I'm a former pastry cook. Here are 6 of my favorite easy ways to upgrade a box of brownie mix.

• Try adding flavored extracts or a mix of salty snacks to your brownie batter.
• Chopped pieces of chocolate or a bit of coffee can also make brownies even tastier.

If you’re going for more of a mocha moment, replace the water in the box’s directions with brewed coffee.

Hot tip: Use decaf if you’re craving brownies late at night.

This story was originally published in February 2022 and most recently updated on July 1, 2026.