Sometimes nothing sounds better than a warm, chocolatey brownie fresh out of the oven! Making brownies from scratch is great, but there are plenty of boxed mixes like Ghirardelli, Betty Crocker, and Krusteaz that taste delicious and are much easier and quicker to make!
We’ve combed through reviews to find the best brownie mixes whether you’re looking for a decadent dessert or something a little healthier. One of our favorites is Ghirardelli's Triple Fudge Premium Brownie Mix, which yields brownies that are full of chocolate flavor and extremely decadent and taste just like homemade brownies. Take a look at our list of favorites for more then check out our buying guide full of tips to help you find the perfect brownie mix!
Quick List - Top Brownie Mixes
Duncan Hines
Best for the Rich and Moist Texture
Betty Crocker
Best Simple Fudgy Brownies
Jim Quast (JQ) is a lifelong professional restaurant and corporate R&D chef who loves everything food-related and the tools, both big and small, to make those great food memories. He's a super huge BBQ, grill, and kitchen gadget fanatic. JQ has spent the last 30+ years trying to figure out what works to make your kitchen life easier and fun. If you can use it to slice it, dice it, cook it, smoke it, or store it, he's been there checking it out. Food = Life!
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When choosing a brownie mix, the first step is to decide what's most important to you. Are you seeking the most decadent chocolate flavor, or are you looking to snack a little healthier? Let's take a closer look at these attributes to help you choose.
Everyone knows brownies are made of chocolate, but nowadays you have many options for the kind of chocolate. If you aren’t keen on overly sweet desserts, look for a mix that uses dark or semi-sweet chocolate. The slightly bitter taste won’t overwhelm you! If you have a sweet tooth, milk chocolate’s mild taste will hit the spot.
Classic brownies are simply chocolate, but you can find mixes that add other tasty ingredients like nuts, caramel, or sea salt! You can always add your own mix-ins to take your batch of brownies up a notch. Some people even frost brownies for an extra kick of sweetness.
If you're looking for more creative ways to bulk up or change the texture of your brownies, then you can take a look through reviews and recipes for specifics. Sometimes baking for longer can make brownies crispier on the outside, and sometimes the addition of butter rather than canola oil can yield a fudgier texture.
Brownie mix isn't limited to just making brownies, either, so there are limitless possibilities for baking, taste, and texture with small adjustments and a good recipe! Just make sure you know what kind of sweet, chocolatey flavor you're going for before purchasing a mix to adjust.
Brownie lovers tend to fall into two camps: those who prefer moist, fudgy brownies and those who like a less dense, cake-like brownie. If you like denser brownies, look for mixes that use butter or oil. These ingredients will add moisture and richness! Brownies that have a higher fat-to-flour ratio tend to be fudgy.
If you like more cake-like brownies, look at the ratio of dry to wet ingredients. Brownies that don’t require added oil or have a higher ratio of flour may give you a cake-like texture. Some brownie mixes even come with instructions on how to make both cake-like brownies and fudgy brownies.
Besides the mix, brownies usually require other ingredients like oil or sometimes even flavorings. The baking time may differ, and pan size can also matter. Some of these do depend on your preferences, so make sure to check the section below for more advice on specifics!
Brownie mixes all require extra ingredients to make. Typically, you’ll need water, oil, and eggs. Some mixes may require other ingredients, like butter or yogurt. Make sure you have the necessary ingredients and that they fit your dietary restrictions and preferences.
If you try to avoid added oil or don’t eat eggs, double-check the recipe and nutrition panel or consider substitutes. And if you want to use vegan eggs, make sure they work for the recipe! Some mixes cannot use substitutes, but the manufacturer will state it on their product listing or reviewers will mention this.
Make sure the size of the mix is suitable for you as well. Check the box to see how many brownies you can expect to get from one box. Your average grocery store boxed mix is around 18 ounces, but some specialty mixes can be half that size.
If you’re baking a bunch of brownies for an event, take a look at the number of servings per box so you know how many boxes to buy. Note that many mixes tend to make up to 16 brownies per box, but make sure to double-check in case the mix can make more or less.
Most brownie mix boxes also recommend a specific pan size, but you may prefer a different size, depending on what pan you have on hand or how thick you like your brownies. For example, pans with smaller dimensions, like eight by eight inches, will give you thicker brownies. If you use a different sized pan, remember to adjust the baking time accordingly.
Likewise, baking time may be a factor you'd like to consider, as well. Though baking mixes can all look the same, the time needed to bake in just the recommended pan size can vary by 10 or more minutes depending on the mix, so you'll want to check this if you want to dig into that chocolatey goodness just that little bit faster.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix | ![]() | Best Chocolatey Brownies to Satisfy Chocolate Fanatics | |
2 | Duncan Hines Chocolate Walnut Brownie Mix | ![]() | Currently unavailable | Best for the Rich and Moist Texture |
3 | Simple Mills Almond Flour Brownie Baking Mix | ![]() | Best for the Simple and Natural Ingredients | |
4 | Krusteaz Gluten Free Double Chocolate Brownie Mix | ![]() | Best for the Soft and Moist Texture | |
5 | Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix | ![]() | Currently unavailable | Best Simple Fudgy Brownies |
6 | Good Dee's Sugar Free Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix | ![]() | Best Sugar-Free Brownies For People Limiting Sugar Intake | |
7 | Foodstirs Grain Free Organic Brownie Mix | ![]() | Best Organic Brownie Mix With a Delicious Touch of Sea Salt | |
8 | King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Fudge Brownie Mix | ![]() | Best Gluten-Free Brownies That Taste Just Like Regular Ones | |
9 | No Pudge! Fat Free Original Fudge Brownie Mix | ![]() | Best for the Zero-Fat Content | |
10 | HighKey Keto Chocolate Chip Fudge Brownie Food Mix | ![]() | Best for People Following a Keto Diet |
Pros:
Cons:
Ghiradelli is known for its smooth chocolate, and its boxed brownie mix is no exception! This mix has triple the chocolate of your average brownie mix for an intense, rich flavor. Even better, semi-sweet chocolate chips add an extra burst of flavor to each bite.
