Instant Pot Brownies recipe
Are you in the mood for rich, gooey brownies but don’t want to heat up the oven? Meet the Instant Pot brownie! This effortless recipe produces perfectly fudgy brownies made just in a pressure cooker. If you don’t have much time or simply want to do something different, these brownies are sure to win some hearts.
Read on to discover how to make your new favorite dessert, get some serving and storage tips, and find the answers to all your burning brownie questions.
Why You Will Love This Instant Pot Brownies Recipe
There are more reasons to love this recipe than I can count, but here are a few:
- Fudgy Texture: These are not dry, cakey brownies—these are chewy, gooey and ultra-chocolatey.
- No Oven Needed: Great if you’re cooking-up a storm in summer heat or if you don’t have easy access to an oven.
- Beginner-Friendly: Bakery-quality brownies are easy to make, even for a novice baker.
- Customizable: Add nuts or chocolate chips, or whatever mix-ins speak most to you to really make them uniquely your.
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make these decadent brownies:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional add-ins (e.g., chopped nuts, chocolate chips)
Instructions
Making the brownies in an Instant Pot surprisingly easy. Following these steps will get you fool proof results.
Step 1. Gather Your Equipment
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Instant Pot or any pressure cooker
- A round 7-inch cake pan (or similarly sized heatproof dish)
- Parchment paper
- Aluminium foil
- Trivet
Step 2. Prepare the Pan
- This will keep your 7-inch cake pan, line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Lightly grease the sides of the pan with butter or cooking spray.
Step 3. Mix the Ingredients
- Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Allow it to cool slightly.
- Sprinkle sugar over the slicked butter and whisk until smooth.
- Add the eggs one by one, whisking well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, sift together cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and salt. In a mixer bowl, start adding dry ingredients to wet ingredients slowly. Combine until just mixed do not overmix!
- If desired, fold in add-ins, such as chocolate chips or nuts.
Step 4. Prepare the Instant Pot
- Add 1 cup of water in the insert of the Instant Pot. Place the trivet inside.
- Spread your brownie batter into your prepared cake pan, smoothing out the top. Wrap the pan very tightly in aluminium foil to keep moisture from getting in.
Step 5. Cook the Brownies
- Set the pan in the trivet in the Instant Pot. Lock the lid in place and move the valve to Sealing.
- Cook on high pressure for 35 minutes.
- Allow 10 minutes for natural release before carefully doing a manual release to release remaining pressure.
Step 6. Cool and Serve
- Using oven mitts, carefully remove the pan from the Instant Pot.
- Peel away the foil and let the brownies cool completely in the pan before slicing. (Cooling allows them to set and makes cutting easier.)
Notes
How to Serve Instant Pot Brownies
- Classic: Best warm, alongside a glass of cold milk.
- Dessert Upgrade: Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle with chocolate syrup
- Party-Perfect: Douse with powdered sugar or mound with whipped cream for decoration.
Full Nutrition (Per Serving)
- Calories: 216 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Protein: 2g
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Cholesterol: 51mg
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fiber: 1g
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Instant Pot (pressure cooking)
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I use a different sized pan?
Yes, but you’ll need to modify your cooking time. A larger pan might need less time; a smaller one might take longer.
2. What if I don’t have a trivet?
To keep the cake pan out of the water, you can also craft a makeshift trivet by rolling aluminum foil up into coil-like shapes to create a frame that holds the pan above the liquid.
3. Can I make these brownies be vegan?
Absolutely! Replace butter with a plant-based replacement, eggs with flax eggs (1 tablespoon ground flax + 3 tablespoons water per egg), and check that your cocoa powder is vegan-certified.
4. How should I store leftover brownies?
Store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also repeat this process, refrigerating them for up to a week or freezing for up to 3 months.
Quick Recap of Instant Pot Brownies
These brownies will change the game whether you’re a seasoned baker or just trying out your Instant Pot. They’re fudgy, rich and quick to make, requiring minimal effort — and no oven.
Excited to try your hand at this recipe? Dust off your Instant Pot, gather your ingredients and start baking. After trying your first bite, we promise you, you’ll never look at boxed brownies in the same way ever again!