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Credits:
Sara Haas
I recently found myself in need of a good brownie recipe. You’d think that wouldn’t be an issue for someone who works at Allrecipes, but I wanted something specific. I needed it to be quick and easy, but like…one step above a plain boxed mix. Then I remembered something I hadn’t thought of since childhood: my Great Aunt Judy’s brownies.
Aunt Judy was just about the sweetest lady who ever lived (I know people often say that about their late relatives, but it’s true in this case). She always made sure to have my favorite dessert ready whenever I came over—and, as it turns out, it really wasn’t that much of an undertaking. You see, Aunt Judy had a secret ingredient that came from the candy aisle.
Aunt Judy’s Secret Ingredient
Symphony bars were Aunt Judy’s secret weapon. You know, the fancy Hershey bar with the classy font on the wrapper. The simple one-ingredient upgrade makes a regular boxed brownie mix taste homemade.
If you’re not familiar, here’s some background: Symphony is the name of two types of chocolate bars made by The Hershey Company (one is plain, the other has toffee and almonds). The ingredients are the same as regular Hershey’s milk chocolate, but they’re used in different amounts. The result is a milkier, creamier flavor and texture that melts beautifully into batter.
Aunt Judy used the toffee-almond bars and I think she had the right idea. But, if you’re baking for a picky eater or someone with allergies, the smooth chocolate makes amazing brownies too.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
How to Make Aunt Judy’s Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 (18-ounce) box brownie mix (such as Ghirardelli)
- ¼ cup water
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 1-2 (7.37-ounce) Giant Symphony bars or 2-3 (4.25-ounce) XL Symphony bars, broken into squares
Instructions
Cook’s Note
I prefer Ghirardelli Brownie Mix and these instructions reflect that. But, in all honesty, I recommend using whatever mix you can find on sale—so just follow the instructions on the package you have on hand. As long as you end up with a tri-layer brownie (with a melted Symphony bar in the center), you're good.
25 Recipes to Make With Brownie Mix (That Taste Like They're From-Scratch)
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