1-First Step: Get the pan and oven ready Preheat your oven to 350F. Grease a 9×9 baking dish well, or line it with aluminum foil for easier lifting later. If you have a metal baking pan, use it if possible because it conducts heat evenly and helps the brownies bake more consistently.

2-Second Step: Melt the butter and chocolate Cut the salted butter into pieces and place it in a microwave-safe bowl with 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips. Heat in short bursts, stirring between each one, until the mixture is smooth and glossy. This step matters because warm butter helps the sugar dissolve better, which gives you a smoother brownie texture.

3-Third Step: Whisk in the sugars Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar to the warm chocolate mixture. Whisk vigorously for about 1 minute. The mixture may look slightly grainy at first, but that is normal. Dissolving the sugar into the warm butter and chocolate helps create that shiny top people love in fudgy brownies.

4-Fourth Step: Add the eggs and flavorings Stir in the eggs one at a time so the batter stays smooth. Add the second whole egg, then the egg yolk, followed by the vanilla extract, espresso powder if using, and salt. Mixing one egg at a time keeps the batter from separating and helps the brownies stay rich instead of cakey.

5-Fifth Step: Mix in the dry ingredients Add the cocoa powder and gluten-free flour to the bowl. Stir just until combined. A few small streaks are fine, but do not overmix. Overmixing can make gluten-free brownies dense in the wrong way and can make them less tender.

6-Sixth Step: Fold in the chocolate chips Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips for mixing in. This is where the batter becomes extra chocolatey. The chips also create little melted pockets once baked, which makes each bite feel soft and rich.

7-Seventh Step: Bake the brownies Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth it into an even layer. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Start checking near the 30-minute mark. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. If it comes out wet with batter, give it a few more minutes.

8-Eighth Step: Cool before slicing Let the brownies cool for 30 minutes before slicing. This is important because the center keeps setting as it cools. If you cut too soon, they may fall apart and seem underbaked even when they are not.