8 Ways to Upgrade Your Boxed Brownie Mix

Upgrade your boxed brownie mix with these 8 next-level modifications! In this post, you'll learn how to add different kinds of brownie toppings, where to start with quantities, what sorts of modifications you'll need to make bake times, and tips for brownie-making success.

We've finally made it through the holiday season and you know what's on my mind? There just never seems to be enough time in the day to do all the things.

Sometimes, you just can't make it to all the items on your to-do list. Sometimes you have to let things drop for a few days... or weeks... or... longer... And sometimes you just have to do things to make your life a little easier.

While I love baking from scratch, sometimes I just need a one-stop-single-box solution to the week's potluck, book club or impromptu get-together with friends.

And while there's certainly no shame in bringing a good ol' dish of from-the-box brownies to your event, sometimes you want a little something more.

Something in that middle ground between making something from scratch and straight out of the box.

How to make upgraded brownies

First, make the brownie batter according to the box.

At this point, you can simply follow the instructions on the box to make the brownie base. Preheat the oven to the temperature identified on the box and pour the batter into a parchment paper-lined pan of your choosing.

Second, try one of the brownie toppings below.

Regardless of which toppings you choose, you'll want to add them to your brownies after pouring your batter into your pan or after they've baked completely. Don't worry, we'll get more specific below.

Finally, bake according to the box.

Bake your brownies according to the instructions on the box.

Please note that if you're adding a thick sauce, spread or cheesecake to your brownie, you may need to add 3-5 minutes of extra bake time to accommodate the extra ingredients.

Prefer to watch the process?

8 ways to upgrade your mix

This post walks you through eight categories of brownie toppings using seven different recipes.

This means you'll get both suggestions for how much of an individual ingredient to use AND you'll see it in action in a unique recipe.

Some of these recipes will feature a single additional ingredient to show you how to make your topping the star, or multiple ingredients to demonstrate how they can be combined.

Please note, the following measurement suggestions reflect amounts needed for a full batch of brownies. If you're making a partial batch or are using a family size box mix, you'll want to adjust accordingly.

1. Fruits

To add fruit flavors to brownies, I like to use a combination of fresh fruit pieces and jam. For a full batch of brownies, use up to a ¼ cup jam and ½ cup coarsely cut fruit pieces, which is what I used for the raspberry brownies pictured above.

Depending on how moist the fruit is, you may want less than a ½ cup.

2. Thick sauces

Thick sauces like caramel, dulce de leche and butterscotch make a tasty addition to brownies.

For a full batch of brownies, you can use up to ⅓ cup of thick sauces. However, because they won't solidify the same way the batter will, you'll want to make sure they're well-swirled into the top of the batter.

For the salted caramel cheesecake brownies pictured below, I swirled a ¼ cup caramel sauce and the cheesecake batter described in the following paragraphy (4 oz cream cheese + 1 egg + ¼ cup powdered sugar + 1 teaspoon vanilla extract) into the top of the brownie batter. Immediately after taking them out of the oven, I sprinkled them with ½ teaspoon sea salt.

3. Cheesecake

Adding cheesecake to your brownies couldn't be easier! To make the cheesecake batter, whisk four oz of room temperature cream cheese together with one room temperature egg until the batter is lump free. Whisk in ¼ cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until just combined.

Spoon big dollops of cheesecake batter over the top of your brownie batter and swirl with a butter knife.

4. Cookies, candy pieces and nuts

For a full batch of brownies, you can add up to a cup of coarsely chopped candies, nuts, cookies or other chunky dry ingredients.

For the candy brownies pictured above, I sprinkled the full cup of candy over the top of my brownies before baking.

5. Espresso, extracts and spices

Depending on the spice and it’s potency, you’ll want to add anywhere from ¼ to 1 ½ teaspoon of it to a full batch of brownies.

For extracts, one teaspoon is a good place to start.

And for espresso, I'd recommend adding one to two tablespoons depending on how strong of a flavor you like.

For the peppermint mocha brownies pictured above, I added two tablespoons of espresso powder and one teaspoon peppermint extract to the batter. Immediately after taking the brownies out of the oven, I sprinkled a ¼ cup of crushed peppermint candies over the hot brownies.

6. Alcohol

Because brownies have such a rich, chocolate flavor, adding alcohol to the mix can create a deliciously boozy undertone.

For drinks with lower levels of alcohol, like wine and beer, you can add up to ½ cup to your batter. For stronger spirits, try up to ¼ cup.

For the stout pretzel brownies pictured above, I left out the water the box mixed called for and added ½ cup stout, gently whisking it in with the rest of the ingredients. I added ⅔ cup crushed pretzels to the top of the batter prior to baking.

7. Spreads (like peanut butter, nutella or marshmallow fluff)

As a general rule, you can add up to ⅔ cup of spreads to your brownies, which you can divide among different kinds of spreads if you want more than one flavor.

Spreads are easiest to add when they've been warmed to slightly above room temperature (about 15-20 seconds in the microwave).

For the fluffernutter brownies, I swirled ⅓ cup peanut butter and ⅓ cup marshmallow into the top of the brownie batter and topped it with about ½ cup coarsely chopped nutter butter cookies before baking.

8. Frosting

You can add just about any kind of frosting, homemade or store bought, to the top of your baked brownies. For a full batch, I recommend about one cup of frosting.

Tips for making the perfect upgraded brownies

• Start with a high quality brownie mix to set your brownies up for success.
• Room temperature ingredients, particularly when it comes to the brownie toppings, will incorporate into the batter more easily than cold ingredients.
• To test your brownies for doneness, insert a toothpick into the brownies about two inches from the side. It should come out with crumbs but no liquid batter.
• Storing frosted brownies: Brownies can be stored in an air tight container for 3-4 days.

Did you make this recipe? I’d love to hear how it went in the comments below. Better still, snap a photo and tag it on Instagram with #thesimplesweetlife. I love seeing your creations!

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