single serve brownie

this single serve brownie brings you that perfect fudgy slice, sized just for one. dark chocolate melts into the softest centre, finished with a gentle sprinkle of flaky salt. perfect for those quiet evenings when you need something warm and sweet, just for you ⋆⭒˚.⋆

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whether baked in the oven or made in your air fryer, this single serve brownie creates the most perfect texture – a delicate crackly top giving way to the fudgiest centre. dark chocolate makes every bite of this soft and rich, with flaky salt adding the perfect finish. a lovely recipe for quiet nights and chocolate cravings.

why you will love this single serve brownie recipe

• perfect portion size for one or two – personally, i would eat one of these myself, but this could also be sliced up to make the perfect brownie squares for two. either way, there’s no leftover pan of brownies waiting to be eaten when you make one of these. perfect for when the craving strikes and you just want a brownie or two!

• air fryer option – this single serve brownie can be made in the air fryer, which is perfect for those who don’t have access to an oven, or when you don’t feel like heating up the whole oven for a single serve brownie. it’s a little bit more fancy than a mug brownie or mug cake, too!

• easy recipe – this single serve brownie recipe uses simple ingredients, with a simple process and no fancy tools required. easy to make for anyone who just feels like whipping up a sweet treat!!

learn how to make this single serve brownie

this single serve homemade brownie is one of my favourite recipes! we’re going to start off by melting dark chocolate and butter together. in another bowl, we‘ll whisk together an egg, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla until the mixture becomes pale and fluffy and increases in volume. add the melted chocolate mixture to the egg and sugar mixture and whisk them together. gently fold in flour, some salt and some extra chocolate until you get a thick, single serve brownie batter. bake or air fry brownie until fudgy on the inside with a crackly top, let cool completely, and we’re done!

single serving brownie ingredients:

• butter – i used unsalted butter for this single serve fudgy brownie – you are also welcome to use salted butter instead, but i would recommend just skipping the extra salt stated in the recipe.

• dark chocolate – i like to melt down dark chocolate with butter for the base of this single serve chocolate brownie – the dark chocolate provides the perfect balance to the sweetness of this brownie.

• eggs – this simple single serve brownie is made with 1 large egg.

• light brown sugar – i like to make this single serve brownie recipe with light brown sugar for added flavour, and because the brown sugar helps keep this brownie moist and fudgy.

• granulated sugar – the single serve brownie batter recipe uses a mix of brown sugar and granulated sugar. we’ll be whisking together the egg and sugars until the sugar dissolves so that we can get that beautiful crackly top!

• vanilla extract – optional, but a small amount will add a nice, subtle vanilla flavour to your single serve brownie.

• flour – we’ll be using plain flour/all purpose flour for this single serve brownie recipe.

• salt – just a pinch or two of salt will help balance out the sweetness of this single serve brownie. i also like to add a pinch of flaky salt at the end as it really complements the sweetness of the brownie!

• milk chocolate – this is optional but i like to add some chopped milk chocolate to my brownie batter to make this single serve brownie extra chocolatey! feel free to add chocolate chips instead of chopped chocolate, and to use dark chocolate or white chocolate if you’d prefer those over milk chocolate.

tools:

• 2 small bowls – we’ll need a small heatproof bowl for the butter and dark chocolate mixture. we’ll also need another bowl for the egg and sugar mixture. everything will be added to one bowl at the end, so you’ll want to make sure at least one of the bowls is big enough for all of the ingredients.

• whisk or hand mixer – we’re going to mix the sugars and egg together using a whisk or hand mixer until the sugar dissolves. i decided to use a whisk for this recipe. it might take a little longer using a whisk, with a little bit more work and strength, but it will do the job just fine! in fact, using a hand mixer to whip the eggs and sugar actually incorporates more air into the batter, so using a whisk might make your brownie even more fudgy.

• spoon or silicone spatula – we’ll need to gently fold the flour into the single serve brownie batter, so you’ll want to use a spoon or spatula for this instead of a whisk. this will just help avoid over mixing.

• parchment paper or baking paper – lining your baking tray with parchment paper will make it easier to lift the single serve brownie out once it’s done.

• single serve brownie pan that is also air fryer safe – measurements for the one i use are 14.25cm x 9.5cm x 4.5cm (internal measurements)

• tinfoil – if making this single serve brownie in the air fryer, you’ll need some foil to ensure that the top of the brownie doesn’t cook too quickly.

step by step instructions

for full measurements, keep scrolling down to the recipe below.

step one: if baking this single serve brownie in the oven, preheat oven and line a baking dish for your single serve brownie. (air fryer instructions at the end).

step two: break apart some dark chocolate into pieces and add it to a small bowl.

step three: add unsalted butter to the same bowl. microwave the mixture in 30 second intervals, stirring every 30 seconds, until mostly melted. then remove the bowl from the microwave and keep mixing the chocolate and butter together until completely combined and melted.

step four: in another bowl, add 1 large egg. then, add light brown sugar and granulated sugar.

