Brownie Mix Makeover

Basic Brownie Mix

Makes 16 brownies
You’ll need: 8” square metal baking pan or 10 half-pint jars

INGREDIENTS
1 1/4 sticks butter, cubed
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line baking pan with parchment paper or grease jars.
2. Combine butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt in a heatproof bowl and set on top of a pot of boiling water. Stir occasionally until butter is melted and mixture is smooth and hot throughout. Remove bowl, and cool until warm (if it’s too hot, the eggs will curdle when you add them).
3. Using a wooden spoon, stir in vanilla. Add one egg, stir vigorously, and repeat for second egg, stirring until batter is thick and smooth.
4. Add flour and stir until well blended, then beat vigorously for 40 more strokes.
5. Pour batter into baking dish or scoop about 1/4 cup into each half-pint jar.
6. Baking time depends on the baking dish. Generally, an 8” square baking dish will bake in 20 to 25 minutes, and half-pint jars in 10 to 15 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Quick Tip

Take delight in cooking and eating, because cleaning can wait. Cascade® Platinum is Cascade's ultimate clean for dishes, and even helps keep the dishwasher sparkling. Get better tough food cleaning, better film prevention on glasses and hard water film prevention on the dishwasher.

Brownie Mix Makeovers

To take your standard brownie from good to amazing, try one of these tasty ideas. They’ll work with homemade batter or a boxed mix from the store! To earn extra brownie points for presentation, bake them in jars.

• S’mores in a Jar: Combine 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs and 4 tablespoons melted butter and press into bottom of baking pan or jars. Bake for 7 minutes at 325°F, then top with batter and bake as directed above. Top with chocolate chips and mini marshmallows, then place under the broiler for just under a minute to toast the marshmallows. Keep a close eye on them to avoid burning.
• Turtle Brownies: Bake a layer of brownies according to instructions. Top with melted caramel candies and crushed pecans.
• Mint Ice Cream & Brownie Cups: Bake a layer of brownies in each jar. Let cool, then add a scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream and a dollop of whipped cream. Garnish with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies.
• Brownie Lava Cakes: Pour half of batter into jars, add a square of high-quality chocolate to each and cover with remaining batter. Bake as directed above.
• Cheesecake Brownies: Fill jars halfway with batter, then fill remainder with cheesecake batter (beat together 8 ounces cream cheese, 1/3 cup granulated sugar and 1 egg). Add a spoonful of brownie batter and swirl into the cheesecake layer. Bake as directed above.