Hershey's Brownies - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

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by Stephanie Manley, Last Updated 73 Comments

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Old-fashioned homemade Hershey’s brownies are incredible! Especially when they are made from scratch with Hershey’s cocoa and simple ingredients. Satisfy your chocolate craving with these irresistible chocolate brownies.

Hershey's Brownies - CopyKat Recipes (1)

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Table of Contents

What makes Hershey’s cocoa brownies so good?

Brownies are an American tradition, and what’s more natural than using one of the most popular brands of cocoa powder in the US, Hershey’s 100% Cocoa Powder to bake them?

This old-school Hershey brownie recipe is very close to the one on the Hersheyland official website, but it has a few minor tweaks that deliver even better results!

If you have fond memories of your grandmother making you chocolate brownies when you were young, this will probably be very similar. And if your grandmother didn’t do that, why not start a tradition for your kids and grandchildren?

Why you’ll love Hershey cocoa powder brownies

Who can say no to brownies, especially when they are as easy to make as these? With this Hershey’s cocoa powder brownies recipe, you’ll never need to open a who-knows-how-old box of store-bought brownie mix stuffed full of preservatives ever again!

Both kids and adults love brownies, and with so many great options to customize and decorate them (see the ‘What Mix-Ins Can I Add?’ section below), you can effortlessly make ones that your family will love.

Hershey’s chocolate brownies ingredients

For the chocolate brownies, you’ll need:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Hershey’s 100% Cocoa Powder
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Unsalted butter
  • Sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Eggs
  • Walnuts pieces (optional)
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Ingredient notes and substitutions

You can substitute a different brand of cocoa powder, but don’t replace it with any labeled Dutch-processed cocoa powder, or bad things could happen. Unfortunately, Hershey’s changed its Special Dark Cocoa Powder recipe by adding an alkalizing agent, making it unsuitable for this and other old-fashioned recipes.

Besides walnut pieces, consider using crushed hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, or macadamias.

How to make Hershey’s brownies

To prepare the Hershey’s chocolate brownies batter:

  1. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil. Lightly spritz the foil with non-stick cooking spray or brush it with butter.
  2. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt into a mixing bowl. Set the dry ingredients aside for later.
  3. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat.
  4. After the butter melts, add the sugar and vanilla extract. Whisk well until the sugar dissolves, and then remove the saucepan from the heat.
  5. Let the melted butter mixture cool for about five minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the eggs and reserve them for later.
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  1. Pour the eggs into the cooled melted butter mixture and stir constantly to prevent the eggs from cooking.
  2. In batches, add the dry ingredients to the saucepan. Use a spatula to stir well until there are no more dry patches before adding more dry ingredients.
  3. Stir in any nuts or other add-ins you want to include.

To bake Hershey’s cocoa powder brownies:

  1. Pour the brownie batter into the prepared baking tray and bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the brownies.
  2. Place the baking pan on a wire rack and cool the brownies in the pan for at least 15 minutes.
  3. Place an upside-down wire rack on top of the pan of brownies and turn everything over.
  4. Carefully remove the foil and flip the brownies onto a cutting board using the same method as above.
  5. Cut the brownies while they are still warm, and allow them to cool to room temperature before serving or storing.
Hershey's Brownies - CopyKat Recipes (4)

What mix-ins can I add?

Are nuts not enough for you? You can add anything else that will go well with this brownie recipe. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Chocolate chips: You can always have a little more chocolate.
  • Peanut Butter chips: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups fans will want to try this option.
  • Mini M&MS: Super festive, especially if you match the color of the M&Ms with the colors of the holiday.
  • Mini marshmallows: Marshmallows add a light and creamy element to your brownies or combine with peanut butter chips for a S’mores vibe.
  • Candied orange peel: Just the right amount of citrus flavors to elevate the chocolate brownies to the next level of culinary sophistication.
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How to store them

Transfer the room-temperature brownies into a non-clear, airtight container and keep them on the counter.

For longer storage, freeze the brownies on a baking tray before putting them in a freezer-safe container or plastic freezer bag.

How long will they last?

Hershey’s cocoa powder brownies should stay fresh on the counter for up to three days and in the freezer for a month.

Thaw the brownies in the fridge for at least six hours before serving. Freezing brownies can dull their flavor, and some folks find that sprinkling the tiniest amount of table salt on top of the thawed brownies really pumps up the taste of chocolate.

