Make Boxed Brownies Extra Fudgy With One Pantry Staple

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Some home cooks follow a recipe to the letter, and some fly by the seats of their pants. Boxed recipes appeal to both sides of this culinary coin, providing a template for newbies and a springboard to creativity. It's in the latter spirit that, for extra-fudgy boxed brownies, we suggest you take the instructions on the back of the box and throw them away! Instead, dig out a tin of condensed milk from the pantry, grab a couple of eggs, and combine them with your powdered brownie mix. A 20-minute spin in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit is all that stands between you and fudgey, chocolatey, brownie deliciousness.

The internet has gone completely wild for this hack, which really does work, no matter which brand of boxed brownie mix or condensed milk you use. But why is it so successful? Well, the secret is the thickness of the condensed milk. While its powdered cousin creates unforgettable, rich brownies, the condensed kind (as the name suggests) contains a lot less liquid, allowing it to become a gooey glue for the dry mix. Be warned, the fudgy brownies this pairing creates are super sticky, and not everyone's down for that.

Want to do more with this can of condensed milk and boxed brownie pairing? Some people make up the batter as usual (so maybe don't throw the instructions too far away), and drizzle the condensed milk into it before the pan goes into the oven. When the brownies come out, the milky part is transformed into a divine, dulce de leche-style addition that gives the whole thing a creamy, caramelly boost. One online commenter offered another suggestion: Poking holes in the brownies while they were still hot and pouring the condensed milk straight into them. We think that sounds heavenly!

Among the many "ooohs" and "aahs" over this spin on a boxed brownie are comments about the eye-watering amounts of sugar it contains — but there are a few ways to minimize that. You could try adding extra yolks for increased fudginess, or opt for a low-sugar brownie mix and blend it with a reduced or even sugar-free condensed milk. They'll still give a delicious, fudgy treat which, if all else fails, you can cut into smaller pieces to limit temptation. People with lifestyle or dietary restrictions don't miss out on the ooey-gooey deliciousness either, as there are also lots of vegan and lactose-free types of condensed milk out there.