An easy Homemade Brownie Mix recipe! Just a handful of basic ingredients and you can have a jar in your pantry ready to go at all times (this is also an easy recipe to whip up in a pinch)! Make it for yourself, or give as a sweet gift this holiday season. Recipe includes printable gift tags/instructions and a how-to video!
If you’re scrambling for a last-minute gift idea, I’ve got you covered. Or, if you’re scrambling for a quick but decadent chocolate fix, I’ve still got you covered.
I know I’m scrambling right now (as I’m sure many of you are) because so many of my gifts that I ordered still haven’t arrived. While everyone will get their gifts eventually (hopefully?) instead of showing up empty-handed I’m prettily packaging some of my favorite gift-able desserts. If you need me tomorrow, I’ll be busy preparing dozens of Hot Chocolate Bombs, my Christmas Cookie Gift Jars, homemade Peanut Brittle for my brother-in-law, and this easy but delicious homemade brownie mix.
If you’re not in need of a gift, it’s great just to make for yourself, too. Homemade brownie mix is perfect to whip up, toss in a Ziploc bag, and just have on hand for whenever a chocolate craving strikes (and no excuse for store-bought brownie mix ever again!).
What is the Difference in This Recipe and Your Best Brownie Recipe
I’m borderline obsessed with my best brownie recipe. It’s chocolatey, fudgy, and incredible, but I wanted something super quick, fast, and easy for when I needed to satisfy a chocolate craving in a pinch.
All while still being absolutely, deliciously, can’t-eat-just-one irresistible.
This recipe ticks all the brownie-boxes, but it’s a bit less dark (which my husband prefers as he doesn’t particularly care for dark chocolate) and a bit less fudgy (it’s still fudgy, though!).
What You Need
We have two sets of ingredients we’re working with today. First is the ingredients you need to make the actual brownie mix. You’ll need:
- Flour. Use all-purpose (plain) flour. It may seem like a small amount (and it is), but this is critical for chocolatey, fudgy brownies that nearly melt in your mouth.
- Sugar. While I love using brown sugar in my brownie recipes whenever I can, the moisture makes it difficult to evenly mix all of the ingredients together. Don’t worry, you won’t miss it here!
- Cocoa powder. I use natural unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Baking Powder. Just a pinch helps keep the brownies from being so dense that they actually seem like fudge. A tiny bit of baking powder adds a smidge of lightness (just a smidge!) for the perfect consistency.
- Salt. for flavor of course.
- Chocolate chips. These are an optional ingredient, and keep in mind if you’re storing the brownie mix in a pint-sized mason jar they won’t fit, so you’ll need to use a larger container. I like semisweet chocolate chips, but use your favorite flavor (or try M&Ms!).
Then, of course, there are the ingredients that you’ll add later when you’re ready to bake your brownies. You need just three things:
- Melted butter. I wrote this recipe using salted butter which isn’t my usual preference but when I shared my cookie mix in a jar I received a lot of feedback that most gift recipients of the jars kept salted butter in the fridge only. I wrote this recipe with that in mind (your comments matter, I read them all!). If you want to use unsalted butter, just bump the salt in the mix recipe up to ½ teaspoon instead.
- Two large eggs.
- Vanilla extract. If you don’t want the recipient (or yourself!) to have to add vanilla later, you can always whisk 1 teaspoon of vanilla powder into the mix instead.
Write the ingredients above and the (brief) instructions on a tag or print my free printable tags that I linked to in the recipe.
For the full instructions please scroll down to the bottom of the post!
Frequently Asked Questions
Ultimately it depends on the expiration date of your ingredients. However, most of the ingredients called for have a long shelf life and you should be able to store this homemade brownie mix for a minimum of 3 months.
Honestly, if I’m just making this to store in my own pantry I often use a Ziploc bag. You could also use any airtight container.
If I’m giving as a gift I like to use pint sized mason jars (or 1 ½ pint jars if I want to include chocolate chips in the mix).
You can add up to one teaspoon of instant coffee into the brownie mix to enrich the chocolate flavor. Add a bit more (or some espresso powder) if you’re looking for a mocha flavor!
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Enjoy!
