Confession: Box brownies are where it’s at.

-
Why mess with perfection? Especially when someone has already done all of the hard work FOR YOU? Brownies are finicky enough with their bake time, so I take the low road and rely on the old standby: the box brownie.
-
If you wanted to know, this recipe is one that has worked for me (but I haven’t tried it in awhile).
-
From years of baking brownies that were imperfect in some kind of way, here’s what I’ve learned about making brownies:
-
1. Always use coffee instead of water. I love coffee, and you may not, but it gives a richer, more chocolatey flavor than straight up water. So go ahead, infuse your brownies with a stronger flavor!
-
2. Err on the side of under baking your brownies. Listen, we’ve all had brownies from both ends of the spectrum. From brown little bricks to “Wait, are you sure you baked these?” brownies are a TRIP in terms of bake time. Watch for the crackly top and DO NOT WAIT until your toothpick/fork/skewer comes out clean after you poke it into the brownies. It’ll be too late by then. You want some moist crumbs, and you want soft brownies, so don’t fall for that piece of advice. It works for cake; it doesn’t work for brownies. No one will mind if they’re a little on the gooey side as long as you have napkins.
-
3. Line your pan with aluminum foil and a ton of nonstick spray. Brownies are clingy little things, and using both of these tools is necessary for brownies that don’t stick to the side of your pan. I bought a “really nice” nonstick pan at Williams Sonoma, and it is one of the WORST when it comes to unsticking bars from it. Go with the foil. It makes removing the brownies AND cleaning the pan way easier, too! #winning
-
4. Chill time doesn’t hurt. It’s painful to wait, but really, letting your brownies sit in the fridge overnight or even for a few hours will give the ingredients time to come together and enhance the flavor in a magical way. Brownies are like chocolate chip cookie dough here; let them sit for optimal taste.
-
5. Salt your brownies. I am biased because I love anything that’s sweet and salty, but really, you need SOMETHING to balance the overwhelming chocolate sweetness. Sprinkle some salt on top of your brownies before you bake them. Bonus points if it looks pretty and the flakes are large enough to notice. You won’t regret it, and your teeth will be happier.
These were super delish!
Thanks, Mr.!
Aaahhh , you’re killing me! Dec will try this twist. Can you imagine these brownies in a sundae? I’m dying thinking about how wonderful that would be!!
Try them and let me know how they turn out :D! Sundaes always rule.
Is it just me or is the ingredient list incorrect? It lists two boxes of brownie mix, two sweetened condensed milk amounts, etc., etc.
Thanks for catching that, Mary! I just updated the post with the correct amounts.
Is it two tablespoons of the freeze dried granular coffee, or just two tablespoons of black coffee that was perked?
Brewed coffee is what the recipe is asking for, Diane. Hope they turn out well!
These are soooo amazing! I’ve made them several times now. My favorite twists are substituting almond for vanilla extract and use hazelnut coffee instead of regular. Thank you Jenny!
Aww, thank you, Laura! I apologize for replying so late. I’ve been pretty inactive on here since my diet has taken a turn towards paleo. I’m so glad this is a winner for you!
cool recipe!
Glad you think so, Blake :)!
I made these Brownies last night and baked them this morning.. Absolutely delicious and the recipe didn’t specify that the Coffee needed to be brewed so I added the Coffee in as granules and OMG I think they’re better just adding straight Coffee granules and not brewed.. These Brownies are an absolute hit and I will be making them again.. Thanks..
Thanks for the info, Diane! I never thought about adding coffee granules, but I would definitely use some espresso powder to amp up that flavor! I’m glad you like them :)!
Hi all,
I used coffee granules, coconut, and regular condensed milk along, with walnuts, and placed the batter in the refrigerator overnight.
The brownies were mouthwatering, light, and moist. The coffee granules provide a unique taste They were the talk of the evening. Thank you –
These are the best brownies. Love the added
Coffee & salt. Have some in oven now
Thanks so much, Sherry! Glad you enjoyed them!