Better than box mix brownie recipe! These easy one-bowl cocoa powder brownies are as easy as boxed mix brownies, but they taste so much better!
Box brownie mix is the star of the box mix section. Mix brownies are one dessert that homemade brownies always try to copy.
Even though the flavor can be a little lacking, box mix brownies have that amazing chewy/fudgy texture and perfect, shiny brownie crust that make them so incredible.
These scratch brownies take that amazing chewy/fudgy texture and add rich chocolate flavor. They’re so tasty that you’ll never want to make box brownies again!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Butter: I use salted butter. If you’re using unsalted butter, increase the salt by 1/4 teaspoon. You can melt the butter by placing it in a large, microwave-safe bowl and microwaving for about 40 seconds. Stir until completely melted.
- Brown sugar: Light or dark brown sugar will work.
- All-purpose flour: I highly recommend weighing the flour for the most accurate measurements (click on “metric” just above the ingredients for the weights). You can also stir or sift the flour, lightly spoon it into the measuring cup, and level. Be careful to avoid packing the flour as that will give you dry or cakey brownies.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: I’ve only used unsweetened cocoa powder and haven’t tried using Dutch-process cocoa powder in this recipe.
- Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips: You can substitute another type of chocolate chip. Please don’t skip the chocolate chips, through, because they help the brownies to form the crust on top.
How to make better than box mix brownies
Here you’ll find step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full, including ingredients, is given below.
If you aren’t familiar with baking brownies, check out my how to make brownies post for tons of tips and info that will help you make the best brownies.
Step 1: Whisk the butter, sugars, and vanilla together until well-combined.
Step 2: Whisk in the eggs one at a time until combined.
Step 3: Add the flour, cocoa powder, and salt to the butter and sugar mixture. Whisk just until combined. There’s no need to beat the batter – whisking it just until the ingredients are incorporated is sufficient. The batter should be thick and smooth.
Step 4: Fold in the chocolate chips, and pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan.
Step 5: Bake until a toothpick in the center comes out with fudgy crumbs attached. Wet batter means that the brownies aren’t done cooking. No crumbs means the brownies are over-baked. Just a few fudgy crumbs is perfect.
Step 6: Let the brownies cool in the pan before cutting and serving.
Recipe Tips!
- Checking for doneness: These brownies will have a thin, shiny crust on top. They’ll be set at the edges and still look a little fudgy in the middle. When a wooden toothpick is inserted in the center, it should come out with just a few moist crumbs attached. If you bake the brownies until the toothpick comes out clean, the brownies won’t be as moist and fudgy.
- Add-ins: Feel free to stir in add-ins like chopped nuts along with the mini chocolate chips.
Recipe FAQs
These brownies fall somewhere between chewy and fudgy. They have a thin, shiny crust like box mix brownies, but they also have rich chocolate flavor.
You don’t! The vanilla helps to enhance the chocolate flavor, but you can reduce the amount to 1 teaspoon if you prefer.
Storage
I like to store brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator because it helps to make them chewier and fudgier. It also makes them last a little longer.
If stored in the fridge, the brownies will keep for up to 4 or 5 days. If stored, covered, at room temperature, the brownies will keep 2-3 days.
More brownie recipes!
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Better Than Box Mix Brownie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter melted
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour weighed or properly measured1
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish. Set aside.
- Stir together the butter, sugars, and vanilla in a large bowl until well-combined.
- Stir in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each, until thoroughly blended.
- Add the flour, cocoa powder, and salt in a bowl. Stir in until just incorporated.
- Mix in the chocolate morsels.
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake 20-35 minutes. The edges should look dry and set, but there should still have fudgy crumbs but not wet batter when a toothpick is inserted in the middle.
- Cool in the pan to room temperature before cutting.
Video
Notes
- To avoid packing in the flour (and ending up with dry brownies), sift or stir the flour. Then lightly spoon it into the measuring cup. Avoid tamping it down or packing it in. Level the flour off with a butter knife.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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Originally published 8/26/16.
Reader Interactions
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Comments & Reviews
Tera says
OBSESSED! Exactly what I’ve been needing in my life
Suzanne says
Easy to put together ❤️
Kate says
Thank you!
Genevieve says
Fabulous. Was a bit suspicious about no leavening agent, but they are fudgy and delish!
Kate says
Thank you!
T.M. says
If tripling the recipe in a glass dish, how long do the brownies take to cook?
Kate says
Hi! I don’t have any glass pans that would hold a triple batch of this recipe, so I’m not sure how long that would take. I will say that with a glass pan, I decrease the oven temperature by 25F and begin checking for doneness about 5 minutes sooner.
Genevieve says
I made a 1/2 batch in a 7×10 inch ceramic dish and they were done by 23-24 minutes at the 350 F temp. totally delish.
Kate says
Thank you for sharing that!
Alice Edwards says
I would’ve given five stars, but my phone wouldn’t let me. I would give ten stars!
Kate says
Thank you! I appreciate that!
Alice Edwards says
Just made these and they are wonderful. I usually have a box in the pantry for when the grandchildren come over, but I didn’t today and I felt like I would go nuts without some chocolate. Thank you for wonderful recipe!
Kate says
Thank you so much!
Tamara Jenkins says
The family loved these brownies and it was super easy to make with ingredients you should have in your pantry that makes it so convenient!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad that they were a hit!
Roxanne says
Great recipe! I added a cup of mint chocolate chips in place of the chocolate chips, and it was so good!
Kate says
Thank you!