Learn how to make brownies from cake mix. All you need is just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to prep these brownies! An easy and crowd pleasing dessert thanks to our secret weapon: dark chocolate fudge cake mix.
These cake mix brownies are a ridiculously simple dessert that you can throw together in about 5 minutes flat.
Don’t have brownie mix on hand?
I’ve got you covered.
This recipe uses just 5 ingredients:
- chocolate cake mix
- olive oil
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- chocolate chips
My cake mix cookie bars were such a hit with everyone who makes them, and I decided to create more recipes featuring cake mix!
While I love a good dessert made from scratch, sometimes you need those secret weapon recipes to throw together a crowd pleasing dessert in only minutes.
How to make brownies from cake mix
First, you’ll need a box of your favorite chocolate cake mix.
For this recipe, I used Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge, but any chocolate cake mix will work.
Add the cake mix, olive oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and chocolate chips to a large bowl.
Use a rubber spatula or spoon to mix until completely combined.
Spray an 8 X 8 baking dish with cooking spray, then add the batter in.
Smush it down into the edges, and flatten out any lumps.
Bake at 350 degrees until done, around 20 – 25 minutes!
Allow to cool completely before cutting for easiest results.
If you’re like me, this is pretty much impossible!
I have been known to ruin batches of brownies because I just couldn’t wait to dig in and try one.
Share these at a party, with your friends and neighbors, or just make it for yourself when you deserve a treat.
Enjoy!
Cake Mix Recipes
Hungry for more easy cake mix recipes?
Cake mix is such a great hack for quick and delicious baking.
You’ve got to try my cake mix cookie bars – everyone loves them!
Like this recipe, they are only a few ingredients and so easy to prep.
Perfect way to use up that cake mix you already have!
Another favorite of mine is cake mix banana bread – It’s so simple and a great way to use up those ripe bananas!
If you’ve got a big chocolate sweet tooth, these 4 ingredient chocolate cake mix cookies will hit the spot!
Cake mix pumpkin muffins are quite possibly the easiest muffins ever and a fun seasonal treat!
Another fall favorite is this cake mix pumpkin bread.
Are you making this recipe? I want to see! Don’t forget to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe creations!
Be sure to pin this recipe for later and follow Build Your Bite on Pinterest for all the latest delicious recipes!
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a star rating below!
How To Make Cake Mix Brownies
Cake Mix Brownies
These fudgy cake mix brownies are so simple to make and everyone will love them! Perfect recipe for when you need brownies in a pinch.
Ingredients
- 15 oz box chocolate cake mix (I used Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge)
- 1/2 cup olive oil or vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large bowl and mix with a rubber spatula until completely combined
- Transfer batter to a greased 8 X 8 baking dish
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean (mine were perfect right at 25 minutes)
- For best results, allow to cool completely before cutting
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 237Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 215mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 1gSugar: 17gProtein: 3g
Barbara says
Can you make this minus the chocolate chips???
Cindy says
Can you bake these in a skillit?
Cyann says
OMG these were great most definitely my favorite recipe!!!
Samara Holton says
Did you use olive oil or veg oil?
Samira says
These turned out great! I used chocolate fudge cake mix. They turned out super fudgy in the center of the pan, with the right amount of crunchy bits around the edges. The top crisped up beautifully too. Tastes great later on in the day warmed up for 15 seconds. I would argue this is an excellent recipe for 2020 home days!
Joy Shull says
so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Dina says
I have a box of chocolate cake mix that is 2/3 full. I used 1/3 for a marble cake using one egg since the recipe calls for 3 on the box. I want to use the rest of it for this recipe but do I adjust the eggs accordingly? How do I split the 2 eggs? What will happen if I just use the 2 eggs but the box is technically only 2/3 full?
Allison says
Would vegetable oil be acceptable as an olive oil substitute?
Joy Shull says
Yes, that will work also
Lillian Loar says
Can you bake them in a mini cupcake pan. Is so how long
Muv says
You don’t need to worry about the direction’s on the box….just the 5 ingredients she posted….hope that helps make it clearer…..happy cooking from Grandmuv’s
Lourdes says
Hi,
Are the eggs additional to the eggs already called for in the box instructions or just 2 eggs total? Not sure if it’s 2 or 4 eggs coz most boxes cake mix already call for 2 eggs.