step five: using a whisk or hand mixer, mix together the egg and sugars until they are combined, and the sugar dissolves. the mixture will look pale and frothy. this will usually take a good few minutes. you’ll know the sugar has dissolved once you feel a little bit of the mixture between your fingers and you can no longer feel the sugar granules. if you find that you can still feel them, go ahead and mix for a little bit longer

step six: add vanilla to the egg and sugar mixture and mix it in.

step seven: while the chocolate mixture is still slightly warm, add the melted chocolate and the egg and sugar mixture into one bowl. whisk the mixture until combined and the brownie batter looks smooth and chocolatey.

step eight: add flour to the brownie batter, as well as some salt. using a spoon or silicone spatula, gently fold the flour into the brownie batter. do not mix too much at this stage as you don’t want to over mix. mix the flour in until just combined, and until there are no longer any visible streaks of flour. add the chopped chocolate or chocolate chips, and gently stir them through the batter.

step nine: if baking this single serve brownie in oven, add the brownie batter to your single serve brownie pan, then place in the oven and bake for about 22-25 minutes (baking times will vary depending on your oven and the size of your tray).

step ten: once you remove the single serve brownie from the oven, let it cool completely at room temperature before slicing it up or trying to remove it from the pan. it will be too soft and gooey to pick up straight out of the oven, and will continue to cook as it cools in the tray.

step eleven: once the single serve brownie has cooled completely, lift it out of the pan, and let’s eat!

step twelve: if making this single serve brownie in air fryer, preheat air fryer before you begin. make the single serve brownie mix as stated, pour the brownie mix into an air fryer safe dish, then air fry for six minutes at the beginning.

step thirteen: at this point, your single serve brownie should start forming a crackly top. remove the brownie from the air fryer, and cover the top tightly with tinfoil. air fry the single serve brownie again for ten minutes.

step fourteen: remove the foil from the single serve brownie, turn off the air fryer, and let the single serve brownie rest in the hot air fryer for another ten minutes.

step fifteen: remove the single serve brownie from the air fryer, and let it cool completely at room temperature before slicing it up or trying to remove it from the pan. it will be too soft and gooey to pick up straight out of the air fryer, and will continue to cook as it cools in the tray.

step sixteen: once the brownie has cooled completely, lift it out of the pan, and let’s eat!

tips and notes

• if using salted butter, skip the extra salt noted in this recipe.

• try to use high quality chocolate if you can. high quality dark chocolate or semi sweet chocolate will give this single serve gooey brownie the best, rich and chocolatey flavour. higher quality chocolate will also be easier to melt and combine with the rest of the ingredients.

• be careful not to over mix the batter. once you add the flour, make sure to gently fold it in using a spoon or silicone spatula, and don’t mix for longer than necessary. over mixing can lead to a tough brownie. we want this single serve brownie to be soft and fudgy.

• make sure to use a room temperature egg, as it will combine with the rest of the ingredients easily and give you a smoother batter. i’d recommend leaving the egg out at room temperature about 30 minutes before baking this single serve brownie.

• make sure you preheat the oven or air fryer so that it’s already hot by the time you’re ready to bake or air fry your single serve brownie. this will ensure that the brownies bake evenly and that they won’t take longer to bake.

• when lining your single serve brownie pan, you want to make sure there is a little of parchment paper or baking paper hanging over the edge so that you’re be able to easily lift the brownie out once it’s done. you also want to make sure that there isn’t too much of the paper hanging over the edge.

• adjust baking time as needed. every oven is different, so i recommend keeping an eye on your single serve brownie as it bakes. don’t just bang it in the oven and leave until the designated time is up. it might be a good idea to check your single serve brownie for doneness a few minutes before the recommended baking time. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with a few moist crumbs attached – the toothpick shouldn’t be completely dry or have wet batter on it. i like to take the brownie out of the oven when it’s very slightly underdone as it will continue to cook as it cools once it’s out of the oven or air fryer. over baking will result in a dry and cakey brownie, which is not what we want.

• air fryers also tend to vary in strength, so be sure to check on your single serve brownie in the air fryer every once in a while to ensure that it isn’t over baked or burning.

• once your single serve brownie is out of the oven, it will be too soft and gooey to pick up or slice. let it cool completely at room temperature before trying to slice it or pick it up. you can even plACE it IN THE FRIDGE FOR A WHILE IF YOU WANT TO SPEED UP THE COOLING PROCESS.

• when baking, place the tray on the middle rack. when air frying, place the dish in the middle of the air fryer basket. this will just ensure that the brownie bakes evenly.

• use a kitchen scale to measure your ingredients. while i add both metric and cup measurements for this recipe, i always recommend using a kitchen scale to weigh out your ingredients for most accurate results.

• if you decide to make this single serve brownie in the air fryer, make sure you don’t skip the tinfoil step – covering the brownie with tinfoil ensures that the top doesn’t over bake or burn, and allows the middle to bake and set properly. make sure the foil is sealed tightly over the tray or dish, as you don’t want it to fly off in the air fryer.

