Once you try these decadent Easy Homemade Brownies, you’ll never go back to a box mix again! With crispy edges, crackly tops and intensely fudgy centers, they’re the most satisfying chocolate square you’ll ever meet! You can even stock your pantry with homemade brownie mix for later!

Nine chocolate homemade brownies cut into squares.

Homemade Brownies

Craving brownies tonight?  I’ve got you covered with an EASY Homemade Brownie Mix Recipe! Once you try these dreamy, decadent brownies, you’ll never go back to store-bought mixes again!

They’re the sweetest, drool-worthy treat and can be made in your favorite baking dish or cast iron skillet!

Joey writes: "These brownies are so delicious. Will NOT be buying box mix  anymore!  Made these in my cast iron skillet, best brownies I have ever made."

When it comes to brownies, I’ll admit… I’m a bit obsessed to say the least.  From those crispy chocolatey edges to those soft and fudgy centers, there’s just something about a good brownie that makes the whole day better!

That’s why this best Homemade Brownie Mix Recipe is a staple in my pantry!

Let’s face it… some days you’re just craving a brownie, but don’t have any box mixes in the pantry, right?  Talk about sad!

Well thanks to this 4-Ingredient EASY Homemade Brownie Mix Recipe from scratch, you’ll never have to face those tragic moments again!

Plus, when you make brownies from scratch, you know exactly what ingredients are going into your delicious, drool-worthy treat!  Trust me… they’re the perfect ending to any day!

And if you’re feeling wild… go all the way when you top your fudgy brownies with this luscious Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe!

Then… have even more fun baking in the kitchen when you make up a batch of these dreamy Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Cupcakes!

So are you ready to learn how to stock your pantry with your own chocolate fudge homemade brownie mix?

Treat yourself tonight with your favorite luscious dessert… you won’t believe how quick & easy these are to make!

You’ll just need these 4 ingredients to make your Homemade Brownie Mix with Cocoa Powder…

Related: How To Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half (35 Brilliant Tips)

What is Brownie Mix Made Of?

One of the best parts of making your own brownies is knowing exactly what ingredients go into your dessert!  When it comes to brownie mix, there really are just 4 dry ingredients that go into the mix.

The ingredients in brownie mix are…

  • Cocoa Powder – Use 100% Hershey’s Cocoa, Ghirardelli, or 365 Organic for the best flavor!
  • All Purpose Flour – Unbleached Organic All Purpose Flour can be substituted.
  • Granulated Sugar – just your ordinary white sugar.
  • Sea Salt – to bring out the flavors!

Containers of cocoa powder, flour, sugar, and salt.

How Do You Make Brownie Mix From Scratch?

So if you’ve been wondering… how do you make brownies from scratch?  You won’t believe how quick and easy it is!

You’ll just add your cocoa, flour, sugar and salt to a large bowl, whisk them all together until they’re well combined, and you’re done!  Talk about easy, right?

And guess what… this brownie mix even makes the cutest homemade Gift in a Jar!

Just transfer it to a mason jar, tie a little bow around the lid, add the baking instructions to a tag, and you’ve got yourself a gift everyone will LOVE to receive!  It’s the perfect little Gift Idea for neighbors, foodie friends, teachers, and new moms!

Because honestly… who wouldn’t LOVE to receive brownies, right?

Scroll down for the printable recipe card with detailed, step-by-step instructions.

Whisk in a bowl of dry brownie mix.

How to Store Brownie Mix

Once you’ve made up your brownie mix, you can store the mixture in your pantry in mason jars or labeled ziploc bags.

The length of time you’ll be able to store your mix for optimal freshness will depend on the expiration dates of your flour and use by dates of your cocoa.

Jar of brownie mix with a red lid.

What Can You Add to Brownie Batter?

Want to change up the flavor a bit?  Go for it!

These easy brownie variations are for YOU!

If you’re feeling wild, there are several fun things you can add to your brownie batter when it’s time to bake!

Spoon stirring Andes mints into brownie batter.

