Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures the oven is hot and ready for your brownies, giving them that perfect rise and texture.

Prepare the baking pan. Grease an 8x8-inch square pan with butter or line it with parchment paper for easy removal. This prevents the brownies from sticking and makes cleanup a lot easier.

Melt the butter. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until completely melted. Set aside to cool slightly.

Mix dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. This step helps evenly distribute the cocoa and baking soda throughout the brownies for a consistent texture.

Combine the wet ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, add the melted butter, sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Stir until everything is well combined and smooth.

Combine wet and dry ingredients. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until fully combined. Be careful not to overmix—just stir until the batter is smooth and no dry spots remain.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Evenly spread it out evenly with a spatula to ensure the brownies bake uniformly.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. If you want fudgier brownies, take them out closer to 25 minutes. For a more cake-like texture, bake a bit longer.

Cool and cut. Let the brownies cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before cutting them into squares. This ensures they set properly and makes them easier to slice.