Homemade Brownie Mix

A rich, fudgy brownie mix built entirely from pantry staples. Keep a jar ready and you're one bowl and 30 minutes from warm brownies, no boxed mix required.

What You Need

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch-process for deeper flavor)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• Optional: ½ teaspoon instant espresso powder (deepens the chocolate flavor without tasting like coffee)

Method

1. Whisk all the dry ingredients together until evenly combined and no cocoa streaks remain.
2. Store in an airtight jar until ready to bake.
3. To bake: melt ½ cup (1 stick) butter and mix with 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir in the dry mix until just combined.
4. Spread into a greased 8x8-inch pan.
5. Bake at 350°F for 22–28 minutes, until the center is just set and a toothpick has a few moist crumbs.

Tips & Notes

• For fudgier brownies, pull them at 22 minutes; for cakier ones, bake closer to 28.
• Fold in chocolate chips or walnuts when mixing in the wet ingredients — keep them out of the dry jar so it stores longer.
• Dutch-process cocoa gives a darker color and mellower flavor than natural cocoa powder; either works.

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