Cake Mix Brownies

These easy cake mix brownies are one of the best options for a quick and delicious dessert, made in no time with just a few ingredients. This recipe is great in a pinch, but it tastes so amazing that brownies from cake mix might just become your new go-to easy dessert recipe!

If you're craving delicious brownies and either don't have brownie mix on hand or don't want to go through the trouble of making homemade brownies from scratch, this cake mix brownies recipe will save the day. It's so easy to turn cake mix into perfectly moist brownies. With just a few ingredients, you will quickly go from box cake mix to mouthwatering caramel turtle brownies that will disappear from your counter even faster than you made them.

If you've ever wondered how to make brownies from a cake mix, this post is for you! This is the perfect way to change up a box mix in a pinch. While I use chocolate in this recipe, you can also use vanilla cake mix or yellow cake mix for a blondies version.

Be sure to read the inspiration for these fudgy brownies to learn more about me, why these brownies are so special, and if you're looking for love, find out how these cake mix brownies might just help you get yo self a man or woman. Keep reading, it'll all make sense soon!

What inspired these brownies?

My husband and I met working together on an offshore oil platform. Pretty romantic place, am I right?

I worked as a night cook/baker, and the hubs, relatively unknown to me at the time, worked as a drilling supervisor. I worked nights and he was on call 24 hours a day. He caught my attention quickly though. Our paths started crossing frequently, mostly me trying to get his attention and him trying to be professional. Gosh... it was really annoying. You probably have noticed there is a little bit of an age difference between us, so he was trying not to look like a Chester.

Plus, he's kind of a reserved guy, and I'm definitely not. I should also note, it must have been true love because he was sporting a pretty serious mullet when I met him. (They are still in style in the oilfield in Alaska to this day. True story.)

Love at first bite

I finally asked him out. Again, he was reserved, I'm not. The rest is practically history. We dated for almost a year before I decided I was ready to be a little more serious. He had tasted plenty of my food by the time we started dating and while we dated, which is why it surprised me so much, that this was the recipe that helped take our relationship to a whole new level.

You know from my other recipes, like my fudgy spelt brownies or my peanut butter protein brownies, most of what I make is from scratch, and generally whole foods.

In fact, this is the only recipe I use from a mix. Go figure. It was a recipe I had gotten from my grandma years earlier. I had modified the measurements a touch until I had got it just the way I liked it.

Well, I decided to surprise my man with it one day and it changed everything. I swear there were stars in his eyes after that first bite. He was hooked. I guess you could say things got pretty serious after that. He proposed shortly after, maybe he was afraid I would make these brownies for someone else, and we were married. To this day, these brownies are still on his top 10 list of desserts I make.

Chocolatey ever after

We have been married for almost 17 years and still going strong! Maybe it was the brownies, I'm just saying... So, if you have a friend, boyfriend, or girlfriend you are trying to take the relationship to the next level with- this will do it.

Well, unless they don't like chocolate, or caramels- in which case, maybe it's best you just move on.

Why this recipe works

Great for last minute- This cake mix brownie recipe is perfect for those last-minute baking adventures. Whether you have a special event or are simply in the mood to whip up something delicious, these brownies are 6 ingredients total, and use ingredients you probably already have in the pantry!

Decadent- These brownies are so rich! They're perfect for those who love turtle brownies and sweet chocolatey desserts in general. They're easy to make, but with a few extra steps, you'll be surprised they're made from a box cake mix.

Easy to customize- If caramel and pecans aren't your things, you can certainly customize the flavors to your preference! Try chopping up your favorite chocolate bar instead of chocolate chips, or top your brownies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delicious cake mix brownie a la mode!

Let me note on the video above, there are no eggs and oil in this recipe! I reused the content and didn't think about the eggs and oil, disregard this!!

Ingredients

Cake Mix- To make this recipe super easy, you simply use a box of chocolate cake mix.  I used a dark chocolate cake mix, but you can use whatever kind you like. Since this is the base for your entire recipe, make sure it's a brand and flavor you love.

