Better Than Box Mix Brownies from Persnickety Plates

Better Than Box Mix Brownies - made February 1, 2023 from Persnickety Plates

1 cup butter, room temperature
2 1/4 cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs

1 1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 9 x 13-inch pan with foil and lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a small pot, melt butter over medium heat. When melted, add sugar and whisk until combined. Continue cooking for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Do not let boil.
3. Remove from heat and pour into large mixing bowl. Add cocoa powder and whisk to combine.
4. Add eggs, salt, baking powder and vanilla extract. Mix until completely combined.
5. Add flour and mix to combine. Fold in chocolate chips.
6. Pour into an even layer into prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Do not overbake. Let cool completely before cutting.

These did live up to their name that they're better than box mix brownies. But in all honesty, I don't like the artificial taste of box mix brownies so it was a low bar.

They were good, chewy, not quite cakey but not as dense or fudgy as my go-to brownie recipe. The chocolate flavor is also not as rich. They're essentially cocoa brownies because that's where the chocolate flavor comes from. Unlike the Oreo Brownies which also relies on cocoa powder for the flavor, these weren't as rich. These use more cocoa in proportion to the other ingredients so it seems a little more dry, even though I underbaked them.

As you can see from the pictures, I omitted the chocolate chips in these brownies. I wanted to taste them plain. Plus, unless they're melty, I don't enjoy the solidity of chocolate chips inside my brownies. It's a texture thing.