How to Make Brownies Rise (6 Simple Beginner Tips)

Did you just make some brownies… But, they didn’t rise properly?

There’s nothing worse than taking the time to make the perfect brownie recipe… only for it to fall flat, literally.

Trust me… we’ve all been there. You don’t need to worry. Thankfully, you can have your brownie and eat it too!

Keep reading to learn exactly how to fix brownies that are too soft in no time!

In this article, we’ll share exactly how you can get your brownies to rise up so you can say goodbye to flat brownies!

Here are 6 tricks and tips to get your brownies to rise! Say goodbye to sad, flat brownies!

P.S. If you want a great brownie recipe, we’ve got two you can follow! The first is extra chocolatey: Easy Vegan Brownie Recipe (No Flax) and the second is great if you have a sweet and salty tooth and want a slightly less fudgy one: Easy Vegan Brownie Recipe (No Chocolate Chips). Even a non-vegan would be fooled by these two brownie recipes (they’re that good)!

Here’s How to Make Brownies Rise:

If you’re struggling to get your brownies to rise, follow these 6 simple tips:

1. Use baking powder.

2. Aim for a “cakier” brownie recipe.

3. Mix your sugar and butter together.
4. If using eggs, mix them with sugar for a pancake batter consistency.

5. Try a smaller baking pan.

6. Use a good brownie recipe.

Table of Contents

1. Use Baking Powder

The first step you want to take to ensure your brownies rise is to use the right leavening agent.

There are a number of different leavening ingredients you can use in your brownies like baking soda, baking powder, and even eggs.

However, the best leavening agent to use in brownies is baking powder. If you aren’t using baking powder in your recipe (and they’re not rising properly), try adding ½ to 1 teaspoon of baking powder to your recipe.

Alternatively, if you already have baking powder in your recipe, try adding 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon more baking powder. This will ensure your brownies have a bit more leaven to give them more power to rise.

Just remember, this tip is for baking powder, not baking soda. While baking soda can be used in brownie recipes, they are not completely interchangeable. If you add additional baking soda, you may alter the flavor of the brownies, giving them a strange taste.

2. Aim for a “Cakier” Brownie Recipe

There are typically two types of brownies that every brownie recipe falls under: cakey or fudgy.

Some people prefer cakier brownies simply because they have the taste and texture of cake! On the other hand, some brownies are super chewy and dense, similar to fudge.

If you’re struggling to get your brownies to rise, and you want them to rise more (like a cake), then you might want to find a “cakier” brownie recipe.

Cakey brownies are typically taller and rise more than fudgy ones. Cakey brownie recipes will typically call for more four and milk than a fudgy recipe.

3. Mix Your Sugar & Butter Together Well

One way to get your brownies to rise more is to add the right amount of air to the batter. One of the best ways to do this is by mixing together your sugar and butter (ahead of time) separately from the rest of the ingredients.

When you mix together sugar with melted butter, it “creams” the two together which adds air to the mixture. When this mixture is blended with the rest of your ingredients, it creates more air in the recipe, allowing the brownies to rise in the oven.

Just be careful not to overmix your brownies. If you mix too much, it can cause your brownies not to rise at all (and may even make the brownies sink).

4. Using Eggs? Aim for a “Pancake Batter” Consistency

Does your recipe call for eggs?

Another way to get your brownies to rise is by mixing together eggs and sugar (similar to mixing your butter and sugar).

If you want to make your brownies rise more, split your sugar in half so you can mix some with your eggs and some with your butter (as mentioned at tip number 3).

Once you’ve mixed your sugar and butter, it’s time to mix your sugar with eggs. Only use one egg at a time and mix the two together until you reach a consistency similar to pancake batter. This will create a nice airiness to your batter. Just try not to overmix your egg and sugar mixture.

Alternatively, if you’re using a vegan brownie recipe, you can replace eggs with applesauce, flax, or even aquafaba (chickpea liquid. Follow the same steps above to mix sugar with those plant-based egg alternatives.

5. Try a Smaller Baking Pan

If you’re still wanting your brownies to rise a bit more, one of the easiest ways to do so is to simply use a smaller baking pan.

If you’re using a bigger pan like a 13×9 pan, it means you’ll have to spread your batter out thinner to make sure it’s evenly spread.

Instead, a good rule of thumb is to use an 8×8 baking pan or a 9×9 baking pan. This will ensure your batter is spread out higher from the get-go, allowing it to rise higher than it would in a large baking pan.

6. Use a Good Brownie Recipe

The final tip to ensure your brownies rise is to use a good brownie recipe.

Sometimes, you can follow a recipe exactly as you should and still end up with a flat brownie. If the recipe isn’t good enough, you could be preventing yourself from getting that perfectly risen brownie.

If you’re looking for a great brownie that’s thick and rises well, I have three you can follow that have minor variations (depending on your preference):

All three of these vegan brownie recipes are plant-based, and taste just as good as “regular” dairy brownies. They’re super tasty, and fudgy, and they won’t end up flat if you follow the recipe step by step. 🙂

For more tips on how to make the perfect brownies, remember to check out our other posts:

Sources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3708337/

https://wi-tech.org/2023/02/13/the-chemistry-of-the-perfect-brownie/

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/brownie

https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-does-dough-puff-up-when-you-bake-it