A few unhappy reviewers found the texture a bit too gooey for their preferences. However, happy buyers said this brownie mix had an intensely decadent chocolate flavor and was perfect for chocolate fanatics. They recommended adding nuts to kick it up a notch. Some reviewers even said these didn't taste like they were from a boxed mix at all!
With this baking mix from Duncan Hines, you'll be able to bake some decadent dark chocolate brownies. It's easy to make as well, requiring only three ingredients: eggs, water, and vegetable oil. Also, you can change the number of eggs depending on what texture you want your brownies to have. Mix in one egg if you want fudgy brownies, and two eggs if you want cakey brownies.
Some buyers followed the recipe and thought the brownies turned out a bit too oily. However, the majority of reviewers loved how moist these brownies were. They were also a fan of the flavor and the richness and suggested adding chopped nuts or fruits for extra flavor.
You won't have to struggle to understand the ingredient list on this box of gluten-free brownie mix! There are only eight simple, whole ingredients, including Dutch cocoa powder, sea salt, and coconut sugar. At just nine grams per serving, they're also low in sugar, are plant-based, and contain no artificial flavorings.
Some reviewers found the texture from the almond flour to be a little grainy. On another note, many others liked that it's made with almond flour and was low in carbs. Happy reviewers loved that the sweetness wasn't overwhelming as well and further mentioned that making brownies with this mix was super easy.
Sometimes gluten-free sweets have a bad reputation for being gritty or tasteless. That's not true at all! This brownie mix uses rice flour and a heavy dose of chocolate chips to yield dense, chewy, and decadent brownies. If you like using brownie mix to make other baked goods, this is also perfect to use for cookies and other gluten-free treats.
A couple of reviewers said the brownies were too sweet. However, most reviewers said these gluten-free brownies had a rich chocolatey taste. The fudgy, moist, and soft texture was another bonus point for many.
This classic mix from Betty Crocker is a childhood favorite! It has a clean chocolate flavor and a moist, fudgy texture that will satisfy your craving. It's easy to prepare as well. You'll just need to mix in water, oil, and eggs, and then bake for a little over half an hour to get yummy, chocolatey perfection.
A few reviewers thought the chocolatey taste left a little to be desired. But the majority of reviewers said these were a family hit and an easy treat to make. Buyers also loved the gooey, fudgy texture.
If you're looking to reduce your sugar intake or are diabetic, these sugar-free brownies are perfect when you're craving dessert! Good Dee's uses erythritol and stevia extract to sweeten their chocolate fudge brownie mix. What's more, it's made with sunflower seed flour and has a high fiber content.
A few reviewers disliked the sweeteners used in this baking mix and said it had a cooling sensation. But many buyers, including those with diabetes, were happy they found a sugar-free and low-carb baking mix. They further mentioned that the brownies had a soft and moist texture.
If you are looking for a healthy brownie mix, this product might fit the bill! It's certified organic by the USDA and contains no artificial ingredients. Each serving also contains 16 grams of sugar and is 25 percent less sweet than other regular baking mixes. The chocolate chips are fair trade, too.
A few buyers mention that the brownies are not sweet enough. On the other hand, many reviewers like that the brownies are healthy, made from clean and organic ingredients, and have a balanced salty, sweet taste. They also praise the texture, saying it's fluffy. Many find the instructions straightforward and easy to understand as well.
These brownies are made from their popular gluten-free flour and pack a huge cocoa flavor. Even if you aren't gluten-free, you won't be missing out on taste or texture. The standard recipe makes fudgy brownies, but the instructions also include substitutions for cakey and dairy-free versions.
A couple of buyers warn that this brownie mix contains extra iron and might cause digestive issues. But overall, reviewers love the chocolatey flavor and fudgy texture of these brownies. Some reviewers even prefer these to traditional wheat flour brownies! If you want to make fudgier, intense brownies, you can add chocolate chips and nuts.
This brownie mix is fat-free and has 100 percent natural ingredients. The founder developed a recipe with rich Dutch cocoa for decadence and nonfat yogurt for moisture so you can enjoy these treats guilt-free! Each box in this six-pack makes up to 16 brownies.
A handful of reviewers complain of shipping issues, including damaged boxes and leaking bags. But happy customers can't believe this mix is actually fat-free and report that the treats still taste like they are made from traditional brownie mixes! Plus, they like that the box includes an easy recipe for individual mug brownies made in the microwave.
If you're looking to cut down on carbs or follow a ketogenic diet, these chewy brownies will hit the spot. One serving has only two grams of net carbs! Plus, there's no added sugar, and the mix is naturally sweetened with stevia and monk fruit extract. It also has five grams of fiber per serving and you can even use vegan eggs to prepare the mix.
Some reviewers do notice a slight aftertaste from the natural sweeteners, while a few others find the brownies too sweet. However, the majority compliment the rich, deep flavor and addition of the chocolate chips in the batter. Many say these are some of their favorite low-carb desserts to make!
Craving something delicious besides brownies? Check out these yummy treats that taste great and will give you a whole new range of flavors!
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Ghirardelli|Double Chocolate Brownie Mix
No. 2: Duncan Hines |Chocolate Walnut Brownie Mix
No. 3: Simple Mills |Almond Flour Brownie Baking Mix
No. 4: Krusteaz |Gluten Free Double Chocolate Brownie Mix
No. 5: Betty Crocker |Fudge Brownie Mix
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