A box of pre-made brownie mix can deliver a world of sweet possibilities.
Brownies made from scratch aren’t all that tricky to make, but a box of brownie mix can easily cut your work time in half and open you up to plenty of new creative experiments. All you need to add to the box mix are eggs, water and oil, so no need to go digging through your pantry cupboards for flour, cocoa, baking powder or other made-from-scratch ingredients. That little bit of time saved can mean the difference between fulfilling those last-minute brownie cravings or foregoing brownies all together.
When making brownies is just that easy, you can spend more of your time thinking of creative ways to make your brownies more interesting. Use the box brownie mix as a blank canvas for your favorite sweet additions, or try incorporating the mix into a different recipe.
There’s really so much you can do with a simple box of brownie mix, so why limit yourself to a simple brownie? Here are some of our favorite additions to brownie mixes that will instantly elevate your ooey-gooey brownie game.
What you can make with a brownie mix
Cheesecake brownies
No need to continue on down the list, because these cheesecake brownies are the epitome of brownie deliciousness. All you’ll need are some eggs, cream cheese, sugar and vanilla, and you’ve got yourself a tried-and-true dessert that’s just the right amount of sweet and creamy.
Here’s a recipe for cheesecake brownies that are sure to impress anyone who tries them.
Irish cream brownies
Boozy brownies, here we come!
Add a little espresso and some extra chocolate chips to your brownie mix before baking to create a rich, coffee-flavored fudge base. Then, to top it all off, whip up a quick Bailey’s buttercream and lather it onto the brownie base. Finally, top it all off with some crushed chocolate-covered espresso beans, and you got yourself a luxurious treat that tastes like a hundred dollars!
Here’s a recipe for Baileys Irish Cream brownies that you’re sure to love.
Waffle iron brownies
Why stop at plain old square brownies when you have a waffle iron at your disposal? Mix a box brownie mix with a few extra eggs, then bake in a well-greased waffle iron until cooked through! Top with ice cream, Maraschino cherries, caramel sauce or whatever you fancy for a fun and unique take on two basic desserts.
Here’s a specific recipe you can use to make waffle iron brownies!
Banana brownie sticky toffee puddings
With just a few ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry, you can turn a box of brownie mix into a proper pudding that’s extremely elegant but oh-so-easy.
This pudding is served in small individual glasses or jars, and topped with ice cream and crushed toffee candy bars. All you need to do is layer the brownie and sticky toffee sauce in the jars, top with the ice cream and candy bars, and voila!
The sauce can keep for a few days in the fridge, so this dessert is perfect for whipping up quickly to satisfy those late-night munchies.
Chocolate Bundt cake
If you’re looking for a moist, decadent and rich chocolate cake without too much hassle, then give this chocolate Bundt cake recipe a go! It used a package of box brownie mix and a package of box chocolate cake mix, so all you’ll need to add are some extra sweeteners, some chocolate (as if there wasn’t enough already!) and whatever decorations you’d like. The cake turns out beautifully airy with a smooth and silky taste that’s sure to please.
Get creative with your decorations, especially because this flavorful bake is perfect for any occasion or time of year.
Instant pot peppermint brownie cake
When you hear that an instant pot can cook anything, it really does mean anything. Including, apparently, a peppermint brownie cake!
If you have a few extra candy canes lying around after Christmas, or have a craving for something fresh and festive, then this cake is the perfect way to incorporate the colorful candy into a fun dessert. Just toss some peppermint extract into the batter before baking, then decorate with crushed peppermint candies and some white chocolate.
All in all, the cake needs less than 30 minutes to bake before you can cool and decorate it, which is no time at all! That’s why they’re called instant pots, right?
Try out this recipe for instant pot peppermint brownie cakes here!
Berry brownie pizza
If you add fruit to brownies they become healthy, right?
Bake the brownie mix on a pizza pan rather than a brownie tin to make a large, circular brownie. Top with a cream cheese spread and sprinkle on some fresh berries, almonds and mint leaves for a tangy twist on a classic box brownie.
Peanut butter brownie trifle
Feeding a crowd is easy with this massive peanut butter brownie trifle.
The dish is extremely easy to make but tastes amazing once completed. Layer baked brownie pieces with peanut butter-vanilla pudding, peanut butter chips and miniature peanut butter cups in a large glass bowl, then top with leftover brownie crumbles, extra candies or a fudgy sauce of your liking!
The best part about trifles like this is that they are entirely customizable according to your taste, so get creative!
Here’s the recipe for this peanut butter brownie trifle!
Caramel fudge cheesecake
Who needs graham cracker cheesecake bases when you could use a brownie mix instead? This decadent recipe creates a smooth caramel cheesecake with plenty of fudgy goodness on the base, and with a few chopped pecans and chocolate flakes topping it off, this dessert will be too good to share!
Enjoy, and happy baking!
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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/silviarita
Colleen Ford is a South African who now lives on Oahu in Hawai'i. She loves to travel, camp, spearfish and hike. She's also part of a super cool canoe club and is pretty decent at it. Colleen enjoys Star Wars and also not being cold ever.
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