Crispy Chocolate Chip Brownie Brittle – Easy homemade recipe! (2024)

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This homemade brownie brittle is easy to make and impossible to resist! With a crispy brownie base and mini chocolate chips in every bite, it’s the ideal snack for anyone who loves chocolate.

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Homemade Brownie Crisps

There are those who like cake-y brownies and those who prefer their brownies chewy—and then there are those of us who delight in the crispy edges and that thin, crinkly layer on top that all the best brownies have. If you fall into the third group, then you’re going to love this brownie brittle recipe. (And even if you don’t fall into that group—well, you’re still going to love it. It’s that good.)

Imagine a pan of brownies that’s entirely made of the crispy, chewy edges. That’s what you get with brownie brittle. Basically, you spread brownie batter into a thin layer on a jelly roll pan and bake it until it’s dry. When it’s cooled, break it into pieces—you know, kind of like peanut brittle or chocolate bark, but with brownies instead.

Texturally, I would compare this brownie brittle to a crispy yet chewy cookie if you make it as written. If you’d prefer your brownie brittle cracker thin and really crispy, you can make it in a larger pan, which will allow you to bake it into a thinner layer that has even more crispy-crunchy texture. Either way, this is going to be your new favorite snack if brownies are your weakness.

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What You’ll Need

Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

  • Bittersweet chocolate – Learn more about chocolate for baking.
  • Unsalted butter– Here’s the difference between salted and unsalted butter.
  • All-purpose flour – Be sure to measure flour accurately for this recipe to ensure that it turns out perfect.
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Egg whites – Don’t want to throw away the yolks? Use them to make a double batch of my almond cookies or freeze them for another recipe.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Vanilla extract – Store-bought or homemade vanilla extract are both fine.
  • Mini chocolate chips – Feel free to substitute a chopped chocolate bar instead.

Is Unsweetened Cocoa Powder the Same as Cocoa Powder?

Yes, unsweetened cocoa powder is the same as cocoa powder; it may also be labeled as natural cocoa powder. What you don’t want for this recipe is hot cocoa mix, which is sweetened with sugar.

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How to Make Brownie Brittle

The hardest part about making this brownie brittle is waiting for it to cool so you can eat it! Here’s what you’ll need to do.

Prepare. Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line a 10″ x 15″ jelly roll pan with parchment paper, then lightly grease the paper.

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Melt the chocolate and butter. Set the chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl and heat at half-power in 30-second increments until the butter has melted and the chocolate melts when stirred. Continue to stir until the mixture is completely smooth, then let it cool slightly while you work on the next steps of the recipe.

Mix the dry ingredients. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl.

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Finish the batter. Whisk the egg whites in a large bowl just until they’re foamy. Whisk in the sugar and vanilla, then stir in the cooled chocolate mixture, followed by the dry ingredients.

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Bake. Spread the brownie batter evenly in the prepared pan and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the brownies are firm.

Cool and serve. Let the brownie brittle cool in the pan on a wire rack. Use the parchment paper to lift the brownies out of the pan and onto a cutting board to break or cut into pieces before serving.

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Tips for Success

Read over my baking tips for beginners, then follow these tips and pointers for this brownie brittle recipe:

  • Spread the batter evenly. That way, you won’t have some parts that are burned and other parts that are underbaked.
  • Don’t underbake it. While a lot of traditional brownie recipes call for slight underbaking to get a gooey, rich texture, that won’t work for brownie brittle. You want to make sure even the center of the pan feels dry to the touch.
  • Let it cool completely before breaking into pieces. Otherwise, it won’t hold together as well when you try to take it apart; it will crumble instead.

Variations

Brownie brittle is a great recipe for customizing—just be sure to stick with the proportions of the original recipe. Here’s some inspiration to get you started.

  • Crispier Brownie Brittle – Use an 11″ x 17″ jelly roll pan if you want cracker-thin brownie brittle, then reduce the baking time by 5 minutes.
  • Peanut Butter Brownie Brittle – Swap the chocolate chips for peanut butter chips.
  • Nutty Brownie Brittle – Substitute chopped nuts or peanuts for some or all of the chocolate chips.
  • White Chocolate Brownie Brittle – Use white chocolate chips in place of the mini chocolate chips, or melt white chocolate and drizzle it over the cooled brownie brittle.
  • Peppermint Brownie Brittle – Replace the vanilla extract with peppermint extract.
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How to Store

Once cooled, store the brownie brittle in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Can This Recipe be Frozen?

This brownie brittle recipe can be frozen for up to 3 months. Place parchment paper between each layer so they don’t stick together when frozen. To thaw, let sit at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.

More Recipes for Brownie Lovers

Small Batch Brownies
Irish Cream Brownie Bites
Extra Nutty Brownies
Double Chocolate Skillet Brownies for Two
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Get the Recipe:

Brownie Brittle

Yield24 to 30 servings

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time30 minutes

Total Time45 minutes

With a crispy brownie base and mini chocolate chips in every bite, this homemade brownie brittle is the ideal snack for anyone who loves chocolate!

