Think Outside the Box: 27 Brownie Mix Recipes You’ll Love

Updated: Feb. 14, 2024

Our favorite shortcut to decadent desserts? Recipes using brownie mix. Just grab a box from the pantry and get ready to enjoy trifles, bars, cheesecake and more.

1 / 26

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.

2 / 26

Fruity Brownie Pizza

I 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
3 / 26

Fudgy Brownies with Peanut Butter Pudding Frosting

These 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.

4 / 26

Mini Brownie Treats

I like to take these quick and easy treats to potlucks and family gatherings. They're always well received! —Pam Kokes, North Loup, Nebraska
5 / 26

Fudgy Oat Brownies

These 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
6 / 26

Caramel Fudge Cheesecake

It'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
7 / 26

Brownie Crackles

These 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
8 / 26

Peanut Butter Brownie Trifle

This 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
9 / 26

Pistachio Brownie Toffee Bars

These 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.

10 / 26

Toffee Brownie Trifle

This 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
11 / 26

Magic Brownie Bars

When 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
12 / 26

Banana Cream Brownie Dessert

I 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
13 / 26

Cheesecake Brownie Squares

Brownies 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
14 / 26

Peanut Butter-Filled Brownie Cupcakes

I have made this outstandingly delicious recipe for years. These rich cupcakes are sure to delight everyone you make them for. —Carol Gillespie, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
15 / 26

Chocolate-Almond Brownie Pizza

Dessert 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
16 / 26

Valentine Heart Brownies

Steal hearts this Valentine's Day with brownies that have cute frosting centers. They're simply irresistible. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
17 / 26

Peanut Butter Brownie Bites

I 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
19 / 26

Chocolate & Peanut Butter Crispy Bars

To 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
20 / 26

Angela's XOXO Shortbread Brownies

Everyone 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
22 / 26

Double Chocolate Coconut Brownies

Thanks 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
23 / 26

Brownie Swirl Cheesecake

It 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
24 / 26

Easy Mexican Brownies

I 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
25 / 26

Brownie Mocha Trifle

By 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
26 / 26

Brownie Sundaes

Cap 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