I’m all about saving money. I recently discovered that, at least where I’m from, it’s cheaper to buy a box of off brand brownie mix than it is to make it from scratch with cocoa powder. So now I make brownies from the box all the time. But sometimes I like to spice up my brownies with something new, much to my husband’s chagrin. He is a brownie purist and desires that every time I make brownies, I make them normal, without anything added or changed. I don’t always make my husband happy because I love switching things up.
When making brownies one tip I highly recommend doing is coating your pan with oil or butter then shaking cocoa powder to coat the butter or oil. This will ensure your brownies come out of the pan perfectly every time.
Here is a huge list of ways to take your brownies to the next level.
Related: Fluffernutter Cookies
Mixed In
Spice It Up
Start with a teaspoon and add as much as you like.
- Salt
- Mint
- Cinnamon
- Cardamom
- Paprika
- Ginger
- Cayenne pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Chili powder
- Jalapeno peppers
Related: Rocky Road Fudge
Candies
Add your favorite candy to the middle of the brownies, or crush them and spread them throughout.
- Reese’s
- Peppermint patties
- Carmel’s
- Toffee bits
- Rolos
- Red hots
- Mini m&m’s
- Any other candy bar you love.
Baking Staples
- Chocolate chips
- Peanut butter chips
- White chocolate chips
- Butterscotch chips
- Mint chocolate chips
- Almond extract
- Peppermint extract
- Orange extract
- Sprinkles
Make Them Healthier
- Spinach
- Black beans
- Zucchini
- Banana
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Cherries
- Pecans
- Pistachios
- Peanuts
- Cashews
- Walnuts
- Pine nuts
- Coconut
- Raisins
- Freeze dried strawberries
- Orange juice /zest
Change The Brownies
To change up the way that your brownies are, try any of the following.
- Pumpkin Puree instead of oil
- Heavy cream instead of milk
- Melted butter instead of oil
- Extra cocoa powder (1/4 a cup)
- Corn starch (1 tbsp)
- Extra egg
- Espresso (1 tbsp)
Swirl Ins
For the following, drop some on top of the brownie batter already in the pan, and use a knife to swirl it in to your brownie batter.
- Peanut butter
- Cream cheese
- Nutella
- Raspberry jam
- Grape jelly
- Marshmallow fluff
- Cheesecake batter
- Chocolate pudding
Other
- Cookie dough – add small balls throughout the batter
- Oreos- crush them or add a layer on the bottom
- Hot fudge- add it to the batter
- Irish cream liquor
- Fireball whisky
On Top
- Powdered sugar
- Nuts
- Whipped cream
- Crushed Peppermint
- Pretzels
- Potato chips
- Icing
- Ice cream
- Melted chocolate
- Buckeye paste & chocolate
- Peanut butter frosting
Specific Combinations
Try these specific combinations to upscale your basic brownies.
- Walnuts & caramel
- Graham crackers & marshmallows
- Coconut & pecans
- Raspberries & cream cheese
- Cranberries & walnuts
- White chocolate mini Reese’s & vanilla & cinnamon
- Cookie dough then Oreos then the batter on top
My favorite way to eat brownies is with peanut butter!