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Ingredients

  • 3 ounces (85g) bittersweet chocolate
  • 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup (90g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup (21g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a 10" x 15" jelly roll pan* with parchment paper, and lightly grease the paper.
  2. Place the chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat at half-power in 30-second increments until the butter has melted and the chocolate melts when stirred. Stir until smooth, and then set aside to cool slightly.
  3. Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  4. Place the egg whites in a large bowl, and whisk just until they're foamy. Add the sugar and vanilla, and mix until combined. Next, stir in the cooled chocolate mixture. And finally, stir in the flour mixture.
  5. Spread the brownie batter evenly in the prepared pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top.
  6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the brownies are firm.
  7. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Then lift the brownies out of the pan and onto a cutting board to break or cut into pieces.

Notes

*Use an 11" x 17" jelly roll pan if you want extra thin brownie brittle. Reduce the baking time by about 5 minutes.

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Crispy Chocolate Chip Brownie Brittle – Easy homemade recipe! (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep chocolate chips hard in brownies? ›

Choose a recipe whose batter is thick rather than thin.

The thicker the brownie batter, the more resistance it'll offer the chips, and the more likely they are to stay put.

Why don t my brownies have a crackly top? ›

Add semisweet chocolate chips

We made several varieties of brownies in my shop and I noticed that the batches that had extra chocolate chips added to the batter always came out shiny! That's when I realized that the extra step of adding chocolate chips to the brownie batter helps the brownies get a crackly top.

Why is my brownie crispy? ›

When you whisk the eggs in a separate bowl before adding them to the batter, you are essentially adding air to the eggs. That air is what makes the top of your brownies crinkle, creating a crispy texture, with cracks of gooey, moist chocolate peeking through.

What causes brownies to crumble? ›

Various causes include overbaking, underbaking, cutting the brownies too quickly, and lacking oil and fluid contents in the recipe. Underbaked and overbaked brownies turn out to be crumbly. When cut sooner before cooling down can make the brownies crumb.

What makes chocolate chips harden? ›

Any moisture will cause your chocolate to "seize" or harden. If you are working with large amounts of chocolate, consider putting only two-thirds of it in first. This will help it melt faster. It is possible to fix seized chocolate by adding cream to it, but this will affect your recipe.

Why won t my melted chocolate chips harden? ›

However, if your chocolate hasn't set, there are a few reasons why this could be. It could be that your room temperature is too high. If the temperature is over 68 F, this can cause problems. The ideal setting temperature is between 65 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do you keep brownie edges crispy? ›

To ensure a crisp edge on each brownie (and to prevent sticking) coat the muffin tin with oil and sugar before adding your batter.

How to get crust on top of brownies? ›

“Whether brownies have a crust on top depends on how much you beat the batter after the eggs are added. The more you beat, the more crust you get. If you beat vigorously with a mixer, you can get a dramatic crust.

What happens if you add too much flour to brownies? ›

For context, most chocolate sheet cakes call for at least 2 cups. If you add too much flour, your brownies will likely come out too dry and taste stale.

What happens if you put too much butter in brownies? ›

Whether you use butter, margarine, or vegetable oil, putting too much in your brownie batter causes it to be greasy. Don't worry, you're not alone. Many people fall into this trap when trying to substitute butter with oil.

How to make box brownie mix better? ›

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.

What makes brownies fudgy vs cakey? ›

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.

Are brownies better with oil or butter? ›

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.

Should brownies still be wet in the middle? ›

If the toothpick comes out completely wet and coated with batter, you know the brownies are underdone and need more time. If the toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs clinging to it, the brownies are ready!

How do chocolate chips not melt in brownies? ›

This is because chocolate chips contain an additive called soy lecithin, which helps the chips keep their shape when baked into treats like chocolate chip cookies. They'll still melt well, but there is a slight difference in texture. Overheating chocolate can lead to burned or seized chocolate.

How to make chocolate chips set hard? ›

You don't add ingredients to chocolate to make it harden, you temper it by heating it to a specific temperature, cooling it to another temperature, then heating it again. This causes the chocolate to crystalize in a way that leaves it hard and shiny. The temperatures are different for different kinds of chocolate.

What keeps chocolate chips from melting? ›

Thus, less cocoa butter in chocolate chips results in a higher melting point. This is why the sweet brown morsels are able to maintain their shape for the most part during the baking process and solidify seemingly back to their normal form as they cool.

How do you keep hardened chocolate from melting? ›

It'll be dull and soft and will need to be refrigerated just to avoid melting. Tempered chocolate products stay hard at cool room temperature. Avoid storing at warm temperatures and at high humidity to protect the tempered chocolate's structure.

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