How To Make Box Brownies Better
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Recipe: How to Make Boxed Brownie Mix Taste Homemade
Everyone will be asking for your delicious homemade brownie recipe when you use these simple steps for how to make boxed brownie mix taste homemade!
I’ve loved baking for about as long as I can remember. In fact, I actually started baking things before I started cooking meals.
For me, there’s just something relaxing about it and I love sharing baked goods with others and seeing the smiles on their faces.
I’m always a huge fan of from-scratch baking. But, honestly, I don’t always have time to get all my flours, sugars and other baking goodies from the pantry, along with washing all the extra bowls and measuring cups. So, I do use boxed mixes from time to time.
Brownie Baking Pro Tip
Lining your pan with parchment paper or foil makes it super easy to get them out of the pan and a breeze to clean. Just don’t be impatient like me and wait until they’re completely cool or you’ll risk a crack like I did. ;)
While boxed mixes certainly make baking faster and easier, I do find they tend to taste a little bland. I try to not eat too many desserts these days so I really like my sweets to pack a punch of flavor.
One of our favorite desserts are brownies, especially the fudgy kind, so I always have a couple family size 9 x 13 boxes of fudgy brownie mix in the pantry.
What’s The Best Brand Of Brownie Mix To Buy?
When it comes to brownie mix I’m honestly not very picky. I usually just buy whatever is cheapest like Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, or the Aldi brand since one of those recently opened here.
I always stock up when they go on sale at the store for about $1 or less each as they have a pretty good shelf life. If you want the convenience of having them shipped to your door the price on Amazon Pantry is usually pretty decently priced, too.
I have tried the pricier Ghirardelli brownie mix too, but, honestly, for how much it costs it just did not wow me at all.
The last time I looked, Ghirardelli also used different ratios of fat/liquid/eggs than most other brands. You can still make the swaps I mention but be sure to use the same amounts as listed in the recipe on the back of the box of the brand you use or your brownies may end up too dry/wet or have an off texture.
Fat = Oil or Butter
Liquid = Water, Milk, Brewed Coffee, Etc.
Eggs = Large Eggs
The swaps and additions to make the brownies taste homemade are what make the “recipe” over the brand of mix used in this case.
How to Make Boxed Brownie Mix Taste Homemade
- Instead of oil, use butter. This helps the brownies have a richer flavor. Some say that you need to add an extra tablespoon of butter when using it instead of oil since oil is 100% fat and butter is not, but I always substitute the same amount stated on the packaging. You could also use ghee/clarified butter.
- Instead of water, use milk, or preferably brewed coffee. Just like in cooking, baking with water doesn’t add much flavor. I prefer to use coffee in brownies as coffee intensifies that chocolate flavor but doesn’t make the baked good taste like coffee. If I don’t have leftover brewed coffee, I always have a jar of instant espresso powder on hand to use.
- Add more flavor with an extract and cocoa powder. Extracts are commonly used in baking and there are a variety of flavors you can use. Vanilla extract adds a nice sweet flavor we all love. But you can also change up the flavor of your brownies with extracts like orange or peppermint. Adding a tablespoon or 2 of cocoa powder (or even hot chocolate mix) will give an extra chocolate flavor punch.
- Try out different mix-ins. One of the best ways to kick boxed mixes up a notch is to add some mix-ins. This can be candy pieces, coconut flakes, nuts, chocolate chips, marshmallows, bacon or pretty much anything you’d like to try.
- Take the size of the pan into mind. If I want a 9 x 13 of brownies I will actually use 2 boxes of brownie mix (also doubling the other ingredients) intended to be used in a 9 x 13. Using just one box doesn’t make a thick enough brownie, in my opinion. If I only need 9 brownies or so I will use just one box of brownie mix but bake it in an 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 pan square pan.
- Turn it into something fancy. Brownies are great on their own, but you can also jazz them up a bit, like turning them into a brownie strawberry shortcake. Yum!
Related: I also used a brownie mix to make my Peanut Butter Pie with Brownie Crust Recipe and my Individual Brownies with Peanut Butter Bird’s Nest Frosting Recipe which is perfect for spring and Easter.
The Best Brownie Pans For Crispy Edges
If you’re like our family you just might fight over all the crispy edges and corners when it comes to brownies. When I’m wanting brownies with crispy edges, I like making them in a muffin tin, but this square treat cake pan and the edge brownie pan are also popular choices so everyone gets those delicious crispy edges.
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