Baking these Fudgy Chocolate Brownies is straightforward when you follow these steps:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
2. Melt the Butter: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Once melted, remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
3. Mix Sugar and Eggs: Stir in the granulated sugar and mix well until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until fully incorporated. Finally, stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder.
5. Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain the fudgy texture.
6. Add Chocolate Chips: Fold in the chocolate chips if using for an extra chocolatey brownie.
7. Pour Batter into Pan: Spread the batter evenly into the greased baking pan.
8. Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
9. Cool: Allow the brownies to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Cut into Squares: Once cooled, cut into squares and dust with powdered sugar if desired.

These easy-to-follow instructions ensure that your brownies will turn out fudgy and delicious every time!