The $5 Brownie Mix That’s Even Better than Homemade (No, It’s Not Ghirardelli)
Is it just me, or has TikTok kind of ruined the brownie? I love the simplicity of a good fudgy square. (You can even make a batch with just two ingredients.) The algorithm has other preferences, though. These days, for a brownie to truly WOW on my FYP (for you page) it needs to be swirled with cheesecake or topped with tiramisu.
Sure, I totally see the appeal of brown butter brookies, but at the end of the day — or even mid-afternoon — what I really just want is a plain ol’, super-chocolaty brownie I can quickly mix together. Enter: Birch Benders.
What’s So Great About Birch Benders Organic Ultimate Fudge Brownie Mix?
If you’ve heard of Birch Benders in any capacity, it’s probably because of the brand’s ultra-fluffy pancakes. The brownie mix isn’t as widely known — but, in my humble opinion, it should be. I took one bite of a rich, fudgy brownie, and everything I thought I knew about boxed brownie mixes changed overnight.
The list of ingredients is relatively short and sweet: organic cane sugar, organic wheat flour, organic cocoa powder, salt, and organic natural flavors.
The brownie mix comes in a 13.5-ounce bag, which is a few ounces smaller than the average boxed mix. At $4.48, it’s about 50 cents more than other premium brands, but I think it’s worth the splurge. I’d even say the Ultimate Fudge Brownie Mix rivals some of the best homemade brownies I’ve had. Ever.
What’s the Best Way to Make Birch Benders Organic Ultimate Fudge Brownie Mix?
I mostly follow the package instructions. I mixed oil, eggs, and water together in a bowl before incorporating the dry mix. The bag suggests an 8-by-8-inch baking pan. I like to use a 9-by-13-inch pan for fudgy, dense brownies with relatively chewy edges. I also underbake them ever-so-slightly by shaving three to five minutes off of the stated bake time. It’s pure decadence.
You can serve the freshly baked brownies a la mode, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that melts ever-so-slightly over the top. The way that my family enjoys them most, though? Adorned with a heap of fresh strawberries and topped off with a dollop of whipped cream, Wimbledon-style.
Buy: Birch Benders Organic Ultimate Fudge Brownie Mix, $4.48 for 13.4 ounces at Walmart
This article originally published on The Kitchn. See it there: The $5 Brownie Mix That’s Even Better than Homemade (No, It’s Not Ghirardelli)