Cake mix brownies come together with only 5 ingredients and a quick stir of a spoon. They’re just another great way to put those cake mixes sitting in the cupboard to good use!

Cake Mix Brownies cut into squares on parchment paper

Why this recipe works

While we’ll always love a good ole classic fudge brownie, sometimes scooping and measuring flour, cocoa powder, and sugar is the last thing you want to do when you’re craving a brownie in the moment. Enter, cake mix brownies.

If you’re wondering why this recipe is even a thing considering you can just buy a box of brownie mix, it’s helpful if you happen to have a box of cake mix taking up space in the pantry. These brownies are ridiculously easy to make with a box of chocolate cake mix, eggs, oil, vanilla, and dark chocolate chips for good measure.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

CAKE MIX – We opted for a standard-size (15.25 ounce) chocolate fudge cake mix. I would recommend sticking to cake mixes that call for oil as opposed to butter because the end result is much fudgier.

CHOCOLATE CHIPS – We like the richness that the dark chocolate chips bring to these brownies, but if you prefer, you can substitute them with semi-sweet chocolate chips or peanut butter chips.

How to Make Cake Mix Brownies

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper, allowing excess to hang over the sides for handles.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, and vanilla.
Add dry cake mix and stir to combine using a sturdy rubber spatula or wooden spoon. Mixture will be very thick.
Reserve one handful of the chocolate chips to sprinkle on top. Stir the remaining chocolate chips into the batter.
Scoop batter into lined pan. Spray your hands with cooking spray and press the batter into the pan until even. Sprinkle with reserved chocolate chips.
Bake in preheated oven for 19-21 minutes.
Cool in pan on a cooling rack for 20 minutes. Lift the brownies from the pan using parchment paper handles and place on rack to cool completely.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Can I add nuts?

Absolutely! You can add chopped nuts on top or mix them into the batter, whichever you prefer. Treat these cake mix brownies as you would treat a batch of homemade brownie batter.

How do you store cake mix brownies?

Store the cooled brownies in an air-tight container kept at room temperature for up to 5 days. Keep them sealed with a lid to prevent them from becoming hard and crumbly.

Serving Suggestions

Serve cake mix brownies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or enjoy as-is. A tall glass of milk is always a welcome accompaniment! You’ll definitely want to wait until the brownies are fully cooled before cutting them. Enjoy!

More Cake Mix Recipes

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