Blood Orange Brownies

Spooky season is in full swing, and that can only mean one thing – BROWNIES! Rich chocolatey flavor paired with an ooey-gooey inside makes for the perfect Spooktober treat (no costume required).

Growing up, baking brownies with my mom was one of my favorite fall activities. Just the two of us in our nice warm kitchen with cozy socks on mixing up something special. Most of the time, the brownies came from a box mix, and my goal was to see how many bites of batter I could eat before mom finally cut me off. Even though they weren’t fancy, they were ours. And that’s what made them special. I preferred the crispy corner pieces while my mom went for the middle. A cold glass of milk (provided I didn’t knock it over for the umpteenth time) was all I needed to round it out.

These days, boxed brownie mixes have gotten even fancier – double chocolate this, dark cocoa that. Some are best known for the chips they have mixed in, while others proclaim cake like texture or rich caramel toppings. No matter what your preference, you’re sure to connect to one calling your name as you stroll down the grocery store baking aisle.

But for every delicious option, there’s the end-result worry – dry, overbaked, stale, bland. Some mixes taste more like the cardboard box they’re housed in rather than the chewy, moist brownie we know and love. Fear not! There are plenty of ways to elevate an ordinary box mix that will help lock in flavor while still being a convenient and affordable option. One of my favorites is to use specialty olive oil to punch up the taste and bring extra moistness to the cake. You can find loads of specialty olive oils these days at tasting shops, farmers markets, grocery stores, and online. For Halloween season, I love to make this recipe with Blood Orange Olive Oil. With blood in the name, you know you’re setting yourself up for success!

Perfectly kid-friendly and perfectly delicious, this spin on box mix brownies will help you conjure up some magical memories in the kitchen for years to come.

Serves 12

Ingredients

1 Box Brownie Mix
Items Required on Box Mix
Blood Orange Olive Oil

Steps

Prepare box mix according to package directions, substituting the oil required for an equal amount of Blood Orange Olive Oil.
Bake according to package directions.
Enjoy!