Preheat oven to 350°F.

Line a 9X13 baking pan with parchment. Spray sides of pan with baking spray.

Whisk together the cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.

Melt the butter over low heat in a medium saucepan. Once melted, remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Stir in the sugar. Next stir the eggs. Lastly, stir the vanilla until just combined.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients combining as you go.

If you are using chocolate chips or nuts, stir them into the fudge brownie batter until evenly distributed.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Insert a toothpick or a knife into the center and pull it out. If there are no crumbs your Chewy Fudge Brownies are done.

Remove from the oven and let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into squares.