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
Absolutely! You can use your favorite box of brownie mix in place of cake mix for this recipe.
You can store these brownies in plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days for the best taste.
I love a bit of crunch in mine but if that's not your thing or you can't have nuts, feel free to leave them out!
Any kind works great! Duncan Hines, Pillsbury, and Betty Crocker cake mix brownies are excellent. Feel free to use your go-to cake mix brand!
Cake mix brownies
Ingredients
- 1 chocolate cake mix
- 1 can evaporated milk
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 30 caramels, I used Kraft
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- ¾-1 cup whole pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9x19 pan. You can simply spray, or line the bottom with parchment as I did.
- In a medium-sized saucepan, preferably heavy-bottomed, open the caramels and put them in the pan. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, add cake mix and ¾ cup evaporated milk. Mix well. Spread a little over half of the batter in the bottom of a 9x9 pan. It will be thick and really sticky. I like to spray my hands or wet them and press them in the bottom. Don't worry about perfection here, it will spread and even out when it bakes. Place in oven. This will be par-baked, that's partially baked.
- While it is baking, add butter and ½ cup evaporated milk to the pan with caramels. Place over medium heat. Melt caramels, mixing really consistently. They will burn quickly, so be careful with them.
- Once brownies are partially baked, mine took about 10 minutes, remove them from the oven.
- Spread the caramel mixture over top, spreading almost to the edges. Next, sprinkle chocolate chips over caramel, then pecans. Last, take the remaining batter and working with small amounts spread it across the top. Again, it will be very sticky. I prefer to do this with my fingers, so make sure to spray or get them wet.
- Spread the small amounts out into small disk shapes ( about ¼ inch thick), nothing perfect here then lay them across the top. It won't cover the whole top, and that's just fine. This is not a perfect type of recipe, so don't sweat it!
- Return to oven and continue to bake until the caramel bubbles on the edges and the top layer of cake batter is cooked through. Mine took about 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven.
- At this point, it is up to you how you proceed. You can either scoop it or eat it right away while it is warm. It's really good with some ice cream! Or you can allow them to cool and cut into squares as we did. I prefer them this way. The choice is your's though, they really are amazing either way.
Notes
- 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!
Anita says
Such a sweet story!! I just adore recipes that hold such meaning and such great memories. So beautiful Amy!
XO - Anita
admin says
Thank you Anita!! That is a very sweet compliment!