Brownies are a beloved treat, but sometimes you might crave a lighter, fluffier texture—something more like cake than the classic dense, fudgy brownie. If you’ve ever wondered how do you make brownies more cake-like, you’re in the right place! This article will walk you through simple tips and tricks to transform your brownies from fudgy to cakey, all while keeping that rich chocolate flavor you love.
Understanding Brownies: Fudgy vs. Cake-Like
Before diving into the how-to, it helps to understand what makes brownies cakey or fudgy. Brownies and cakes share many ingredients—flour, eggs, sugar, fat, and leavening agents—but the proportions and preparation methods differ.
– Fudgy brownies have more fat (butter or oil) and chocolate, less flour, and little to no leavening, resulting in a dense, moist texture.
– Cakey brownies use more flour and leavening agents like baking powder or baking soda, and often more eggs, to create a lighter, more airy texture similar to cake.
Now, let’s explore how to make your brownies more cakey.
Simple Ways to Make Brownies More Cake-Like
1. Add an Extra Egg
Eggs provide structure and moisture to baked goods. Adding an extra egg to your brownie batter can help create a more cake-like texture by making the crumb lighter and more tender. If your recipe calls for two eggs, try using three for cakey results.
2. Increase the Flour
More flour means more structure, which translates to cakier brownies. If you want a cakey texture, slightly increase the amount of flour in your recipe. This helps balance the fat content and absorb moisture better, giving you that soft, springy bite.
3. Use Leavening Agents
Classic brownie recipes often skip baking powder or baking soda, but adding a small amount (about ½ teaspoon) can introduce air bubbles that lift the batter, making it fluffier and more cake-like.
4. Replace Some Oil with Butter
While oil keeps brownies moist and dense, butter adds flavor and can contribute to a lighter texture when creamed with sugar. Using melted butter instead of oil can improve both taste and texture, helping brownies feel less dense and more cakey.
5. Substitute Water with Milk
Replacing water with milk adds fat and protein, which enrich the batter and tenderize the crumb. Milk also helps with browning and flavor, making your brownies taste more like a rich chocolate cake.
6. Mix Sugar and Butter Properly
When making cakey brownies, mix the sugar into melted butter while warm. This helps the sugar dissolve better and integrates air more evenly, contributing to a lighter texture and a crackled top.
7. Use Cocoa Powder Instead of Melted Chocolate
Cakey brownies often use cocoa powder rather than melted chocolate. Cocoa powder is drier and allows for a lighter texture, while melted chocolate adds density and richness, typical of fudgy brownies.
Step-by-Step Recipe for Cakey Brownies
Here’s a simple cakey brownie recipe to try at home:
Ingredients
– 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (reduce to 1 ¼ cup for less sweetness)
– ¾ cup unsalted butter
– ½ cup cocoa powder
– 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
– 1 teaspoon baking powder
– ½ teaspoon baking soda
– ½ teaspoon salt
– 2 large eggs (add a third for cakier texture)
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1 cup milk
– 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter with sugar and cocoa powder, stirring until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Transfer the butter mixture to a large bowl and add eggs and vanilla extract. Stir gently until combined.
- Alternately add the dry flour mixture and milk to the wet ingredients, mixing until smooth.
- Fold in chocolate chips if using.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for about 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
- Let cool for 20 minutes before cutting.
This method yields brownies with a soft, cakey crumb and rich chocolate flavor.
Extra Tips for Perfect Cakey Brownies
– Don’t overmix: Stir just until ingredients are combined to avoid tough brownies.
– Watch your baking time: Overbaking dries out brownies. Check a few minutes before the timer ends.
– Cool before cutting: Let brownies cool completely for clean slices and better texture.
– Try the bake-and-pause method: Baking for part of the time, then letting brownies rest before finishing baking can improve texture consistency.
Final Thoughts
Making brownies more cake-like is all about adjusting ingredients and technique to introduce more air and structure while keeping that beloved chocolate flavor. By adding an extra egg, increasing flour, using leavening agents, and swapping some ingredients, you can enjoy a lighter, fluffier brownie that’s just as delicious.
Give these tips a try and enjoy your perfect cakey brownies!