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Do you love brownies? Try these chocolate brownie recipes

  • Marbled Brownies
  • Milky Way Brownies
  • Turtle Brownies from Box Mix
  • Sara Lee Brownies
  • Creme de Menthe Brownies Recipe

Popular bars and cookies recipes

  • Fudge Cookie Bars
  • Old Fashioned Lemon Bars
  • Hello Dolly Cookie Bar
  • Almond Cookies
  • Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
  • Snickerdoodle Cookies
  • Homemade Ginger Snaps
  • Grandma’s Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies

Be sure to check out more of my easy brownie recipes and the best copycat recipes for store-bought products and restaurant food.

These Hershey’s Brownies are a recipe from Maida Heatter’s Book of Great American Desserts. She is known for delicious desserts.

Hershey’s Brownies

Why make brownies out of the box when you can make delicious brownies from scratch?

4.80 from 30 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Brownie Recipes, chocolate brownies, hersheys brownies

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 16

Calories: 174kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup Hershey’s cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup walnuts broken into pieces (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square pan with foil and butter the foil.

  • Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.

  • Melt the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over moderate heat. Add the sugar and vanilla and stir to combine. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes.

  • Crack the eggs into a small bowl and then add the eggs to the saucepan, stirring rapidly to avoid cooking them.

  • Add the sifted dry ingredients and walnuts to the saucepan and stir.

  • Spread the mixture smoothly in the prepared baking pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center just barely comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes.

  • Cover the pan with a cooling rack and flip the pan over. Remove the pan and foil lining from the brownies. Then cover the brownies with a cutting board and flip them back over. Remove the cooling rack from the top of the brownies.

  • Let stand until cool and cut into 16 squares.

Nutrition

Calories: 174kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 95mg | Potassium: 77mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 205IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.7mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Juanita

    Hershey's Brownies - CopyKat Recipes (8)
    So easy to make… moist and delicious 😋

    Reply

  2. Kris Marie

    Hershey's Brownies - CopyKat Recipes (9)
    This is my only brownie recipe! It’s 4th of July and I have a batch in the oven right now! I sprinkled some red, white and blue sprinkles on top to be festive, my adult children still ask and expect these every year!

    Reply

    • Stephanie Manley

      Awww 😉 I am so glad you enjoy them!

      Reply

  3. Anne Estes

    Hershey's Brownies - CopyKat Recipes (10)
    The best fudge-like brownie I have found. So easy and so good!

    Reply

  4. Mary

    Hershey's Brownies - CopyKat Recipes (11)
    I have been using this recipe for years and is a family favorite. I have made it for our family, for family get-to-gathers and also as thank you gifts for friends and neighbors. They are quick and easy to make and taste much better than a box mix.

    Reply

    • Stephanie Manley

      I am so glad you enjoy these brownies!

      Reply

  5. Kris Marie

    Hershey's Brownies - CopyKat Recipes (12)
    Been making this recipe for years! Kids love them and I have a batch in the oven now, a tradition on the 4th of July!

    Reply

  6. K

    Hershey's Brownies - CopyKat Recipes (13)
    Very good. Went fast. No leftovers. Seems to make less than a brownie box recipe so may want to double. Note that it is less sweet than a box brownie recipe.

    Reply

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Hershey's Brownies - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What happens when you add extra eggs to brownies? ›

They give brownies a lighter, drier, and more cake-like texture. If you prefer this over the chewy variety, then go ahead and crack in that additional egg. On the other hand, too many eggs will yield brownies that are hard, heavy, and tough.

What happens if you use milk instead of water in brownie mix? ›

One change is to use milk or heavy cream instead of water. This change will make brownies more moist and gooey since milk is more fatty and flavorful than water. A second change is to use butter instead of oil. For similar reasons to using milk, butter adds a rich and more decadent quality to the batter.

Is it cheaper to buy brownie mix or make from scratch? ›

I will still be searching for a tastier, chewier home made version, because of that 45% difference in cost and the added ingredients that I don't want to feed my family, but for this comparison, Pillsbury beats the home made recipe. Do you have an excellent, chewy, chocolate fudgy brownie recipe that is foolproof?

