The Best Use for Brownie Mix Is Not Brownies

I can always find a reason to make brownies. First day of school? Yes, the perfect time for brownies! Big work project deadline looming? Time to make brownies! Those chocolate-loaded bars are always my dessert of choice, and while I like them just the way they are, I also enjoy playing around with the recipe. Recently, I’ve figured out a way to turn my favorite box mix into brownie brittle. It’s a perfectly crunchy interpretation that I think you’ll love and it happens to make for a great gift, too. 

You might be wondering, “Why should I turn brownies into brittle?” Well, perhaps you’ve had the store-bought version of brownie brittle? It’s delicious, but also kind of expensive, considering how small the bag is. Luckily, you can make it home for a fraction of the price without much effort, thanks to my boxed mix shortcut. The other bonus to making your own is that you get to decide the toppings, which means so much more than chocolate chips. Choose from crushed peppermint, butterscotch chips, or chopped cookies or candy bars. You can even use this recipe to create the perfect holiday gift. Wrap up some brittle and give a bag to the host of the party, your favorite teacher or that person who has everything, but homemade brownie brittle.

How to Make Brownie Brittle

My brownie brittle recipe begins in the best possible way: with a box of brownie mix. I suggest you use your favorite brand for best results. Next, you’ll need to gather a large egg white, some water, some oil, butter, and a cup full of toppings. Choose from pretzels, chocolate chips, nuts, or your favorite candy—this recipe is truly endlessly adaptable. Then it’s as simple as mixing the ingredients together and spreading them out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with your topping of choice and bake for 20 minutes. Let it cool slightly, then slice into squares, rectangles or any shape of your choice, then send it back to the oven for a few minutes. Transfer the brittle to a wire rack and let cool before enjoying.

Tips for Making Homemade Brownie Brittle

• A basic brownie mix is best. Fudge brownies are delicious, but in my testing, regular brownie mix resulted in a crispier brownie brittle. 
• Use butter and oil. Maybe using both seems excessive, but I love butter, and I like my boxed brownies to taste like my homemade version, which uses butter. Yes, you can skip the butter and use all oil, but again, butter is so good, why not use it?
• Cool completely. You can absolutely eat the brownie brittle a few minutes after it comes out of the oven, but it won’t firm up to brittle status until at least 15 to 20 minutes of sitting on your counter. For the full brittle experience, wait and then crunch away.
• Make extra. It’s such an easy recipe and if you make extra, you’ll have the perfect gift on hand for anyone and any occasion.

Ingredients:

• 1 large egg white
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
• 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
• 1 (18-ounce) box brownie mix 
• 1 cup toppings of your choice: pretzels, chocolate chips, peppermints, chopped nuts
• 1/4 cup white chocolate chips, melted

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. 
2. Mix the egg white, water, oil, and melted butter in a large bowl until well combined. Add the brownie mix and stir until just combined. 
3. Add batter to the prepared baking sheet and spread out into a rectangle, about 1/4-inch thick. Add toppings of your choice.
4. Bake until the edges are firm and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove brownies from oven and turn down the oven temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
5. Let brownies cool slightly then transfer them with the parchment paper to a cutting board and slice into squares or wedges. Return the brownies to the baking sheet and bake until firm, about 5 to 10 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack and drizzling with chocolate.