These vanilla brownies are a vanilla white chocolate dream come true! With a fudgy white chocolate brownie on the bottom and a layer of melt-in-your-mouth vanilla ganache on top, these bars are thick, buttery, chewy, and full of delicious flavor. You won’t be able to stop at just one!

The best vanilla brownie recipe
These vanilla brownies are so delicious that I want to bake another batch right now. Thick, chewy, and full of sweet vanilla flavor, they can really satisfy your brownie cravings. Even my family member who don’t appreciate vanilla like I do, loved these brownies.
My favorite part about this recipe is that the brownies are so easy! Grab some white chocolate at the store, and you probably have all the other ingredients on hand, and they mix up in no time.
The other thing I love is the ganache-like vanilla glaze. It’s the perfect sweet, creamy finishing touch. I know you and your family will love them, so go ahead and try them today!
If you love vanilla as much as we do, try our vanilla sandwich cookies and vanilla muffins next!

Ingredients
My vanilla brownie recipe uses a lot of simple ingredients, and I’m sure you’ll find most of them in your kitchen. Just make sure to use good-quality white chocolate and vanilla for the best flavor. All measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Vanilla brownies
- Vanilla infuses the brownies with so much delicious warm and homey flavor. Be sure to use pure vanilla extract, not the imitation stuff, or vanilla bean paste for a truly luxurious brownie.
- White chocolate: To not take away from the vanilla aroma, I opted for white chocolate. White chocolate gives the brownies an incredibly rich and decadent texture. I recommend chopping up a good-quality chocolate bar instead of using white chocolate chips.
- Salted butter contributes to the moistness and buttery flavor of the brownies. If using unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt.
- Granulated sugar adds sweetness and keeps our brownies soft and moist.
- Eggs are a must in brownies. Not only do they add structure, but they also provide moisture and chewiness needed in brownies.
- All-purpose flour helps to bind the batter. To ensure your brownies turn out thick and fudgy, be careful not to overmeasure your flour.
- Baking powder gives the brownies a subtle lift.
Vanilla frosting for brownies
The vanilla glaze for brownies is similar to a thick chocolate ganache. To make it, you need more chopped white chocolate, a little heavy cream, and vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.

How to make vanilla brownies
Making vanilla brownies is so easy! Just mix everything together, toss your baking pan in the oven, and then top it with the vanilla glaze. Let’s go over the process step-by-step:

#1: Melt butter and chocolate
- Stirring frequently, melt the butter and white chocolate in a saucepan over low heat until just melted. The mixture may appear curdled, which is fine.
- Once fully liquid, remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

#2: Mix batter
- Whisk together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla bean paste in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Slowly pour in the cooled white chocolate butter mixture and whisk until combined.
- Sift the flour and baking powder into the mixing bowl. Mix until everything is well combined.

#3: Bake brownies
- Pour the brownie batter into a lined 8-inch baking pan and spread evenly. Bake at 350°F for 18 to 20 minutes. The vanilla brownies are ready when a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs (no liquid batter).
- Remove the vanilla brownies from the oven and set aside to cool to room temperature.

#4: Make vanilla topping
- For the topping, add the white chocolate and heavy cream into a saucepan. Melt over low heat until the chocolate is melted and the mixture looks smooth.
- Stir in the vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.

#5: Garnish brownies
- Spread the chocolate mixture into an even layer over the brownies. Let set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Lift the brownie out of the baking pan and cut into bars.

Tips for the best vanilla brownies
- Don’t overmix: Only mix the brownie batter just until combined. If you overmix it, it may cause gluten to develop and can lead to rubbery brownies.
- Avoid overcooking: I like to take my vanilla brownie out of the oven when the center is still a tiny bit soft. The brownies will continue to cook for a few minutes in the pan.
- Let the brownies cool before adding the glaze: If you add the frosting while the brownies are still warm, it might curdle and split. So allow your brownies to cool to room temperature first.
- Make-ahead: The brownies will get moister the longer they sit uncut. I like to bake them the day before, cover them airtight in the pan, and cut them right before I’m ready to serve.

Variations
The great thing about vanilla brownies is that they work well with so many different flavors. Nuts, dried fruit, citrus zest, you name it! So feel free to get creative and add your favorite mix-ins to your brownie.
- Brown sugar: Turn this into a butterscotch vanilla brownie recipe by swapping out the granulated sugar. Instead, replace it with 1/2 cup dark brown sugar.
- White chocolate chips: Stir 1/2 cup white chocolate chips into the batter before baking.
- Nuts: Prepare the recipe with 1 cup chopped walnuts, macadamia nuts, or pecans if you’d like some added crunch.
- Dried cranberries: Fold 1 cup sweetened cranberries into the batter for a festive treat.
- Orange zest: Make these vanilla orange brownies by adding 1/2 tablespoon of orange zest to the brownie batter. Lemon zest works as well.
- Cream cheese frosting: Instead of the white chocolate glaze, finish the bars with cream cheese frosting and sprinkle white chocolate chips over the top.

