How to make a brownie cake with brownie mix Betty Crocker, Pillsbury or Ghirardelli is here! Quick easy dessert recipe with moist chocolate slices for a birthday with frosting.
Ok so I bet you didn’t think this was made from a box of Ghirardelli brownie mix huh? I have used Pillsbury and Betty Crocker too and it is just as delicious. You can create a 2 layer cake to decorate just by amping up this ready made mix this year! (affiliate links present)
Can I bake a cake with brownie mix?
Yes you can!! You do need to add a few more ingredients to transition this into a fluffy treat but used as the base makes it easier than ever and bakery-like. A brownie mix hack of sorts we had to share with you so you can make it for your next holiday.
Betty Crocker Brownie Cake Recipe
I have made this with all different brands and there is just a very slight difference. I will say that you get what you pay for as far as boxed brownies go. Ghirardelli is likely the most expensive at the store but is richer and comes with mini chocolate chips inside already. Store brands will have less flavor and won’t be as fudgy.
What is brownies cake made of?
- Boxed brownie mix, about 18 oz is normal
- Granulated white sugar will make it sweeter
- All purpose flour is required to transition it into a cake texture
- Baking powder helps it rise more
- Cocoa powder makes it richer
- Salt actually brings out more of the chocolate flavors
- Butter, melted to make fudgy
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt works
- Water, or coca cola for liquid
- Vanilla extract
- Eggs are best added when at room temperature
Variations
You can add semi sweet chocolate chips into the mix, about 1/2 cup, and some on the outside for flair. A naked cake is kinda’ fun but of course you can frost with a ready made tub, homemade frosting or pour chocolate ganache over the top when done.
Substitutions
For the required liquid you could use Coca-Cola for a richer flavor like our 2 Ingredient with Soda vs. water. You can make dairy free with plant based butter and there are many substitutions to sour cream like Greek yogurt, mashed avocado (but that will have a different flavor), or you can even use mayonnaise.
If you would rather make from scratch, this is How to Make Homemade Brownie Mix first and then follow the directions below to transform it into this pan full of deliciousness. 😉
How to Make a Cake with Brownie Mix
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Spray 2 – 8 inch cake pans with nonstick cooking spray containing flour.
- or you can get already cut into circles parchment paper rounds
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients; fudge brownie mix, sugar, flour, baking powder, cocoa powder and salt.
- Add in the wet ingredients: melted butter, sour cream, water, vanilla and eggs and whisk until well combined.
- Stir in the mini chocolate chips.
- Divide the cake batter equally between the two cake pans and place in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean with moist crumbs attached.
- Leave in the pans for about 10 minutes before removing and placing on a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
What is the best pan to use?
Two 8″ round pans turn out the best for this one. If you didn’t want to layer it you could use a 9×13″ rectangular pan instead. They should take about the same bake time either way. The larger one takes less work to serve, just slather frosting on top with a rubber spatula, slice and serve.
If you are making this in a small batch like our Air Fryer Brownies From Mix you would need a pan that fits inside your machine with the temperature and timing listed there. Adjust until the middle comes out mostly clean with crumbs attached.
There are a few things you can do; make our cake out of brownies mix recipe here, you can add an extra egg into your batter and/or use less oil. Less fat will make your end result a bit more dry and more “cakey” you might say.
You can!! Use the ingredients in the recipe card below to turn brownie mix into a cake! It will fill two 8 inch round pans. Allow to cool, frost the middle, layer the two and then frost the outside just like you would if you used cake mix but this is better and richer.
Other brownie mix hacks you’ll love
Want to make boxed cake mix brownies sometime too? I mean this was our first hack using a chocolate cake mix and nobody could taste the difference! You could make this a combo of sorts to make even taller with 2 layers of this + 2 layers made with Devil’s Food cake mix as directed on the back of the box for another experiment too.
Brownie Cake with Brownie Mix
Equipment
- 2 8 inch cake pans
- 1 Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 box brownie mix
- 1/2 c sugar
- 1/2 c all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 c butter, melted
- 1 c sour cream, or Greek yogurt
- 1/2 c water, or coca cola
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 c mini chocolate chips
- Brownie Frosting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 – 8” cake pans with nonstick cooking spray containing flour. (May also cut parchment paper circles for the bottom of each pan to prevent sticking)
- In a large bowl, whisk together the brownie mix, sugar, flour, baking powder, cocoa powder and salt. Add in the wet ingredients: melted butter, sour cream, water, vanilla and eggs and whisk until well combined. Stir in the mini chocolate chips.
- Divide the cake batter equally between the two cake pans and place in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a skewer/knife comes out cleanly. Let the cake cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before removing and placing on a cooling rack to come to room temperature.
- Make the frosting or use 1 tub of ready made. Place the first layer of cake onto a serving platter or cake pedestal and scoop about ½ c of frosting and spread it in an even layer over the cake. Place the second layer of cake and use a spatula to create a thin layer of frosting all over
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Fantastic recipe, easy to understand!
so glad