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Home » Recipes » Sweets & Desserts

4-ingredient chocolate chip brownies

By: Kathryn Doherty | Last Updated: Mar 10, 2025 | Published: Nov 11, 2016
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Chocolate chip brownies have just 4 ingredients (no box mixes) and come out chewy and perfectly sweet - a great, easy dessert!Close up of a plate full of a stack of chocolate chip brownies with graham crackers dusted nearby and glasses of milk in the background.

How has another week gone by?!

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled it's Friday. Weekends are always welcome here. Especially ones like this where we don't have anything we have to do. Just lazy mornings and lots of play time.

Still though, we're chugging full speed ahead into November and I feel like the holiday craziness is going to peek out from behind the next corner and come steam rolling over me. Dramatic much?

I am, however, trying desperately to get ahead of things this year (ha!) and get some things checked off the list so I can relax and enjoy the festivities without so many extras hanging on me. We'll see how that goes...

But on to the FOOD. Today, I’m sharing an old family favorite and guys, it's a serious winner.

A white plate full of chocolate chip brownies with graham crackers crumbs and chocolate chips nearby.

These 4-ingredient chocolate chip brownies are the dessert treat my grandmother used to bring every year at Christmas. I knew them as Jamma’s brownies (that’s what we called her) and they always came with her in her Christmas tin and sat on the kitchen counter for us to nibble on throughout Christmas week while she visited.

She cut the brownies super small and stacked them up in a double layer in the Christmas tin, with a layer of wax paper in between.

They were tiny and there were so many and that tin made them seem all the more special. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A stack of chocolate chip brownies on a white plate with glasses of milk in the background.

I didn’t know until years and years later what went into these brownies, that are really almost like a blondie. Browndie? Hmm, I’ll work on that.

Anyway, it’s just graham crackers, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and chocolate chips. That’s all. Mix all that together and you’ve got your new favorite sweet treat.

Chewy, dense, rich, chocolate sweetness all rolled into a perfect little package.

A box of graham crackers alongside a bag of chocolate chips, two cans of sweetened condensed milk and a bottle of vanilla extract.

Crushed graham crackers in a food processor. A large blue bowl with a batter topped with chocolate chips before being mixed in.

Granted, these simple little chocolate chip brownies aren’t the healthiest of my dessert recipes. Not like my chocolate chip zucchini brownies, chocolate pumpkin cake or my healthy double chocolate mini cupcakes.

But some things are sacred. And I’m not messing with Jamma’s brownies.

(Plus, I’ve got a healthy raw date brownies dessert coming up for you later this month, so I’m making up for it. )

But if you love the classics, especially when they are so easy, you should check out these old fashioned 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies! Or if chocolate is a must have, go for these triple chocolate cookies.

Notes on making chocolate chip brownies:

  • You can make a half batch of these (the recipe is easy enough to divide) and bake it in an 8x8 glass pan.
  • I use the regular cans of sweetened condensed milk but you could try this with the fat-free version. I would if it didn’t mean messing with my grandmother’s recipe. 😉
  • You do need to let these cool in the pan before you can cut them at all neatly. I know, it’s hard to wait.

Homemade chocolate chip brownies in a holiday tin lined with parchment paper.

These blondie/brownies make a great addition to Christmas cookie exchanges or as gifts for neighbors or teachers at the holidays. You can wrap a few up in a little bag and tie it off with a pretty ribbon.

They're part of my family's baking day tradition where my mom and I get in the kitchen and make ALL of our favorite holiday treats.

(If you're going for a birthday or other celebration, you might also want to consider this chocolate chip cookie cake. It's a kid favorite!)

Oh, and don’t forget to lick the bowl. No raw eggs in this recipe so you can go to town! It’s my favorite part of baking

(Do know, though, that the super sweetness from the sweetened condensed milk in the raw batter is mellowed out once the brownies are baked.)

4-ingredient-chocolate-chip-brownies

I hope you’ll make these part of YOUR holiday traditions.

Enjoy, and happy weekend!

XO,

Kathryn

Close up of a plate full of a stack of chocolate chip brownies with graham crackers dusted nearby and glasses of milk in the background.
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4.17 from 6 votes

4-ingredient chocolate chip brownies

Easy chocolate chip brownies with just 4 ingredients (no box mixes) that come out chewy and perfectly sweet!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time35 minutes mins
Total Time45 minutes mins
Yield: 28 small brownies

Ingredients

  • 16 honey graham crackers (about 2 sleeves worth)
  • 2 (14 oz.) cans sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 (12 oz.) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Place graham crackers in a food processor and pulse until they are in crumbs. Transfer to a large bowl.
  • Add sweetened condensed milk and vanilla and stir to combine.
  • Stir in chocolate chips. The batter will be very thick.
  • Pour into a greased 9x13 glass baking pan, use your spoon to smooth them into an even layer, and bake at 350 for 35 minutes.
  • Let cool completely in the pan then cut into small squares.

Notes

You can easily halve the recipe and make a smaller batch of these brownies in an 8x8 glass pan. Check after 30 minutes, but the cooking time is nearly the same.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1grams | Calories: 49kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 41mg | Sugar: 4g
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram @familyfoodonthetable and tag me in your photo!
Collage of photos of how to make chocolate chip brownies.

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tara | Treble in the Kitchen

    November 11, 2016 at 7:20 am

    4 ingredients!? Doesn't get any easier…and yes these seem perfect for a cookie exchange!

    Reply
    • Kathryn

      November 12, 2016 at 6:55 pm

      They really are super easy - and YES, perfect for holiday parties!

      Reply
  2. Mona

    November 11, 2016 at 8:44 am

    These look unbelievable! So easy too. Would make a great holiday or hostess gift.

    Reply
    • Kathryn

      November 12, 2016 at 6:56 pm

      Absolutely Mona! Hope you try them!!

      Reply
  3. Kathryn

    December 28, 2016 at 7:19 pm

    I'm glad you had fun Claudia, but sorry it took too long. I can prep these in about 10 minutes to get them ready to bake. Hope you enjoyed them at least! 😊

    Reply
  4. Bec @ It's Yummi

    May 09, 2017 at 9:41 pm

    I can't get over how 4 simple ingredients can create something so decadent looking! Pinning this recipe for the holidays!

    Reply
    • Kathryn

      May 09, 2017 at 11:00 pm

      Thanks Bec! They really are kinda magical 😉 (And also good ANY time of year!)

      Reply
4.17 from 6 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a cookbook author, mom of two, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes to help you get delicious food on the table for your family!

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