Serving suggestions
Vanilla blondies can be served at room temperature, warm, or even cold from the fridge. They are delicious for an afternoon snack with a cup of tea or coffee. They are also amazing as a dessert or holiday cookie tray.
For a real treat, try warm vanilla brownies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce, raspberry sauce, or hot fudge sauce.
Storage instructions
How to store fudgy vanilla brownies
Store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to 6 days.
Freeze vanilla chocolate brownies
Wrapped tightly, vanilla brownies will keep in the freezer for 2 to 3 months. Let thaw at room temperature before serving.

Vanilla Brownies Recipe
These easy homemade vanilla brownies are a vanilla white chocolate dream come true! With a fudgy white chocolate brownie on the bottom and a creamy layer of melt-in-your-mouth vanilla ganache on top, these bars are thick, buttery, chewy, and full of delicious flavor. You won't be able to stop at just one!
Ingredients
Vanilla Brownies
- 3/4 cup / 85 g / 3 oz salted butter
- 5 oz / 140 g chopped white chocolate
- 1/3 cup / 75 g / 2.6 oz granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- 1 cup / 120 g / 4.2 oz all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
Vanilla Topping
- 1 cup / 170 g / 6 oz chopped white chocolate
- 3 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- Prep work. Preheat your oven to 350°F / 180°C / gas mark 4. Grease an 8×8-inch / 20x20 cm baking pan and line it with parchment paper. Let the parchment paper overhang on 2 sides, which helps remove the brownies from the pan when done.
- Melt butter and chocolate. Stirring frequently, melt the butter and white chocolate in a saucepan over low heat until just melted. The mixture may appear curdled, which is fine. Once fully liquid, remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
- Combine liquid ingredients. Whisk together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla bean paste in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Slowly pour in the cooled white chocolate butter mixture and whisk until combined.
- Add dry ingredients. Sift the flour and baking powder into the mixing bowl. Mix until everything is well combined.
- Bake brownies. Pour the brownie batter into the prepared baking pan and spread evenly. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes. The vanilla brownies are ready when a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs (no liquid batter).
- Let cool. Remove the vanilla brownies from the oven and set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Make vanilla topping. For the topping, add the white chocolate and heavy cream into a saucepan. Melt over low heat until the chocolate is melted and the mixture looks smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.
- Garnish brownies. Spread the chocolate mixture into an even layer over the brownies. Let set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Cut bars. Lift the brownie out of the baking pan and cut into bars.
- Store. Store your vanilla brownies in an airtight container at room temperature. The brownies are best for 2 to 3 days, but should be okay for 4 to 5 days.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 209Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 77mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 0gSugar: 16gProtein: 3g
FAQ’s
What’s the difference between a vanilla brownie and a blondie?
My vanilla brownies are very similar to traditional chocolate brownies, but they substitute white chocolate for semisweet chocolate and cocoa. They also contain more vanilla than you’d typically find in a brownie recipe.
By contrast, blondies are usually made without chocolate and use brown sugar instead of white sugar. They have a toffee-like flavor thanks to the brown sugar.
Are vanilla brownies supposed to be gooey?
The baked, cooled brownies will not be gooey, but they will stay soft, buttery, and chewy on the inside – very similar to a traditional fudgy chocolate brownie.
Why are my vanilla brownies cake-like or crumbly?
These vanilla brownies will not be cakey because they have such a high chocolate and butter to flour ratio. However, they can end up dry and crumbly if you add too much flour or bake them for too long.
That’s why it’s important to pull your brownies out of the oven when they are still soft and slightly underbaked.


Reasons to love vanilla brownies
- So delicious: You got a soft vanilla and white chocolate brownie topped with a rich vanilla glaze. It’s the perfect mix of chewy, sweet, and creamy.
- Easy to make: This recipe is made from just a few simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and takes only a couple of easy steps to put together.
- Family-friendly: Vanilla brownies are a super family-friendly recipe. Some kids (and adults) don’t like the intense flavor, which makes these brownies perfect for birthday parties and kid’s events.

More brownies recipes
Whether it’s a decadent chocolate brownie or these vanilla brownies, homemade brownies are just delicious. When you crave a brownie, reach for one of our other fantastic brownie recipes. You’ll love them!