Not Betty Crocker, Not Duncan Hines: This Is The Fudgiest Brownie Mix In Stores

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A good tray of brownies should be a number of things. Gooey, for sure, preferably with a crackled top and fudgy center. Everyone has their preferences, of course, but most can agree that brownies should be rich, decadent, and full of chocolate. Homemade is usually best, but a good box mix can perform almost as well. To figure out which one is best, an expert from Tasting Table tried out a number of store-bought brownie mixes and ranked them by fudgy texture. The winner was a surprising, coeliac-friendly underdog: The Gluten-Free Ultimate Fudge Brownie Mix from King Arthur Baking Company.

Our expert tested mixes from 10 different brands, including mainstays like Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines. But the gluten-free mix from King Arthur blew them all out of the water. It makes sense, as very little flour is needed to make ultimate fudgy brownies, and King Arthur has long been the go-to for gluten-free bakers. The Vermont-based company knows what it's doing, especially when it comes to specialty flours.

This mix created an indulgent, velvety texture that melted in the mouth, so much so that our tester would have believed the brownies were homemade had they been served them blind. The cocoa flavor was intense, luxurious, and addictive, and despite the high moisture level, the brownies were still easy to cut, which earned them bonus points. When compared with the gummy texture of Betty Crocker's mix and the so-so flavor of Duncan Hines, there was just no competition.

It seems like our tester isn't the only fan of the brownies, if reviews are anything to go by. One person wrote on the King Arthur website, "Some years ago, I picked up King Arthur Gluten-free Ultimate Fudge, not realizing it was gluten-free. I made the brownies, which are as delicious as made-from-scratch, and never looked back. I do add the optional cup of chocolate chips. These brownies are always a big hit at picnics, pot lucks, and on the buffet table."

Others praised the dietary versatility of the brownies, with someone saying, "This is a wonderful brownie mix. You can't even tell it is gluten-free. You can swap the butter for oil and it makes the recipe dairy free as well. If you have recently found yourself needing to be gluten/dairy free and you're struggling to find edible things, this is a fantastic purchase." Some of the other variations people have tried include adding a little sour cream for even more hydration and using extra eggs and butter to make the brownies cakey.

If you want to try another mix, our tester enjoyed Dolly Parton's Fabulously Double Fudge Brownies Mix from Duncan Hines. The brownies, which ranked number two on the list, were perfectly dense and held onto moisture well. They just had a slightly saccharine flavor that the King Arthur brownies did not. Here are more of the best boxed brownie mix brands if you want even more choice.