Brownies: compare the 2 variations
Time, effort, key ingredients, diets, nutrition and cleanup side by side, so you can pick the one that fits tonight.
Which should I make?
- Fastest Fudgy One-BowlReady in 2 hr 45 min; the other takes 4 hr.
- Easiest Fudgy One-BowlEasy, where the other is medium.
- Lightest Fudgy One-BowlAbout 160 calories a serving, against 220 calories for the other (an estimate).
- Kid helper Cream Cheese SwirlA child can do 5 of the 13 steps: no knife, no heat.
- Least cleanup Fudgy One-Bowl2 things to wash: 8x8 pan, saucepan.
- Make it ahead Cream Cheese SwirlBake a day ahead and keep chilled.
Side by side
| Fudgy One-Bowl | Cream Cheese Swirl | |
|---|---|---|
| Total time | 2 hr 45 min | 4 hr |
| Prep | 15 min | 25 min |
| Level | Easy | Medium |
| Steps | 11 | 13 |
| Serves | 16 squares | 16 squares |
| Key ingredients | unsalted butter, granulated sugar and eggs | semisweet chocolate, granulated sugar and cream cheese |
| Only in this one | None | semisweet chocolate and cream cheese |
| Dietary | ||
| Calories | 160 | 220 |
| Protein | 2 g | 3 g |
| Carbs | 21 g | 25 g |
| Fat | 9 g | 14 g |
| Cleanup | 4/5 2 things to wash | 2/5 5 things to wash |
| Kid helper | Yes, 4 of 11 steps | Yes, 5 of 13 steps |
Nutrition is per serving. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Dietary: Based on the ingredient list and estimated nutrition; check labels; not medical advice. Cleanup score: 5 means one thing to wash, 1 means six or more. We count pots, pans, bowls and appliances, not the knife, board and spoons.
How we pick
- Fastest: the shortest total time, at least 10 minutes ahead of the next.
- Easiest: the lowest level (easy, medium, hard), then at least 2 fewer steps.
- Lightest: the fewest estimated calories a serving, at least 15% and 40 calories under the next (only when two or more have an estimate).
- Kid helper: the variation where a child can do the biggest share of the steps (no knife, no heat), when that's not all of them equally.
- Least cleanup: the best cleanup score, a point ahead of the next.
- Make it ahead: the only variation whose notes say how to make it ahead.
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free: the variation that fits a diet the others don't, from the ingredient lines.
A pick needs a clear winner; close calls are left out.