Make this single serve brownie when you've got a chocolate craving. It's got gooey chocolate chips, can be cooked to your preference, and just takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.
[This single serve brownie recipe was originally posted in April 2022. It has been updated with cooking instructions, storage tips and substitutions, FAQ, related recipes and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
Table of contents
It happens to all of us, you get that chocolate craving and don't have anything pre-made to enjoy.
This delicious single serve brownie recipe is great because it's easy, can be made in one bowl, and bakes in just about 10-15 minutes.
Plus, you won't be left with a whole pan of brownies. Not that there's anything at all wrong with that, but my experiences with a whole tray of brownies for me usually end with a sour stomach and feeling the need to finish them all.
Ingredients
Scroll down to the single serve brownie recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick visual + description of what's in this recipe.
- Flour
- Cocoa powder
- Sugar
- Egg yolk: a whole egg will leave you with a cakey brownie, an egg yolk is perfect.
- Instant Coffee grounds: you don't have to add them, but they enhance the chocolate flavor. You can also add ⅛-1/4 teaspoon of brewed coffee.
- Baking powder: will help the brownie rise a bit, and be soft.
- Vanilla
- Salt
- Chocolate chips: use your favorite chocolate chips in this single serve brownie recipe.
Instructions
Scroll down to the single serve brownie recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.
1. To make your single serve brownie, start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and spray your baking dish.
2. In a small/medium sized mixing bowl, combine melted butter and granulated sugar until all incorporated.
3. Next, add your egg yolk and vanilla.
4. Stir in dry ingredients: flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, a pinch of instant coffee granules, and a pinch of salt. Just mix your single serve brownie until combined.
5. Fold in chocolate chips.
6. Pour batter into your greased baking dish. Bake for 8-20 minutes, depending on the size of your ramekin (how thick your brownie is) and your preference.
7. Top your single serve brownie with ice cream, if desired, and enjoy warm or at room temperature.
Storage/Reheating Tips
Store leftover single serve brownie in an airtight container on the counter, or the fridge for about a week. It will freeze well too, if covered well.
To reheat, microwave for 10 or so seconds until warmed through. You can let the brownie thaw if it's been frozen, then heat up if you'd like, or heat from frozen-it may burn in the middle though.
Substitutions/Tips
- I use a small ramekin for this single serve brownie, with a circumference of about 3-4 inches. Use whatever ramekin you have, but know that if it's smaller, your brownies will be thicker and take longer to bake. But thick brownies are good!
- You can experiment with using different proportions of white and brown sugar. I like using white granulated sugar because it's easy and tastes good. Adjust to your preference.
- I like baking with whole wheat flour for a slightly nutty flavor, use all purpose flour or whole wheat. Either works.
- I prefer baking with semi-sweet chocolate or dark chocolate. Use your preferred chocolate in this recipe.
- Adding a pinch of instant coffee granules is a trick I learned from Ina Garten (well, I think from a family friend through my mom, but it still came from Ina) the coffee brings out the chocolate flavor.
- Doubling the recipe? Use a whole egg, double the remaining ingredients. You can triple this recipe too to make small batch brownies.
- Other great add-ins: chopped nuts, peanut butter or other nut butter are great in this single serve brownie recipe.
FAQ
Eating raw eggs in brownie batter can increase your risk of getting salmonella. The safest option is to bake your brownies, or use an egg substitute to eat it raw.
Overmixing and overbaking brownies can make them dry out, and make the top crack a lot. So mix dry ingredients until incorporated, then bake until top is shiny and it's ok if center is gooey. A few cracks are fine.
Thicker brownies will take longer to cool than thinner brownies. At least let your single serving brownie or other brownies cool 10 minutes so they're not too hot and can set up.
Other dessert recipes
What to do with leftover ingredients
When you're cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It'll help you save money by wasting fewer ingredients.
- Egg White: Microwave Egg in a Cup, Chorizo Breakfast Casserole, and Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Sandwiches (you can easily add an egg white to any of these recipes, just substitute for a full egg or add to it).
- Chocolate Chips: Small Batch Double Chocolate Cookies, Small Batch Peanut Butter Cookies, and Protein Balls with Peanut Butter and Chocolate.
Did you make this single serve brownie? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!
Single Serve Brownie
Equipment
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- small/medium mixing bowl
- rubber spatula
- 1 small ramekin 4-7 ounces (base circumference: about 3-4 inches)
Ingredients
- cooking spray/butter to grease ramekin
- 2 ½ tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon butter melted
- 1 egg yolk
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour or whole wheat
- 1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon instant coffee granules
- pinch kosher salt
- 1 Tablespoon semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Grease or spray ramekin. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- To start making your single serving brownie, add to a small/medium mixing bowl: 1 Tablespoon melted butter (or melt butter in bowl), 2 ½ Tablespoons granulated sugar. Mix together with rubber spatula until smooth.
- Next, add egg yolk, ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
- Add 2 Tablespoons flour, 1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, ⅛ teaspoon baking powder, and ⅛ teaspoon instant coffee granules, and a pinch of kosher salt. Stir until just combined.
- Fold in approximately 1 Tablespoon chocolate chips.
- Pour into greased ramkein. Smooth top so it's even. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until top is shiny and to preferred doneness.
Notes
- Use whatever size oven safe ramekin that you have. Just know that if the ramekin is wider than 4-7 inches, your brownies will be thin and crunchy. They might also cook more quickly. If it's smaller than 4-7 inches, you'll have thicker brownies, that can be gooey and may take longer to bake than 10-15 minutes.
- You can substitute part of your white granulated sugar for brown sugar, but white sugar is great in this recipe.
- Doubling this single serving brownie recipe? Use a whole egg.
- Substitute the all purpose flour for whole wheat flour, if desired.
- Optional toppings: chopped nuts, peanut butter or other nut butter.
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Sara Welch says
Enjoyed this for dessert last night and it was a sweet success! Quick, easy and delicious; exactly what I needed to cure my sweet tooth!
Rebecca says
great to hear!
Tavo says
Great brownie recipe. I was just feeling like having a portion of goodness without making a big mess and this was just perfect!
Rebecca says
great! enjoy
Jen says
Yes! Finally a single serve brownie recipe when you need a chocolatey treat, but you don't want a whole pan laying around. These were so yummmmm!
Rebecca says
fantastic!
Shashi says
I simply LOVE that this is a single serving - as I have no control over a batch of brownies! Absolutely delicious recipe btw!
Rebecca says
well there you go!