The best brownies are fudgy and decadent, with a rich chocolate flavor and moist (but still well-baked) interior. Ideally, they have a shiny, cracked top and pleasantly gooey chew. But hey, keep in mind: We’re looking for the best store bought brownies you can find in a supermarket bakery, not the best brownies ever conceived by mankind. So don’t set the brownie bar too high!
I’ve become very familiar with grocery store bakeries since joining Sporked. I’ve ranked bakery cupcakes, bakery cheesecakes, bakery donuts, all of the best cookies at Aldi… the list goes on. I’ve got a pretty good idea of what to expect in the world of prepared desserts. Many mediocre store-bought cupcakes, for example, taste exactly the same—like different brands across different supermarkets all come from the same sad little cupcake factory. (Those did not, obviously, make the ranking.)
I expected grocery store brownies to have a similar problem, but guess what? I was wrong. Different brands taste pretty drastically different. So while I don’t think Big Brownie is trying to pull a fast one on us, I did expect to end up with more recommendations for the best store bought brownies than I ended up with. Turns out, delectable premade brownies are pretty hard to come by—probably because some of the best brownies already come in a box (all hail brownie mix), so why bother? But don’t fret. Not all hope is lost. I did manage to find these undeniably yummy options below. Take a look at the four best store bought brownies we’ve found so far—including the best gluten free brownies, too. They get major brownie points.
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- Lucky Spoon Bakery Gluten Free Chewy Chocolatey Brownie Bites
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Lucky Spoon didn’t just come in fourth because I wanted to include the best gluten free brownies here for the GF girlies. These ranked high because they actually taste really good, better than a lot of the other brownies we tried. These have a bitter chocolate taste, closer to cocoa powder than chocolate, but it works as a brownie bite. The texture is a bit more crumbly than you might be used to, but they are still soft and moist. I asked our resident gluten-free Mythical employee, Jenna Purdy, how she felt about them—and while she could definitely tell they are gluten-free, she thought they were a pretty nice substitute for homemade GF brownies, if you don’t feel like putting on your baker hat.
Credit: Merc / Sprouts
- Trader Joe’s Sea Salt Brownie Bites
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Disclaimer: You’re talking to a salt addict. If you don’t want salt anywhere near your desserts, chances are you might not love Trader Joe’s Sea Salt Brownie Bites. Sprinkled with granular sea salt and boasting that signature crinkled brownie top, I’m obsessed with the salty-chocolate flavor here and, yes, adorable presentation. These strike a great balance between fudgy decadence and fluffy, cake-like chew. But they definitely lean more salty than some may like! You’ve been warned! They’re definitely the best brownies for people like me.
Credit: Merc / Trader Joe’s
- Freshness Guaranteed Fudge Brownies
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Does anyone else have a confusing relationship with Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies? They aren’t good by any logical standard, but if they’re in front of me, I’ll still probably eat one. Walmart’s fudge brownies are basically an elevated Cosmic Brownie. And by elevated, I mean they taste a heck of a lot better—you won’t be confused by why you want to keep eating them, or why we think they’re some of the best fudgy brownies from the store. To be honest with you, these are, in looks and taste, big blocks of fudge masquerading as brownies. And I’m okay with that. They are thick, dense, sweet, and super chocolatey. If that sounds like your brownie-to-be, grab them.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Amazon Fresh Two Bite Brownies
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When I tell you I was shocked—shocked—that Amazon Fresh swooped in with the win here, I mean it. There are undeniably the best brownies in terms of taste and value (coming in at just $4.99 for a dozen). Their moist, rich, chocolatey fudge is simply divine. Every bite carries the perfect softness and gooey chew. The flavor also has a very subtle mocha thing going for it, which deepens the chocolate overall without overpowering it. These are some of the best brownies I’ve tried to date, and my coworkers, who swarmed the leftovers from this taste test like flies, definitely thought so, too. Don’t miss out!
Credit: Merc / Amazon
Best Gluten Free Brownies
Best Salty-Sweet
Runner Up
Best of the Best
Other brownies we tried: Overjoyed Brownie Bites (Powdered), Overjoyed Brownie Bites (Original), Favorite Day Bakery Brownie Bite Tiny Treats, Vons Gourmet Brownies With Walnuts, Nature’s Bakery Brownie, Freshness Guaranteed Cream Cheese Brownies, Sprouts Traditional Brownie, Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies, 365 Brownie Bites