I don’t even know where to start! This brownie cake is the DREAM for a chocolate lover! Between the fudgy, decedent inside and the smooth ganache on the outside, it’s hard to resist having more than one slice. The best part about this recipe is how easy it is to throw together. If you think you “can’t bake”, I promise you can make this cake!
Why you should make this chocolate brownie cake recipe:
This rich chocolate cake is the ultimate dessert for any special occasion or just to have around because you want it!!! It has a ridiculously fudgy center, and is simply made from boxed brownie mix and boxed chocolate cake mix. Forget needing flour, sugar, baking powder, etc. to make a delicious cake. Baking doesn’t get any easier than this!
Ingredients you’ll need for this chocolate fudge brownie cake:
- Boxed brownie mix: I like Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix
- Boxed cake mix: I like Betty Crocker Super Moist Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
- Eggs
- Freshly brewed coffee: You can substitute with water as well
- Neutral oil: I like vegetable oil or canola oil
- Cooking spray or butter and cocoa powder: For prepping the bundt pan
For the chocolate ganache:
- Heavy whipping cream
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: You can use any chocolate you like here
How to make this easy chocolate brownie cake:
- Combine the dry ingredients: This includes both box mixes.
- Add the wet ingredients: This includes the eggs, coffee and oil.
- Prepare the bundt pan and pour the batter in.
- Once baked, allow to cool on a wire rack.
- While the cake is cooling, make the ganache.
- Pour the ganache over the cooled cake.
- Allow the ganache to set a little bit and dig in!
FAQ:
Simply put, brownie cake is one of my favorite desserts and is exactly what the name claims to be! It consists of one box of brownie mix, one box of cake mix and a few other staple baking ingredients. The combination of the two results in a perfectly moist, tender and chocolate packed cake!
Yes! If you don’t have a bundt pan, you can make this cake in a 9×13 baking dish. Keep in mind that you’ll want to shorten the baking time though since it is a shallower dish. Other options that don’t require an adjustment for the baking time would be a springform pan or an angle food cake/tube pan. You could make this in two 9 inch cake pans but I personally don’t love ganache on layered cakes.
Surprisingly enough, nope! I’m not a huge coffee pan and I can still say this is one of the best chocolate cakes I’ve had! The coffee is added not only to add moisture to the cake but also to enhance the chocolate flavor. Adding the coffee when it is freshly brewed is best because it has a stronger taste than older coffee. Make sure it’s not boiling hot though, you don’t want to cook the eggs in the batter!
The ganache on this cake is a mixture of chocolate and cream. When it cools, it solidifies and becomes this decadent, rich chocolate outer layer that melts in your mouth! You could definitely top this cake with a variety of chocolate frostings but in my opinion, ganache in the way to go!
Ultimate Brownie Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- (1) 18 oz box brownie mix (I like Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix)
- (1) 15.25 oz box chocolate cake mix (I like Betty Crocker Super Moist Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix)
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup freshly brewed coffee
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cup neutral oil (vegetable or canola)
- baking spray or butter and cocoa powder for prepping the pan
For the chocolate ganache:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- (1) 12 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the brownie mix, cake mix, eggs, water and oil.
- Once mixed, add in the freshly brewed coffee. Using a rubber spatula, mix to form a smooth batter.
- Prep your bunt pan by brushing every nook and cranny with melted butter, then shaking around a few tablespoons of cocoa powder until all the sides are covered (you can also use baking spray here).
- Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 50-55 minutes.
- In the meantime, pour the heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until it is almost boiling (a minute or minute and a half).
- Pour the bag of chocolate chips into the hot heavy cream and allow the mixture to sit for 2 minutes.
- The hot cream will melt the chocolate so now when you mix it together, you'll be left with a smooth ganache! Set aside for later.
- When the cake is done baking, allow it to cool in the pan for 30 minutes.
- Once it's cooled, flip the pan upside down on top of a plate and gently let the cake release itself from the pan.
- Allow the cake to fully finish cooling, then pour the melted chocolate mixture right overtop.
- Allow the ganache to set for a few hours at room temperature or set the cake in the fridge to speed up the process.
- Slice it up and enjoy this delicious fluffy chocolate cake!
Nutrition
Why Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix?
This is THE BEST brownie mix not only because of the rich chocolate flavor and cake-like texture but also because there are chocolate chips throughout. When I get a bite of the finished cake with one of the chocolate chips – I swear it’s like finding a hidden treasure!
Ohmygoodness this looks amazing!! Gotta make it soon! Should the coffee be room temperature or does hot coffee do something to make it better? Also, what size Bundt Pan should I use? TIA!! 😍
Both room temperature and hot coffee will work! I do tend to feel like hot coffee is easier to incorporate into the batter and then you don’t have to wait for it to cool either! I use a standard sized 10 inch bundt pan for this recipe. Hope you love it!
Sophie
Your recipes are awesome and I can’t wait to try them!!! Thanks for sharing with the world 🌎!!!
Thanks Mary, glad you love them!! The support means a lot!
I love the idea of this cake, but I really don’t want coffee in it, you say you can’t taste it, but I would love a substitute for the coffee, any ideas?
The coffee actually really enhances the chocolate flavor, but you don’t have to use it if you don’t want to. You can substitute the coffee for equal parts water or milk. Hope this helps!
Sophie
Hello from Zinzinnati! It may be Oktoberfest season, but I have chocolate on the brain!
Cake is in the oven! Can’t wait to taste it.
P.s. I love Skyline Chili too!
Hi Beth! Skyline doesn’t always receive the praise it deserves!!! I hope you love the cake just as much as our beloved Skyline!
This cake is incredible! Adding the coffee is a must. I can’t wait to share this with famiky and friends at our next gathering!
I’m so happy it turned out well! Thanks for sharing!
How do you store this? Room temp or in the fridge?
Hi Meredith- you can do either one but I prefer to cover my cake leftovers in plastic wrap (or transfer to an airtight container) and leave at room temperature! It’ll stay good for 4-5 days! Hope you enjoy!
Can I use a tube pan?
Hi William, yes! Just be sure you grease it really well so nothing sticks!
I am definitely going to make this recipe. I am going to add a few Reece’s baking chips in the batter for a surprise. If I use Reece’s instead of the chocolate chips for the ganache will it set up successfully? I’ve also pondered adding a peanut butter pudding in the middle for yet another surprise but I have never done this and am afraid my cake will collapse…and I don’t know how to make peanut butter pudding. 🙂 Thank you for this very easy to make delicious recipe. I can’t wait to start putting it together.
Hi Carol! Such great ideas you have! You can definitely use peanut butter chips to make the ganache. I’m not sure how a peanut butter pudding in the middle may alter the bake of this cake, so I’d recommend just sticking with adding some peanut butter chips to the batter and baking according to the instructions in my recipe. Hope this helps! 🙂
Even if I haven’t made & tasted this, it does look like a guaranteed delicious cake. I do have a question, would it come out just as good if I use 2 of the same cake mix(Ghiraldelli)?
Hi Mila, I have not tried using all cake mix here, but I do think it would work! The texture would be lighter and more fluffy compared to adding the brownie mix, but you’d still get all of the delicious, decadent flavor! If you try this recipe with only cake mix, please come back and let us know how it goes! 🙂
Do you mix batter by hand or do you need to use an electric mixer ?? Thank you :0) Going to make this for my chocoholic husband’s birthday :0)
Hi Rosemary, either way will work just fine! If you have an electric mixer on hand, that will definitely make the job easier!