Thank you to all who recommended Ghirardelli brownie mix -- so good!

[Anonymous]

You can sneak in a vegetable by making the mix with a can of pumpkin puree. But the other additions are more fun.

[Anonymous]

It also makes good cookies-- last time we had a party several people asked me for the recipe.

[Anonymous]

You can add chocolate chip cookie dough on top to make “brookies”: https://ourbestbites.com/brookies/
Just tried this for the first time — as in, I just pulled them out of my oven and it looks and smells delicious!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there any other tricks with this mix. I've used it for a long time and am bored. I've never tried anything other than the cream cheese addition.

Yes. Substitute the water it calls for with coffee (I just use what’s left in the pot from that morning) or red wine. Deepens the chocolate flavor.

I thought about doing this but it's already a pretty rich dark flavor. Does 1/2 cup coffee really much difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:triple chocolate is my favorite but double will do in a pinch.

What's the diff?

Double is brownie mix and a fudge packet. Triple is that plus chocolate chips.

Incorrect double has chips..not fudge packet. Triple has the fudge packet. We did not notice a huge difference and use double.

[Anonymous]

I’ve posted about this before, but I add 1 tablespoon of espresso powder to the batter and ice with a whipped espresso buttercream (any of the flavors of mix). You would think they came from the finest bakery in the world the way people rave.

[Anonymous]

Have been using the dark chocolate one for years. Nothing compares.

[Anonymous]

the one with caramel and pecans is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can sneak in a vegetable by making the mix with a can of pumpkin puree. But the other additions are more fun.

But why? They are brownies. I'm all for sneaking vegetables in sauces and pastas but not desserts. Just don't. Pumpkin purée has its place but these brownies are already perfect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to make them healthier and eat less of them, add a can of black beans (drained)

Why would we want to do that

I tried it once and it was sooooo disgusting. We threw out the whole batch. No one would eat it. I feel like the people who say "you don't even notice the beans!" must either have forgotten what brownies taste like, or have really dull palates. I 100% tasted the beans, as did the rest of my family who didn't know there were beans in it. (They just said "These brownies are bad. They taste weird.")

[Anonymous]

I think people who are going to sneak beans into their brownies should also be required to sneak chocolate into their salads and icing onto their sprout sandwiches. If you're going to have dogs and cats living together, THEN DO IT, this is not a one way tunnel but a back and forth relationship so get on it, please.

[Anonymous]

Beans in the brownies... is u crazy?

WTF?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beans in the brownies... is u crazy?

WTF?

About a decade ago, the health writer for the WaPo kept promoting this and insisting that it tasted just as good. I had a picky preschooler so I tried it, and then never believed a word she said after that. I see it occasionally on food blogs, which is one of the many reasons I don't trust random food blogs.

Another one that got me was the chocolate pudding made with avocado which some bloggers insisted tasted just like chocolate pudding. It does not. It tastes like someone poured Hershey's syrup into your guacamole. Which is not the same as the "you got your chocolate in my peanut butter! You got your peanut butter in my chocolate!" happy accident of yore.

[Anonymous]

I did the black beans in the brownies a couple of times and thought it was pretty good. I wouldn't generally spring it on someone who was unsuspecting, though I am tempted to give them to my daughter and see if she notices. I love brownies, but can see why it might be nice to make them a bit healthier.

One thing I hate: cakey brownies. The ones that are light brown. What's the damn point? Brownies should be fudgey and gooey. I hate blondies too. (and don't get me started on chocolate chip cookie "cakes." just no.)

[Anonymous]

while we're sort of on the subject.... has anyone else tried the chocolate hummus? I was super skeptical but had to try it, and thought it was pretty good. We put it on graham crackers or cinnamon pita chips.