Trader Joe’s Brownie Truffle Baking Mix – 4 Stars!
Trader Joe’s Brownie Truffle Baking Mix Review
The brownie mix box adds: Made with Dutch cocoa and chocolate chips.
I won’t keep you in suspense: Trader Joe’s Brownie Truffle Baking Mix makes a very good brownie. My friend Candy is a gourmet cook, and swears by this as a brownie you could make for guests at a nice dinner party, and not feel like you slighted anyone, at least on the dessert.
I like it very much, too, but not quite as much as she does. Just as I wrote when reviewing Trader Joe’s sister brownie, the Blondie brownie (review coming up soon!) it annoys me to find out that the box is only half full of mix! Hey, Trader Joes, we’ve come to expect a fair deal at Trader Joe’s, and this exaggeration bugs!
What’s dutch cocoa, anyway?
Trader Joe’s describes the brownies as “made with Dutch Cocoa and Chocolate Chips”. That reminded me: I have a recipe for brownies I’ve been meaning to make again, but I can’t find Dutch cocoa anywhere. Is this considered some kind of gourmet item now?
Trader Joe’s itself carried dutch cocoa in blue or pink tins for a long time, not that product history means much to Traitor Joes’ head buyers. (They just lop off the head of any product that doesn’t sell *big*.)
I knew dutch cocoa had something to do with baking powder, but David Lebovitz explains it better than I can:
Because natural cocoa powder hasn’t had its acidity tempered, it’s generally paired with baking soda (which is alkali) in recipes. Dutch-process cocoa is frequently used in recipes with baking powder, as it doesn’t react to baking soda like natural cocoa does.
He adds that you can’t really substitute it in place of regular cocoa with cakes or cookies, just in sauce. (Who makes dutch cocoa sauce??) :/
Also, I didn’t know that dutch-process cocoa is darker. I do like the idea that it has less acidity, although I’ve never thought cocoa powder, which I actually prefer to melted chocolate, is acidic at all.
Word of advice: Trader Joe’s Brownie Truffles are not a truffle like chocolate candy. it’s a brownie, so they should have called it truffle brownie, not brownie truffle: it’s a type of brownie, not a type of truffle. Don’t make me come to Pasadena, Trader Joe. (Their headquarters are now in Monrovia, foodie sleuths.)
What others are saying about Trader Joe’s Brownie Truffle Baking Mix
Baking Bites likes it, but suggests adding more chocolate chips to it. (Dutch chips?)
Wow, Consumer Reports rated it one of the 2 best out of 100 brownies!!
Sprinkle Joy likes them, too. She has pictures there, in case you get confused by how to add butter and eggs to the mix.
If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby (sob), Amazon carries it now, too. Here’s a good deal to get 2 boxes at once. I’m sure you can figure out what to do with the second one.
Last Bite:
I have bought it several times, so the proof is in the pudding. 4 stars.
Okay, I read about 5 of your posts. Lol. The brownies are the only thing you liked, save for the naming order brownie truffles…I agree with you! What I like is that you don’t like everything and that makes it more fun to read!!
Dutch Process cocoa is available from many sources, as various price points.
Droste is available in many supermarkets. (medium priced)
Guittard is available in Whole Foods, on Amazon, and in some other stores. (medium priced)
Sprouts (here in AZ) has it in the bulk foods section (at lower prices than above) as do many other organic and specialty food shops.
Penzey’s Spice Store and Savory Spice Shops also have it (price very high)
Thanks, Gloria! I guess, like many Trader Joe’s shoppers, I was looking for an easy answer…:)