Evaporated milk- Evaporated milk is milk that has been heated to remove some of the water content. It's great for adding to recipes because it has a concentrated, sweet, creamy flavor. Be sure you're picking up evaporated milk and not sweetened condensed milk. They're often right next to each other in the baking aisle and can easily get mixed up.

Butter- Butter will help the caramels stay soft and gooey when they melt down. It also gives them a thicker sauce consistency which will better fill your cake mix brownies and give each bite a delicious caramel flavor.

Caramels- I used store-bought caramels for this recipe. It makes the recipe super easy and saves time.

Chocolate Chips- Adding chocolate chips to brownies is always a good idea! It enhances the chocolate flavor in a way that just cocoa powder doesn't do. You can use semi-sweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips for this recipe.

Pecans- Chopped pecans add a great crunch to these cake mix brownies. While they aren't necessary, they sure do add a special textured element to this rich dessert. Feel free to swap out for your favorite chopped nuts, such as walnuts or even macadamia nuts.

How to Make Cake Mix Brownies

The first thing you'll want to do is unwrap the caramels. This takes a while, so it's best to get it done first and set them aside.

I always like to start my recipe by preparing everything for baking. Measure out the ingredients, preheat the oven and prepare the baking dish with parchment paper so that everything is ready to go and you can enjoy a smooth baking experience.

Prepare the batter and par bake

First, mix the cake mix and evaporated milk in a large bowl until well combined and the batter has no pockets of flour.

Take a little over half the cake mix brownie batter and spread evenly in the bottom of your prepared pan. Place it into the preheated oven for the first part of its bake. Be sure to refer to the full recipe at the bottom of the post for precise cooking times.

Melt the caramels

Place the unwrapped caramels into a saucepan. Add the butter and evaporated milk to the pan. Heat and stir until the mixture is smooth and fully melted. Be patient with this part, and don't turn up the heat too much. They will cook down quickly, but too high of heat can cause hardening.

Layer the cake mix brownies

Once brownies are par-baked, pour the caramel mixture over them. Be careful with this part, as you're working with a hot pan. I recommend not doing this on the oven rack but moving it up to the stovetop so that you don't accidentally spill any caramel into the oven.

Make sure the caramel is spread evenly, and try to keep it off the edges. It is kind of a pain to clean a pan with caramel all over the edges. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the caramel, then the pecans.

Finally, finish topping with the rest of the cake mix and spread into an even layer. Be patient with this part as well so that you don't mix up the layers too much.

I took small amounts of batter and spread them over top of the cake, caramels, chocolate chips, and pecans. The batter is really sticky. I sprayed my hands with cooking spray to help spread without sticking to them, but water works too. You will need to do this often, as it will continue to stick. So take small amounts and flatten across the top. You won't cover the top entirely, and it's not a big deal. When they are cut, you don't even notice!

Finish baking

Return the brownies to the oven and continue baking until the caramel bubbles and the cake mix brownies are cooked through.

The tops of the brownies look awesome. The pieces with the caramel showing through look so good!

If you want your brownies to look like this, make sure they're almost completely cooled before removing them from the pan.

These delicious brownies are best served with a large glass of milk!

Sit back and enjoy. You definitely deserve it!

Tips

• If you want chocolate cake mix brownies, you'll have to start with a chocolate cake mix. However, you can easily customize this recipe with a wide variety of cake mix flavors. If you're in need of an easy dessert in a hurry, just use whatever you have on hand, whether that's a red velvet cake mix, yellow cake mix, or strawberry cake mix. Whichever flavor cake mix you go with, you'll get a delicious variation that still has the same amazing brownie texture.
• Try mixing toffee bits, white chocolate chips, or even peanut butter chips into the brownie batter. You don't have to stick to my mix-ins for your own cake mix brownies. Creativity is truly your friend for this recipe.
• If you prefer extra gooey brownies and want to get into them right away, scoop them out while they are still warm and serve them with ice cream. This is so delicious!

FAQ Cake Mix Brownies