How to Adjust Baking Brownies for High Altitudes

Baking brownies in high altitudes may require some basic adjustments to time and temperature. This is because the higher the altitude, the thinner the air. This thin air causes liquids to boil at a lower temperature and allows leavening agents to expand faster than they do at lower altitudes. This can cause your brownies to be dry and tough. While it may seem contrary to logic, you actually increase the temperature for high-altitude baking. This increased temperature helps “set” the cell walls of the brownie batter so that it remains fluffy. You then decrease baking time to make up for the higher temperature. This method bakes the brownies quickly, before too much moisture and gas escape.

Things You'll Need

brownie ingredients
brownie recipe

baking pan

Instructions

Check the altitude of your city. Use a local resource, such as a chamber of commerce, or check online. Consider yourself at a high altitude if your altitude is more than 3,000 feet above sea level.
Preheat the oven to the temperature indicated by the recipe, increasing the temperature by 15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit for high altitude.
Prepare the brownies as indicated by the recipe. Pour the brownie batter into a lightly greased baking pan. Place brownies on the middle rack of the oven.
Cook brownies for the amount of time indicated by the recipe, reducing the total time up to 20 percent for high-altitude baking. Insert a toothpick into the center of the brownies and check that it comes out clean to ensure the brownies are done.

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