Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare an 8 inch square pan by lining it with parchment paper or foil.

Step 2

Place the sugar and the melted butter in a large mixing bowl and whisk together until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking after each addition. Stir in the salt and the vanilla extract, then set aside the whisk.

Step 3

Add the cocoa powder and stir in gently with a spoon or spatula, making sure to scrape down the bowl as you go so that the mixture is fully incorporated.

Step 4

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth out the top. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with moist crumbs but no wet batter attached. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes on a rack, then use the liner to lift out the brownies and set them on the rack to finish cooling.