When it comes to brownie mix hacks, consider mixing in any one thing from the list below…

  • Andes Mint Baking Chips (1/2 cup) – If you can’t find the baking chips, just chop up Andes Mint Candies.  Add 1/4 cup to batter and bake.  Remove brownies from oven 3 minutes early, sprinkle the top with remaining 1/4 cup, bake for 3 more minutes, or until done.  YUM!
  • Chocolate Chips (3/4 cup)
  • Chopped Pecans (1/2 cup)
  • Chopped Walnuts (1/2 cup)
  • Mini M&M’s (3/4 cup)
  • Candy Bars (3/4 cup chopped pieces)
  • Reese’s Brownies: Remove brownies from oven 3 minutes early, sprinkle the top with 2/3 cup Peanut Butter Baking Chips, bake for 3 more minutes, or until done.
  • Or just top them with this dreamy Homemade Chocolate Frosting once they’ve cooled!

Andes Mint Brownies on a green plate.

What Makes Brownies Fudgy?

Well… there are two main tricks to make your brownies fudgier.

  1. Add 3/4 cup of Chocolate Chips to your batter
  2. Use 2 eggs + 1 additional egg yolk when mixing up your batter

If you’re a fan of fudgy brownies, either of these simple little tricks will take your brownies to the next level of fudginess!

Brownie in a baking pan.

Homemade Brownie Variations

Want to change things up?  Go for it!  Here are some of my favorite variations…

Cast Iron Skillet Brownies:

If you like crispy edges, you’ll LOVE brownies baked in cast iron.  The cast iron gives your brownie just the perfect amount of extra crunchy edges and a delicious soft center… absolute brownie perfection!

Use a 10″ Cast Iron Skillet, grease skillet before baking, and top with mini M&M’s if you’re feeling wild!

You can either slice pizza style and serve, or you can add some ice cream scoops to the center of your skillet, and dig in!

Partially-sliced skillet brownie topped with ice cream.

Cookie Cutter Brownies:

Or make in a regular pan and after brownies have cooled completely, cut into shapes with a cookie cutter.

Pumpkin Brownies: Use a pumpkin cookie cutter, Orange Frosting, and Green Icing to draw on the stem.

Football Brownies: Use a football cookie cutter, Chocolate Frosting, and White Icing to draw on the laces.

The options are endless, and it’s so fun to tailor your brownies to a specific party or event!

Do Homemade Brownies Need to Be Refrigerated?

After you’ve baked your brownies, the hardest part will not be eating them all in one night!

If there actually happen to be any leftover, store at room temperature in an airtight container, and enjoy within 1 – 2 days.  There’s no need to store them in the refrigerator.

How to Cut Brownies Cleanly

Want to know my favorite trick for cutting brownies cleanly?  Simply swap your regular knife for a plastic knife.  The plastic knife cuts them SO clean and smooth!

Here are some more fun tricks to try…

Allea writes: “In our house, we’ve started lining brownie pans with parchment paper. Once the brownies are cool, you can simply lift them all out of the pan and cut them on a cutting board. So much easier than trying to cut neat squares in the pan.”

Mary writes: “After the brownies are slightly cooled, I put them in the freezer for about 10 – 15 minutes and then cut them.”

Anna writes: “This past weekend I tried making my brownies in a cup cake pan. They came out perfect and I didnt have to mess with the mess of cutting them. They were all the same size. I also put a treat inside of them. Then I put a little batter in the bottom of the pan, put a York peppermint patty in, then put more batter on top. I didn’t use liners, just sprayed the pan with non-stick cooking spray. Gonna try peanut butter cups next!!”

Person holding a brownie.

Homemade Brownies Reviews

Here’s what your friends are saying about these easy Brownies with Homemade Mix…

Cindy writes: “I made these and will not buy box brownie mix again! Thanks for sharing!”

Laurynn writes: “Easy to make. I like how few ingredients it needed!”

Casey writes: “These have the best texture.”

Rana writes: ‘Soft, chewy and fudgy on the inside. Totally loved it ”

Dawn writes: “This is such a great homemade food gift!!”

Sonya writes: “We did a head to head comparison with Ghiradelli’s Brownies and a pan of this.  It was unanimous that this recipe is as good as, if not better than Ghiradelli’s.  Thank you, finally a scratch Brownie recipe I love.”

