FAQs
When the back-of-box instructions call for water, try some instant espresso or strong-brewed coffee for roasty, toasty notes that pair impeccably with chocolate. Or use milk or half-and-half for even more richness. And for cakey instead of fudgy brownies, add an extra egg for more lift and spring.
How do you jazz up store bought brownie mix? ›
Here are seven easy ways I dress up a box of brownies when the craving strikes.
- Switch the Liquid. Switch up the liquid for something more flavorful—boxed brownie mixes typically call for water. ...
- Swirl It Up! ...
- Add an Egg Yolk or Two. ...
- Salt + Chocolate = BFFs. ...
- Use a Flavorful Fat. ...
- Top It With More Chocolate. ...
- Add Some Fruit.
How to doctor up Betty Crocker brownie mix? ›
Six Sneaky Ways To Make Brownie Mix Taste Homemade
- Use melted butter instead of oil. ...
- Use milk, flavored creamers, or brewed coffee instead of water. ...
- Add extracts or flavorings. ...
- Add mix-ins like cookies and candies. ...
- Underbake, just slightly. ...
- Toppings.
What happens when you add an extra egg to brownie mix? ›
If you want to get a little more creative with your brownie mix hacks, add an extra egg to the batter. The extra protein will help thicken up the batter and make it fluffier, creating a more decadent, fudgy texture. You can also add the yolk by itself in addition to the 2 eggs a box brownie mix typically calls for.
Can I use butter instead of oil in brownies? ›
You can absolutely substitute butter for the vegetable oil. Use the same quantity specified in the directions (for example, if it calls for 1/3 cup of oil, use 5 1/3 tablespoons of butter). Melt it down, then let it cool a bit. You might not ever go back to oil!
Can you combine two boxes of brownie mix? ›
Grease bottom of 13x9x2-inch rectangular pan. Prepare batter using 2 packages any Betty Crocker®Premium brownie mix, double all ingredients for the water, oil and eggs called for on the package directions.
What happens if you add baking soda to a brownie mix? ›
Leavener in Brownies
Since leaveners lift and give a lighter, airier texture to baked goods, we're only using 1/8 teaspoon baking soda, for just enough leavening to get a nice thick texture. Feel free to omit the baking soda if using Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
What does refrigerating brownie batter do? ›
In addition to keeping your brownie mix fresh, refrigerating brownie batter can also help boost the overall texture and flavor of the treat. Refrigerating helps improve the gloss and crustiness of brownies while simultaneously blending the flavors—the result? — brownie that tastes much richer and chewier.
What can you add to your brownie mix to pump up the chocolate flavor? ›
Add coffee or instant espresso powder to your brownies for an even deeper, more complex chocolate flavor. Swirl them with peanut butter, cream cheese, or even pumpkin filling to mix things up.
What to put in brownie mix to make it better? ›
One change is to use milk or heavy cream instead of water. This change will make brownies more moist and gooey since milk is more fatty and flavorful than water. A second change is to use butter instead of oil. For similar reasons to using milk, butter adds a rich and more decadent quality to the batter.
Milk. Most brownie mixes call for water. While water does the job, you can add some extra flavor and moisture by mixing some of that water with something richer, like milk. If you want to swap it out completely, be prepared for a more chewy and fudge-like brownie from the extra fat.
Is Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker better for brownie mix? ›
If you like chewy, sticky brownies, I recommend: Betty Crocker Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix. If you like light, less dense brownies with a picture-perfect sugar top that flakes when sliced, I recommend: Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix.
How to jazz up boxed brownies? ›
Add nuts – Add a handful of finely chopped pecans or walnuts if you love brownies with nuts. Add mix ins – Jazz up a basic brownie mix with chopped mini peanut butter cups, white chocolate chunks, or your favorite chopped up candy bar. Add a swirl – Swirl in spoonfuls of peanut butter or Nutella before baking.
What makes brownies fudgy instead of cakey? ›
Fudgy brownies have a higher fat-to-flour ratio than cakey ones. So add more fat—in this case, butter and chocolate. A cakey batch has more flour and relies on baking powder for leavening. The amount of sugar and eggs does not change whether you're going fudgy or cakey.
What happens when you don't put eggs in brownie mix? ›
Is it okay to make brownies without eggs? Without eggs, baked goods will become a little thinner and not rise as much in the oven. As long as you replace the moisture from the egg with milk, banana or applesauce, you can make brownies without eggs. And yes, this recipe makes thinner brownies than normal.
How do you get the middle of brownies done? ›
How do I make sure brownies cook in the middle? Stick a toothpick into the middle and if it comes back out clean, the middle is done. If it comes out covered in batter, it may need more time. Also, make sure the brownie is not too thick.
How do you fix sunken brownies? ›
Brownies also sink in the middle because they weren't baked for long enough. Even when your toothpick comes out almost clean but you start noticing a dent in your brownies, bake them for 4-5 more minutes. These last few minutes do their magic.
Why are my box brownies flat? ›
Brownies fail to rise due to the insufficient batter in your baking pan and not enough air has been infused, or your batter may not have enough egg or other key leavening agents. On the other hand, too much beating of eggs or using more leavening agents than recommended can also cause the brownie not to rise.
How much vanilla extract should I add to brownie mix? ›
Use a dash of vanilla.
Adding a teaspoon of it to your batter won't make it taste like vanilla, but it will give your brownies an extra layer of flavor. You can also swap the vanilla for something more potent, like almond extract or mint extract.