If you love chocolate and enjoy homemade treats without a lot of fuss, brownies fill the bill. Brownie mixes are a convenient cupboard staple in many homes. Consumer Reports happily put them to the test to help you find ones that deliver delicious chocolaty treats.
Testers baked hundreds of brownies from 13 different mixes. Then trained taste testers evaluated them for texture as well as flavor. Included in the tests: two gluten-free mixes.
Consumer Reports says that if you have to go gluten-free, it’s nice to know that you have options. But the two gluten-free mixes tested were at the bottom of the ratings. They were kind of gritty and one had an almost bacon-like flavor.
For regular brownies, Barefoot Contessa Outrageous Brownie Mix rated excellent. The brownies are chewy and dense, with intense chocolate and buttery flavors. But you pay dearly at $10 a box. Trader Joe's Brownie Truffle Baking Mix also rated excellent, for $2.99.