• make sure you also keep the brownie in the air fryer for ten minutes after turning the air fryer off. the residual heat will help the brownie set properly so that it’s not raw in the middle, and there’s less risk of over baking this way.

frequently asked questions

1. can i use salted butter in this single serve brownie recipe ?

   – yes, you can use salted butter. if you use salted butter for this single serve brownie instead of unsalted, i would recommend skipping the extra salt noted in the recipe.

2. do i have to use vanilla extract to make this single serve brownie ?

   – the vanilla in this single serve brownie recipe is optional. just a small amount of gives this brownie a nice, subtle vanilla flavour, but if you would prefer not to use it or don’t have it, that’s also completely fine.

3. can i make this single serve brownie with oil ?

   – i prefer making this brownie with butter for the best flavour, but if you’d rather make this single serve brownie without butter, and use oil instead, that should also work.

4. why did my single serve brownie turn into a cake instead of fudgy ?

   – there are a number of reasons why your single serve brownie came out cakey. one reason is baking times. you should take your brownie out of the oven or air fryer while it’s slightly underdone as it will continue to cook and firm up as it cools. even if you followed the exact timings in the recipe, every oven and air fryer will vary in terms of baking times. the size of your baking dish also has an impact on baking times, so you should really keep an eye on your single serve brownie. i highly recommend checking on your brownie every once in a while, especially towards the end of the written times to make sure it doesn’t over bake.

   – another reason could be due to over mixing the batter or having too much flour in your brownie batter. to make this single serve brownie as accurately as possible, be sure to weigh out the flour using a kitchen scale. i also add cup measurements to my recipes, which use a higher than typical conversion for the flour since it goes by scooping the flour (as this is what most people do). gently fold the flour into the brownie batter until no streaks of flour remain in order to avoid over mixing.

5. can i make this single serve brownie with milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate ?

   – while you can use whatever chocolate you like for this single serve brownie recipe, i would recommend using dark or semi sweet chocolate in the actual brownie batter to balance out the sweetness and give these brownies a richer flavour. using something like milk chocolate in the batter might make the brownies too sweet.

6. can i make this single serve brownie with no brown sugar ?

   – a mix of brown sugar and granulated sugar is recommended for this single serve brownie, as the brown sugar adds moisture, helps gives the brownies a richer flavour and makes them extra chewy. however, if you don’t have brown sugar, you can substitute it with granulated sugar. using all granulated sugar for this brownie recipe might change the taste and texture of these brownies slightly, but they will still be delicious! for best results, use a combination of brown sugar and granulated sugar as stated.

7. how do i know that my single serve brownie is done baking ?

   – Insert a toothpick into the center of the single serve brownie, as well as the edges, a few minutes before the end of the stated baking times. if the toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, the brownies are done. Be careful not to over bake, as this can lead to dry, cakey brownies. the toothpick shouldn’t be completely dry, and it shouldn’t have wet batter on it either. if your toothpick comes out with wet batter on it, it’ll need to bake for slightly longer. i’d also recommend inserting a toothpick into the edges of the brownies as well, as we want to make sure that they’re not overdone.

8. can i bake this single serve brownie in a mug instead of in a baking dish ?

   – since this brownie is baked in the oven or air fryer, you’ll need to use an oven-safe or heat-safe dish to make this single serve brownie.

9. can i make this single serve brownie ahead of time ?

   – i would really recommend baking this brownie fresh and enjoying it while it’s still gooey and fudgy. while the brownie still stays fudgy even the next day, its taste and texture is best when baked fresh!

10. why do i need to cover the single serve brownie with foil in the air fryer ?

    – the air fryer method is a little different to the oven method, as we want to make sure we get that crackly top while still getting that gooey, fudgy centre. the foil on the top prevents the top from drying out or burning, while ensuring that the middle cooks through.

11. why did my single serve brownie sink in the middle ?

    – it’s completely normal for your single serve brownie to sink slightly, since the centre stays fudgy and the edges are set.

12. can i make this single serve brownie using box mix ?

    – if you’re looking to make a quick single serve brownie, it is absolutely possible to make a single serve brownie with mix. however, this recipe is specifically made to make one large single serve brownie with simple ingredients that you probably already have at home! making a single serve brownie from mix would require different liquid ratios and different baking times. to keep this single serve brownie easy, i would recommend just using this single serve recipe.

13. can i make this as a single serve deep dish brownie or a single serve brownie pudding ?

    – this recipe is designed to be a single serve brownie that you can slice up and pick up. however, if you do want to have this as a deep dish brownie with a gooier, more pudding-like texture, you may want to just underbake this single serve brownie for a minute or two, and eat it while it’s still warm instead of waiting for it to cool. for a true brownie pudding, you’ll need a different recipe with different ratios.

14. can i make this single serve brownie with cocoa powder ?

    – i like to make this single serve brownie without cocoa powder as i find that using just chocolate gives you an extra rich and fudgy brownie. to keep this single serve brownie extra dense and gooey, i would recommend using chocolate instead of cocoa powder.

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