The $5 Boxed Brownie Mix I Wish I Tried Sooner (It’s “Even Better Than Homemade”)

I am a dessert person through and through. Give me that dessert menu. Yes, I’d love to go for ice cream. I bake every weekend. It often feels like my world may revolve around dessert (and the next time I’ll get to enjoy it), and I’m okay with that. I love all shapes and sizes, and while I don’t like to pick favorites, if I had to, chocolate and peanut butter would win each and every time. 

So, when I was doing my latest grocery shop, I, like I always do, took an extra lap around the baking section, and my eyes immediately went toward a bright orange — almost illuminating — box of Betty Crocker Reese’s Brownie Mix. Brownies, chocolate, peanut butter — what could be better?! Of course I snagged a box and immediately drove home to try them out for myself.  

After a bit of sleuthing, I found that they have actually been in stores for at least a few months, but this is the first that I’ve seen them (and my local Publix even had a new label for them, so folks, they are new to me!). This recent collaboration from Betty Crocker combines the baking brand’s classic brownies with the equally as iconic Reese’s peanut butter chips for the ultimate chocolate peanut butter dessert. 

The baking mix comes in vibrant orange 16-ounce boxes, which is the equivalent of an 8×8-inch brownie pan (according to the box). The instructions call for one egg, ⅓ cup of vegetable oil, and a few tablespoons of water to bake. It’s available at select retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Instacart.

I don’t even want to tease my review to you, that’s how good these brownies are — I almost don’t want you to spend a minute longer reading this, and instead rush to your local grocery store to try them out for yourself, because these brownies are EVERYTHING! 

For those who are interested in the full report: This was my first time baking with a Betty Crocker brownie mix (I know!), and the ingredients and instructions were clear and mixed together with ease. After 35 or so minutes in the oven, the brownies came out of the oven fudgy with crisp corners (just the way I like them). They smelled so good — like a melted Reese’s cup, so I waited as long as I could (approximately 5 minutes) before going right in.  

After one bite I audibly exclaimed! These brownies are sweet — but not too sweet — and the peanut butter chips melt right into the batter like fudge. It tastes like a soft, giant Reese’s cup! My only qualm was that they weren’t as thick as I’d like (I love a hefty brownie), so maybe next time I’d do two boxes in an 8×8-inch pan. But for now, I just stacked them to get that thick brownie feeling that I love.  

Buy: Betty Crocker Reese’s Brownie Mix, $5.99 for 16 ounces at Instacart

Have you tried Reese’s brownie mix? Tell us about it in the comments below.