Taste of Home
If you’re looking for a decadent but easy dessert to whip up for a weeknight (or anytime really), you can never go wrong with a pan of homemade brownies. But let’s get real: When you’re having a serious chocolate craving, you need something fast and satisfying. That’s where snagging the best brownie mix comes in.
But do you really know which brand is the fudgiest? The chocolatiest? The most tempting? That’s where our Test Kitchen comes in!
You can thank us later for these tips and tricks to make box brownies better.
How We Tested Brownie Mixes
ⓘ
While sampling brownie mixes is a pretty fun job, our Test Kitchen takes it seriously! Our team did their research and purchased nine popular brownie mix brands, then prepped each exactly according to the package instructions. Once baked and cooled, our pros tested these nine brownies in a blind sampling, all the while keeping these criteria in mind:
- Chocolate flavor:Â How did the brownies taste? Were they super chocolaty? Was the chocolate deep and dark or sweet like milk chocolate? Were there any chocolate chips stirred into the mix? Was the chocolate of good quality?
- Texture:Â What was the texture of the brownies like? Chewy? Fudge-like? Cakey?
- Appearance:Â Did the brownies look appetizing? Were they a dark chocolate shade? Lighter in color? Did the top look delicate and crackly?
Our Test Kitchen-Preferred Brownie Mix Brands
Taste of Home
Our team sampled plenty of brownies (there were only a few crumbs left!) and these were the brands that earned top marks.
Best Overall Brownie Mix: Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix
Taste of Home
When you want a delicious brownie for a baking emergency—or just to treat yourself—look no further than a box of Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownies.
These fudgy brownies were packed with that Ghirardelli chocolate flavor that so many of us love. They tasted of rich cocoa and the generous amount of chocolate chips in the mix really make these brownies feel like a special treat. For those of you that love the edges and corner pieces—you’ll be pleased with these brownies. The edges were oh-so chewy with a very slight crispness around the very edge.
And when it comes to the appearance, our Test Kitchen squad loved the crackled top on these brownies. There’s something about that texture that just invites you to dive right in (a scoop of vanilla ice cream, though, would be a welcome addition).
Shop Now
Best for Dark Chocolate Lovers: King Arthur Baking Company Brownie Mix
Taste of Home
For some, the darker the chocolate, the better the brownie. If that sounds like you, you must try King Arthur Baking Company Brownie Mix.
This super moist brownie had the deepest dark chocolate flavor of any brownie option our team tried. It was rich and the texture really felt fudgy—something truly decadent to enjoy after a long day.
Because of this dark chocolate taste and not-so-sweet flavor, our Test Kitchen team suggests that you bake up a box of King Arthur Baking Company brownies for your next book club or adults-only shindig. The depth of flavor and lack of sugar might not be as appealing to kids.
Shop Now
Best Cakey Brownie: Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix
Taste of Home
If you like your brownies a bit more cakey than fudgy, skip all the other mixes and pick up Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix.
These Duncan Hines brownies were light and tender—not terms we normally associate with brownies, but that’s part of the appeal. These cake-like brownies had a nice chocolate flavor and a beautiful tissue paper-like top that really made our Test Kitchen team dive right in.
Another bonus: This mix makes enough to fill a 13×9 pan—more than the other mixes listed here. If you’ve got a bigger group to serve, you can snag just one box of this Duncan Hines brownie mix rather than mixing up a few batches of the others.
Shop Now
Best Organic Brand: Annie’s Organic Double Chocolate Brownie Mix
Taste of Home
Just because you want to eat organic doesn’t mean you have to settle for less when it comes to boxed mixes. Annie’s Organic Double Chocolate Brownie Mix was given our Test Kitchen’s stamp of approval in our blind taste test.
These boxed brownies baked up dense and fudgy with a very rich chocolate flavor. Our kitchen pros could really pick up on the flavor of the chocolate in this mix, remarking that it tasted like a high-quality cocoa powder and good mini chocolate chips studded throughout. In fact, Annie’s got some of the highest praise you could get for a boxed baking mix: “It tastes homemade.”
Shop Now
What to Make with a Box of Brownie Mix
Of course, when you’re craving a quickie dessert, a box brownie on its own (well, maybe topped with a dusting of powdered sugar) is a great treat. But why stop at just basic brownies? A good box of brownie mix can help you create all kinds of treats like brownie-based bars and gorgeous trifles. When you start with a good foundation you can create something really special. Just take a look!
Grilled Banana Brownie Sundaes
My niece Amanda Jean and I have a lot of fun in the kitchen creating different dishes. One of us will start with a recipe idea and it just grows from there—and so does the mess. We always have a blast. That's exactly what happened with this brownie mix recipe! —Carol Farnsworth, Greenwood, Indiana
Also, check out these best
Christmas pies for your sweet holiday season!
Go to Recipe
Not sure which brand of brownie mix to buy? These
brownie mixes are our Test Kitchen's favorites.
Fruity Brownie PizzaI start with a basic brownie mix to create this fruit brownie pizza. Sometimes I add mandarin oranges for even more color. —Nancy Johnson, Laverne, Oklahoma
Fudgy Brownies with Peanut Butter Pudding FrostingThese rich peanut butter fudge brownies are topped with a peanut butter pudding frosting, making this a recipe the whole family will love. These are perfect for a potluck, bake sale or yummy after-dinner treat. —Amy Crook, Syracuse, Utah
Also, check this two ingredients fudge recipe, which is easy to make and will save a lot of your time.
