Preheat the oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures it’s at the right temperature when your brownie batter is ready to go in.

Prepare your baking dish: Grease a 9x9-inch square baking pan with butter or line it with parchment paper. This will help you remove the brownies easily once they’re baked.

Mix the wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and well-combined. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition, followed by the vanilla extract.

Add the dry ingredients: Sift the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder into the wet mixture. Stir gently until everything is just combined. You don’t want to overmix at this point; a few lumps are perfectly fine.

Incorporate chocolate chips: If you're using chocolate chips, fold them into the batter to add extra gooeyness and richness.

Bake to perfection: Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly. Bake for 20-25 minutes, but start checking around 20 minutes by inserting a toothpick into the center. It should come out with just a few moist crumbs—not wet batter.

Cool before serving: Allow the brownies to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This ensures the perfect fudgy texture and makes them easier to cut.