1 pkg. (18.25 oz.) moist butter recipe chocolate cake mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine or butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 Tbsps water
1 egg
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 pkg. (10 oz.) vanilla milk chips
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease rectangular pan, 9 x 13-inches. Mix
cake mix (dry), margarine, brown sugar, water and egg in large bowl, using
spoon. Stir in walnuts and vanilla milk chips. Press firmly in pan. Bake
32 to 36 minutes or until top forms a crust that is dry to the touch.
Cool completely. Cut into 2 x 1-1/2-inch bars.
High Altitude (over 3500 feet): Not recommended.
This recipe will work with just about any cake mix, with the exception
of any "weird" mixes containing multi-colored bits (have tried
and not thrilled with
results); however, it works with a chocolate chip cake mix, so probably
has something to do with the composition of the chips in these confetti-type
mixes.
I have used yellow, white, chocolate, Devil's Food (YUM!), fruit-flavored
mixes and whatever I had on the shelf when I needed "something"
to take. I have added basic chocolate chips, peanut butter flavored chips,
mint chips and even toffee bits and smashed toffee candy; they all work.
Brownies can be frosted, used for quickie trifles with whipped topping
of choice and fresh fruit (bake up nicely in square or round layer pans)
or just about anyway you might want.
NOTE: this recipe does not lend itself to low-fat (other than margarine)
replacement with applesauce. Have tried it a few times, but the brownies
are hard as rocks (much like biscotti) and need to be dunked in a beverage
to render them soft enough to chew.