The Worst Boxed Brownie Mixes In Grocery Stores

One bite into a warm, fresh-baked brownie, and your mouth is suddenly loaded with gooey, chocolatey goodness. It's a decadent sweet treat and baking a delicious batch of brownies does require some time, and well, skill. Not everyone is a master baker! But that's where box mixes come in.

Typically, you just need a few ingredients, a mixing bowl, and a pan to set the batter in. Then, in mere minutes, your brownies are ready to be enjoyed. Easy.

As you can imagine, not every brownie mix lining store shelves is the best. While it's obvious that if you're indulging in some brownies, you're not really too concerned with what exactly goes into them, some mixes are better for you than others. We recommend eating everything in moderation, so if you can stick to just one piece of these, you'll be OK! But keep in mind there are others that are better for you, as these we're highlighting tend to the options from popular brands that are the highest in sugar. The American Heart Association recommends men should consume no more than 36 grams of added sugar per day, and women shouldn't have more than 25 grams daily.

So, keeping all this in mind, here are the brownie mixes you're better off skipping next time you're in the baking mood. For options to try instead, check out these 7 Healthiest Brownie Mixes instead.

Pillsbury Chocolatier Collection Caramel Swirl Premium Brownie Mix

Per serving: 120 calories, 1 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 100 mg sodium, 28 g carbs (1 g fiber, 19 g sugar), 1 g protein

In this Pillsbury mix, smooth, chewy caramel comes together with the chocolate mix for a brownie unlike any other. One piece is serving up 19 grams of sugar, which is nearly as much of the sweet stuff as you would get from two Original Glazed Krispy Kreme Donuts.

Duncan Hines Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie Mix

Per serving: 130 calories, 3.5 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 100 mg sodium, 24 g carbs (1 g fiber, 18 g sugar), 1 g protein

A Thick and fudgy brownie mix infused with mini peanut butter cups—sounds like a dream come true! Well, with 18 grams of sugar per serving, not so much. Instead, go for the brand's classic milk or dark chocolate fudge mix and swirl in some natural peanut butter.

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Ghiradelli Chocolate Double Chocolate Brownie Mix

Per serving: 140 calories, 3 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 105 mg sodium, 27 g carbs (<1 g fiber, 19 g sugar), 1 g protein

Oh, Ghiradelli. You know the brand's chocolate is next level. However, the brownies are rather high in the sweet stuff, as one piece is packing 19 grams.

Betty Crocker Supreme Triple Chunk Brownie Mix

betty crocker supreme triple chunk brownies — Betty Crocker

Per serving: 130 calories, 2.5 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat), 85 mg sodium, 26 g carbs (<1 g fiber, 18 g sugar), 1 g protein

The name of this Betty Crocker mix has plenty of red flags. "Supreme" and "triple chunk" signify there is more than meets the eye in this mix, as it's loaded up with chocolate chunks and chocolate chips. The simpler the better!

Duncan Hines Triple Chocolate Chunk Brownie Mix

Per serving: 140 calories, 3.5 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 95 mg sodium, 25 g carbs (1 g fiber, 17 g sugar), 1 g protein

The same can be said for this Duncan Hines mix, as the thick and fudgy batter is filled with chocolate chips and chunks. You can always add in your own ingredients to a plain mix—nuts make for a great crunch or even get some fruit in there. Chocolate and strawberries do make for a lovely pairing if we say so ourselves.