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    Home » Recipes » Cookies & Bars

    Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com · 3 Comments

    How To Make Boxed Brownie Mix Better

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    Pin image with text of brownies.

    Here's how to make boxed brownie mix better so that you can still enjoy some delicious brownies without having to make them from scratch! You get to keep all of the convenience of using prepackaged mix without losing out on the quality. In fact, these baking hacks are going to make your boxed mix taste (almost) as good as homemade!

    Best Tips & Tricks For Making Boxed Brownie Mix Taste Homemade

    Using premade baking mixes helps to make our lives easier when we are in a pinch! However, we usually have to sacrifice the quality of our baked goods in exchange for convenience.

    Don't worry, I'm going to show you all of my favorite hacks to make your boxed brownie mix taste homemade! It's a win-win situation all around, you get to make your brownies in a snap and they still taste fantastic!

    Square image of brownies in a large serving dish.
    Jump to:
    • Best Tips & Tricks For Making Boxed Brownie Mix Taste Homemade
    • Brownie Mix Baking Hacks
    • 1. Choose The Best Brownie Mix
    • 2. Use Butter
    • 3. Only Use The Egg Yolks
    • 4. Use Heavy Cream
    • 5. Use Coffee
    • 6. Add Vanilla
    • 7. Add Some Salt
    • 8. Mix In Some Espresso Powder
    • 9. Don't Overmix
    • 10. Lower The Temperature
    • 11. Add Some Texture
    • 📖 More Baking Guides
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Brownie Mix Baking Hacks

    Most typical boxes of brownie mix ask for oil, water, and eggs as your additional ingredients. However, push the instructions on the back of the box aside and follow these tricks instead!

    1. Choose The Best Brownie Mix

    Considering boxed brownie mix is your main ingredient here, it's important that you choose a great quality mix! Believe it or not, they really aren't the same.

    Some boxes are sweeter than others and some are fudgier or chewier. Really, it all comes down to how you like your brownies! Make sure you check out my guide to the best store bought brownie mixes to buy for some delicious recommendations!

    2. Use Butter

    Instead of using the requested oil, swap it out for butter! This adds an extra layer of richness and flavor!

    Simply melt some butter, allow it to cool, and make an equal switch for the oil on the box!

    3. Only Use The Egg Yolks

    A lot of brownie mixes call for 1 egg to be added to the mix. However, using only egg yolks instead of a whole egg is an easy way to make your brownies extra fudgy!

    In general, two egg yolks are equivalent to one whole egg.

    4. Use Heavy Cream

    Increasing the fat content of your brownies is what creates that mouthwatering fudgy texture. Toss out the water on the ingredient list and use some heavy cream instead!

    Of course, you could use whole milk, but I find heavy cream to be the best option! It is a simple 1:1 swap!

    5. Use Coffee

    The flavor of coffee naturally emphasizes the richness of the chocolate. Therefore, you can swap out the water for some hot coffee!

    It is a simple 1:1 swap that will really enhance the deep, chocolate flavor!

    6. Add Vanilla

    There is a reason that vanilla extract is on a ton of ingredient lists for a wide variety of baked goods! It adds an extra layer of flavor and creates more depth in your brownies.

    Plus, it is an ingredient you most likely already have in your pantry! Go ahead and add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to your brownie mix!

    7. Add Some Salt

    This may seem like an odd contribution, but hear me out. Salt is also a very common ingredient in sweets and baked goods. That is because the saltiness helps to balance out the overall dish.

    Add just ⅛ teaspoon of salt to your boxed mix.

    8. Mix In Some Espresso Powder

    Again, coffee naturally brings out the richness of chocolate! Add in a teaspoon of espresso powder or instant coffee to your boxed mix for a wonderfully deep flavor! The "yum" factor is amazing!

    9. Don't Overmix

    There are some desserts that need to be mixed for a while and some that don't. Brownies are one of the items that only need to be mixed just long enough to have all of your ingredients well-incorporated.

    If you overmix your brownie batter, the brownies will be extremely dense and lose their fudgy quality. As soon as the dry ingredients are mixed in, you're done!

    10. Lower The Temperature

    Each box of brownie mix has instructions that slightly vary from one another. Go ahead and ignore the baking instructions on the package.

    Instead, opt for a lower temperature of 325°F (160°C) and bake the brownies for 45-50 minutes. This helps the brownies to have a maximum fudgy consistency.

