Blind Taste Test of Box Brownie Brands

Jul 14, 2024

Blind Taste Test: Box Brownie Brands by Professional Chefs

Overview

Three professional chefs conducted a blind taste test of various box brownie brands to evaluate their quality, flavor, and texture. Below are the key findings and detailed assessments of each brownie mix.

Evaluation Criteria for a Good Brownie

  • Intense Chocolate Flavor: Rich and flavorful, not flat or empty.
  • Texture: Preferably a firm edge and a softer center; can be cakey, fudgy, or dense.
  • Crackling Top: A desirable feature indicating proper sugar dissolution.
  • Moisture: Should retain moisture without being overly dry.
  • Ingredients: Preference for melted chocolate over cocoa powder for the fat content and smoother texture.

Brownie Mixes Evaluated

Pillsbury Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix

  • First Impressions: Nice thick brownies, lacking intense chocolate flavor.
  • Flavor and Texture: No strong chocolate smell; cakey with little air pockets, leading to a drier texture.
  • Summary: Adequate but lacks richness and is overly sweet for a dark chocolate brownie.

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix

  • First Impressions: Strong crackle, dense, and chocolate-forward.
  • Flavor and Texture: Includes chocolate chips, which disrupt the smooth texture but add crunch.
  • Summary: Favorably reviewed for its deep chocolate flavor and texture balance between crunch and fudginess.

Duncan Hines Milk Chocolate Brownie Mix

  • First Impressions: Lighter color, indicating milk chocolate; firm edge, softer center.
  • Flavor and Texture: Sweeter, with caramel notes; lacks crackly top; somewhat glistening due to fat content.
  • Summary: Suitable for those who like sweeter brownies, but not for intense chocolate lovers.

Jiffy Fudge Brownie Mix

  • First Impressions: Lacks crackly top, smells more of sugar than chocolate.
  • Flavor and Texture: Soft from edges to center; cakey and lacking in richness.
  • Summary: Inexpensive but underwhelming overall.

Great Value Fudge Brownie Mix

  • First Impressions: Rich, high, and thick; good firm edge, soft center ratio.
  • Flavor and Texture: Fluffy interior, well-mixed, slightly cakey.
  • Summary: Reasonably good for its price, decent chocolate flavor.

Trader Joe’s Brownie Truffle Baking Mix

  • First Impressions: No crackly top, very sweet, rich chocolate intensity.
  • Flavor and Texture: Fudgy, consistent firmness; fat content likely from butter.
  • Summary: Rich and enjoyable, but sweetness may be overpowering for some.

Williams-Sonoma Fudge Brownie Mix

  • First Impressions: Semi-crackly top, very dense, some chemical flavor.
  • Flavor and Texture: Crunchy chocolate pieces that stay hard; lacks balance in texture.
  • Summary: Generally failed to impress; too dense and expensive for the quality offered.

Betty Crocker and Hershey’s Triple Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix

  • First Impressions: Semi-sweet, chewy, and slightly cakey.
  • Flavor and Texture: Lots of chocolate chips, but not intense chocolate flavor; dry.
  • Summary: Falls short of the