, with almost the texture of fudge, but not quite as compact. Chewy brownies are dense (like fudgy brownies), but have a little more “bite” to them or elastic texture when you chew them.

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.

Make Sure They're Airtight

To keep your brownies as fresh as possible, you'll want to place them in an airtight container. Unfortunately, the air is your brownie's biggest enemy, and even a little bit of it can quickly turn soft brownies into dry, crumbly ones.

Airtight Containers

Use parchment paper to layer brownies into an airtight container for best results. Tip: When storing brownies in an airtight container, add a slice of bread in with them. The moisture from the bread will help keep your brownies fresh and soft for a couple more days.

Brownies are perfect when the middle is just baked, so it sets to a fudgy, moist consistency - if your flour and baking powder are causing the edges to rise, cook and set too quickly, they will give the appearance of a sunken centre, even if the centre is perfectly cooked.

The ideal consistency of brownie mix is thick and gooey, similar to a thick cake batter. When you mix the ingredients together, the batter should be smooth and free of lumps, with a slightly sticky texture. This consistency is important for achieving moist and fudgy brownies that are rich in flavor.