    You'll know your brownies are done baking when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean! *Or with some fudgy crumbs stuck to it (rather than wet brownie batter).

    11. Add Some Texture

    A super easy way to customize and enhance your brownies is by adding in some of your favorite mix-ins! Some boxed mixes already include chocolate chips.

    However, you can add in some chopped nuts, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, or any other additions you may like! Simply fold them into the batter and that's it!

    Here is how to make boxed brownie mix better! Leave a comment down below and let me know which one of these tricks is your favorite!

    📖 More Baking Guides

    • Salted vs Unsalted Butter - Find out which one of these kinds of butter you should be using in your recipes!
    • Best Chocolate For Melting - This guide will walk you through which kinds of chocolate will yield the best results when melted!
    • How To Make Pancakes Fluffier - These tips & tricks will help you make the best pancakes around!
    • Best Apples For Apple Pie - If you are making a homemade apple pie, make sure you are starting off with the ideal apple variety!
    • Pie Crust Alternatives - Check out some of these fun pie crust options for a twist on your standard pie crust!
    • Frosting vs Icing vs Glaze - Find out the differences between these types of toppings!

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    📋 Recipe

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    5 from 30 reviews

    How To Make Boxed Brownie Mix Better (+Tips & Tricks)

    Here's how to make boxed brownie mix better so that you can still enjoy some delicious brownies without having to make them from scratch! You get to keep all of the convenience of using prepackaged mix without losing out on the quality. In fact, these baking hacks are going to make your boxed mix taste (almost) as good as homemade!
    Author | Angela
    Servings: 16 servings
    Calories: 195kcal
    Prep 5 minutes minutes
    Cooking 45 minutes minutes
    Total Time 50 minutes minutes
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    Ingredients
     

    • 1 package brownie mix (*see note)
    • 1 teaspoon espresso powder (or instant coffee)
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • ⅓ cup butter (melted and cooled)
    • 2 egg yolks
    • ¼ cup heavy cream (or whole milk)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

    Instructions

    • To get started, preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and lightly grease an 8x8 baking dish.
    • In a large mixing bowl, add the package of brownie mix, salt, and espresso powder (or instant coffee). Stir until the dry ingredients are well combined.
      1 package brownie mix, 1 teaspoon espresso powder, ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • Next, add in the melted butter, egg yolks, heavy cream (or whole milk), and vanilla extract. Stir just until everything is combined (*see note).
      ⅓ cup butter, 2 egg yolks, ¼ cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake at 325°F (160°C) for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
    • Remove from the oven and allow to cool before cutting into squares and serving.

    Equipment You May Need

    Mixing Bowl
    baking dish
    Measuring Spoons

    Notes

    • Make sure you choose a good quality brownie mix to start with! I enjoy using Ghiradelli, but you can use your favorite high-quality mix instead!
    • Don't overmix your brownie batter! This will make your brownies overly dense.
    • If you want to add some texture, you can always mix in (or sprinkle on top) some chocolate chips or chopped nuts!
    • To store: Keep your brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 195kcal (10%) | Carbohydrates: 25g (8%) | Protein: 2g (4%) | Fat: 10g (15%) | Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 39mg (13%) | Sodium: 144mg (6%) | Potassium: 10mg | Sugar: 16g (18%) | Vitamin A: 205IU (4%) | Vitamin C: 0.02mg | Calcium: 7mg (1%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
    Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
    boxed brownie mix, how to make boxed brownie mix better
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    author profile photo
    Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

    Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

    bakeitwithlove.com/about/
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    Comments

    1. Sharon says

      September 13, 2023 at 2:59 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness!!! These brownies were utterly amazing!!! I'm in shock!!! So is everyone who knows me too! I'm usually a terrible baker so when my baker friend dropped out of our catering deal, I had no option but to try a ready mix pack. These tips made such a world of difference. The brownies were crispy, fudgy, melty & utterly flavoursome all at the same time. Absolutely beautiful! Thanks for these amazing tips!!!

      Reply
    2. Esther Wright says

      July 04, 2023 at 11:17 am

      May I use plain yogurt instead of milk or whipping cream for these brownies?

      Reply
      • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

        July 05, 2023 at 7:48 am

        Sure, just try and use a full-fat (non-greek) yogurt.

        Reply

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