Cake mix brownies are a 30-minute, crowd-pleasing treat that effortlessly combines the richness of brownies and the convenience of cake mix. You only need your favorite boxed cake mix plus the ingredients on the box for this delicious treat!
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Pin RecipeEasy Cake Mix Brownies Recipe
Did you know you can use a cake mix to make brownies? With a few additions, outlined below, you can quickly whip up a delicious dessert to satisfy your chocolate craving.
Brownies will seriously make any day better. Is there anyone who doesn’t get excited when they see a slightly warm, super yummy brownie? If so, I haven’t met them yet! My kids love it when I have a freshly baked batch of brownies ready on the counter when they come home from school, and I love having an easy-to-make treat for all of us.
When you use a store-bought cake mix brownies turn out a little more cakey than brownies made with a brownie mix. However, I love the fluffy texture. I also love to include mix-ins like extra vanilla extract and mini chocolate chips to really make these cake mix brownies stand out.
These chocolate brownies are great eaten plain. Or, try out some of the serving suggestions I have listed below. No matter how you serve them, I know you’ll enjoy this recipe!
If you love these cake mix brownies, try out my S’mores Brownies, Peppermint Bark Brownies, and classic Homemade Brownies, too!
Recipe Ingredients
To print: see recipe card below.
- 1 (15 ounce ) box chocolate cake mix – Use any brand of cake mix you like best. Or, use my cake mix recipe to create homemade chocolate cake mix.
- 1/3 cup melted butter – You can use salted or unsalted butter.
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla Extract
- 1 cup mini Chocolate Chips – Use regular-sized chocolate chips if you don’t have mini chocolate chips.
Variations
- Use devil’s food cake mix or chocolate fudge cake mix to amplify the chocolate flavor.
- Swap the semi-sweet chocolate chips with dark chocolate or white chocolate chips.
- Fold in peanut butter chips for a Reese-inspired brownie batter.
- Incorporate chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to add a wonderful crunch to the batter.
Directions for How to Make Cake Mix Brownies
- Prepare the pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and lightly grease an 8×8 square baking dish with cooking spray. Alternatively, you can line the pan with parchment paper, letting it hang over the sides.
- Mix the batter: Add the cake mix, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla to a large mixing bowl. Stir together to create a smooth, thick batter.
- Add the chocolate chips: Stir in the mini chocolate chips. Then, pour the batter into the baking dish.
- Bake: Bake the brownies for 25 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies will come out cleanly.
- Cool and cut brownies: Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan completely before cutting.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many ways to eat brownies! Here are a few of my favorite serving suggestions:
- With ice cream – Serve a brownie topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Make it a sundae – Gently warm a brownie. Then, top it with ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, a cherry, and nuts!
- Top with frosting. Try spreading my Easy Homemade Chocolate Frosting on top of the cooled brownies before you cut them.
How to Store
Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature on the counter or in the fridge for up to five days. You can serve the brownies cold or at room temperature.
You can also freeze brownies! Wrap each brownie in plastic wrap, place them in a freezer-safe bag, and freeze for up to three months. Defrost the brownies in the fridge, or use the defrost setting on your microwave.
Quick Tip
The brownies will cut nicely when cooled. If you try to cut them while still warm, they tend to crumble. So try to wait until they are at least mostly cool before cutting into them!
FAQs
A cake mix will contain more leavener to make it rise, while a brownie mix has very little leavening agent. Brownie mixes also generally have more sugar and chocolate content than chocolate cake mixes.
To make your brownies taste richer, replace the water called for on the box with milk or heavy cream. Or add melted butter instead of oil. Add one extra egg to your mix to make your brownies more cake-like.
If you like fudgy brownies, they will have a higher fat-to-flour ratio than cakey ones. So add more fat—in this case, butter and chocolate. A cakey batch has more flour and relies on baking powder for leavening.
Cake Mix Brownies
Equipment
- 1 8×8 baking dish
- 1 Large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 (15 oz) box chocolate cake mix
- ⅓ cup melted butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉ and lightly grease an 8×8 square baking dish.
- Add the cake mix, melted butter, eggs and vanilla to a large mixing bowl and stir together to create a smooth, thick batter.1 (15 oz) box chocolate cake mix, ⅓ cup melted butter, 2 eggs, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, 1 cup mini chocolate chips
- Stir in the mini chocolate chips then pour the batter into the baking dish.
- Bake the brownies for 25 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies will come out cleanly.
- Let the brownies cool in the pan completely before cutting. Then enjoy!
Nutrition
Did you make this Easy Cake Mix Brownies recipe? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
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