For many baked goods, homemade is best. There’s nothing quite like a from-scratch chocolate chip cookie or flaky apple pie. But for brownies, a box is sometimes best. Boxed brownie mixes are a foolproof way to achieve the perfect fudgy texture and chocolate flavor. But which brand makes the best pan? We put six well-known mixes to the test.
The 6 Brownie Mixes We Tried
To test the brownie mixes, each was baked in the Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen according to package directions in 9×9-inch square pans and sampled once they had cooled. We evaluated the mixes using a scale of 1 (terrible) to 5 (exceptional) on flavor, texture, appearance, and aroma.
- Store Brand: Hy-Vee Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix
- Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix
- Ghirardelli Ultimate Chocolate Brownie Mix
- Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix
- Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix
- Bob’s Red Mill Brownie Baking Mix
Grant Webster
Store Brand: Hy-Vee Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix
Additional Ingredients Required: 1/4 cup water, 2/3 cup vegetable oil, 2 eggs
Tasting Notes: We wanted to include our local grocery store brand brownie mix to see how it stacked up against the nationally distributed brands. While this box made a decent brownie, nothing about it stood out against the others we tried. This mix fell a little flat on taste. One commenter wished it had a bit more chocolate flavor. Where this mix shined was texture. The baked brownies were soft with the perfect amount of chew.
Our Verdict: Many of us thought this boxed mix was on par with the name brands. One reviewer thought it was “super similar.” Don’t overlook the store brands when shopping for baking mixes; often they’re just as good as the more recognized brands.
Grant Webster
Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix
Additional Ingredients Required: 3 Tbsp. water, 2/3 cup vegetable oil, 2 eggs
Tasting Notes: When tasting this brownie mix, a few things stood out. First, this pan had the perfect crinkly brownie top texture. Next, tasters gave it good scores for the sweetness level. A couple of tasters didn’t love the artificial chocolate flavor and wished it had more rich cocoa notes.
Our Verdict: If you prefer a brownie that’s equal parts fudgy and cakey, this is the mix for you. This mix earned top scores for texture and appearance, with two of our tasters giving it “exceptional” marks for texture. Our tasters liked the look of the crinkly top and crisp edges.
Grant Webster
Ghirardelli Ultimate Chocolate Brownie Mix
Additional Ingredients Required: 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1 egg
Tasting Notes: Our recipe testers found that this brownie mix had a very fudgy texture with pieces of chocolate throughout. It has good chocolate flavor, and the chocolate chips add a nice burst of chocolate to each bite. While some tasters loved the texture, others felt it was “too dense” and stuck to their teeth.
Our Verdict: This brownie mix is best served warm. Once warmed, the brownie had a much better chocolate flavor and chewy texture. This is a great option if you want to make the ultimate brownie sundae. All that’s missing is the vanilla ice cream and hot fudge sauce.
Grant Webster
Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix
Additional Ingredients Required: 1/4 cup water, 2/3 cup vegetable oil, 2 eggs
Tasting Notes: This brownie mix had the most comments about its chewy texture. It was the least fudgy of the bunch, and many commenters felt it was very “chewy and cake-like.” Aside from the consistency, many of our tasters liked the sweetness but wanted a bit more chocolate flavor.
Our Verdict: For some tasters, the texture of these brownies was a home run. One reviewer gave it a 6 out of 5 for texture. For others, it was too thick and gummy. If you like a chewy brownie, grab this mix next time you’re at the grocery store.
Grant Webster
Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix
Additional Ingredients Required: 2 Tbsp. water, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 2 eggs
Tasting Notes: If you’re looking for a classic brownie, this mix earned solid marks across the board for flavor, texture, and appearance. Commenters loved the chocolate flavor and “amazing” texture. It was most often commented that this brownie reminded our reviewers of the treats they ate as kids.
Our Verdict: Cue the nostalgia! This is a basic brownie mix that hits on both taste and texture. The finished brownies have a sweet milk chocolate flavor and fudgy, chewy texture. They’re everything we want in a boxed brownie.
Grant Webster
Bob’s Red Mill Brownie Baking Mix
Additional Ingredients Required: 1 Tbsp. water, 1/2 cup melted butter, 2 eggs
Tasting Notes: Our recipe testers liked the balance of sweet and salty flavors in the baked brownies. This mix also earned raves for its “very fudgy texture.” The butter adds a richness that some of the other brownies didn’t have. One comment went so far as to call the finished dessert “very buttery.” A few commenters did feel these brownies were a bit on the sweet side but loved the chocolate flavor.
Our Verdict: This brownie mix scored best in the texture category. Every single taster rated it as “really good” or higher on our scale. If you prefer sweet fudge-like brownies this is the mix for you. Adding butter gives the finished squares a richness that our tasters loved. This box was the favorite of the day, and many of our tasters currently have a package of it at home for any time a chocolate craving hits.
