Everyone says to use a mixer for brownies, but I swear by a wooden spoon
Most bakers I know rely on their stand mixers for brownie batter to make it smooth. I did the same for years, but my brownies always turned out too cakey and dry. So I decided to stop using the mixer and just use a wooden spoon. I mix the ingredients by hand until they are just combined, even if the batter looks a bit lumpy. The first time I tried this, I was worried it would ruin the batch. But when I baked them, the brownies came out dense, fudgy, and had a perfect chewy texture. Now I never use a mixer for brownies, and everyone who tries them says they're the best. If you want richer brownies, give hand mixing a shot.