THE NOT-FROM-A-BOX DESSERT
I have a theory. The ready-to-make dessert aisle is silently killing your baking ambition. Yeah, I get it. Those box mixes are easy, but I promise, there are also more super efficient and delicious alternatives. Walk away from the box, and assuming you have all the essential baking base ingredients on hand (eggs, butter, sugars, cocoa powder, flour), these take less than ten minutes to get into the oven. Don’t be scared. It’s not a daunting task or a full-on production.

THE RECIPE
8 oz. butter + 4 eggs + 1/2 cup sugar + 1 1/2 cups brown sugar (prefer Trader Joe’s for its strong molasses flavor) + 1 1/4 cups cocoa powder + 1/2 cup flour + 3/4 tsp salt

• preheat oven to 325
• butter and flour an 8″-square dish
• gently melt butter
• beat eggs and sugars until light and fluffy
• add cocoa powder, flour and salt, continue beating
• slowly add melted butter
• bake 40 – 45 minutes or until set
• when cool, dust with powdered sugar

THE RESULT
Fudge-y with a slightly crisp top, these morsels of goodness will be a hit at your next PTA meeting. Grab one for yourself before they’re all gone. They’re so delicious your favorite moms will think you used a box mix. Now you’re on your way to be a baking pro.