If you need a gooey chocolate brownie in your life right now, this GOOEY Chocolate Brownie Bars or Cake Mix Brownies recipe will satisfy your chocolate cravings! Made easy with a cake mix!
We always keep a few cake mixes in the pantry. They are delicious when used to make Cake Mix Cookies. Melt in your mouth, and so many varieties available! Or switch gears and try our easy zucchini bars for the perfect fall treat.
Why this Recipe Works
I’m in defiance right now. For every healthy dinner I cook, I match it with an equally unhealthy dessert.
This weekend I was CRAVING brownies!
Unfortunately, I only had cake mix in the pantry, and I was too lazy to dig up a brownie recipe.
So I did the next best thing, I took my gooey butter cake recipe and magically made it chocolate.
Why have I never thought to do this before???? I mean seriously, duh! I’ve made it using lemon cake mix and made gooey lemon bars. But never chocolate.
I think everyone needs this recipe for those times when you need an ooey gooey rich chocolate brownie immediately.
I firmly believe that brownies are one of life’s greatest gifts. From Buckeye Brownies to Instant Pot Brownies, there are very few kinds of brownies I’d turn down.
With these cake mix brownies you get a nice cake layer underneath the soft, gooey brownie so in some sense, it’s the best of both worlds.
Ingredient Notes
Like I mentioned, this recipe is a spin on my gooey butter cake mix recipe. I’m so glad to have finally created a chocolate version!
Here’s what I used to make the brownie bars:
- Chocolate cake mix
- Eggs
- Butter
- Cream Cheese
- Powdered Sugar (plus more for the garnish)
- Cocoa powder
- Vanilla Extract– learn how to make vanilla extract with my easy recipe!
Step by Step Instructions
Make the Base. Combine cake mix with one egg and 1/2 cup melted butter.
Batter will be very thick. Press into a buttered 13×9 baking dish.
Top layer. In a mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add in two eggs, 1/2 cup melted butter, cocoa, powdered sugar and vanilla.
Beat until thoroughly combined.
Spread in pan over cake mix layer.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes, center will be gooey. Serve warm or cold, you decide.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar–or get creative with your other favorite brownie toppings!
Storage Tips
Slice the cake mix brownies into squares and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They keep well for about 3 days, but chances are they’ll be gone long before then.
The cake mix layer coupled with the brownie topping makes these double chocolate brownie bars extra rich and decadent.
Add some chocolate frosting instead of powdered sugar for a tasty treat!
Enjoyed by themselves or topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or candy pieces, these gooey chocolate brownie bars are worth every last bite of indulgence.
More Chocolate Desserts
- Chocolate Pound Cake
- No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake
- Salted Caramel Chocolate Cheesecake Cake
- Wacky Cake
- Chocolate Pudding Cake
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Cake Mix Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 boz chocolate cake mix
- 3 large eggs divided
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted (divided)
- 8 ounce cream cheese softened
- 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- powdered sugar for garnish optional
Instructions
- Combine cake mix with one egg and 1/2 cup melted butter. Batter will be very thick. Press into a buttered 13×9 baking dish.
- In mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add in two eggs, 1/2 cup melted butter, cocoa, powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until thoroughly combined.
- Spread in pan over cake mix layer.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes, center will be gooey. Serve warm or cold, you decide. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Notes
- STORAGE- Slice the brownie bars into squares and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They keep well for about 3 days.
- FREEZE- Freeze brownies for up to three months in airtight container. Thaw in refrigerator overnight.
Nutrition
Your going to love these easy Gooey Chocolate Brownie Bars made with cake mix!
Amiee
This recipe is awesome it’s delicious and super
Easy thank you for sharing your recipe.
All your recipes are five stars and two thumbs up
For a cook that’s a beginner thanks again
If I don’t have cake mix can I use brownie mix?
I’m just curious on how much cocoa. I’m not sure if I’ve missed it or not. Please help these look amazing ! Thank you
One of my all time favorite brownie recipes! This recipe is perfect!
My kids went absolutely crazy for these! Such a great recipe!
This recipe deserves 5 stars! Best brownies I’ve ever made. My whole family loves them!
These are going to be gone so quick! My hubby and daughter are big chocolate lovers! Excited to make these brownies!
Ugh I forgot to add the butter in the second step!!
If you don’t like gooey, could you just bake it longer maybe 15 minutes or so? Thanks.
The ingredients say 3 eggs divided but the recipe says to mix 1 egg into the cake mix and the other 2 eggs into the cream cheese; so are the eggs seperated into yolk and whites and if so, how are they incorporated into both the cake mix and cream cheese mixture?
Hi Linda, you got it right. By divided I mean one egg into cake mix, and two eggs beat into cream cheese. NOT separated, just whole eggs! ENJOY.
What if I forgot the 2 eggs in top layer? 😩
MMMM These look delish –saving to my recipe file!
Thank You for sharing your recipe with me at Cast Party Wednesday. I would love to see more of your recipes tomorrow!
Thanks,
I hope to see you there!
Mmmmm….your brownies sound terrific! And congratulations to your daughter on her Junior Olympics qualifying event!!
Jenn
Oh my goodness. It’s one in the morning, and I should be going to bed, but instead I’m looking at your delicious food and my stomach is grumbling – because, well, there’s NOTHING better than brownies – they’re totally one of my favorite, favorite foods! I (surprisingly!) have all the ingredients for this, and will totally be making it in the morning!
One of these brownies for dessert to top off a great meal Aimee. These look so good. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you next week. Have a great week end!
Miz Helen
congratulations to your daughter…that is incredible! and i do believe you earned 4 large gooey brownies…watching kids swim is hard work 😉 thank you for sharing with tuesday night supper club