Frequently Asked Questions About Box Brownies

While homemade brownies tend to have a more pronounced chocolate flavor, boxed brownies can be just as good. I like brownie mixes for many reasons. They are convenient, inexpensive, and can be improved in numerous ways.

With so many brownie mixes available on the market, choosing the best can be challenging. It really comes down to personal preference.

Ghirardelli brownie mixes are popular, but my favorites are Duncan Hines chewy fudge and dark chocolate fudge brownies.

With a few simple tweaks, you can make boxed brownies even better. You can add some nuts or chocolate chips. A little coffee gives them a deeper flavor and tames their sweetness.

To add richness and moisture, you can also use milk, buttermilk, or brewed coffee in place of water.

Boxed brownies are certainly not a health food since they contain plenty of sugar, fat, and calories. However, there are some ways to sneak extra nutrients into these treats.

You can use unsweetened applesauce in place of oil or add healthy ingredients like puréed black beans, mashed bananas, shredded zucchini, nuts, or dried fruits. Note that as you add these, you also increase your calorie intake.

The sugar in the batter doesn't fully dissolve and caramelizes during baking, resulting in a shiny, flaky top layer.

Yes. Using milk or buttermilk instead of water adds moisture and richness to brownies. You may also use brewed coffee to enhance the chocolate flavor and reduce the sweetness.

Yes. Brownies can be overmixed, so it is recommended to mix them by hand with about 50 strokes only. They will become cake-like instead of dense if you incorporate too much air.

Another issue is gluten development, which makes the brownies tough and unpleasantly chewy.

Yes. The eggs bind, leaven, and add moisture to the brownies. You can replace one egg with ¼ cup of applesauce or mashed bananas.

As a vegan binding agent, use ground flaxseed or chia seeds mixed with water. You can also make brownies using a commercial egg replacer or a recipe that doesn't call for eggs.

Unless a recipe specifies otherwise, the middle rack or the center of the oven is where they should go. It is where heat is evenly distributed to ensure even cooking.

If too much air is incorporated into the batter, the brownies will rise as it bakes but sink or collapse as they cool.

Avoid overmixing by combining by hand and not with a mixer. The ingredients should be stirred just enough to combine them.

Metal pans make brownies rise better and have crisper, browner edges. They heat up faster but cool quickly once outside the oven, so the brownies don't overbake.

Glass pans are ideal for baking food at low temperatures for an extended time, such as quick bread, pies, baked pasta, and casseroles. They are non-reactive and retain heat well but take longer to heat up. Because they are sensitive to abrupt temperature changes, they shouldn't be used under high heat like in a broiler.

The fat-to-flour ratio in fudgy brownies is higher than in cakey brownies. If you like a fudgy texture than cake-like, use fewer eggs or add an egg yolk.

Don't overbake them for a fudgy, gooey center. Bake them until a toothpick comes out with several separate crumbs on it.

Place baked brownies in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to five days. You can also freeze them to extend their shelf life.

A toothpick inserted into the center of your brownies will tell you when they are done. Fudgy brownies should come out with several separate crumbs, while cakey brownies should have fewer. The edges should start pulling away from the sides of the pan when they're done.

Yes, you can freeze the brownies to extend their shelf life. Make sure they are completely cooled before wrapping. You can thaw them in the refrigerator or on the counter when ready to eat.

To make brownies last longer, wrap them properly to prevent them from drying out. Store them in the refrigerator to preserve their freshness. You can also freeze them to extend their shelf life.