A PYP Best Blog! Make Your Own Brownie Mix!
Just in case you missed this DIY article on making your own brownie mix the first time we shared it a couple of years ago, we are republishing it. After Marne wrote this blog originally, we got an awesome response. This is one of the PYP Best Blogs!
With one recipe of this homemade mix, I figure it is like having about 4-5 box mixes from the store. You can make several batches of things with one mix recipe. Besides brownies, you can also make fudge sauce and crinkle cookies. I made the brownie crinkle cookies yesterday and got 3 dozen cookies. With the cost of the ingredients figured in, I estimate the cost for a batch of brownies with this mix to be approximately about .30 cents . Not too bad, eh?
Plus, you are getting the satisfaction of knowing you are making something that you feel good about. You know what goes in there. There is so much crap in those box mixes, so much stuff that is really bad for us.
8 cups sugar (I do less, but that is just me)
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 tsp. baking powder
4 tsp. salt
2 1/2 c. baking cocoa
2 cups shortening
In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Cut in shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, like this:
Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 6 months. I put mine in Tupperware, label it like so and stick it in my fridge in the garage. Yield: 18 cups.
Here are the recipes for the other treats from this mix:
Fudge Sauce
1 c. Brownie mix
2/3 c. water
In a saucepan, bring the brownie mix and water to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 1-2 miinutes or until thickened. Serve over ice cream.
Brownie Crinkle Cookies
4 c. Brownie Mix
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
In a mixing bowl, combine the brownie mix, eggs, and vanilla and mix well. Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until the tops are cracked. Cool 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool. Makes 3 dozen.
Walnut Brownies
4 c. Brownie Mix
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups chopped walnuts
1 c. semi-sweet chocolat chips
In a mixing bowl, combine the brownie mix, eggs, and vanilla; mix well. Fold in the walnuts and chocolate chips. Pour into a greased 9×13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Makes 2 dozen.
Amp up the taste of a boxed dessert mix!
Chances are if you have been using coupons for any amount of time, you might have a lot of boxed cake and brownie mixes in you food storage or pantry. Don’t let the ease of opening a boxed dessert mix simply taste like every other one you’ve made. Rather, kick it up a notch with a few simple extra ingredients you already have in your pantry.
General Tips and Tricks:
- If your boxed dessert mix contains cocoa powder or chocolate substitute the water for coffee. The coffee brings out the sweetness of the chocolate.
- Try substituting the oil with applesauce, canned pumpkin or even Greek yogurt!
- Once the batter is poured into the pan(s) tap lightly on a level surface to get the air out.
- Sift the dry ingredients first! This will ensure your batter isn’t clumpy and no air bubbles arise.
Brownie Mixes
There’s typically nothing special in the mix other than flour and cocoa as the main ingredients, making boxed brownies a little bland. To make your brownies super delicious once the batter has been mixed well add a cup full of semi sweet chocolate morsels and give one final stir before placing in a greased pan. Consider adding peanut butter once you’ve added into the pan, simply swirl the amount desired in.
For a added touch once your brownies have cooled sprinkle with a little powdered sugar for a extra sweetness. Mint flavored frosting can also pack a punch for delicious brownies
Cake Mixes
No matter what flavor of cake mix you purchase there’s several ways you can fool your guests into thinking you made your cake from scratch. By knowing these simple tricks your next cake will be eaten up in no time:
- My favorite thing to do is to actually skip the eggs and the oil and just add a can of diet soda to the cake mix. Try experimenting with flavors like orange soda with a white cake mix or Diet Cherry Coke with a chocolate cake mix.
- If using a white, yellow or chocolate cake mix substitute whole milk, coconut milk or buttermilk for the water. If using buttermilk you may need to add a extra splash or two to get the liquid consistency you’re looking for.
- Add 2 TBSP of all purpose flour, 1 egg and 1 TBSP Sugar to any cake mix. Doing so will result in a “heavier” type cake.
- If baking a chocolate or white cake mix throw in a cup of semi sweet chocolate morsels. This will make the batter a little more moist. You can also put mini semi sweet chocolate morsels or chocolate savings on top of the icing for an extra special touch!
- When whipping up a carrot cake mix leave out the shredded carrots that are provided and grate your own.
- To give a white cake mix extra depth, after the cooling process poke holes with a straw into your cake. Prepare a box of your favorite flavored Jell-O using 1 C cold water and 1 C boiling hot water. Pour half the mixture over the cake and let it sit for 4-6 hours.
- When using a chocolate frosting add 1 tsp of butter along with ½ tsp of vanilla extract to loosen up the icing and get a better flavor.
- Add a package of pudding mix right out of the box to make your cake moist.
What are some thing that you do to amp up the taste of a boxed dessert mix?