Sara writes: “This is my go-to for chocolate cravings!!”

Lilla writes: “These are officially my favorite brownies!!! 😋 I added M&M’s to my brownie batter. THEY WERE DELICIOUS”

Vanessa writes: “2nd time we’ve made them! So easy and so good.”

Brook writes: “So good – third time making them”

Pat writes: “Love this recipe!!”

Tiffany writes: “I added mint chocolate chips to ours and it was great!”

Stacey writes: “My kids and I made these last night. We added chocolate chips and added the extra egg yolk for fudgier brownies. They were SO good and I was happy I knew exactly what ingredients were in them!!”

Several brownies on a white surface.

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Did You Enjoy This Recipe?  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  Leave a comment & review below!

5 from 1 vote

Easy Homemade Brownies

Once you try these decadent Easy Homemade Brownies, you'll never go back to a box mix again! With crispy edges, crackly tops and intensely fudgy centers, they're the most satisfying chocolate square you'll ever meet! You can even stock your pantry with homemade brownie mix for later!
Servings: 9 people
Nine chocolate homemade brownies cut into squares.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
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Ingredients 

Ingredients for Mix

  • 1 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1/2 cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 1/3 cup Cocoa
  • 1/4 tsp. Salt

Ingredients for Baking

  • 2 large Eggs
  • 1/2 cup Canola Oil, Vegetable Oil, or Avocado Oil
  • 2 tsp. Vanilla

Instructions 

  • Whisk together Sugar, Flour, Cocoa and Salt in large bowl.
  • Transfer mixture to mason jar or ziploc bag until you're ready to use it.
  • When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees for 8x8 or 9x9 pan, or 325 degrees for Cast Iron Skillet
  • Pour mixture into large bowl, and add Eggs, Oil, and Vanilla.
  • Stir well until all combined.
  • Grease 8x8 pan, 9x9 pan, or 10" Cast Iron Skillet, and transfer brownie batter to baking dish.
  • Bake on middle oven rack for 25 - 35 minutes for 8x8 or 9x9 pan, or 40 - 50 minutes in Cast Iron Skillet.  Brownies are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  • Allow brownies to cool after baking, and enjoy with frosting, ice cream, or both!

Notes

  • For answers to Frequently Asked Questions or tips for common substitutions and variations, please refer to the detailed information above this recipe card.
iconLike this recipe? Rate & comment below!

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So have you tried these easy homemade brownies yet?

Leave a comment & share!

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About Heidi Miller

I'm a recipe developer, food photographer, writer, and the frugal girl living here in sunny AZ with my husband! Here you’ll find trusted Quick and Easy Recipes with step-by-step instructions and massive flavor! Who knew cooking and baking could be SO ridiculously simple and delicious at the same time?

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28 Comments

  1. Misty says:

    Can olive oil be used if you don’t have canola?

    1. Heidi says:

      Hi Misty ~ yes, that should work, but I would recommend a light or extra light olive oil so it doesn’t change the flavor. Other options that work well are avocado oil and even 1/2 oil, 1/2 applesauce. Hope that helps! 🙂

  2. Joey says:

    These brownies are so delicious. Went by the recipe adding the extra yoke in for the fudgey brownies that my kiddos like. Will NOT be buying box mix no more! Made these in my cast iron skillet, best brownies I have ever made. Thank you so much for this recipe.

    1. Heidi says:

      I’m so glad to hear you loved them, Joey! My family goes crazy for them in the cast iron skillet, too! 🙂

  3. eve Berg says:

    I would love to make this mix using almond flour and coconut sugar. Your thoughts please.

    1. Heidi says:

      I honestly haven’t ever tried those substitutes, Eve… but if you do, let me know how it turns out!

  4. Judee says:

    Doesn’t get easier than this! I’m collecting DIY ideas to make things with the grandkids this summer since there will be no camp. This is a good one. Thanks

    1. Heidi says:

      You’re very welcome, Judee… and that’s such a great idea! Have fun this Summer with your sweet grandkids! 🙂