Homemade Box Brownies

Everybody loves brownies! Am I right?! These homemade box brownies are fudgy and chewy with that crackling on top that just screams brownie. I’ve been working on this recipe for a while and I’ve finally nailed it!

Brownies, ugh, the nightmare of homemade brownies! They are so tricky to get just right! Our oven is not cooking evenly which I can manage 90% of the time but brownies are really tricky. Add on top that I’m obsessed with a crinkle top and these brownies have taken years to develop! They are Cade’s favorite dessert next to or equal to ice cream so the need to find perfection was big! And these are perfection!

These brownies are easy and fudgy and made totally from scratch! I’m not going to lie, the Ghirardelli brownies boxed mix that you can buy at Costco are my go-to when I’m in a rush, but this homemade brownie recipe rivals those Ghirardelli box brownies! There’s just something about homemade that feels and tastes so much better!

Ingredients for Homemade Box Brownies

There are some ingredients that are an absolute must for the best brownies. For a crinkle top and best flavor you have to use cocoa powder and chopped chocolate or chocolate chips. You also must use oil and butter. Here is a complete list of everything you need:

• Butter: use unsalted butter to control the salt in the brownies and you want it melted to get the right texture and the crackly shiny top on the brownies
• Vegetable Oil: helps the brownies be moist and fudgy
• Sugar: adds sweetness and balances the bitterness of the cocoa powder
• Brown Sugar: adds more sweetness and richness in flavor
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: adds all the chocolate flavor
• Eggs: adds structure to the brownies
• Vanilla Extract: adds flavor
• Espresso Powder: found in the baking section and is used to enhance the chocolate flavor. It can be skipped if you absolutely cannot find it or substitute with instant coffee.
• Salt: enhances all the flavors
• Flour: just regular all-purpose flour is all you need
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: adds texture and more chocolate flavor

The measurements for all these ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Box Brownies at Home

These fudgy brownies are made in just about 30 minutes and they taste even better than your favorite boxed brownies. Here are the steps for making them:

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9×9 baking pan with foil (or parchment paper) and then cooking spray.
2. Stir: Combine the melted butter, oil, sugar, and cocoa powder in a large mixing bowl and stir with a wooden spoon until well combine and shiny.
3. Whisk: In a small bowl, add the eggs and whisk until pale yellow. Add in the vanilla, espresso powder and salt. Add to chocolate mixtu

Dulce de Leche Chocolate Cheesecake Bars [+Video]

These Dulce de Leche Chocolate Cheesecake Bars will absolutely blow your mind! A rich, velvety layer of dulce de leche spread over a decadent Oreo crust, finished with a touch of flaky sea salt to create the perfect harmony of sweet and salty in every bite.

I’ve always been an admirer of Baker by Nature. Her recipes and photography are nothing short of magical. She gets it right every single time.

It’s rare for me to spotlight another blogger’s recipe, and it’s not because I don’t adore them (I absolutely do). The truth is, my brain is constantly overflowing with recipe ideas. There are so many that I can barely keep up, let alone make space for anyone else’s.

Seriously, you should see the never-ending list of recipes Cade and I have brainstormed. It’s hundreds deep, and my “finisher” personality struggles with it. Crossing off every recipe on that list would be the most satisfying thing ever. But for every one I check off, I come up with six more. The cycle never ends.

Then I came across these chocolate cheesecake bars, and I couldn’t stop thinking about them. You have to check out Baker by Nature’s stunning photos. They are pure art. But I kept imagining how perfect they’d be with a layer of dulce de leche. Once the idea hit, it became a must.

So, all my other recipes are on hold, and Cade’s are too. Grab your comfiest sweatpants, fire up Netflix, and settle in. These dulce de leche chocolate cheesecake bars are worth staying in for. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

Is Dulce de Leche the Same As Caramel?

Like caramel, dulce de lec

Luscious Brownie Batter Dip

Satisfy your chocolate cravings with this indulgent Brownie Batter Dip. Made with just 5 simple ingredients, it’s the perfect sweet treat for any occasion.

This dessert dip will be your new go-to recipe when you need a quick appetizer or a no bake dessert dip for a party or potluck! Bonus: brownie batter dip is easy to make!

Easy Brownie Batter Dessert Dip

Our girls have started cooking more and more, and while I love it, I also want to make sure that it always stays fun and not merely a means to eat. We found this darling new cookbook by Aimee from Like Mother Like Daughter called 50 Fixes for Brownie Mixes and knew it would be just perfect for Friday movie nights.

One of the most important things we want to teach our children is that family matters. We spend time together, we talk about silly stuff, real stuff and future stuff.

A good friend once told me that her mother taught her that her siblings were her best friends. If ever it became clear that siblings weren’t being nice to each other or constantly wanting to be with friends and not family, then they had a few days where it was sister time and they could only play with each other. What a lovely idea! To this day they are all the best of friends and that’s something to admire.

We now choose to do the same. In fact, our girls have been having sister dates. I take them somewhere and just sit back and watch them choose ice cream together or whatever.

I’m getting off topic, this brownie cookbook was a great chance for our girls to spend time together doing something fun. They can choose to cook from the cookbook whenever they want as long as it’s together. It’s so fun trying their new creations and this last weekend it was brownie batter dip. This chocolate dip is so good!!

The whole cookbook is loaded with beautiful pictures, easy recipes, and it’s all thanks to brownies — Cade’s Achilles heal. 😉 So maybe this Christmas do the same for your kids and just see what happens when they start making memories and yummy food together.

Brownie Batter Dessert Dip Ingredients

Whether you’re on the hunt for easy Valentine’s Day dessert recipes, easy party desserts, or simply want a snack for your family movie night, this creamy brownie batter dip is a must!

Here’s what you’ll need to make this chocol