Spare Spoons Kitchen
Aunt Betty’s Comfort Kitchen · Favorites

Microwave Brownies

Fudgy brownies from the microwave in minutes — melt the butter and chocolate, stir in the rest, and microwave just until set. The retro speed trick that still works when the oven's too much.

10 min prep 4–6 min microwave
Effort ●○○○ Time ●○○○ Anytime
Vegetarian
Browniesamounts scale to match
12
Units

Ingredients

Microwave just until set — pull them before they look done. Microwave brownies overcook in seconds, so 4–6 minutes is the window, and a round dish (no corners to dry out) helps. They finish setting as they cool; if they look fully done in the microwave, they're already overdone.

Easier, if you like

  • Already about as fast as dessert gets — one bowl, one dish.
  • No unsweetened squares? Use 6 tbsp cocoa powder + 2 tbsp extra butter in their place.

Method

    Cook's notes

    A round dish is better — no corners to overcook and dry out.

    Underdone beats overdone — they set as they cool, so pull them while the center still looks slightly soft.

    Microwave wattages vary a lot; check at 4 minutes and add 30-second bursts.

    A retro speed dessert — handy when you don't want to heat the oven.

    Vegetarian as written; easy to make gluten-free

    Gluten-free: use a gluten-free self-rising flour blend (or GF all-purpose + ¾ tsp baking powder + a pinch of salt).

    Nut-free: leave the nuts out.