How To Make Boxed Brownie Mix Better

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!

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!

📋 Recipe