7 Ways To Elevate Boxed Brownies
Everyone has used pre-made brownie mix before. Mixes are so popular because they're a quick & easy way to satisfy your sweet tooth, but boxed brownies certainly aren't going to win any prizes for taste or originality. Don't get us wrong, store-bought brownies are delicious, but we think they can be made even better. With just few extra steps, you can elevate your brownies from average to gourmet, and we have 7 amazing ways for you to do just that. Start from scratch or use a mix, but whatever you do, try these incredible ways to make them taste even better. Start transforming your brownies from boring to bold!
Basic Brownies From Scratch
Yield: 3 cups batter
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
You'll Need:
- 3 eggs
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 1¾ cups flour
- 1¼ sticks butter, softened
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 cup milk
Here's How:
0.1 For the brownie batter, either buy store-bought brownie mix and follow the instructions on the packaging, or mix all of the ingredients for the basic brownies together and stir until combined. Start with this step for all of the following brownie recipes.
1. White Chocolate & Mint Brownies
Yield: 4–6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
You'll Need:
- 1½ cups brownie batter
- chocolate mints
- 2 oz white chocolate, chopped
- 1 tsp peppermint syrup
- fresh mint
Here's How:
1.1 Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8 x 8-inch baking pan. Pour the brownie batter into the baking pan and place the chocolate mints on top of the batter in rows.
1.2 Transfer the baking pan to the oven and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Once the brownies have baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool.
1.3 Heat the chopped white chocolate over a double boiler and stir in the peppermint syrup.
1.4 Pour the white chocolate & mint sauce over the top of the brownies and and garnish them with fresh mint leaves.
2. Banana, Caramel & Pecan Brownies
Yield: 4–6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
You'll Need:
- 1½ cups brownie batter
- 1 banana, sliced
- caramel syrup
- ⅓ cup chopped pecans
Here's How:
2.1 Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8 x 8-inch baking pan. Pour the brownie batter into the baking pan and place the sliced banana on top of the batter in rows.
2.2 Transfer the baking pan to the oven and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Once the brownies have baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool, then drizzle caramel syrup on top in a zig-zag pattern.
2.3 Sprinkle chopped pecans on top and dig in!
3. Salted Caramel Brownies
Yield: 4–6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
You'll Need:
- 1½ cups brownie batter
- 9 soft caramel candies
- mini pretzel twists, crushed
- caramel syrup
- 1 tbsp sea salt
Here's How:
3.1 Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8 x 8-inch baking pan. Pour the brownie batter into the baking pan and distribute the soft caramel candies on top.
3.2 Crush the mini pretzel twists and sprinkle them on top of the batter.
3.3 Transfer the baking pan to the oven and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Once the brownies have cooled, drizzle caramel sauce on top and sprinkle with sea salt.
4. Cherry Cheesecake Brownies
Yield: 4–6
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Inactive Time: 2 hours
Difficulty Level: Easy
You'll Need:
- 1½ cups brownie batter
- ⅔ cup cream cheese
- ⅔ cup powdered sugar
- ¾ stick butter, softened
- cherry pie filling
Here's How:
4.1 Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8 x 8-inch baking pan. Pour the brownie batter into the baking pan, transfer the baking pan to the oven, and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Once the brownies have baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool. For the topping, beat together the cream cheese, softened butter, and powdered sugar until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy. Spoon the cheesecake topping onto the top of the baked brownies, then add some cherry pie filling on top.
4.2 Transfer the brownies to the refrigerator and chill for 2 hours, then your delicious cherry cheesecake brownies are ready to be served!
5. S'mores Brownies
Yield: 4–6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
You'll Need:
- 1½ cups brownie batter
- crackers or graham crackers, crushed
- 25 marshmallows
Here's How:
5.1 Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8 x 8-inch baking pan. Pour the brownie batter into the baking pan and crush the crackers or graham crackers on top.
5.2 Place the marshmallows on top of the layer of crushed crackers.
5.3 Transfer the baking pan to the oven and bake the brownies at 350°F for 20 minutes. Let them cool before serving, then enjoy!
6. Pistachio Orange Brownies
Yield: 4–6
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Inactive Time: 2 hours
Difficulty Level: Moderate
You'll Need:
- 1½ cups brownie batter
- ¾ cup orange juice
- 1½ sticks butter, softened
- ⅓ cup sugar
- zest of 1 orange
- 3 egg yolks
- 3 eggs
- 9 orange slices
- 3 tbsp chopped pistachios
- 1 tbsp unflavored gelatin powder (optional)
Here's How:
6.1 Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8 x 8-inch baking pan. Pour the brownie batter into the baking pan, transfer the baking pan to the oven, and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Once the brownies have baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool. For the orange curd, heat the orange juice, softened butter, sugar, orange zest, eggs, and egg yolks in a saucepan until the mixture thickens slightly. If you'd like a firmer orange curd, dissolve the optional unflavored gelatin powder in a small amount of water and stir it into the orange mixture until combined. Strain the orange curd through a fine sieve, then pour it over the baked brownies.
6.2 Place the orange slices in 2 rows on top of the orange curd and sprinkle with chopped pistachios.
6.3 Transfer the pistachio orange brownies to the refrigerator and chill for 2 hours to let the orange curd set, then your deliciously citrusy brownies are complete!
7. Coconut & Raspberry Brownies
Yield: 4–6
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Difficulty Level: Moderate
You'll Need:
- 1½ cups brownie batter
- 16 Raffaello chocolates
- 2 egg whites
- 2 tbsp sugar
- ¼ cup shredded coconut
- 3 tbsp raspberry sauce
- 8 raspberries, halved
- coconut flakes
Here's How:
7.1 Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8 x 8-inch baking pan. Pour the brownie batter into the baking pan and distribute the Raffaello chocolates on top.
7.2 Beat the egg whites until stiff, then add in the sugar and coconut flakes, beating continuously until a firm meringue forms. Spoon the coconut meringue on top of the brownie batter. Transfer the baking pan to the oven and bake at 325°F for 40 minutes, until the meringue turns golden brown.
7.3 Take the coconut & raspberry brownies out of the oven and let them cool, then drizzle with raspberry sauce, top with halved raspberries, and sprinkle with coconut flakes.
Chocolatey, moist, and topped off with the best combinations of flavors imaginable – these 7 brownie recipes are unbelievably delicious. You'll never settle for plain boxed brownies again!