Can You Make Betty Crocker Brownies in the Microwave?
Betty Crocker Brownies are delicious, and they are wonderfully quick and easy to whip up at home for when you want a decadent treat. However, they do need to be baked in an oven, and this can be quite restricting for those who do not have access to one.
Can you make Betty Crocker Brownies in the microwave?
Yes, you can make Betty Crocker Brownies in the microwave, and they turn out well when cooked in the microwave. They will not develop a crisp on the outside, but they will be soft, gooey, and tasty, and it is a much quicker way to prepare the brownies too.
If this sounds like something you want to try, read on to find out how to cook Betty Crocker Brownies in the microwave, and some useful tips for doing so!
Can You Microwave Betty Crocker Brownies?
The box recommends that you bake Betty Crocker Brownies, but if you do not have access to an oven, or are looking to try something different, then you can attempt to cook the brownies in the oven.
This is a fairly simple, straightforward process, and it involves pretty much the same steps you would follow if baking the brownies, except you finish off by cooking them in the microwave and not the oven.
You would still mix up the brownie mix and additional ingredients together as per box instructions, and then instead of placing them in a baking tin and cooking them in the oven, you would place the mix into a microwave-safe dish and cook it in the microwave.
The batter will cook and you will land up with edible brownies, and if done properly, the brownies will still be delicious and moist when cooked in the microwave.
While we recommend following the box advice and baking the brownies, some brownie mixes come with guidelines on how to cook the brownies in a microwave, so it is definitely doable.
How Long Should You Cook Betty Crocker Brownies in the Microwave?
If the brownie box does not come with instructions on how long the brownies need to be cooked for, then you will have to work it out on your own to get the timing right, so the brownies do cook, but they do not become dry and hard.
How long the brownies need to cook for will depend on the wattage of your microwave, as well as how thick you have poured the batter.
In a standard 900W microwave, the brownies will need to cook for around 2 to 3 minutes. This is quite a variation of time, so it is advised to check the brownies every 30 seconds, to make sure that they are not overcooking, and they are not drying out.
If your microwave is more powerful than this, then you might need to cut the cooking time down slightly, but still follow the process of checking the brownies every 30 seconds, until they are cooked to your preference.
There is no preparation that needs to be done with the microwave, such as preheating, and being ready in only a few minutes, cooking brownies in the microwave is much quicker than baking them in the oven!
How Do You Microwave Betty Crocker Brownies?
Microwaving Betty Crocker Brownies is a simple process, and there isn’t much that you need to change when cooking them in the microwave compared to the oven.
To start, you should gather everything you need to bake Betty Crocker Brownies in the microwave. This is what you will need:
- Betty Crocker Brownie Mix
- Extra ingredients as per box: eggs, water, and oil
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk or mixing spoon
- Non-stick spray
- Microwave-safe baking dish
Once you have all of your tools ready, you can start making the brownies:
- Get all your ingredients together, and mix them as per the instructions on the box in your mixing bowl.
- Get the microwave-safe baking dish ready, and spray some non-stick spray on the inside, or grease it with some butter. This will help you remove the brownies easier from the dish once they are done.
- Pour the brownie batter into the microwave-safe baking dish. If there is quite a bit of batter and the dish is small, you might have to do two batches, as you do not want the batter to be so thick that it does not cook through properly in the microwave.
- Place the brownies into the microwave, and cook for 2 minutes. If the brownies are not cooked at the 2-minute mark, put them back in the microwave and check them every 30 seconds until they are done to your preference.
You might have to do a few batches like this depending on the size of the microwave dish you are using, but the brownies cook up quickly enough in the microwave it won’t take too long.
Do Microwave Betty Crocker Brownies Turn Out Soft?
If you have ever had microwave mug cakes before, you know that microwaving batter can make it soft, gooey, and super decadent.
The same is true for microwaving Betty Crocker Brownies, but you do need to be careful to not undercook them. To get soft and gooey brownies in the microwave, you will have to microwave them for shorter than they need to be cooked for, so they do not dry out.
The problem with this is that the brownie mix will likely contain eggs, and you would want the eggs to be cooked enough that they are safe to eat. This is a fine line to balance, so you need to make sure that the brownies are cooked enough to be safe to eat.
The other problem is that the texture of the brownies cooked in the microwave will not be as consistent as those cooked in the oven, so you may have some variation in how the brownies turn out.
Brownies will also dry out quicker in the microwave, and become harder around the edges, so you do need to keep a check on the brownies as they cook.
Baking brownies in the oven takes longer, but it gives you more control, and you can achieve soft, gooey brownies on the inside, with a beautiful crisp on the outside.
Is It Better to Oven Bake or Microwave Betty Crocker Brownies?
When it comes down to the quality of the brownies, it is better to bake Betty Crocker Brownies. Baking the brownies gives them a caramelized, crispy outside, and a gooey, soft inside. Baking the brownies also allows the flavors to develop more, giving you a richer, more complete flavor.
However, baking brownies can take quite a while longer compared to using the microwave, so if it is time that you are restricted to, then microwaving the brownies might be a better option for you.
You will likely not achieve a crisp on the outside of the brownies like you would if you baked them in the oven, but they can still be made gooey and soft on the inside, and still have that delicious chocolatey flavor.
So while you should always bake brownies in the oven if you can, you can still get some delicious brownies cooked in the microwave, which will be better than no brownies at all!
Can You Cook Betty Crocker Brownies Without Eggs?
One of the concerns with making soft and gooey microwave Betty Crocker Brownies is that they might not cook fully, and this means that the egg in the batter might not be safe to eat.
One way to get around this, and enjoy gooey and soft brownies, is to replace the eggs in the batter. You might find that the Betty Crocker Brownie mix comes with suggestions on what to use in place of eggs, and these would be the best substitutes to use.
If the box doesn’t recommend any substitutions, you could opt to use yogurt, applesauce, or even vegan egg substitutes. You will just need to make sure that you use the right amount, so that the consistency of the batter is not altered too much, and you don’t change the flavor of the brownies too much.
Does Microwaving Hard Brownies Soften Them?
If you have some brownies sitting on the counter that have gone hard, you can use your microwave to soften them back to a delicious texture, to make them enjoyable again.
To do this, you should place the hard brownie onto a microwave-safe plate, and place a damp paper towel over the brownie. Put this into the microwave and reheat it for 10-second intervals, until the brownie is soft and moist again.
Can You Make Betty Crocker Brownies in the Microwave?
You can make Betty Crocker Brownies in the microwave, and this is a great way to enjoy delicious brownies at home when you don’t have access to an oven, and when you want the brownies ready in just a few minutes!
Related Questions
What Do I Need to Add to Betty Crocker Brownie Mix?
To make Betty Crocker Brownie mix, you need to add in oils, eggs, and water. The ratios will depend on whether you want softer, gooey brownies, or cake-like brownies.
Can You Make Betty Crocker Cakes in the Microwave?
Yes, you can make Betty Crocker Cakes in the microwave, you will just have to adjust the cooking time.