How to Make Boxed Mix Brownies Taste Homemade

Boxed mix brownies are pretty much flawless. Not only can you get a whole batch for less than three bucks (the price of a single fancy bakery brownie), but they consistently bake up with perfectly shiny crusts, chewy edges, and fudgey centers. You can, however, give them an extra nudge towards the gourmet with two simple tweaks: swap out plain vegetable oil for nutty pistachio, and replace boring water with deep, dark coffee. Both ingredients amplify the chocolate while obscuring the flavor of chemical leavening agents, for bakery-quality squares of perfection.