1-First Step: Mise en Place and Preheat Oven Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 6×6-inch square pan, 8×4-inch loaf pan, or line with parchment for easy release. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl for 20-30 seconds, stirring to avoid hot spots. Measure sugar, egg, cocoa, flour, salt, vanilla, and chips nearby. This setup keeps your small batch recipe flowing without pauses.

2-Second Step: Mix Wet Ingredients In a medium bowl, whisk melted butter and sugar until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating vigorously for 1-2 minutes. This creates structure for chewy texture in your brownie recipe for two people. For vegan adaptation, use a flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water).

3-Third Step: Incorporate Dry Ingredients Sift cocoa powder, flour, and salt together to remove lumps. Gently fold dry mix into wet ingredients with a spatula until just combined, no overmixing. Batter should be thick and glossy. Stir in chocolate chips if using. This step ensures even distribution for easy small batch brownies.

4-Fourth Step: Bake the Batter Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan, smoothing the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Edges set and pull from sides, but center stays fudgy test with toothpick for moist crumbs. Avoid overbaking for perfect fudgy small batch brownies. Rotate pan halfway for even heat.

5-Fifth Step: Cool and Cut Cool in pan 10-15 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Cut into 4-6 squares. For gluten-free, use 1:1 flour blend. Pair with a [gingerbread smoothie](https://flavorsbydesign.com/gingerbread-smoothie/) from our collection for contrast. Serve warm or room temp.