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)
Hershey's Brownies - CopyKat Recipes (2)

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.
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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

How do you fancy a boxed brownie mix? ›

Stir in semisweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chunks, and shards off the block for a chocolate brownie that's even more chocolaty. If you have leftover holiday treats, crumble in candy bars, peppermints, chopped candied ginger, or crushed cookies.

What are Katharine Hepburn brownies? ›

The brownies are made with unsweetened chocolate, which is also known as baking, plain or bitter chocolate. It is chocolate in its rawest form and this means that unsweetened chocolate is just ground cocoa nibs that have been refined and contain between 50-55% cocoa butter (cacao fat).

What can I substitute for brownie mix to make it better? ›

Milk. Most brownie mixes call for water. While water does the job, you can add some extra flavor and moisture by mixing some of that water with something richer, like milk. If you want to swap it out completely, be prepared for a more chewy and fudge-like brownie from the extra fat.

When to sprinkle powdered sugar on brownies? ›

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Sprinkle with powder sugar. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares.

How do you doctor up 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.

How do you spruce up boxed brownies? ›

You can make several substitutions to help improve a boxed brownie mix and make it taste homemade. 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.

What is a New York brownie? ›

Description. The classic brownie. Rich, moist, soft, chewy and filled with white choc chunks of deliciousness. Vegetarian • No artificial flavours • No artificial colours • No added preservatives • Certified Halal PORTION GUIDE: Approx 20 – 30 portions | SHELF LIFE: Room Temp: 28 Days.

Why are they called blonde brownies? ›

The name 'blondies' comes from their light color, which contrasts with the dark color of traditional brownies.

Why is brownies changing their name? ›

Canada Girl Guides renamed Brownies, new name Embers meant to be more inclusive The new name, Embers, was approved overwhelmingly by members and is meant to be more inclusive. Past and present Girl Guides said the old name caused harm and even prevented or delayed their joining.

What happens if you add an extra egg to brownie mix? ›

If you opt to add more eggs, say double the amount, something interesting happens. Even though you are adding more moisture, the air bubbles that you catch in the extra eggs add volume, which decreases the density of your final product. This makes your brownies rise and gives them a much more cake-like texture.

What is the best oil for baking brownies? ›

Most brownie recipes call for some kind of oil — usually vegetable oil or canola oil. This oil acts as the primary fat in brownie batter, giving it that delicious, fudgy texture we all know and love.

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

A clever hybrid between cake and cookie, brownies are a dense, chocolaty bar cookie baked in a rectangular pan; they can be fudge-like, cake-like, or anything in between. It was about three times more expensive to make the brownies from scratch than to use a mix, owing mostly to the cost of chocolate and walnuts.

Should brownie batter sit before baking? ›

Alice Medrich, author of Seriously Bitter Sweet: The Ultimate Dessert Maker's Guide to Chocolate, writes that “refrigerating the brownie batter in the pan for several hours, or as long as two days before baking, wreaks enormous transformations: it improves the top gloss and crustiness, and it also blends the flavors so ...

What does brown sugar do in brownies? ›

Getting the perfect crust for you means choosing a recipe with just the right proportions of granulated and brown sugars. More brown sugar leads to dense brownies with incredible depth of flavor, but the additional moisture can cause their upper crust to be more solid than delicate as a result.

What is the white stuff on my brownies? ›

The usual brown hues of chocolate can become discoloured with a hazy white coating. This coating is called "chocolate bloom" and appears naturally. Although it can make the product taste a bit different, it's not harmful.

How do you dress up store bought brownie mix? ›

Switch up the liquid for something more flavorful—boxed brownie mixes typically call for water. Skip the water and swap it with coffee, milk, coconut milk, or even red wine to add flavor and dimension to your standard boxed brownies.

How do you upgrade store bought brownie mix? ›

  1. Switch up your baking vessel for unique results.
  2. Raid your snack drawer for salty toppings.
  3. Chop your own chocolate for extra, gooey flavor.
  4. Try adding nut or seed butter to make an even more decadent dessert.
  5. Different extracts can give boxed brownies a whole new flavor profile.
Feb 21, 2024

What does adding an extra egg to brownie mix do? ›

If you want to get a little more creative with your brownie mix hacks, add an extra egg to the batter. The extra protein will help thicken up the batter and make it fluffier, creating a more decadent, fudgy texture. You can also add the yolk by itself in addition to the 2 eggs a box brownie mix typically calls for.

What can you add to your brownie mix to pump up the chocolate flavor? ›

Add coffee or instant espresso powder to your brownies for an even deeper, more complex chocolate flavor. Swirl them with peanut butter, cream cheese, or even pumpkin filling to mix things up. Mix in nuts, add a marshmallow topping, or spread on your favorite frostings for fun, simple, or seasonal twists.

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