Homemade brownies straight from the oven are hard to beat. Instead of reaching for a boxed mix, make your own Homemade Brownie Mix and keep it on the shelf for when a chocolate craving hits. This simple pantry-style mix yields rich, fudgy brownies whenever you want.
Ingredients to Have on Hand
Chocolate-based desserts rely on a few dependable staples. The ingredients for this Homemade Brownie Mix are easy to store and keep ready for quick baking sessions.
- Flour
- Sugar
- Cocoa powder
- Vanilla extract
- Butter
Scroll to the recipe card below for exact measurements and full directions.
No Salt, No Baking Powder
Surprisingly, this brownie mix does not need salt or baking powder. While salt often enhances chocolate flavor, the proportions in this mix deliver plenty of chocolate intensity on their own, so you can leave those seasonings in the cupboard.
Easy to Make Brownies
Scratch-made brownies are superior to boxed mixes in flavor and texture. This Homemade Brownie Mix gives you the convenience of a pre-made mix but is assembled from pantry ingredients. It’s one of the simplest brownie recipes you’ll make — minimal steps, fantastic results.
If you enjoy simple, high-flavor desserts, try other easy recipes that rely on few ingredients but big taste.
Great for Gifts
Bundled in a jar, this brownie mix makes a thoughtful, useful gift for neighbors, teachers, hosts, or friends who appreciate homemade treats. Pair it with a small bottle of vanilla extract for an extra-special touch, especially for someone who may not bake from scratch often.
Including baking directions on a tag or card makes it easy for the recipient to bake the brownies right away.
Frosting or No Frosting
These brownies are chewy and fudgy and taste wonderful with or without frosting. They’re rich and satisfying as-is, but if your family prefers a chocolate or vanilla frosting, feel free to spread a layer on top after the brownies have cooled.
Homemade Brownie Mix Storage
Stored dry in a tightly sealed jar or container, the mix will stay usable for as long as the individual ingredients’ expiration dates allow. In practice, I suggest using the freshest flour, sugar, and cocoa you can find, and the mix will keep well in the pantry for about 3–6 months.
Pro Tip: Buy or use fresh dry ingredients shortly before making the mix to ensure the best flavor and shelf life.
Recipe FAQs
I don’t recommend substituting shortening for butter in this brownie recipe. Shortening lacks the flavor and moisture profile of butter. If you need an alternative, margarine is a closer substitute than shortening.
A quart-sized jar is ideal. Any sealed container or bag that holds about 4 cups will work well.
Pro Tip: If gifting the mix, attach a tag with the additional ingredients and baking instructions so the recipient can bake the brownies easily.
What to Write on a Gift Tag
Copy or write these instructions on a card to include with the jar:
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 13″x9″ baking pan or spray with nonstick spray.
- Combine the brownie mix with 1 cup melted butter, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, and 4 eggs.
- Stir until combined, pour into the pan, and bake 24–30 minutes or until the edges pull away from the pan.
- Remove from the oven and 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 countless meetings. He reports they’re often more popular than he is, and he makes many batches every year. The recipe here keeps Byron’s ingredient list and instructions, with the added option to store the dry mix for later use.
Note: The recipe has only been adapted to show how to package it as a mix; the original ingredients and method belong to Byron.
Cookies and Treats
If you like homemade brownies, try other classic treats for variety and sharing.
-
Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chip Bars -
Old-Fashioned Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
-
Homemade Brownie Mix
-
Molasses Snaps (Vegan Cookies)
If you try this Homemade Brownie Mix or any recipe here, please leave a star rating and share your experience in the comments below.
Recipe
Homemade Brownie Mix
Ingredients
Brownie Mix Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup flour
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
Additional Ingredients
- 1 cup butter – melted (2 sticks)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 eggs
Instructions
To Make Brownie Mix
- Combine the sugar, cocoa powder, and flour in a large bowl and whisk until evenly blended.
- Spoon or pour the dry mix into a clean quart-sized jar or any tightly covered container. Label and store or gift.
- If baking immediately rather than storing the mix, whisk the dry ingredients, then add the additional ingredients and bake as directed below.
To Make Homemade Brownies with the Mix
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 13″x9″ baking pan or spray with nonstick spray.
- Combine the brownie mix with 1 cup melted butter, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, and 4 eggs. Stir to combine.
- Pour 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 cool completely before cutting into bars.
Notes
You do not need salt or baking powder for this brownie mix. The recipe is formulated to deliver rich chocolate flavor without those additions.
Nutrition
Please note: nutrition details are estimates from a food database and should be considered approximate.