Boxed brownie mixes offer a convenient solution for chocolate cravings, but not all mixes are created equal.
We conducted an extensive taste test on 12 different brands to find the best one, ensuring a fair evaluation based on flavor, texture, and overall enjoyment.
The Contenders
Our taste test included 12 brands: Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix, Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix, White Lily Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix, Birch Blenders Ultimate Fudge Brownie Mix, Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix, Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix, Bob’s Red Mill Fudgy Brownie Mix, 365 by Whole Foods Market Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix, Ghirardelli Ultimate Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix, Trader Joe’s Brownie Truffle Baking Mix, Ghirardelli Chocolate Supreme Brownie Mix, and Betty Crocker Supreme Original Brownie Mix. Each was evaluated for its chocolate flavor, texture, and overall appeal.
The Criteria
A great brownie should be packed full of intense chocolate flavor, with bittersweet notes of cocoa and a hint of salt. It should be fudgy and moist, with an almost underbaked softness in the center that’s not raw or gloopy. Ideally, it’s so delicious and chocolatey that you want to come back for a second bite or serving without feeling ill.
It should not be light and fluffy like cake, nor should it be crunchy or taste like sugar, corn syrup, or other sweeteners. It should not be dry or stale, especially if freshly baked, and definitely should not taste like artificial chocolate. Even if a boxed brownie isn’t perfect, its flavor and texture should at least create the illusion of being homemade.
Ghirardelli Ultimate Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix, 3.8/5
Almost every taster noted this brownie’s chocolatey flavor and fudginess. It had a glossy, paper-thin top and an attractive sheen. Sabrina described the corner pieces as having the “perfect crisp to gooey” ratio and thought it tasted like a “true homemade brownie.” Tess, our executive editorial director and resident chocolate hater, said it tasted like “someone soaked this batter in fudgey syrup first,” which sounds like a win for chocolate lovers everywhere.
Another taster found it too sweet, but gave it points for at least tasting like chocolate.
White Lily Chocolate Fudge Flavored Brownie, 3.45/5
This brownie mix had a shiny, crackly top and was very enticing to look at. Despite being labeled “fudge-flavored,” nobody remarked on it tasting artificial. Both Amanda and Sabrina complimented this brownie on its chewy, fudgy texture.
“It is exactly a perfectly stale bake sale offering,” Tess wrote, noting its nostalgic appeal.
Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge Brownie, 3.3/5
Two testers did not think this tasted like chocolate. Daniel wondered if there was carob in it, while Tess remarked on its strong marzipan flavor, which “far overpowered any sense of chocolate.”
Some tasters enjoyed its cake-like texture; Amanda thought it was “pillowy soft” but still a little chewy, and Tess had a slice that was “deliciously melt-ily fudgy.”
Bob’s Red Mill Fudgy Brownie Mix, 3.25/5
Some tasters thought this had a prominent cocoa flavor, while others believed it looked more chocolatey than it tasted. It resembled what a brownie should look like: crinkly and fudgy with cracks throughout the top.
“The brownie looks dark but it doesn’t taste that way,” Daniel wrote. “Imposter!” Almost everyone thought it was nice and chewy, though Amanda found it a little too soft and not chocolate-forward enough.
Two tasters described it as “fine.”
Ghirardelli Chocolate Supreme Premium Brownie Mix, 3.2/5
Chocolate supreme? Not for Daniel, who thought it could have been more chocolatey. Tess noted hints of cocoa and correctly guessed it to be Ghirardelli. Amanda thought it was a bit too sweet, but appreciated its “decent chew.”
While the top had nice cracking, it did not have the attractive sheen that many look for in a brownie.
Trader Joe’s Brownie Truffle Baking Mix, 3.08/5
Were we truly all eating the same brownie mix? It was difficult to be certain. The only commonality among tasters was that they considered it average.
“Kinda tastes like milk chocolate,” Sabrina said. Daniel described it as “tooth-achingly sweet” despite appreciating the “vague hint of fudge,” while Tess thought it was dense enough to sink if immersed in liquid.
Amanda, on the other hand, found it a bit too cake-y.
Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix, 3.08/5
Too sweet, too rich, but “at least this one starts with chocolate flavor,” Daniel mused.
Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix, 3/5
Several tasters described this brownie as “mild” while others thought it tasted artificially sweet. It wasn’t fudgy enough for our editors, who all noted they wanted more chew and chocolate flavor.
“Totally basic,” Daniel wrote.
Betty Crocker Supreme Original Brownie Mix, 2.9/5
To be transparent: Two editors rated this 4 out of 5, but Amanda gave it a 1 and tanked its score. Daniel, however, praised its fudginess and crinkly top, describing it as close to what he wanted in a brownie.
Tess enthusiastically wrote: “Platonic ideal of boxed brownie texture!!! Gummy and stretchy and substantial and fun.” Unfortunately, Amanda thought it was bad and would not eat it again.
Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix, 2.75/5
Amanda was the only one who truly enjoyed this. She could eat at least two of these and thought it was lovely, chewy, and tasted like chocolate.
Everyone else found it dry and much too cake-like, with not enough chocolate.
365 by Whole Foods Fudge Brownie Baking Mix, 2.5/5
365 by Whole Foods has not fared well in many of our taste tests and their brownie mix was no exception. “Minimal rise, maximum crunch” is generally not what you want in a brownie, nor do you typically look for “cardboard.”
Daniel thought it reminded him of lowbrow candy, while Tess tasted “not a thing.” This brownie did not have the signature crackly top we were looking for.
Birch Blenders Organic Ultimate Fudge Brownie Mix, 1.5/5
Unfortunately, none of our editors enjoyed the texture of this brownie. Almost everyone described it as dry and dense.
Sabrina said she would not eat it again, and Daniel expected this flavor from a pre-baked “‘brownie’ product,” but not from something you make at home—even if it came from a box.
Our Testing Methodology
All taste tests are conducted with brands completely hidden and without discussion among tasters that could influence results. Tasters sample in random order to prevent palate fatigue from giving any one sample an advantage.
Tasters fill out sheets ranking samples for various criteria. All data is tabulated and results are calculated without editorial input to provide the most impartial representation of the results possible.
After tasting a dozen brownies, it was clear that not all mixes are created equal. The highest-rated mixes offered strong chocolate flavors and desirable textures, further proving that the perfect brownie mix is out there.
No matter your preference, be it fudgy or chewy, there is a boxed brownie mix that can satisfy your craving.
Source: Seriouseats