Vegan Brownies from a Box
Brownies are a delicious and decadent dessert enjoyed by people of all ages. If you’re plant-based and looking for a way to make them fast, you will love learning how to make vegan brownies from a box! They’re easy to make and a popular home baker’s choice. Wondering how you’ll make boxed brownies without eggs? Read on for the details!
Many boxed brownie mixes either have eggs in the mix or call for eggs when making the brownies.
Fortunately, there are now many vegan brownie mixes available on the market. These mixes make it easy to bake delicious and moist brownies without any animal products.
To make vegan brownies from a box, simply follow the instructions on the box. Be sure to use a vegan substitute for any eggs or dairy that are called for in the recipe. For example, you can use applesauce or mashed banana in place of eggs and soy milk or almond milk in place of dairy milk.
Key Ingredients
You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.
- Boxed Brownies — You’ll need a boxed brownie mix (typically around 18 ounces) that does not have eggs or dairy.
- Egg Replacer — We’ll use a combination of peanut butter, ground flax seeds, and water to make the egg replacer. See more on egg replacements for brownies below.
- Peanut Butter — Adding some peanut butter helps replace the fat from eggs in a way that’s easily absorbed when baking.
- Baking Powder — Because we’re not using eggs, the baking powder replaces some of the texture.
- Vegetable Oil — We’ll use half of the oil called for on the back of the brownie mix.
How to Make Vegan Brownies from a Box
- Heat peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl until softened.
- Stir together ground chia seeds and water, and then stir in softened peanut butter.
- Stir brownie mix and baking powder together.
- Pour vegetable oil and “egg” mixture into the brown mix. Stir until just combined (do not overmix).
- Spoon the batter into a prepared pan.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes until done.
- Let the brownies cool in the pan.
Vegan Box Brownie Brands
You’re ready to make your vegan boxed brownies, but now you need to know what box brownie brands are vegan. Here are the most common:
- Betty Crocker Supreme Chocolate Chunk Brownie Mix is made without eggs or dairy.
- Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix is accidentally vegan.
- Krusteaz has two brownie mixes, one of which is gluten-free. Both of these mixes are vegan-friendly.
- Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownies are egg-free and dairy-free.
- Annie’s Organic Double Chocolate does not contain eggs or dairy.
- Many store-brand brownie mixes are made without eggs and dairy.
There will always be exceptions. For example, Ghirardelli brownie mixes are not vegan as their mixes have dairy in them. Any boxes that say “milk chocolate” are typically not vegan.
And brands may introduce a new variety of brownie mixes that have dairy. Always read the labels to ensure your mix is made without eggs and dairy.
What Makes This Recipe Shine?
- CHEWY — Adding a bit of peanut butter creates the perfect chewy texture for these egg-free brownies.
- EASY — With a brownie mix and four ingredients, you’ll be ready to enjoy these gooey chocolate treats in no time!
- FAMILY FAVORITE — Everyone loves brownies, especially when they’re served fast!
Frequently-Asked Questions
Why not use applesauce as an egg replacer for boxed brownies?
Applesauce makes a great oil replacer in baked goods. But applesauce won’t do the trick when it comes to a boxed brownie mix. You’ll need other ingredients, like ground flax seeds, to replace eggs in brownies.
Are brownie mixes vegan?
Some boxed brownie mixes are intentionally vegan. You can find a lot of these at health food stores. Many mainstream brownie mixes are accidentally vegan, made without eggs or dairy. The box instructions may request adding eggs, but you can use egg replacements to modify the batter.
Reduce Oil in Boxed Brownies
When you’re making boxed brownies without eggs, the number one thing to keep in mind is you must reduce the vegetable oil by half. Otherwise, you’ll end up with an oily mess.
This is because eggs absorb some of the oil added to the brownie mix. Without those eggs, you’ll need to reduce the vegetable oil and replace it with an alternative form of fat to keep the brownies moist and chewy.
I do that by adding a little bit of peanut butter, but not so much that it significantly alters the flavor. I also use ground flax seed as an egg replacement.
Vegan Brownie Tips
Here are some additional tips for making vegan brownies from a box mix:
- If you are using a mix that calls for milk, you can substitute soy milk or almond milk for each cup of dairy milk.
- Be sure to grease your baking pan well to prevent the brownies from sticking.
- Bake the brownies according to the instructions on the box, although I find baking at a lower temperature (325°F/°163°C works best.
- Let the brownies cool completely before cutting them into squares and serving.
With these tips, you can bake delicious and moist vegan brownies that everyone will enjoy.
Storage Tips
Store brownies in an airtight container for up to 4 days at room temperature or 7 days in the fridge. You can freeze them for up to 2 months in a freezer-safe container or bag.
Easy Vegan Desserts
If you love how easy it is to make vegan brownies from a box, you’ll be happy to know you can also make a vegan cake from a box. Here are more easy vegan desserts to try:
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Vegan Brownies from a Box
Ingredients
Egg Replacer
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons ground chia seeds
- 8 tablespoons water
Brownie Batter
- 18 oz package brownie mix any brand, any flavor as long as it's dairy-free and egg-free
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons water
- Optional: Add chocolate chips to the batter or sprinkle on top of the brownies before baking.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F/163°C. Line a 9×9 inch pan or an 8×8 inch pan (for thicker brownies) with parchment paper. Spray with vegetable cooking spray.
- Heat peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl for 15 to 20 seconds, until softened.
- Add ground chia seeds and water to a separate bowl. Stir to combine. Add the softened peanut butter and stir together.
- Pour the brownie mix to a bowl. Add the baking powder and stir to combine.
- Pour in the vegetable oil.
- Add the "egg" mixture, and 2 tablespoons of water. Stir until just combined (do not overmix).
- Spoon the batter into prepared pan. Bake in a heated oven 30 to 35 minutes, until done.
- Let the brownies cool in the pan. For cleaner slices, refrigerate for 30 minutes before slicing.
Recommended Equipment
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Notes
Baking Pan Options
- Cupcakes: 18 to 22 minutes
- 9×13 Pan: I like to bake it for 30 to 32 minutes.
- Two Round Pans: Bake 26 to 31 minutes.
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Betty Crocker Supreme Chocolate Chunk Brownie Mix now shows milk fat as an ingredient. It says, “Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunks (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin, artificial flavor and milk).” I wonder when they changed it? Boo!
Hi Jennifer. You raise a good point – the brownie mixes that have chocolate chips are probably using chocolate chips made with dairy. I would look for brownie mixes without chocolate chips for a dairy-free option. But yes, boo to them for using any dairy!
I used flax seeds instead and they were the best brownies I’ve ever made! Perfect and delicious!
Hi! I notice throughout the recipe it’s says both chia & flax for the egg replacer. Are they interchangeable? Wanting to try this for the first time!
Yes, you can use either chia or ground flax for the egg replacer. Flax seeds should be ground first. I also prefer to grind chia seeds but it is not necessary like it is with flax. However, not grinding chia seeds will leave little seeds throughout the brownies (another reason I prefer to grind them).
Loved this easy brownie recipe without eggs.
Oh, Maggie! I’m so glad to hear you liked this recipe!
I’ve tried to veganize a brownie mix before & didn’t cut down on the oil. It was a fail. This turned out great! I enjoyed the slight peanut butter taste. I added pecans and served with Oatly vanilla ice cream. Thanks for a keeper recipe.
Hi Donna. So glad you liked this recipe! I love your idea of adding pecans and Oatly vanilla ice cream! Sounds delicious!