6 easy ways to upgrade a box of brownie mix, from a former pastry cook

Years ago, I left my job in sales and social media to become a pastry cook in Charleston, South Carolina.

Although I’m no longer in the field, I still use some of the skills and tricks I used for preparing and upgrading desserts.

When it comes to brownies, I actually think that boxed mixes are close to perfect (especially when late-night chocolate cravings hit).

However, there are a few simple ways I’d amp them up.

Switch up your baking vessel for unique results.

Most boxed brownies will call for a metal or glass baking pan, but there’s some room for edits here.

If you bake your brownie in a great cast-iron skillet, it’ll develop crispy edges and a gooey center that everyone can fight over.

To make perfectly portioned, single-serving brownies, use a muffin pan. These are great for on-the-go treats — even if you’re just going to the couch.

No matter what pan you use, just be sure to grease it with nonstick spray.

Raid your snack drawer for salty toppings.

Any time I can add in a savory element to my desserts, I will.

Salty snacks like kettle chips, pretzels, almonds, or even Ritz crackers are a great way to balance out the sweetness in brownies while adding an extra bit of texture.

Plus, you can satisfy your sweet and savory cravings in one fell swoop.

Add in more chocolate pieces for extra gooey, flavorful brownies.

If you’re baking brownies, you likely have a hankering for chocolate. Lean into this craving and chop up a bar of your favorite chocolate to toss into the batter.

Even if your mix already has chocolate chips, add in the chopped bits anyways.

Chocolate chips contain stabilizers that help them maintain their shape, but chopped chocolate will create beautiful melted pockets in the brownies.

Try adding nut or seed butter to make an even more decadent dessert.

For an extra kick of richness and a bit of flair, dollop teaspoons of nut butter on top of your unbaked brownies and swirl them into the batter with a chopstick or butter knife.

I prefer using unsweetened, salted peanut butter, but you can test out almond or pistachio butter. If you have a nut allergy or sensitivity, try swirling in some sunflower seed or granola butter.

The marbled effect of swirling the nut butter into the batter bakes up beautifully and takes just a few extra seconds of effort.

Different extracts can give boxed brownies a whole new flavor profile.

Premade brownie mixes likely already contain vanilla, but you can amp up the flavor with an extra splash of your own vanilla extract. It’s a small bit of effort that can make a world of difference.

You can also switch up the flavor profile with peppermint extract for a festive spin or almond extract for a taste reminiscent of birthday cake.

Coffee can elevate the chocolate flavor in brownies.

Chocolate and coffee are a dynamic duo.

If you want a subtle way to enhance the chocolate flavor of your brownies, add a teaspoon or two of espresso powder to the batter.

If you’re going for more of a mocha moment, replace the water in the box’s directions with brewed coffee.

Hot tip: Use decaf if the brownies are a late-night craving.

This story was originally published in February 2022 and most recently updated on May 29, 2025.

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