Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease or line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. This ensures your brownies don’t stick and makes cleanup a breeze!

Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl or on the stovetop. Let it cool slightly before mixing it with the sugar.

Mix the sugar and melted butter together in your mixing bowl until well combined. You’ll get a smooth, creamy base that gives these brownies their rich flavor.

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla extract. These ingredients bring moisture and help create the perfect texture.

Sift in the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix—this keeps your brownies chewy rather than cakey!

Fold in chocolate chips (if using), and gently mix to distribute them evenly throughout the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Be careful not to overbake, as you want that perfect fudgy texture.