How Long To Bake Brownies?

Brownies are a great treat that anyone can enjoy. But, before you get to that chocolatey goodness, you need to bake them. Of course, that's if you don't want to purchase them. So, how long does it take to bake brownies? If that's your concern, let's go over the details. 

One essential factor to consider for baking brownies is the oven temperature. People like to bake brownies at temperatures ranging from 325 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The lower end temperatures take long, while the higher end is relatively faster. Baking brownies can take around 20-40 minutes. 

What temperature will you use to bake the brownies? That's what will tell you how long you have to wait. Of course, you'll also need to use visual cues to confirm when it's ready to take out. We cover these concerns and more. For more details, keep reading. 

homemade chocolate brownies, How Long To Bake Brownies?

Why You Should Consider the Oven Temperature

Oven temperature plays a crucial role when you're baking goods. It's not as simple as it seems. Sure, brownies may cook faster at higher temperatures. But, that usually affects the final product. 

A low temperature usually means it will take longer for your brownies to bake throughout. If you use a higher temperature, the outer area will cook quicker than the insides. 

Brownie cake mixture in a non stick baking tin, baking in the oven

In most cases, that means you'll get an overcooked, dry crust and an underdone inside. Sometimes, that's the texture people are going for. It all depends on the recipes you follow and what they want out of their brownies. 

With that in mind, let's go over how long it would take to bake brownies at different temperatures.

How Long To Bake Brownies at 350

If you look for brownie recipes online, you'll find that most of them recommend baking them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature usually hits the sweet spot. 

It's quick enough to let you enjoy your chocolate treats. And, it's enough to get the brownies to cook throughout. Though, experiences vary. The type of oven you own also determines how well your brownie baking experience goes at this temperature. 

The brownies should stay in the oven for around 25 minutes or more at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Other factors that determine the length you'll have to wait are the thickness of the brownie and the size of the pan. 

Sometimes, we don't want a cooked interior. For some, fudgy and gooey insides will enhance the brownie experience. If that's the case, 18-20 minutes is the better option. 

How Long To Bake Brownies at 325

The solution for brownies that come out undercooked inside is to lower the temperature. This way, the outer layer doesn't cook faster than the inside. However, temperature decreases mean you'll have to wait longer. 

A temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit is more for people who enjoy a cake-like texture, not a gooey one. Brownies will take around 30-40 minutes to finish at this temperature. 

However, if you want to avoid overcooking your brownies, you can settle for 30 minutes. Once it's out of the oven, you can enjoy a batch of chewy brownies!

How Long To Bake Brownies in an 8x8 Pan?

Pieces of fresh brownie delicious chocolate

The size of the batch you're baking also matters. Small batches usually take less time to bake. Large ones will take longer. So, how long would you have to wait if you use an 8x8 pan?

We'll have to consider a few factors. First, what kind of pan are you using? If it's a glass pan, you'll need to bake the brownies at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. You can bake brownies on a metal pan at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

From here, bake the brownies for about 25-30 minutes. You also need to consider the thickness of the brownies. So, if you're planning to bake brownies that are thicker than usual, you may need to wait up to 45 minutes. 

As you can see, there's a difference in wait time. What you're trying to achieve and the tools you use generally determine how long you'll have to wait.

How Long To Bake Brownies in a 9x13 Pan?

Baking in a large pan means more treats for everyone! Though, that also means you might have to wait longer. Regardless, using a large pan means we can save some time by baking more brownies. 

If we want a chewy texture, bake them at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Let the brownies bake for 45 to 53 minutes. Again, the type of pan you use here matters.

Metal or glass pans will take longer. So, you can expect to wait 51 to 53 minutes until the brownies are ready to come out. If you use a dark, nonstick pan, you will have to wait slightly fewer minutes. 

The brownies will take about 45-47 minutes to bake in a dark 9x13 pan.

