Brownies come in all different flavors. You can always opt for a trusted Duncan Hines home-baked Chewy Fudge classic. If you're feeling *extra,* there are myriad iterations of triple and even quadruple chocolate brownies, turtle brownies, s'mores brownies, peanut butter brownies, and beyond. For the truly unhinged dessert lover, might I even suggest the brown-free brownie... the blondie. However, if you're looking to add a new ingredient to your tried-and-true baking recipe, might I suggest the TikTok trending Dr. Pepper brownies? Contrary to its name, these sweet treats do not actively taste like the iconic 23 flavors contained in Dr. Pepper. I know, I know, it is a bummer for real soda heads everywhere. So, why are people all over TikTok adding this fizzy drink to their brownie batter? Let's dive into the mysterious baking ingredient.
Why are people adding Dr. Pepper to brownies?
Don't worry if you're not a great baker, you can make these with any packaged brownie mix in the store. According to TikTokers, you can prepare the baking mix according to package instructions but replace the water with Dr. Pepper. Some have even tried using Dr. Pepper variations such as the cream soda flavor.
TikTok foodie @jordan_the_stallion8 baked his at 350º for about 20 minutes and said, "These brownies with milk this late at night, this is the best thing I've ever tasted in my life. Please try it, it's so good."
Jordan also stitched his mega-viral video with The Recipe Club, who only mixed Dr. Pepper with brownie mix for a vegan and dairy-free treat.
Other brownie testers, including @emiliekiser shared that she got a slight taste of Dr. Pepper, but commended its fluffier texture.
With this being said, what does Dr. Pepper add to a seemingly already good brownie mix? According to Spices N Flavors, carbonated beverages are actually pretty decent egg replacements, and the bubbles in the drink create light, airy pockets of fluffy goodness during the baking process. This means that the viral Dr. Pepper brownies can actually also be made with any soda or carbonated water for some textural upgrades. You can even elevate your cake mix with Diet Coke, too.
While this is not a new brownie method — after all, Dr. Pepper cookbooks have been in print since the 1960s — it's always cool to think outside of the box with baking. Between Dr. Pepper brownies and wacky cakes trending on TikTok, it's clear that amateur and pro home bakers alike are interested in exploring all the ways you can transform a simple grocery store baking mix.