Let’s bake together! Make sure to check out the how-to VIDEO in the recipe card!
Homemade Brownie Mix
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar (250g)
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour (83g)
- ½ cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder (50g)
- ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips optional, these will not fit in a pint sized mason jar
To be added when you are ready to bake the brownies:
- 8 Tablespoons salted butter melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Recommended Equipment
- You will need pint sized mason jars for the brownie mix or 1 ½ pint jars if you wish to include chocolate chips. See note.
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- Pour mixture into a pint-sized mason jar (or container of your choice), or if using chocolate chips pour into 1 ½ pint-sized jars, tamp down with a spoon, and then fill to the brim with chocolate chips. Cover and attach a tag with the following instructions:
Instructions for Baking Brownie Mix
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Pour brownie mix in bowl and add melted butter, eggs, and vanilla.
- Stir very well and spread into a lightly greased 8×8” or 9×9” pan.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes in 8×8” pan or 23-25 minutes for 9×9”.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Vena
Hi Sam
Can you also layer the brownie mix when putting it in a jar as a gift?
Sam
Hi Vena! You can but I experimented with it and it didn’t look that great since there’s a lot of white and just one brown ingredient.
Anwar
hey ,thank you for the recipe
Can you tell me how to store this mix because it has chocolate and what if it melts and it turns up into one big lump
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Anwar! You’ll want to store it in a cool, dry place. A pantry or kitchen cabinet (away from the stove or oven) works best. Hope that helps!
Lynn N.
This is such a great gift idea and the perfect size for a smaller family.
Ashley @ Sugar Spun Run
Happy you enjoyed the gift idea, Lynn! It really is something sweet to receive. 🙂
Seth
Could I use this to make a skillet brownie in a mini (3.5″) skillet? I really want to try this but I can’t find a recipe for it.
Sam
Hi Seth! I haven’t tried it but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. I’m not sure how long it will need to cook, or how much batter you will need. 🙂
Jenn
Sending a brownie itself as a gift will be more appropriate…. Not many have the same size pan as we do…. they may end up spending more money to buy:
Pan
Parchment paper
Butter
Chocolate chips
Eggs.
Worst of all, some may not even have an appropriate oven to bake.
Personal opinions here….
Sam
I suppose you would have to know the gift recipient and use discernment. But generally that is my opinion anytime you are gift-giving.
Wade
A suitable egg substitute would be 2 Tbs chia seeds soaked in 6 Tbs of water for 5 minutes
(until the mixture becomes gel-like consistency). Then use in place of the 2 eggs.
Anusha
Hi can you suggest a substitute for eggs. I don’t eat eggs ..what about milk with a spoon of vinegar. Can you please let know.
Sam
Unfortunately I don’t know of a good egg substitute here. 🙁
Stella
hi Anusha! you can use 1/4 cup of apple sauce or 1/2 of mushed banana for every egg called for in a recipe.
Annabel
I just made 3 of these for family and can’t wait to gift it to them! Thank you, I know they will love it!
Tell Luke I say Merry Christmas to you and your family, and a (hopefully less hectic) new year!
Sam
Thank you so much! 🙂
Cheri
What is the quantity of chips if added?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Cheri! The chocolate chips are in the recipe card along with all the other ingredients. Hope that helps!
Paula
Have not made this yet, but wanted to take this moment to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Blessed New Year!!!!
Sam
Thank you! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family as well! 🙂
Larry
Can you use oil instead of melted butter?
How would you make them more cake like and less gooey?
Sam
I personally wasn’t very happy with the results using oil so I don’t recommend it. You can add more flour to make them more cakey.
Napsi
Such a lovely idea! I love edible gifts <3
Sam
Me too! Thank you, Napsi! 🙂
Judy Kizler
Excellent! A keeper in any cook’s book. BTW was happy to see Rumford baking powder in the photo. It has no aluminum in it, as do other brands. More expensive, true, but reasonable at Walmart. Keep ’em coming, Sam.
Sam
Thank you so much, Judy! 🙂
Mary
If I wanted to make a 13 x 9 pan, should I just double the recipe or use a recipe and a half?
Sam
Hi Mary! You would probably need to increase the recipe by 50%. 🙂