Duncan Hines Oven Ready! Homestyle Chocolate Fudge Brownies

March 26, 2008 | Reviewer: Abi

Duncan Hines Oven Ready! Homestyle Chocolate Fudge Brownies Price: $3.00 on sale
Serving: 1/12 pan, 1.42oz.
Calories: 170
Fat: 12%, 8g
Cholesterol: 7%, 20mg
Sodium: 4%, 85mg
Protein: 2g
Carbs: 8%, 23g
Fiber: 4%, <1g
Sugar: 16g
Weight Watchers Points: 4 Points each

Duncan Hines says: First brownie that comes frozen and ready to bake, packaged in convenient, oven-ready trays - no prep and no clean-up necessary.

Abi says: After my disappointing experience with Trader Joe’s Ready to Bake brownies I wasn’t excited to try out the Duncan Hines variety. I don’t even like Duncan Hines’ boxed brownie mix: if I’m using a mix I prefer the Betty Crocker one that comes with a syrup pouch. But I knew that there was room in Josh’s freezer and these pre-mixed brownies were sale at Safeway. Frozen batter, how you tempt me.

Preparation was easy: preheat the oven, pop in the unwrapped tray and wait for 1/2 an hour. While waiting, the scent of cocoa filled the house, tempting those who made the rather unfortunate choice of giving up chocolate for Lent. I suppose that sort of sacrifice made Easter all the more awesome. When the brownies were done I sliced them into an inappropriate number of servings (10 instead of the recommended 12) based on there being 5 people in the brownie-eating pool. And then I put them on the coffee table and learned that these brownies are only appealing to drunk people. Perfectly sober people are not tempted by mediocre baked goods when outside of an office environment.

These are better than the Trader Joe’s brownies, but that’s akin to saying that gas station coffee is superior to dirty water. Only 4 brownies were consumed on the first go-round. The next night of basketball saw the consumption of just 3 more brownies. By Saturday evening I realized it was a lost cause and tossed the rest of the brownies. Will I ever find a pre-made brownie as good as anything on Anna’s brownie recipe list?

comments

9 Responses to “Duncan Hines Oven Ready! Homestyle Chocolate Fudge Brownies”

Crow on March 26th, 2008

“Preparation was easy: preheat the oven…”

Fwoomp boom.
rob on March 26th, 2008

A lady friend cooked these up and gave me some as a gift, they aren’t any better the next day. To me they tasted like chocolate-flavored bread.

Imo the missing ingredient is “two sticks of butter,” if it doesn’t shorten your life span by at least a few minutes it isn’t a good brownie. Also you should have to lick your fingers after eating a really good brownie, these left my fingers totally free of gooey mess.
Jessica Johnson on March 26th, 2008

I purchased these a month ago, because they were on sale (only $2.50!). I realize there is a markup, but for someone who never has eggs or regular oil, I thought it was a great deal. I cooked mine a bit less than the recommended time, and they were still a little gooey. In fact, they were delicious! I remember enjoying three brownies with a nice glass of milk. Now, I will say that the next day, they were no longer good, but, for brownies on the run, or for people like me who don’t have time/dishes/eggs - they are great!
Carlos on March 26th, 2008

Who doesn’t have eggs? I am freshly sprung from college and even my meager refrigerator has eggs…to the point that they have become a staple I don’t even enjoy anymore. Brownies are so easy I feel there is little excuse for a poor batch, little reason to buy such disappointing fare.
Julie A on March 26th, 2008

My mother made the BEST HOMEMADE FROM SCRATCH BROWNIES EVER.

I blissfully remember the smell wafting thru the house I grew up in many eons ago.

Brownies like that along with those blissful smells are gone from my life forever - I miss my mom and I will never left one of these evil things ever grace my lips. It would be like spitting on her grave.
Julie A on March 26th, 2008

Hmm are you sure it wasn’t 4:20 when you served these? I know the Bay area…ahh never mind.
Jessica Johnson on March 27th, 2008

I’m just not an egg person….. only for special occasions…
I’m a first year teacher - I’m lucky I eat at all!
Carlos on March 27th, 2008

Didn’t mean to come off so snide, I apologize. And I am rapidly becoming a not-egg person as well. Though my addiction to Kraft Singles will never die. *Sigh*
N. on March 27th, 2008

In regards to the quest for good-tasting pre-made brownies, I always loved the version Nestle put out. I haven’t made them in forever because my oven doesn’t work, but I used to be able to find them next to the frozen cookie dough. Definitely worth trying.