Brownie disappointment

I was excited to bake these brownies in hopes of finding a mix that would bake properly for me. I was definitely happy with the results! The caramel layer in the middle didn’t bake into the brownie layers as much as I thought it would, amd acted more like a sauce between the layers.
Unfortunately, these salted caramel brownies taste odd, like an expired mix. It seems this mix was made with a lot of preservatives as it tastes chemical-like. The texture is off-putting as well, almost feeling like a powder when chewing.
I will not be purchasing this mix again, not even if on cheap clearance