Mini Brownie TreatsI like to take these quick and easy treats to potlucks and family gatherings. They're always well received! —Pam Kokes, North Loup, Nebraska
Fudgy Oat BrowniesThese cakelike brownies have a rich, crunchy oat crust and a smooth homemade chocolate frosting. A packaged brownie mix makes the recipe easy to prepare. You can make it even easier by using canned frosting. —Diana Otterson, Canandaigua, New York
Caramel Fudge CheesecakeIt's hard to resist this chocolaty cheesecake with its fudgy crust, crunchy pecans and gooey layer of caramel. I combined several recipes to create this version that satisfies both the chocolate lovers and the cheesecake lovers in my family. —Brenda Ruse, Truro, Nova Scotia
Brownie CracklesThese chocolate chips and brownie mix cookies pack a rich chocolate taste while remaining simple to make. Rolling the dough in powdered sugar gives them their inviting crackled appearance. —Ellen Govertsen, Wheaton, Illinois
Peanut Butter Brownie TrifleThis rich, tempting, peanut butter brownie trifle feeds a crowd and features the ever-popular combination of chocolate and peanut butter. Try this dessert for your next get-together. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania
Pistachio Brownie Toffee BarsThese coveted brownie bars are homey and chocolaty awesome. They've been a sought-after staple on Christmas cookie trays for years. —Troy Shaw, Warrenton, Oregon.
Hungry for more? Here’s our list of
Christmas brownies for chocoholics.
Toffee Brownie TrifleThis decadent combination of pantry items is a terrific way to dress up a brownie mix. Try this trifle with other flavors of pudding or substitute your favorite candy bar. It tastes great with low-fat and sugar-free products, too. —Wendy Bennett, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Magic Brownie BarsWhen I was a kid, one of my all-time favorite treats was magic cookie bars. This recipe combines all the same classic flavors in a magic brownie bar! —Mandy Rivers, Lexington, South Carolina
Banana Cream Brownie DessertI always keep the ingredients for this extremely delicious dessert on hand because I make it quite often for potlucks and family gatherings. I'm always asked for the recipe. After one bite, you'll understand why. —Julie Nowakowski, LaSalle , Illinois
Cheesecake Brownie SquaresBrownies are my grandson Noah's favorite, so we always make some when he comes to visit. These cheesecake brownies are a definite crowd-pleaser. —Barbara Banzhof, Muncy, Pennsylvania
Peanut Butter-Filled Brownie CupcakesI have made this outstandingly delicious recipe for years. These rich cupcakes are sure to delight everyone you make them for. —Carol Gillespie, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Chocolate-Almond Brownie PizzaDessert pizza has never been so elegant! Featuring a chewy coconut topping and brownie crust, this treat gives traditional holiday pies and cakes some serious competition. —Pat Cassity, Boise, Idaho
Valentine Heart BrowniesSteal hearts this Valentine's Day with brownies that have cute frosting centers. They're simply irresistible. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Peanut Butter Brownie BitesI used to make these brownie bites with a cherry in the center. Then I discovered that my granddaughter Lily is big on peanut butter, so I switched it up. Now she loves to help me make them. —Donna McGinnis, Taylor Ridge, Illinois
Chocolate & Peanut Butter Crispy BarsTo make a dairy-free dessert, I created chocolate peanutty bars. My kids and their friends gobble them up. I've written about it on my blog, joyfulscribblings.com. —Dawn Pasco, Overland Park, Kansas
Angela's XOXO Shortbread BrowniesEveryone loves a brownie. This one has a buttery crust with a sweet finish, thanks to the touch of candy on top. —Angela Kamakana Baptista , Hilo, Hawaii
Double Chocolate Coconut BrowniesThanks to a head start from a mix, it's easy to bake up these crowd-pleasing treats. It's hard to stop at just one brownie, but don't worry—my recipe makes 30 servings! —Brenda Melancon, McComb, Mississippi
Brownie Swirl CheesecakeIt may look fancy, but this cheesecake is so simple. The secret is the speedy crust—it's from a packaged brownie mix! You don't need to be an experienced cook to make the elegant chocolate swirls on top—anyone can do it. —Janet Brunner, Burlington, Kentucky
Easy Mexican BrowniesI was hosting a fun Mexican-themed cocktail party and needed a quick dessert. Dressing up an ordinary boxed brownie mix made life easy and delicious! —Susan Stetzel, Gainesville, New York
Brownie Mocha TrifleBy using instant pudding and a convenient box of brownie mix, there's nothing to the preparation. The result is moist and chewy. And the layers look so pretty spooned into a glass trifle bowl. —Louise Fauth, Foremost, Alberta
Brownie SundaesCap off dinner with these Brownie Sundaes. With prepared brownies, I can fix this sweet treat in a flash. For extra flair, I roll the ice cream in pecans before placing them on top of the brownies. It's a perfect finish to a mouthwatering meal. —Ruth Lee, Troy, Ontario
Whichever top-rated mix you prefer, you’re going to end up with a dessert that your friends and family will be raving about. Imagine this amazing grilled banana brownie sundae made with one of these ultra-rich mixes. Sounds like chocolate heaven.
Check Out More Test Kitchen-Preferred Products
