Learn How to Make Box Brownies Taste Better – actually just like homemade – with only a few changes and additions to the ingredients. These tips will take your brownies from good to GREAT!
Brownies from a boxed mix are a quick and tasty treat, but they are never quite as good as homemade – UNTIL NOW!
By simply making a few changes to the instructions on the box and adding a few extra ingredients, our tips for how to make box brownies taste homemade will make them go from good to GREAT!!
If you’re wondering how to make box brownies taste better, simple changes like replacing oil with butter, replacing water with milk and adding increasing the amounts of the ingredients really go a long way.
All of the changes will take you less than an extra minute or two in the preparation process, and those will be two minutes very well spent. Let me know if you agree once you see the results!
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Brownie mixes are an awesome shortcut for baking. They contain most of the ingredients that you need to make your pan of brownies with only a few additions.
To make the process as easy as possible, boxed brownie mixes call for ingredients you would most like have on hand AND that are inexpensive. Replacing them with “more expensive” ingredients really doesn’t cost a lot more, but it does make a BIG improvement in the taste.
The next time you’re bringing brownies to a party, family dinner, bake sale or barbecue, use these tips and see the reactions of people raving over your delicious homemade brownies!
If you want to go beyond “regular” brownies, we have more fun recipes at the bottom of this post that are all made with a boxed brownie mix.
If you like your brownies with frosting on top, use our Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe. The recipe is surprisingly easy to make from scratch and it’s SO GOOD!
How to Make Box Brownies Taste Homemade
Your finished brownies will taste awesome and they will be ready for a school bake sale, an everyday after dinner treat, or even as the basis for a decadent ice cream and hot fudge topped sundae to impress your guests the next time you entertain.
I think I have to head to the kitchen right NOW to whip up a batch. Just thinking about them again is making me hungry!
How to Make Box Brownies Better:
Follow these simple tips to learn how to make box brownies taste homemade. While you don’t have to use every suggestion, the more you use the better your brownies will be.
Ingredients Needed
1 Box brownie mix
All ingredients listed on box, BUT make these changes:
- add 1 extra egg
- use melted butter in place of oil
- add extra 2 TBS butter
- use milk in place of water
- add extra 4 TBS milk
Note: Adding the extra egg will make the brownies more cake-like. If you prefer a more dense/chewy brownie, then leave out that extra egg.
OPTIONAL: One other option I like to make brownies even BETTER is to add in chocolate chips. Semi sweet are the best and you can use either regular sized chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips.
Or, if you want something different you can use white chocolate chips, but I think it kind of dilutes the chocolatiness.
OPTIONAL: Add nuts! Both walnuts and pecans make a great addition to brownies. To make, after you have mixed together the rest of your brownie ingredients, simply fold the nuts into the batter.
How to Make Homemade Tasting Box Brownies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl add brownie mix, egg(s), melted butter and milk. Mix.
Do not over mix. There should be some small clumps in the batter.
Bake for length of time indicated on the box. (Make sure you follow the correct timing for the size/type of pan you use!)
Brownie Toppings
Once your brownies are cooled, you can top them with a dusting of powdered sugar. To do that, place confectioners sugar in a small sieve or sifter and sprinkle over the top.
OR you can use the Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe we mentioned above to make a nice thick layer of frosting on top.
Other delicious toppings for brownies include:
- caramel sauce
- ice cream
- drizzled hot fudge
- whipped cream
- marshmallow fluff
- chocolate shavings
- shredded coconut
You can mix and match any of these toppings – you’re not limited to one! – and all of them will help make box brownies better!
How to Store Brownies
Brownies can be stored tightly covered at room temperature. To extend the life even longer you can keep them in the refrigerator, but you need to make sure they are well-sealed and then bring them back to room temperature before serving.
To keep them extra tightly sealed you can wrap them in plastic wrap. It is less convenient if you’re taking a brownie here and there, but works well if you’re saving them all for later.
To keep your brownies more fresh, it’s better not to cut them until you’re ready to eat.
Recipes Using Boxed Brownie Mix
There are so many different ways to use brownie mix! Here are a few of our favorite brownie mix recipes:
- Reese’s Brownies Cups
- M&M’s Popcorn Brownies (perfect for movie night)
- Snickers Brownies,
- White Chocolate Peppermint Brownies
- Rocky Road Brownies
- Brownies with Peanut Butter
How to Make Box Brownies Taste Homemade
Ingredients
- 1 Box Brownie Mix
- add 1 extra egg
- use melted butter in place of oil
- add extra 2 TBS butter
- use milk in place of water
- add extra 4 TBS milk
Instructions
- Prepare brownie mix as directed on box with the exception of adding/substituting all the ingredients listed above.
Video
Notes
Sara says
Do you use unsalted butter or salted in place of oil???
Amy D says
I need to try this! I have all the ingredients too! I am always looking for ways to spruce up box mixes.
Shelly Peterson says
Thanks for the tip. I will have to try this.
Kelly Freeman says
Thanks for the tips!