Here at Delish, we’re big fans of using boxed mixes to create easy yet impressive desserts. While there is something to be said for making homemade brownies (ours are truly the best of the best), sometimes we only have time to rely on the boxed stuff. But that doesn’t mean you can’t add a little flair to take your boxed brownies from pretty good to downright incredible.
Senior Food Editor Makinze Gore walked us through her top 5 tips for adding an extra-sweet upgrade to your classic boxed brownies. Think of these hacks as the easiest ways to convince your friends and family that you made your dessert homemade. 😉
Use Coffee Instead Of Water
Gore’s first tip is to use coffee in place of water in your boxed brownies. "Coffee and chocolate go perfectly together, and it just enhances that chocolate flavor," Gore says. If you’re not the biggest coffee fan, never fear—like Gore says, the coffee is mainly working to enhance the chocolate flavor, not distract from it. We incorporate coffee in many of our chocolate desserts for the very same reason—our chocolate cream pie and chewy chocolate cookies are just a couple of examples. We even add instant espresso powder to our best-ever brownies for the same effect, so it's a tried-and-true hack in the Delish Test Kitchen.
Try Brown Butter Instead Of Oil
Instead of using vegetable oil, try adding brown butter instead! Brown butter adds tons of flavor to cookies, and it will do the same thing to your brownies, Gore says. In Gore’s brown butter chocolate chip cookies, the brown butter adds a toasted, nutty flavor. If you’re all about that (why wouldn’t you be?), then add it to your brownies for a flavor upgrade.
If you’ve never made it before or need some tips, follow our guide on how to make brown butter perfectly, every time.
Stir In Your Favorite Candy
The easiest hack out of the bunch? Add in your favorite candy! Reese’s, chocolate chips, and Andes mints are some of Gore’s favorites, but any candy or treat—even Oreos—are game here. Just make sure to chop them up evenly so you don’t have massive pieces of candy throughout your brownies (unless that’s your thing).
Sprinkle On Flaky Sea Salt
"One hack I almost always use when I make brownies is to add a little flaky sea salt on top before you bake them," Gore says. It’s a super simple step with incredible results. If you're someone who can’t have sweets without a little bit of salt, then this is the upgrade you must try. It creates the perfect sweet-salty bite, Gore says.
Swap In Greek Yogurt
This hack might be the least common one, but Gore says it's definitely worth trying. Instead of using the vegetable oil that your box calls for, use Greek yogurt instead. Not only will it add more moisture to your brownies, improving the texture, it will also add a slight tangy flavor to keep things interesting.
