How to Make Boxed Brownies Better

Sometimes life calls for a shortcut. This article will give you the top secrets on how to make boxed brownies better than homemade.

Last week on Instagram I showed brownie hacks I’ve used for years to make box brownies taste better. On that short video I showed how using 3 Ghirardelli box brownie mixes and baking them together in one pan yields fudgy, deliciously moist brownies.

You all were curious about baking time and pan sizes, so I decided to throw together a quick article to do just that, plus give you other secrets on how to make boxed brownies better than homemade.

What is the best box brownie mix?

For our family, Ghirardelli box brownie mixes are the best. I prefer dark chocolate because they aren’t overly sweet and they have little chocolate chips in the batter. If I want something a little sweeter, the Ultimate Chocolate brownie mix is amazing because you mix in chocolate syrup and chocolate chunks.

Other best brownie mixes are:

• Betty Crocker Supreme Chocolate Chunk
• Aldi brownies

Tips for How to Make Box Brownies Better

• Double the mixes. Or even triple, as I state above. Some boxes are made to fill 9×13″ baking pans. If this is the type you have, you can easily use 2 boxes and still bake it in one 9×13″ baking dish. It will take about 50 minutes to bake at 325ºF. If it is a smaller batch of brownies (8×8″ baking pan size) you may be able to use three boxes in a 9×13″.
• Use a stoneware baking pan. Pampered chef has awesome ones, and you can find them on Amazon. Stoneware cooks the brownies evenly without the edges getting overdone. If you don’t have stoneware, use a glass baking pan.
• Line the baking pan with parchment paper. If you’re not using stoneware, line the baking pan with parchment paper so you can easily remove the brownies to cut and serve. Plus, it makes cleanup a breeze.

• Use milk or buttermilk instead of water. It will add richness and flavor to the brownies.
• Replace canola or vegetable oil with butter. Brownies have a lot of oil in them which is what helps them to be moist and stay moist. But sometimes I feel like I can taste the flavor of the oil. If you can too, try using melted butter in place of the oil. Talk about a rich and fudgy brownie…with a slight hint of butter.
• Add a tablespoon of instant espresso powder. Or you can replace the water with strong coffee. Instant coffee works great for this if you don’t drink coffee regularly. Coffee enhances the chocolate flavor without making the brownies taste like coffee.

• Add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. I make homemade vanilla extract so use vanilla in everything and I’m never disappointed.
• Bake the brownies until the toothpick has moist crumbs, but no batter. I like to check the internal temperature of baked goods with this awesome probe thermometer to make sure they are done. The brownies should be 210ºF in the center.
• Sprinkle flaky sea salt over the top of the brownies. Salt helps to cut the sweetness and enhances the flavor.
• Cut the brownies with a buddy knife. Or you can use a traditional plastic knife. If you’ve ever tried cutting warm brownies only to have them stick all over the knife, a plastic knife is your answer. You’ll be amazed at how cleanly they slice through the brownies.

What about cake-like brownies?

For cake like brownies, most box brownie mixes have you reduce the water by half, then ad an extra egg. These two small changes really do make a difference. I prefer fudgy brownies over cake like, but you can see the difference below here:

Make the brownies a complete dessert by adding ice cream and caramel sauce, but you could also top them with frosting.

From Scratch Brownies

If you want to compare box brownies to a homemade brownie recipe, try our favorite fudgy brownies. They use butter in place of oil, which is just one reason why I love them so much.

Have leftover brownies? Try these brownie truffles.

Best Box Mix Brownie Recipe

4.64 from 57 votes

Sometimes life calls for a shortcut. This article will give you the top secrets on how to make boxed brownies better than homemade.

Servings 35

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

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Ingredients

 

• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup water
• 3 boxes Ghirardelli brownie mixes (19-20 ounces – mixes that fit an 8×8" baking pan)

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Spray a stoneware bar pan or other large sheet pan (with at least 1" sides, about 14¾" x 10½") with cooking spray. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil and water.
• Add the 3 box brownie mixes and fold together with a rubber spatula, being careful not to over mix the brownies.
• Spread the brownie batter evenly in the prepared pan.
• Bake for 50 minutes or a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies have no batter but a few moist crumbs.
• Allow the brownies to cool before cutting.
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. You can store any leftover brownies in the freezer for up to 6 weeks.

Video

Notes

Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.

The calories shown are based on the brownies being cut into 35 squares, with 1 serving being 1 brownie. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**

Nutrition

Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 134mg | Potassium: 6mg | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 23IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

Author Julie Clark

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Calories 281

Keyword brownie bars, brownie mix recipe, easy dessert

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