Super Easy Fudgy Birthday Brownies
If you love dessert for your birthday but don’t want cake, these super easy Birthday Brownies are it. Fudgy brownies that start with a brownie mix and are covered in a homemade cake batter frosting have everything a brownie lover needs to celebrate.
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What is the difference between fudgy brownies and cake brownies?
The main difference between a chocolate brownie that is fudgy and cakey is the ratio of flour to fat. Cakey brownies have more flour to fat and a fudge brownie has more fat and less flour.
This recipe is especially wonderful because it has a can of sweetened condensed milk in the brownie batter.
What goes into this Recipe
Brownies
- Brownie Mix: The perfect start to moist birthday brownies.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: Adding a can of sweetened condensed milk creates the best brownies that are super moist and fudgy.
Cake Batter Frosting
- Cream Cheese: The slightly tart flavor helps to balance the sweetness of the frosting.
- Cake Mix: To get the flavor of cake in the frosting, white cake mix is added to it. You should treat the mix since it contains raw flour. See the recipe card for instructions.
- Colorful Rainbow Sprinkles: Using colorful sprinkles both inside and top of the brownie adds the perfect festive touch perfect for special occasions.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
Brownie: A homemade brownie can always be used if you have a great recipe. A cake mix brownie would also be tasty for these birthday brownies!
Frosting: This cake batter frosting really brings the cake flavor but if that isn’t your thing, try adding milk chocolate frosting to the top of brownie recipes. You can also grab a can of ready-made frosting from the grocery store to keep the recipe super simple.
Topping: There are so many things you can add to the frosting for a super fun and delicious brownie recipe. Mini chocolate chips, crushed Oreo cookies, rainbow jimmies, white chocolate chips. You also need to take a look at this Cookie Dough Brownie recipe which is a total family favorite.
How to make Birthday Brownies
1. Line a 9×9 baking pan with parchment paper and spray with non-stick spray. In a large mixing bowl, combine the brownie ingredients and mix using an electric mixer {or by hand} on medium speed until it is thick.
2. Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan {and add a few chocolate chips if desired} and bake for 45-50 minutes. Remove the brownie slab from the oven and allow it to cool completely.
3. Once the brownies are cooled, combine the cream cheese and butter in a separate bowl, mix until creamy. Add the powdered sugar and cake mix, continue to mix and add enough milk to make the frosting spreadable, add sprinkles and mix until they are evenly distributed.
4. Spread over the top of the brownie in an even layer. Top with a few extra sprinkles and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Expert Tips
- Don’t skip lining your pan with parchment paper. This simple step allows you to remove the entire pan of brownies at once and makes them easier to cut into squares.
- Treat the cake mix by heating in the oven. It is important to do because it contains raw flour. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the mix into a thin layer on a baking sheet and heat for about 5 minutes. Cool before adding to the recipe.
- Allow the brownies to cool completely before adding the frosting. If you try to do this step while it is warm, the frosting will melt and not create a nice distinctive brownie layers.
- Refrigerate the frosted brownies before cutting into squares. It will make this step so much easier.
- Cut the brownies with a plastic knife. They are naturally nonstick and help to cut sharp lines without clumps.
Storage and Freezing
Store- Leftover brownies will keep best when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They can also be kept at room temperature but they taste great chilled.
Freeze- These birthday cake brownies freeze great for up to 3 months.
Recipe FAQs
There are a few ways to tell when brownies are baked. The best way to check is to insert a toothpick into the center of the brownies.
To get a moist brownie, pull them from the oven when there are moist crumbs on inserted toothpick but no raw batter.
While a happy birthday brownie is great for a birthday celebration, they can also be used anytime you want to celebrate a special day. Add a scoop of ice cream, a birthday candle and dessert is served.
It is a personal preference but it does contain raw flour. To heat treat it, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the cake mix onto a baking sheet, spread into an even layer and bake for about 5 minutes.
Allow the treated cake mix to cool before adding it to the frosting.
Do you love birthday dessert recipes ? Try these…
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Easy Fudgy Birthday Brownies
Ingredients
Brownies
- 1 box fudge brownie mix {18.3 ounces}
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cake Batter Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese {softened}
- 2 Tablespoons butter {softened}
- ½ cup vanilla cake mix**
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 Tablespoons milk {to thin}
- ½ cup rainbow sprinkles
Instructions
Brownies
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Prepare a 9×9 baking pan by spraying liberally with nonstick cooking spray and lining it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix brownie mix, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, oil and vanilla until batter is smooth and contains few to no lumps. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to incorporate all of the dry brownie mix. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake brownies for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out with some moist crumbs and the surface of the brownies begin to crack. Allow the brownies to cool completely.
Cake Batter Frosting
- For the frosting, combine the softened cream cheese and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth. Add cake mix {see how to heat treat it below} and powdered sugar and continue to mix, add enough milk to get the consistency you want. Finally add sprinkles and mix together until evenly distributed.
- Top the cooled brownies with the cake batter frosting and smooth into an even layer. Top with additional sprinkles if desired. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Remove the brownies from the pan and cut into a dozen squares using a plastic knife.
Notes
- Don’t skip lining your pan with parchment paper. This simple step allows you to remove the entire pan of brownies at once and makes them easier to cut into squares.
- Allow the brownies to cool completely before adding the frosting. If you try to do this step while it is warm, the frosting will melt and not create a nice distinctive brownie layers.
- Refrigerate the frosted brownies before cutting into squares. It will make this step so much easier.
- Cut the brownies with a plastic knife. They are naturally nonstick and help to cut sharp lines without clumps.
Hi June,
Happy 6th Birthday!! 🎈🎈I sure have enjoyed following you and so enjoy reading and trying your recipes!
I could name several favorites! We love the Texas sheet cake cookies and the Cosmic brownie cookies. I also must include your Birthday cookie cake!
I am really enjoying you doing your blog full- time now. Your videos are wonderful!
I have collected recipes and cookbooks for years. I love to try new recipes, especially desserts! How happy I was when I discovered your blog called “Practically Homemade!!” I am retired now, and I have two precious Granddaughters! I so look forward to cooking things with them!
Best wishes for many, many more years!!
Pam Elkin