The Simple Upgrades That Make Boxed Brownies Style Bakery-Worthy

Whereas brownies created from scratch are scrumptious in their very own proper, for me, boxed brownies will all the time reign supreme. They’re simple and dependable, and—opposite to different fast alternate options, like canned soup, which are chosen extra for comfort than taste—are literally fairly equal to their do-it-yourself counterparts. Generally there’s a longing for a fudgy brownie with a shiny high that solely a field of Duncan Hines or Ghirardelli can fulfill.

However whereas I’m loyal to boxed brownies, there are many occasions that decision for taking the batter to the subsequent stage. Whether or not you need to convey them over to a good friend’s home, or simply make film evening a little bit extra particular, sprucing up a field of brownie batter is an extremely easy activity. I’ve my very own methods for doing this, and I additionally know my colleagues do, too. Listed here are our favourite suggestions for elevating the boxed brownies you already like to a stage you didn’t even assume was attainable.

Fruits and Nuts

Fruits and nuts are nice for introducing extra taste and texture to your brownies. With regards to nuts, you may attain for no matter you will have in your pantry—salted, candied, or in any other case. “After I make brownies or blondies, I like so as to add toasted nuts for additional crunch and taste,” says senior editor Genevieve. “Any nut will do, however my favorites are pecans and walnuts.” Be at liberty to cut them up and blend them into the batter, or add them on high for much more visible attraction. 

Candied fruit like orange peel, ginger, or pineapple are nice for additional sweetness and chew. When mixing in preserved or contemporary fruits, Genevieve recommends tossing them in a little bit of flour earlier than incorporating into the batter to forestall them from sinking to the underside. Some stem ginger in syrup would even be an exquisite addition.  

Spices and Salts

Spices and salts can actually remodel the general taste of a brownie. Chile powder is legendary for pairing properly with chocolate, so you can begin by including a small quantity—about 1/2 teaspoon—and adjusting to your liking. Cinnamon and cardamom are additionally glorious pairings (and identified mates of chocolate!). If utilizing a flaky sea salt like Maldon, pour your brownie batter into the pan first after which end it off with an excellent sprinkling excessive of the batter for additional crunch and textural distinction.

Candy, Savory, and Boozy

Swirling in new elements doesn’t simply add taste, it might probably additionally give your brownies a fantastically marbled look. It’s additionally simple to seek out new and creative taste combos simply by wanting in your pantry. Strive pastes like pistachio or nut butters, tahini, and even jams. Caramel is one other nice choice, together with cajeta or dulce de leche. “Brownies are all the time higher with caramel, and a fast caramel sauce swirled into the batter with a sprinkle of salt provides excessive decadence to the bizarre,” says former commerce author Jesse Raub.

Sprinkles are an easy swap-in (and ones that kids will especially love), which you can either incorporate into the batter or sprinkle on top before baking. If you’re a fan of brittle, you can easily crush or chop it up and mix it into the batter. And if you want something savory, ingredients like crushed up potato chips or pretzels also work well flavor-wise while simultaneously adding an element of texture. 

Another easy (if perhaps less common) option is incorporating sweetened cheeses like cream cheese or mascarpone. When going this route, Genevieve notes the importance of straining the cheese if it’s on the wet side (i.e. ricotta), or you’ll end up introducing unwanted moisture.

Some of our team’s favorite ways to spruce up brownie batter involve using flavor enhancers like malted milk powder, browned butter, and high-quality vanilla (either extract or from the bean). 

“I’ll never forget when [former Serious Eats editor] Stella instructed me that malted milk powder is mainly the umami bomb of the baking world—a taste enhancer that maximizes candy meals in deliciously butterscotchy methods,” says our editorial director, Daniel. “To that finish, spiking a brownie combine with some malted milk powder seems like a professional transfer for a refined increase. In keeping with Stella, you may add it to most desserts with out throwing off the remainder of the recipe, making it a straightforward add-in.” 

Former Severe Eats editor Jake Dean likes to go the browned butter route. “My spouse Andrea is the baker in our home, and our mates usually request she make brown butter blondies,” he says. “I feel utilizing browned butter rather than common melted butter provides an intriguing high quality to simple baked items, and could be a good way so as to add nuance and depth to store-bought brownie combine.” Genevieve notes that since water evaporates once you brown butter, you might want so as to add a little bit extra browned butter than what the field requires with common butter. 

One last tip that shouldn’t be missed? A splash of a darkish liquor like bourbon or rum is an easy and boozy approach to spherical out the wealthy chocolate taste of a boxed brownie. Maybe the most important query left to reply is which trick you will attempt first!

March 2023