Oven Ready brownies – what’s not to like?

Five-star flavor has never been easier.

If you are cooking challenged or simply busy, you can’t go wrong with the Duncan Hines Oven Ready brownies Spokesman-Review reader food panel members said. Everyone on the panel who tasted the chocolate chip golden brownies gave them our highest rating for flavor.

“My assessment may be skewed because of the warm, straight-from-the-oven tastes, but if convenience counts, go for these,” said Skip Hubbard.

Tina Johnson’s reaction was a bit more basic, “Sniff, sniff, drool, drool, chew, moan, drool, chew, chew, drool, drool, smile,” she wrote on her evaluation sheet.

Peggy Kazanis agreed. “Yummy melted chocolate chips in a warm brownie. What more could you ask for?”

The Chocolate Fudge brownies that followed, received a four-star rating from the panel, but by then they were nitpicking.

“A bit more chocolate would be good for me. Who am I kidding? I’d eat ‘em no matter what.” Skip Hubbard.

“Nice chocolate flavor, and the texture is perfect,” Gabe Kohler said.

The only complaint about the new brownies, which come frozen in an oven-ready tray, was about the shape of the pan. The rounded edges made it difficult to cut nice squares from the baked brownies. The trays go straight from the freezer to the oven, without thawing and take only 25 minutes to bake.

Oven Ready Homestyle Brownies, Chocolate Chip

Price: $2.79 per 17-ounce package (12 servings)

Nutrition per serving: 170 calories, 8 grams fat (2.5 grams saturated, 42 percent fat calories), 2 grams protein, 24 grams carbohydrate, 15 milligrams cholesterol, less than 1 gram dietary fiber, 85 milligrams sodium.

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Comments: “Better buy three.” – Andy Hoye

“It’s a chocolate chip cookie. What’s not to love?” – Gabe Kohler

“Fantastic. I hope this is low-calorie diet stuff because I could eat the whole batch,” – Larry Inman

Oven Ready Homestyle Brownies, Chocolate Fudge

Price: $2.79 per 17-ounce package (12 servings)

Nutrition per serving: 170 calories, 8 grams fat (1.5 grams saturated, 42 percent fat calories), 2 grams protein, 23 grams carbohydrate, 20 milligrams cholesterol, less than 1 gram dietary fiber, 85 milligrams sodium.

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Comments: “Dark, hot and chewy. The pinnacle of the evening.” – Tina Johnson

“A great brownie.” – Peggy Kazanis

“Serve these only to people with strong willpower or the plate will stop before it gets around the room.” – Andy Hoye