How to make brownie mix taste like homemade? ›

Peanut butter, marshmallow fluff, Nutella, caramel sauce, or white or dark chocolate fudge all make great additions when swirled into the batter. To swirl you'll make your brownies as usual then pour them into your baking dish then add dollops of the sauce you want to swirl in.

Should you beat eggs before adding to brownie mix? ›

Cookbook author and food stylist Jerrelle Guy might have given away the secret: In an article for The Kitchn, Guy suggests the secret to a "glossy" and lifted brownie — like the ones you see in bakeries and restaurants — is to beat the eggs and the sugar together for 10 minutes before adding additional ingredients.

What happens if I put 2 eggs instead of 1? ›

Eggs are responsible for giving baked goods structure, which means the amount you use directly affects the resulting texture. Using too few eggs will make your desserts dense, but using too many will make them rubbery. The explanation for this lies in the fact that eggs are made up of protein.

Is it better to make brownies with butter or oil? ›

Oil Brownies: These were chewier with crunchier edges and a crunchier topping. They were more matte on top with a far less crinkly shiny brownie 'skin. ' They tasted more like box mix brownies. Butter Brownies: These were much fudgier, softer, and had a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

What can I add to box brownie mix to make it better? ›

Crushed potato chips, pretzels, and salted nuts stirred in or sprinkled on before baking can add textural interest, plus a little savoriness that can make the rich chocolate flavor more pronounced. A shower of sea salt or flaky salt like Maldon over baked brownies before slicing makes for a dramatic, sparkly finish.

How do you upgrade a box brownie mix? ›

Add nuts – Add a handful of finely chopped pecans or walnuts if you love brownies with nuts. Add mix ins – Jazz up a basic brownie mix with chopped mini peanut butter cups, white chocolate chunks, or your favorite chopped up candy bar. Add a swirl – Swirl in spoonfuls of peanut butter or Nutella before baking.

What is the number 1 brownie mix? ›

Best Overall Brownie Mix: Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Premium Brownie Mix. When you want a delicious brownie for a baking emergency—or just to treat yourself—look no further than a box of Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownies.

Is Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker better for brownie mix? ›

If you like chewy, sticky brownies, I recommend: Betty Crocker Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix. If you like light, less dense brownies with a picture-perfect sugar top that flakes when sliced, I recommend: Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix.

What makes brownies fall apart? ›

Various causes include overbaking, underbaking, cutting the brownies too quickly, and lacking oil and fluid contents in the recipe. Underbaked and overbaked brownies turn out to be crumbly. When cut sooner before cooling down can make the brownies crumb.

Should brownie batter sit before baking? ›

Though making brownie batter in advance is possible, it has to be done in a specific way to prevent spoiling. Because most brownie recipes call for eggs, the batter shouldn't sit out for longer than two hours before baking.

What makes brownies cakey vs fudgy? ›

Fudgy brownies have a higher fat-to-flour ratio than cakey ones. So add more fat—in this case, butter and chocolate. A cakey batch has more flour and relies on baking powder for leavening. The amount of sugar and eggs does not change whether you're going fudgy or cakey.

Should brownie batter be thick or runny? ›

The ideal consistency of brownie mix is thick and gooey, similar to a thick cake batter. When you mix the ingredients together, the batter should be smooth and free of lumps, with a slightly sticky texture. This consistency is important for achieving moist and fudgy brownies that are rich in flavor.

How does an extra egg affect baking? ›

Eggs also contain a variety of proteins that create the structure of a cake, and when beaten, they can act as a leavening agent by adding air to the cake batter. However, if you add too many eggs to your cake batter, then your end result could be spongy, rubbery, or dense.

What happens if you add too many eggs? ›

The most common problem is that the cake will be dense and heavy. Adding too many eggs to a cake can affect the texture and flavor of the cake. If too many eggs are added, the cake may turn out to be too dense and heavy. The excess eggs can also cause the cake to have a rubbery or eggy flavor.

What does adding more egg do in baking? ›

Eggs are a crucial ingredient. They provide the cakes with the structure to hold light bubbles. Eggs also give the batter additional, richer flavor from the yolk fat. If you add too many eggs, you'll have “pancakes” that look more like custard or crepes.

What happens if I add an extra egg to my cake mix? ›

Add an Extra Egg

Most cake mixes call for two to three eggs. Just one more egg will add extra moisture, fat, and a little protein, which means the cake will be softer and less likely to overbake and dry out in the oven.

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