Joy Shull says
Just what the recipe calls for, so 2 eggs total.
JEN says
I have never commented online for a recipe before, but this one is sooo good I had to comment! I doubled the recipe and baked in a 13×9 pan for exactly 25 mins. These taste like the fancy brownies you would buy in a bakery. I am shocked at how good these are. Homerun! Thank you!
Joy Shull says
So glad you enjoyed the recipe Jen, thanks for taking time to leave a review! 🙂
lesley berg says
This recipe was amazing. I used canola oil and baked 25 mins. Only complaint is they were a little to gooey
Stephanie wells says
The best brownie recipe I have tried, made a double batch which made baking time a little longer. Will make again.
Cindy says
Made these using Swerve Sweets chocolate cake mix and Lily’s dark chocolate chips…delicious. Careful to not over bake..baked for 20 min….a little dry. Going to try 15 or 18 min next time. Great keto brownie!
Jaymee says
how much of all the ingredients cause you didn’t put it in the recipe
Joy Shull says
All ingredients and instructions are located at the bottom of the post in a printable recipe card!
Michelle Greene says
Thanks for a great recipe! I need some brownies in a crunch, and all I had was a chocolate cake mix. They turned out amazing! Thanks!
Joy Shull says
Yay, so glad you enjoyed the brownies!
Briana says
Perfect ❤️ best brownies I’ve ever made, thank you so much!
Ana says
Making these with Trader Joe’s gluten free fudge quinoa cake mix and their mixed nut butter. Can’t wait to see how they end up!
Lori says
I used a sugar free cake mix and added Hershey sugar free chocolate chips. Came out amazing!
Allyssa says
Is there any way I can skip out on the chocolate chips, and just add everything eles?
Jaki says
Just made these. I didn’t have brownie mix but had cake mix so I was trying to find a good recipe. It’s good if you don’t have brownie mix on hand. Not my favorite but will still keep the recipe. Made them into brownie bites and I think I just left them in the oven a little too long.
Joy Shull says
Hi Jaki,
Brownie bites would cook much faster since they are smaller. If you make them again just try reducing the time like you said 🙂
AnnMarie says
Just made the brownies for my husband. I used chopped peanut butter cups instead of chocolate chips (I didn’t have any).
Can’t wait for him to taste them.
Grace says
I made these with dark chocolate cake mix and they were pretty good- I added a ton of regular size and mini chocolate chips so there was a ton of gooey goodness in the center of them! Mine baked for just over 20 mins and the knife came out clean- this might be normal but when I took them out of the oven they were baked evenly but after cooling the middle sank a little and the edges were higher but no biggie it didn’t really make a texture difference. When I first bit into them I could tell they tasted a little like cake but not bad at all and dipped them in some milk after dousing them with powdered sugar and I was in brownie heaven (I love brownies!). I also used canola oil instead of olive so that could have made a difference. Overall I liked these and if you have some cake mix you need to use or just want brownies instead it’s a good time and money saver that I would recommend trying. I’ll definitely be doing this again if I want brownies instead of cake or are in a pinch! Maybe even just try it to see if you like this type of brownie because if you like your brownies lighter/fluffier with some gooey chocolate goodness inside you might have just discovered your new favorite way to make them!
Grace twin says
Wow, what a woman. This girl is so insightful and you could tell that she poured her heart and soul into her comment just as much or more than she poured that brownies batter into the pan. LIke wow, my life is changed, (for the better in case you were concerned) and I am for sure gonna try these brownies just because of her. She should be rewarded. Maybe a cash prize. Maybe like $100-$1,000,000. Not like I have that kinda money because obviously, I’m trying to save money by life-hacking (as Darryl Philbin would say, what a G), by using my cake mix for brownies. Hope you enjoyed this comment from your average gangster baka, and hit me up with any questions or compliments. Tootles, the original G gansta
Joy Shull says
Haha I loved the comment too 🙂 Hope you enjoy the brownies!
Joy Shull says
Love that you made them your own! So glad you enjoyed the recipe 🙂
Jamie says
I found I had to add one extra egg and about 1/2 to 1 Cup of milk to get the right consistency. Of course I did use Peanut Butter in place of the oil since I am not a fan of oil in baking…the batter was amazing so can’t wait for the brownies!
Ann Marie says
Would melting the peanut butter help the consistency? I
I will have to experiment.