topic Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES in Recipes

THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 23:04:56 GMT

I cook meals, but rarely bake anything anymore.

(Hot ovens in a warm climate ... you get the idea.)

One of the food newsletters I get had a taste test of 12 boxed brownie mixes and gave ratings. I had no idea there was so much difference in the finished product!

No link, but serious eats dot com if you want to review their results.

(Spoiler Alert: The top rating went to

Ghirardelli Ultimate Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix)

Anyway, I wondered ....

is baking brownies from a mix too much of a baking sacrilege? Or a great time-saving convenience?

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

PinkyPetunia — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 23:17:49 GMT

I have made Ghirardelli brownie mix and it is very good.

I don't bake much but when I do it is from a box mix. Brownies from scratch is too fiddly for me. I tried melting chocolate ages ago and it was a grainy clumpy mess. Never was tempted to make a pie or cheesecake. Why bother with the mess when I can easily purchase from many stores?

I speak for myself only.

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

Etoile308 — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 23:18:57 GMT

@Tinkrbl44, a great tasty time-saving convenience.

I had a feeling I knew who the top rated would be before finishing your post, because I concur.

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 23:23:43 GMT

@Etoile308 wrote:
@Tinkrbl44, a great tasty time-saving convenience.

I had a feeling I knew who the top rated would be before finishing your post, because I concur.

@Etoile308

I'm going to try that one soon.

IMO, there's just about nothing better than a delicious slightly-warm brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Yum.

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

Ainhisg — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 23:39:12 GMT

Look up the recipe for Katherine Hepburn brownies. I read about them here on the forums. I'll never make a mix again. Best brownies I've ever had.

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

GingerHead — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 01:12:32 GMT

@Tinkrbl44

YES! The Dark chocolate with the chocolate chips has been my secret recipe for years. I can't make brownies any better any other way, including from scratch. I've tried....not possible.

My favorite way to make them is with peanut butter fudge frosting using sweetened condensed milk, butter and peanut butter, oh yum!

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

deepwaterdotter — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 23:52:37 GMT

If I'm not in the mood for scratch, Ghirardelli is the best. It's the dark chocolate that makes them so good.

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

Sooner — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 00:17:10 GMT

@Ainhisg wrote:
Look up the recipe for Katherine Hepburn brownies. I read about them here on the forums. I'll never make a mix again. Best brownies I've ever had.

@Ainhisg It might be from me! I have been on the boards since the 1990's and making those brownies since! I just love them and always have the ingredients and they are made in one pot easy peasy then put in the baking pan!

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

Snowpuppy — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 00:32:58 GMT

Last box of Ghiradelli I purchased was double chocolate? Chocolate with chocolate chips.

Was the driest, most crumbly brownie I've ever baked.🤐

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 01:15:32 GMT

@GingerHead wrote:
@Tinkrbl44
YES! The Dark chocolate with the chocolate chips has been my secret recipe for years. I can't make brownies any better any other way, including from scratch. I've tried....not possible.

My favorite way to make them is with peanut butter frosting using sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter, oh yum!

@GingerHead

Frosting ???? I hadn't even thought of frosting!

I'm going to eat them au naturel, and maybe with a few chopped walnuts thrown in for good measure.

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

Starpolisher — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 01:52:38 GMT

"(Spoiler Alert: The top rating went to

Ghirardelli Ultimate Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix)"

Absolutely, The Best! 😋

YUMMY! 😋

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

GingerHead — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 01:53:14 GMT

@Tinkrbl44

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@GingerHead wrote:
@Tinkrbl44
YES! The Dark chocolate with the chocolate chips has been my secret recipe for years. I can't make brownies any better any other way, including from scratch. I've tried....not possible.

My favorite way to make them is with peanut butter frosting using sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter, oh yum!

@GingerHead

Frosting ???? I hadn't even thought of frosting!

I'm going to eat them au naturel, and maybe with a few chopped walnuts thrown in for good measure.

Au naturel??....Oh no you don't!

You haven't lived until you've eaten these brownies with THIS frosting:

1 C. Peanut butter
½ C. Butter
1 Can sweetened condensed milk

While the brownies are baking, add the butter and peanut butter to a saucepan over medium low heat. Whisk to combine until the mixture is completely melted and smooth.
Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the sweetened condensed milk.
Pour the mixture over the brownies and let cool until set completely.
You can thank me later! Haha

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

dimin — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 03:40:21 GMT

i vote for Duncan Hines.

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

on the bay — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:16:27 GMT

@dimin wrote:
i vote for Duncan Hines.

@dimin,

I was going to say that too

My sil made brownies with that and to me they were just the way they should be.

I actually don't like Ghiradelli brwonies or candy.

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

Suzeecat — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 13:47:19 GMT

Agree with the Ghirardelli mix, whch I get at Costco. Funny story, years ago we had a "tradition" in my office of bringing in treats for co-workers' birthdays. I always brought brownies, made from Ghirardelli mix. Another co-worker also brought brownies, and it was an ongoing debate as to which brownies were the favorite. It was pretty equally mixed between mine and the other brownies. After a couple years, I had a convo with the "other" brownie baker and said "I don't know what all the fuss is about, I just make the Ghirardelli mix", and she said that she did the same! The difference was she added chopped nuts and I sprinkled powdered sugar on mine. Otherwise, they were the SAME!

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

wagirl — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 14:22:46 GMT

I use boxed mix too, don't have a favorite really--I like cakey ones and DD likes fudgy ones and you can do either one according to the instructions on the box. I have baked brownies from scratch--not much of difference in taste, IMO. Lots more time involved.

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

cindyNC — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 14:26:29 GMT

Ghiradelli for me.........taken out of the oven while still gooey, sugar free for the BF with walnuts added and cooked all the way through.

The Ghiradelli has a packet of liquid chocolate in it.

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

Melzie — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:44:24 GMT

@PinkyPetunia wrote:
I have made Ghirardelli brownie mix and it is very good.

I don't bake much but when I do it is from a box mix. Brownies from scratch is too fiddly for me. I tried melting chocolate ages ago and it was a grainy clumpy mess. Never was tempted to make a pie or cheesecake. Why bother with the mess when I can easily purchase from many stores?

I speak for myself only.

I agree with you. Years ago I used to make cheesecake from scratch. When I think of all the time and ingredients involved I can't help but wonder, "what was I thinking?" The ingredients cost more than a store bought cheesecake! While I do have a price limit as to how much I'd pay for store bought cheesecake today, that is definitely the way to go for me now. 🍰

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

jackthebear — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 16:10:09 GMT

Hershey brownie recipe is very good and easy

Re: THE BEST BOXED BROWNIE MIXES

beckyb1012 — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 16:51:17 GMT

For cakes I am Duncan Hines hands down, but for brownies Pillsbury Fudge brownies. I have tried the pricey ones but Pillsbury is the best for me. The key to great brownies do not over bake for even a second.