Pastry Cook Shares Her Favorite Easy Ways to Upgrade Boxed Brownies

Most boxed brownies will call for a metal or glass baking pan, but there’s some room for edits here.

If you bake your brownie in a great cast-iron skillet, it’ll develop crispy edges and a gooey center that everyone can fight over.

To make perfectly portioned, single-serving brownies, use a muffin pan. These are great for on-the-go treats — even if you’re just going to the couch.

No matter what pan you use, just be sure to grease it with nonstick spray.

Any time I can add in a savory element to my desserts, I will.

Salty snacks like kettle chips, pretzels, almonds, or even Ritz crackers are a great way to balance out the sweetness in brownies while adding an extra bit of texture.

Plus, you can satisfy your sweet and savory cravings in one fell swoop.

For an extra kick of richness and a bit of flair, dollop teaspoons of nut butter on top of your unbaked brownies and swirl them into the batter with a chopstick or butter knife.

I prefer using unsweetened, salted peanut butter, but you can test out almond or pistachio butter. If you have a nut allergy or sensitivity, try swirling in some sunflower seed or granola butter.

The marbled effect of swirling the nut butter into the batter bakes up beautifully and takes just a few extra seconds of effort.

Chocolate and coffee are a dynamic duo.

If you want a subtle way to enhance the chocolate flavor of your brownies, add a teaspoon or two of espresso powder to the batter.

If you’re going for more of a mocha moment, replace the water in the box’s directions with brewed coffee.

Hot tip: Use decaf if the brownies are a late-night craving.

This story was originally published in February 2022 and most recently updated on May 29, 2025.