Hot Chocolate Brownies (without Cocoa Powder)

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Hot Chocolate Brownies are dense, fudgy, and easily mix up in one bowl. It uses melted butter so no electric mixer is needed. Use your favorite hot cocoa mix, no cocoa powder needed!

Using hot chocolate mix is great when you're trying to make brownies without cocoa powder. Looking for another recipe to use hot cocoa mix? I love making this single serving Hot Chocolate Mug Cake!

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Why I Love It:
Ingredients
Step by Step Instructions
Substitutions and Variations
Equipment
Leftovers and Storage
Recipe Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Serving Ideas
Other Chocolate Recipes
Related Recipes
Recipe
Reviews

stack of brownies made with hot cocoa mix

Why I Love It:

Fudgy - The texture of these brownies are fudgy, chewy, and moist.
Hot Chocolate Mix - It's a great recipe to use up some hot cocoa mix and it's perfect if you ran out of cocoa powder!
One Bowl - I love a low clean up, one-bowl recipe!
No Mixer Needed - The butter is melted, so no need to use an electric mixer to cream butter. You can mix it all up with a whisk/rubber spatula.

Ingredients

Unsalted Butter - You can also use salted butter and cut the amount of added salt in half.
White Granulated Sugar
All Purpose Flour
Hot Cocoa Mix - I used just a regular hot chocolate mix (the kind that can be added to water or milk).
Bittersweet or Dark Chocolate - I used a 4oz chocolate bar that I chopped up. But you could also use semisweet chocolate chips instead.
Eggs
Vanilla Extract
Kosher Salt
Parchment Paper - For lining the baking pan. This makes the brownies easy to lift out of the pan for cutting.

chopped chocolate in a bowl and hot cocoa mix in a bowl

Step by Step Instructions

Melt Butter and Sugar - Start by melting the butter in the microwave and adding the sugar before microwaving for a few seconds more.
Melt in Chocolate - Stir in the chopped chocolate. It should melt in the already warmed butter/sugar.
Add Remaining Ingredients - Whisk in the eggs and vanilla before mixing in the remaining dry ingredients.
Add Batter to Pan - Line a baking pan with parchment paper (for easy removal) and add the brownie batter.
Bake Brownies - Bake in the preheated oven until they are no longer jiggly and a toothpick comes out with no wet batter. Don't over bake!

Substitutions and Variations

Chocolate - For the extra chocolate-y flavor, I recommend using a bittersweet or dark chocolate bar that you chop up. But you can also swap in semisweet chocolate chips.
Brownie Bites - You can use a (well greased) mini muffin pan to make brownie bites! Bake them for 10-13 minutes.
Mix-Ins - These are super fudge and amazing on their own, but you can also add in mix-ins to the brownie batter like mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts (walnuts).

stack of brownies with tub of hot chocolate mix in background

Equipment

8x8 inch Baking Pan - I created this recipe using a metal baking pan. Be aware that using a a glass or ceramic baking dish may require you to decrease the baking time by a few minutes.

Microwave Safe Mixing Bowl - Like a medium-large glass bowl. You'll melt the butter/sugar in the microwave and then add all ingredients to the same bowl.

Whisk or Fork - For mixing in the eggs to the batter.

Rubber Spatula or Spoon - For mixing the brownie batter and spreading in the pan.

cooked brownies in parchment lined baking pan

Leftovers and Storage

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Recipe Tips

Mix Until Just Combined - When you add in the flour and remaining ingredients, mix until just combined. Don't over mix the batter.
Line Pan in Parchment Paper - Although you can just grease your baking pan, I highly recommend lining the pan with parchment paper so you can just lift the brownies out of the pan to cut.

stack of fudgy brownies made with hot chocolate mix

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between hot chocolate mix and cocoa powder?

Hot chocolate also usually has sugar and milk powder instead of just cocoa powder.

What is the key to fudgy brownies?

Using melted chocolate (vs only cocoa powder) helps give brownies a fudgy texture. It's also important to not overbake brownies.

crinkle top brownies dusted with powdered sugar

Serving Ideas

Powdered Sugar - I love to give brownies a dusting of powdered sugar using a fine mesh sieve.
Frosting - To make this super chocolate-y, you can top brownies with a chocolate frosting.
Ice-Cream - Nothing beats a warm brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream!

Other Chocolate Recipes

Easy Chocolate Truffles - Just pour warm cream over chopped chocolate, add some vanilla, and stir. Homemade chocolate truffles are seriously that simple!
Christmas Hot Chocolate - Easily made on the stovetop and is super rich, decadent, and creamy. Making homemade hot chocolate for Christmas is such a fun holiday tradition.

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