Testing out Duncan Hines’ S’mores Brownie Kit EPIC

I want to start off by explaining that I believe a good brownie should be left alone. Brownies are perfect and do not need toppings or mix ins (aside from chocolate chips). That is my personal opinion. With these toppings and additives, I did not feel this brownie belonged in the brownie hunt because I would not purchase this box mix to use as just brownies, it would be wasteful to the other ingredients.

I bought this box mix because it looked like it could be a gimmick. I mean c’mon, look at the box, it even has “EPIC” in big bold letters at the top trying to catch your attention. I don’t believe anyone is going to the store wanting to purchase smores brownies. I do think they could be a fun thing to try once but how good could it even be?

This mix starts out by preparing the graham cracker crust similar to a cheesecake. You add melted butter to the crust and press it into the pan. Then you make the batter with more melted butter, water, and eggs. I do want to say, I liked the addition of butter. Most mixes tend to ask for oil but I prefer a butter flavor in most desserts. The batter looked good and I poured it into the pan. Despite the warning on the package, I did taste the batter. It was good, standard box mix brownie flavor, nothing amazing but not bad at all.

I put it in the oven and checked at 32 minutes, not quite ready, they took the full 36 minutes to bake. Once baked you pull them out, turn up the temperature in the oven, and pour on the marshmallows. I felt that this needed more marshmallows than they provide to fully cover the top especially since the photos on the box had a fully covered top. I put the brownies back in the oven at a higher temp and left it in for 5 minutes, more than the box tells you to do, because the marshmallows weren’t browning yet. When I pulled it out of the oven, the fluffy big marshmallows began to deflate back to the original size before baking which is why again, I feel it needed more marshmallows.

Once it cools you add the “fudge drizzle”. I had to taste it and honestly it tasted exactly like melted chocolate mixed with some oil to keep it from hardening back up. I was very happy with this discovery as it seemed only a melted chocolate bar would be the right addition for a smores topping.

I cut the brownies into 16 which the packaging called for. This was the correct size in my opinion since it was a pretty sweet dessert. When biting into the brownie I have to say, the texture was amazing. The crust on the bottom, a softer brownie in the middle, a gooey marshmallow with a hard crust on it, it really just all worked together beautifully. These were delicious and a fun dessert to share. I would eat many of them and then most likely never make them again. I cannot see a realistic case scenario for my life where I would pickup another box mix of smores brownies. I stand behind my original claim, brownies should be left alone, no frosting, no smores toppings, no nuts, nothing should be added to a fantastic brownie. If you feel the brownie needs these additives, you need a better brownie. However, for a one time fun dessert, these were absolutely worth a try. I think this box mix is a good fake because I can’t imagine anyone searching up a homemade recipe for a smores brownie, it just isn’t a common dessert.

This recipe as prepared was a total of 2500 calories. If divided into 16 brownies as the packaging requested, they are 218 calories a piece.

Here are the links to products used today:
Duncan Hines Smores Brownie Mix – https://amzn.to/4bwP19s
Rubber Spatulas – https://amzn.to/3JWDtAA
Tablespoon set – https://amzn.to/4agFQsK  
Oven Mitts – https://amzn.to/3JYq5Mg
8×8 baking pan – https://amzn.to/4dyO2Yb
Plastic Measuring Cup – https://amzn.to/4bDJIoV
*These are affiliate links meaning if you click on the link and buy the product, I will earn a small commission, but you will not be charged a penny more.