• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Brunch

The Curly Spoon

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Brunch
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Brunch
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Desserts » Chocolate

    June 29, 2021 Baking Hacks

    How To Make Box Brownies Better

    How To Make Box Brownies Better

    Find out how to make box brownies better with easy ingredient swaps and delicious mix-ins.

    Save or Share This Post

    how-to-make-boxed-brownies-better.

    You might also like Nutter Butter Brownies, Magic Brownie Bars, and Homemade Brownies.

    Better Than Box Brownies

    There’s no question that boxed brownie mixes can be a real life-saver! They are cheap and super easy to throw together in under an hour. Making brownies from a box can be a quick way to satisfy a craving or please a hungry crowd since it only calls for 2 or 3 additional ingredients.

    That being said, it’s time to address the elephant in the room. The fact is that most of the time boxed brownies taste like, well, boxed brownies. 

    There is nothing more disappointing than reaching for a warm gooey brownie only to be instantly disappointed when you taste that undeniable “boxed” flavor.

    better-than-box-brownies.

    This post contains affiliate links. See full disclosure here.

    Make Box Brownies Taste Homemade

    Here’s the good news. It’s actually extremely easy to make your boxed brownie mix taste like homemade brownies! 

    All it takes to make box brownies better is a few additions and some simple ingredient swaps.These small adjustments will give your brownies a better taste and texture. If you want to kick your boxed brownies up another notch, there are tons of different mix-ins you can add too!

    Ingredient Swaps

    Most traditional boxed brownie recipes call for eggs, vegetable oil, and water. Here are 5 recipe changes that will give your brownies that “made from scratch” flavor:

    1. Use milk or buttermilk instead of water. Milk contains more fat than water which makes for a better flavor and texture in the brownies. This change will ensure that you end up with an extra creamy chocolate taste.
    1. Use melted butter instead of oil. Butter has a much richer flavor than vegetable oil. Not only will it give your box brownie a better flavor, but it helps create the perfectly gooey texture we all love!
    1. Add cocoa powder. Adding an extra ¼ cup of cocoa powder will make your brownies even more chocolatey. This addition will really help take your brownies to the next level.
    2. Add vanilla extract. A teaspoon of vanilla will add another flavor element to your brownies and make them taste more homemade. We recommend always using pure vanilla extract for the richest and best flavor.
    1. Add salt. Adding a ¼ teaspoon of salt will help to balance out the sweetness and bring out the chocolate flavor of the brownies.
    1. Add an extra egg yolk. The extra yolk will give your brownies a SUPER fudgy texture. This step is optional, but if you like your brownies extra fudgy, I would recommend it!

    What Else Can I Add To My Brownie Mix?

    Now that you’ve made your boxed brownie mix taste like delicious homemade brownies, it’s time for the fun part! There are a ton of add-in options that will totally transform your brownies. Here are a few of our favorite boxed brownie mix-in ideas:

    Nutter Butter

    Obviously peanut butter and chocolate is an amazing combination. For delicious peanut buttery brownies, just swirl some peanut butter into your brownie batter once you have poured it into the pan. 

    Cover the top in pieces of nutter butter cookies and you're ready to bake! Add a little crunch by mixing the cookie chunks into the batter too!

    nutter-butter-brownies.

    Andes Mints

      Chocolate and mint are another awesome duo. For this recipe, mix some chopped-up Andes Mint candies into your brownie batter. 

      (Pro Tip: Most grocery stores sell Andes Mint chips for baking - these work great too.) Once your batter is in the pan, add even more Andes Mints on top before baking.

      andes-mint-brownies.

      Frosting And Walnuts

        Adding frosting to pretty much anything makes it better, am I right? After your brownies are baked and cooled, add a thick layer of chocolate frosting on top. Next, sprinkle on some chopped walnuts. 

        You can use homemade or your favorite store-bought frosting, anything goes! If you’re looking for an incredible chocolate frosting for brownies, Check out this Frosted Brownies Recipe!

        chocolate-frosting-and-walnuts.

        Magic Brownie Bars

          These are just as amazing as they sound. If you like magic cookie bars, then this is the brownie recipe for you. If you’ve never had magic cookie bars, then prepare to have your mind blown! 

          After you’ve poured your brownie batter into a pan, sprinkle crushed graham cracker over the batter. Then, drizzle a few tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk on top. 

          Next, add chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and sweetened shredded coconut evenly covering the top. Bake and enjoy!

          magic-brownie-bars.

          Additional Topping Ideas

          In addition to the mix-in ideas above, here are some super fun brownie topping ideas to create your better than box brownies.

          • Pretzels
          • M&Ms
          • Crushed Oreos
          • Caramel drizzle
          • Toasted marshmallows
          • Sprinkles
          • Peanuts

          Best Brands Of Box Brownies

          There are many different brands of box brownies to choose from. Here are a few of our favorites to help you navigate the baking aisle.

          • Duncan Hines
          • Ghirardelli
          • Hershey’s
          • Betty Crocker

          Get Free Recipes and Discount Codes Sent Right to Your Inbox!

          As a subscriber of The Curly Spoon, you’ll get new recipes sent right to your inbox along with discount codes for some of our favorite products. Sign up now!

          Recipe FAQ’s

          « Spinach and Berry Smoothie Recipe
          Strawberry Popsicle Recipe »

          Reader Interactions

          Leave A Reply Cancel reply

          Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

          Recipe Rating




          Primary Sidebar

          Marissa and Mallory Baking

          Hi! We're Mallory & Marissa, Founders of The Curly Spoon Blog.

          We are two sisters from Texas who have a love of good food and spending lots of quality time in the kitchen.

          More about us →

          Follow Us On Social Media

          • Facebook
          • Instagram
          • Pinterest
          • YouTube

          Cookies & Bars

          • Easy Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies With Nutella
          • Old Fashioned Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies
          • Mini Fruit Pizza Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting
          • Peanut Butter Blossoms

          Winter Favorites

          • Homemade Cinnamon Hot Chocolate With Cocoa Powder
          • Fluffy Sugar Cookies with Buttercream Frosting
          • Chocolate Candy Cane Winter Cupcakes
          • Chick-Fil-A Peppermint Milkshake: Copycat Recipe

          Get Free Recipes, Discount Codes, & More!

          As a subscriber of The Curly Spoon, you'll get new recipes sent directly to your inbox along with discount codes for some of our favorite brands.

          Breakfast & Brunch

          • Baked Brioche French Toast Casserole
          • Cinnamon Brioche French Toast (Extra Thick)
          • Easy Sourdough French Toast With Buttermilk
          • 11 Simple Fruit Platter Presentation Ideas

          Watch Our Latest Videos

          https://www.instagram.com/reel/CcVtJGpAQMz/

          Footer

          About Us

          Our Story

          Privacy Policy

          Blog

          Recipes

          Contact Us

          Don't Miss Out

          Sign up for our newsletter to receive free recipes, discount codes, and more!

          © 2022 The Curly Spoon