How to make brownies with a shiny crackly crust

Not every brownie will bake up with that icon shiny crackly crust. There are two steps to getting that perfect topping:

1. Follow a recipe that incorporates melted chocolate into the brownie batter. Brownies that use only cocoa powder often bake up with a dull matte finish.
2. Once you add the eggs to the batter, beat the mixture for 2-3 minutes. Beating the eggs with the sugar already in the batter will incorporate air, which will rise to the surface during baking and create a thin, meringue-like layer.