Supermarket Standoff: Store-Bought Brownie Mix

Supermarket Standoff: Store-Bought Brownie Mix

We have embarked on a taste test tour of supermarket foods. We nibble, we score, and we share the results to help you avoid the paralysis of Brand Choice Overload. Today's topic: brownie mix.

Depending on the food, we occasionally have to twist arms to get everyone to show up for our taste tests. But not this time. All hands were on deck to taste nine brands of brownie mixes cut into bite-size pieces.

While we nibbled and scored, nutritionist Marissa Lippert pored over the package labels. We strongly believe that homemade brownies made from scratch are almost always better--and better for you--than store-bought versions. In a pinch, though, it's good to know how things stack up in the aisles of your local grocery store. Find both our picks for taste and Lippert's picks for health below.

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Our Favorites for Flavor

#1 Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix

Nutrition: One serving (28 g mix, unprepared) = 110 calories, 2.5 g Total fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 85 mg sodium, 16 g sugars, 1 g protein, 4% iron.

Ingredients: Sugar, enriched bleached flour (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), cocoa processed with alkali and cocoa, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, contains 2% or less of: corn starch, salt, natural and artificial flavor, baking soda, soy lecithin.

Cost: $3.09 for a 19.5-oz box at Fairway Market in New York City.

Blind Tasting Notes: "Sweet, moist"; "Moist and soft"; "Good solid brownie"; "Kind of salty".

#2 Trader Joe's Brownie Truffle Baking Mix

Nutrition: One serving (3 Tbsp brownie mix, not prepared) = 120 calories, 2.5 g total fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 70 mg sodium, 16 g sugars, 1 g protein, 6% iron.

Ingredients: Sugar, chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), unbleached enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, may contain malted barley flour), cocoa (processed with alkali), wheat starch, soybean oil, salt, leavening (sodium bicarbonate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate).

Cost: $2.99 for a 16-oz box in New York City.

Blind Tasting Notes: "Almost coconut-y"; "Delicious! Nutty, chocolate-y, very rich"; "Good chocolate taste with the right amount of sweetness"; "Cakey and sweet"; "Soft, light, fluffy".

#3 Baked All Natural Deep Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix

Nutrition: One serving (45 g mix, unprepared) = 190 calories, 5 g total fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 160 mg sodium, 27 g sugars, 2 g protein, 8% iron.

Ingredients: Sugar, unbleached enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), brown sugar, cocoa (processed with alkali), sea salt, natural vanilla powder, canola oil (ascorbic acid and rosemary added to preserve freshness), coffee powder, chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla extract, salt).

Cost: $16 for a 1 lb 15.6-oz box at Williams-Sonoma in New York City.

Blind Tasting Notes: "Great texture, good flavor"; "Deep chocolate flavor"; "Whoa, butter. Pretty awesome, though"; "Nice buttery flavor, but greasy texture"; "Oily".

Nutritionist Marissa Lippert's Picks

A note from Marissa: "I automatically knocked any with 'partially hydrogenated' anything out of the running."

#1 Cherrybrook Kitchen Buster Fudge Brownie Mix

Nutrition: One serving (38 g mix, unprepared) = 150 calories, 3 g total fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 150 mg sodium, 17 g sugars, 3 g protein, 8% iron.

Ingredients: Unbleached flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), evaporated cane juice, non-dairy chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate liquor, dextrose, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, pure vanilla extract), granulated brown sugar, natural cocoa powder, baking soda, sea salt.

Cost: $5.99 for 16-oz box at Whole Foods in New York City.

Marissa's Notes: The sugar is relatively low and the ingredients (the dry ingredients) are basically what you'd use if you were making brownies from scratch.

Our Assessment: Everyone thought this brand had a cake-y texture. Some liked that, and some didn't. So it's really a matter of preference. "Yum! Cake-like texture, not too sweet"; "Light, almost mousse-y texture, but deep flavor"; "Light, fluffy, not super chocolate-y--just like cake"; "This is cake, not a brownie"; "Too cakey"

#2 Baked All Natural Deep Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix

Nutrition: One serving (45 g mix, unprepared) = 190 calories, 5 g total fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 160 mg sodium, 27 g sugars, 2 g protein, 8% iron.

Ingredients: Sugar, unbleached enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), brown sugar, cocoa (processed with alkali), sea salt, natural vanilla powder, canola oil (ascorbic acid and rosemary added to preserve freshness), coffee powder, chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla extract, salt).

Cost: $16 for a 1 lb 15.6-oz box at Williams-Sonoma in New York City.

Marissa's Notes: A little high on sugar content. Sugar is actually the first ingredient listed, which means it's the greatest in quantity compared to all others. I like how they use canola oil, which is a good source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat.

Our Assessment: Hooray! This was our third favorite brand. It ranked third (instead of second or first) because some found it greasy. If you're down with that super-moist texture, then this one's for you.

#3 Betty Crocker Gluten Free Brownie Mix

Nutrition: One serving (1/16 package, 28 g) = 150 calories, 2 g total fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 60 mg sodium, 24 g carbs, 18 g sugars, 1 g protein, 6% iron.

Ingredients: Sugar, semi-sweet chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla), cocoa processed with alkali, rice flour, potato starch, corn starch, xanthan gum, salt.

Cost: $4.59 for a 16-oz box at Target in New York City.

Marissa's Notes: A nice conventional brand option for those who are gluten-free. Sugar is the first ingredient, but overall the list is quite natural (xantham gum is a binder often used in gluten-free baking that adds volume, viscosity and fiber).

Our Assessment: Not good. "Bleck! Bad after taste"; "The texture is fine, but the flavor is terrible--not at all like chocolate"; "Kind of chemical-y"; "Plastic-y taste, and very sweet"; "The top is strangely shiny?".

Photographs by Kalei Talwar

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