Boxed Brownies For Vegans: A Simple Guide

Nobody likes to deny themselves a brownie, am I right? Which means it’s a wonderful thing that, as a vegan, you don’t actually have to.

Though you may be thinking: “Ugh. I don’t have the time to deal with bags of flour, a zillion special replacement ingredients, and baking powder or baking soda.”

Not to worry! There are certainly options for an on-the-go vegan such as yourself–and that’s what this post is all about.

So, let’s get our vegan brownie on!

1. Duncan Hines has vegan boxed brownie mix.

If you’re cool with your brownie mix being “accidentally” vegan, then Duncan Hines brownie mix is your new best friend! They also have “accidentally” vegan cake mixes in this brand–as well as in Aldi’s baking mixes. Just make sure to give the ingredient list a good read before purchasing to make sure the variety you’re grabbing is, in fact, vegan!

2. Replace oil with apple sauce.

If you’re looking to lower the fat/calorie content of your brownie while simultaneously upping the fiber content a touch, good news! All you need to do is replace the oil with an equal amount of apple sauce (1/2 oil=1/2 cup apple sauce). Your brownies will be just as deliciously fudgy as their oil-containing counterparts, and you won’t even taste the difference!

3. Replace eggs with JUST egg or flax eggs.

Flax “eggs” have been a long-standing trick of the vegan trade, and for good reason: not only is flaxseed good for you (it’s a good source of omega-3 and fiber), it’s also a great binding agent for vegan baking! Just mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water for one egg.

Another great option is a brand called JUST egg, which is about the most realistic egg replacer I’ve ever had as a vegan. In addition to vegan baking, it can also be used in quiche, omelettes and scrambles too. To see if it’s available in your area, check on their site here (not sponsored).

4. Add chopped nuts or almond butter to up the protein.

Adding 1/2 cup of chopped cashews to your brownie mix would boost the protein content by 10g, the iron content by 3.4g, and the potassium content by 360mg. 1/4 cup of almond butter to your recipe would add 14g of protein and 8g of fiber! Both of which you might consider adding to up the flavor and nutrition of your brownies.

5. A can of black beans could replace all the wet ingredients.

Have a box of Duncan Hines brownie mix and a 15oz can of black beans? If so, that’s all you need to come up with a pan of brownies. Just blend the rinsed beans with 1/2-1 cup of water, fold them into the brownie mix and bake! It will be very hard to tell the difference, and you get a boost of fiber and protein as well.

6. Freeze your brownies for a chocolatey frozen treat.

Are you a single vegan, who probably couldn’t eat an entire pan of brownies by yourself before they went bad (not proudly, anyway)? Here’s a great idea: stick them in the freezer! Not only will they keep for weeks (possibly even months), you can also serve them as a delectable frozen treat.

Just cut them into squares and store them in an airtight container, using wax paper/plastic wrap in between layers to ensure the brownies don’t stick together. You can leave them out for a few minutes to allow them to return to room temperature, or you can eat them straight out of the freezer–the latter is my preference.

How To Prepare Boxed Brownies, Vegan Style

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 20 brownies

Ingredients

  

• 1 box Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix or other vegan brownie mix
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 portions vegan eggs JUST egg, flax egg, or other vegan substitute
• 1/2 cup apple sauce in lieu of oil
• nut butter and/or chopped nuts as desired

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Add the packet of brownie mix to a medium bowl. Fold in the water, vegan eggs and apple sauce until combined. Pour into pan (8×8, 13×9, or whatever deep casserole-type dish you have). Sprinkle chopped nuts on the top, and/or drizzle with melted nut butter.
• Bake immediately for 30-35 minutes (baking time will vary based on the size of your pan), or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before cutting into 20 squares, and serve!
• Leftovers can be frozen in an airtight container for up to a month or two, just be sure to put layers of wax paper/plastic wrap between layers to ensure brownies don't stick together.

Notes

This recipe/ingredient list is written based on the ingredients called for by Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix (1/4 cup water, 2 eggs and 1/2 cup oil, whose substitutes are listed in the ingredient list above). Ingredient amounts may vary based on the boxed mix you use. Please keep this in mind before proceeding!

Keyword apple sauce, brownie, chocolate, dairy-free, dessert, fudge, healthy, snack, vegan, vegetarian

What’s your favorite thing to have alongside a nice, fudgy brownie: tea, coffee, non-dairy milk?