Why Does the Type of Pan Matter In Baking?

female hand holding chocolate brownie in hand

As you're looking for the baking time, you'll see that the pan you use can shave off a bit of waiting. Even the color of the pan can save you some time! But, you might be wondering, why is that? 

Some of it is easier to understand. For example, which one would you pick to heat up faster, metal or glass? Of course, metal heats up faster! That doesn't make them ideal for brownies. 

Though, that part depends on what you're trying to achieve. If you're going for hard, chewy brownies, metal is ideal. On the other hand, glass tends to produce evenly cooked, softer brownies. 

Glass

Sure, glass takes longer to heat up. But, that could be a benefit for you! Have you overbaked brownies in the past? If you answer yes, glass pans are a way to prevent that. 

It takes longer to heat up. Therefore, you don't have to worry about the outer area baking faster than the interior. It can also hold onto heat better than metal. So, once it gets hot, it gets really hot! 

For this reason, they can reduce the baking time. In other words, they can bake your brownies quicker than metal pans. However, it also means you'll have to bake at a lower temperature. 

Metal

On the other hand, metal is an excellent conductor of heat. That means it heats up and transfers that heat quickly. Bakers love it for this reason. 

And, since it doesn't hold onto heat well, it won't overbake your brownies once it's out of the oven. Interestingly enough, baking brownies takes longer on a metal pan. 

Most recipes online will tell you to reduce baking time by 3-4 minutes if you use a glass dish or a dark-colored pan. 

Is one necessarily better than the other? That's tough to say. Most professional bakers like using metal. But, baking at home is different than baking at a restaurant or bakery.

So, it's up to you to pick what works best for your situation. 

Does Pan Color Affect Baking?

It might be surprising. But, the color of the pan can also affect baking times. That's because heat energy follows the same laws as light energy. Therefore, light-colored pans will reflect heat.

On the other hand, dark pans will absorb it. As a result, the color of the pan makes a difference in your baking. You can use the colors to your advantage. 

For example, since dark-colored pans absorb more heat, it browns the bottom of any food more effectively. Like glass, you'll want to lower the oven temperature by about 25 degrees. You should also reduce the baking time to prevent overbaking or burning the bottom and sides of the brownie.

Light-colored pans are the safe pick if you want a brownie that bakes evenly. 

How To Tell When Brownies Are Done?

Stack of sticky brown chocolate brownies

There isn't a universal way to make brownies. People tend to prefer their own way of making them. So, the way to tell when brownies are done can vary. 

The easiest ones to test are the cake-like brownies. Since it shouldn't be moist in the middle, you can use a toothpick. First, check the sides of the brownie. If they're pulling away from the pan, it's time to perform the toothpick test.

Take a toothpick and stick it in the center of the brownie. Pull it out and check what you see. If it's ready, the toothpick should come out clean. 

Moist Brownies

Some people like an interior that meets in the middle. It's not wet like fudge brownies. However, it's not dry like chewy brownies. We can also use the toothpick test here. 

However, we're not looking for a toothpick that comes out clean. 

The toothpick should come out with a bit of the inside. As you can see from the picture above, the toothpick in the middle is your goal. The toothpick on top has too much. Thus, you'd want to put the brownies back in the oven for a few more minutes. 

Fudge Brownies

Fudge brownies are a different case. You can't rely on the toothpick test solely since it will be moist in the middle even if your brownies are ready. Generally, you want to follow the recipe instructions. 

Fudge brownies will be ready when the middle is slightly wobbly. The top of the brownie will have to be thin, cracked, and matte.

In Closing

homemade chocolate brownies

Baking the perfect brownies will take a lot of practice. But, before you get there, you will have to get an idea of how long you'll need to bake them. Try out any range between 25-35 minutes and see what works for you! We hope you found the information above helpful!

Before you go, here are other brownie posts you should check out:

When Should You Cut Brownies After Baking?

Should You Put Brownies In The Fridge After Baking?

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