Homemade brownies fresh from the oven are hard to beat. You don’t need a boxed mix to get rich, fudgy brownies—make your own Homemade Brownie Mix from pantry staples and enjoy warm brownies whenever the craving hits.
Ingredients to Have on Hand
Chocolate is a wonderful base for many classic desserts. The dry components for this homemade brownie mix are simple pantry staples and easy to keep on hand.
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Cocoa powder
- Vanilla extract (for baking)
- Butter
Scroll down to the recipe card for a complete list of ingredients and exact measurements.
No Salt, No Baking Powder
Surprisingly, this brownie mix does not require salt or baking powder. While salt often enhances chocolate flavor in many recipes, this mix produces rich, fudgy brownies without any added salt or chemical leavening.
Easy to Make Brownies
Scratch-made brownies are far superior to boxed mixes. This Homemade Brownie Mix gives you the convenience of a premade mix while using ingredients already in your kitchen. It’s one of the simplest brownie recipes you can make and yields reliably delicious results.
If you enjoy easy, small-ingredient desserts, try other simple treats that rely on a few high-quality ingredients for great flavor.
Great for Gifts
This homemade mix stores well in a sealed jar and makes a thoughtful, edible gift for neighbors, teachers, or hosts. Package the dry mix in a clean jar and tuck a small bottle of vanilla extract inside for an extra-special touch—especially helpful for someone who may not bake often.
Include simple baking instructions and the list of extra ingredients to make it easy for the recipient to bake the brownies.
Frosting or No Frosting
These brownies are chewy and fudge-like and are delicious plain or frosted. They’re sweet and chocolaty as-is, but if you prefer a layer of chocolate or vanilla frosting, feel free to add it once the brownies have cooled.
Homemade Brownie Mix Storage
The dry brownie mix will remain fresh as long as the individual ingredients are in date. For best results, buy flour, sugar, and cocoa powder shortly before you prepare the mix to ensure freshness.
Pro Tip: Store the mix in a sealed jar in the pantry. The mix should keep well for about 3–6 months.
Recipe FAQs
Shortening is quite different from butter. Shortening contains no water and has little flavor, while butter contributes both butterfat and moisture and adds important flavor to brownies. For best taste and texture, use butter. Margarine is a closer substitute than shortening if you need one.
A quart-sized jar works well. Any sealed container or bag that holds about 4 cups will be fine.
Pro Tip: If gifting the mix, attach a card or label with the list of extra ingredients and baking instructions so the recipient can easily bake the brownies.
What to Write on a Gift Tag
Copy these directions onto a label or recipe card to include with a jar of mix.
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 13″x9″ baking pan or spray with cooking spray.
- Combine the brownie mix with 1 cup melted butter, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, and 4 eggs.
- Stir until just combined.
- Pour into the prepared pan and bake 24–30 minutes, or until the edges begin to pull away from the pan.
- Remove from the oven and let cool before cutting into bars.
The Inspiration for Homemade Brownie Mix
This recipe was shared by Byron Yankey, a longtime educator who brought these brownies to many meetings over the years. He says they were often more welcome than he was, and he estimates he makes about 100 batches a year. Thanks to him for sharing this reliable family favorite. The recipe here has been adapted only to add the option of preparing and storing the mix; the ingredient list and baking directions are Byron’s.
Recipe
Homemade Brownie Mix
Homemade brownies are rich and fudgy straight from the oven. This mix saves time and stores well, so you can bake brownies whenever you like. Prepare the dry mix to keep in the pantry or spoon it directly into a bowl if you plan to bake right away.
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes Servings: 12
Ingredients
Brownie Mix Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Additional Ingredients (to bake)
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs
Instructions
To Make the Dry Brownie Mix
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, and flour until evenly combined.
- Transfer the dry mix to a clean, quart-sized jar or any airtight container. Seal, label, and store or give as a gift.
- If you plan to bake immediately, proceed to add the wet ingredients below instead of storing the mix.
To Bake Brownies from the Mix
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 13″x9″ baking pan or spray with nonstick spray.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the dry brownie mix with 1 cup melted butter, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, and 4 large eggs. Stir until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 24–30 minutes, or until the edges begin to pull away from the sides of the pan.
- Remove from the oven and allow the brownies to cool before cutting into bars.
Notes
You do not need salt or baking powder for this recipe. The mix yields rich brownies with a chewy, fudgy texture without added salt or leavening.
Nutrition (per serving, approximate)
- Calories: 338 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
Please note: nutrition values are estimates calculated from a food database and should be used as a general guide.
More Cookies and Treats
Here are a few more easy sweets to try if you enjoy baking:
- Old-Fashioned Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Bars inspired by classic cookie bars
- Molasses Snaps (a simple vegan cookie)
If you tried this Homemade Brownie Mix or any recipe here, please leave a star rating and share how it turned out in the comments below.