Are you looking for the perfect, easy sweet treat? This brownie cake hits the spot! Truly a great recipe, fudgy in the middle, chewy on the edges, all made in one bowl with pantry staples!
Chocolate cravings? No fuss, no layers... & the best part? A simple chocolate ganache on top of the cake, to make it a true chocolate lover's dream!
AND it’s perfect for cozy winter nights, holiday baking, a special occasion or even a quick summer dessert when you want something chocolatey without turning on the oven for hours! Plus, who doesn't like fudgy brownies in cake form?
If you love chocolatey dessert recipes, you are also going to LOVE my Single serving Molten Lava Cake, 3 ingredient Oreo Cake & Fudge Oreo Brownies!
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Ingredients for Best Brownies (in Cake form) ever
- All-Purpose Flour
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Semisweet Chocolate Chips
- Melted Butter
- White Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Vegetable Oil
- Vanilla Extract
- Milk
- Egg
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions for Cake Brownie Recipe
melt together the chocolate & butter!
Add all the wet & dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl!
Transfer to a cake tin & bake!
Add the ganache on top! Serve & enjoy!
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray a 9-inch round pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips and butter until smooth. Let cool slightly.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl, add in the melted butter chocolate mixture. Whisk in the sugars, water, oil, milk, egg, and vanilla. Stir
- Fold wet ingredients into dry until just combined—don’t overmix. Until it looks like brownie batter!
- Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake 35–40 minutes, checking with a toothpick; it should come out with moist crumbs.
- Let cake cool in the pan for 15–20 minutes before transferring to a rack to finish cooling. Enjoy your new delicious recipe!
See instructional video below & make sure to scroll all the way down for the full recipe card!
Substitutions for this Easy Chocolate Brownie Cake
- All-Purpose Flour: Use whole wheat flour (slightly denser) or gluten-free flour blend.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Use Dutch-processed cocoa or melted dark chocolate (reduce other liquids slightly).
- Semisweet Chocolate Chips: Use milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or chocolate chunks.
- Unsalted Butter: Use margarine, coconut oil, or plant-based butter.
- White Sugar: Use coconut sugar, maple sugar, or all brown sugar.
- Brown Sugar: Use white sugar plus a teaspoon of molasses.
- Vegetable Oil: Use canola, sunflower, or melted coconut oil.
- Milk: Use any plant-based milk like oat, almond, or soy.
- Egg: Use flax egg (1 tablespoon flax + 3 tablespoon water) or chia egg.
- Chocolate Ganache: even a chocolate cream cheese frosting would make this the ultimate brownie cake recipe!!
Equipment
- 9-inch round cake pan
- Parchment paper
- Saucepan (for melting chocolate and butter)
- Medium mixing bowl & Large Bowl (for dry ingredients)
- Whisk (you can use an electric mixer or stand mixer if you'd like)
- Wire rack
Storage
Store the brownie cake in an airtight container. In the fridge, it will keep for up to 5 days—bring to room temperature before serving for best texture. For longer storage, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for a few hours before enjoying.
Top tips for success!
- Don’t Overmix: Fold the wet and dry ingredients gently to keep the cake fudgy and tender.
- Check Doneness Early: Start testing at 35 minutes—overbaking dries it out. Look for moist crumbs, not wet batter.
- Cool Before Slicing: Let it rest in the pan for 15–20 minutes, then transfer to a rack so it sets perfectly and slices cleanly.
FAQ
Yes! Swap the egg for a flax or chia egg, use plant-based milk, and replace butter with coconut oil or vegan butter. The cake will still be fudgy and rich.
Overmixing or overbaking are usually the culprits. Fold the batter gently and start checking doneness at 35 minutes—the center should have moist crumbs, not wet batter.
Yes, but baking time may change. For smaller pans, start checking 5–10 minutes earlier; for larger pans, add a few extra minutes. Always test with a toothpick in the center.
Yes, you can, but it’s really better to follow the recipe and make it all from scratch. That way, you get the perfect fudgy texture, rich chocolate flavor, and chewy edges exactly as intended, something store-bought mixes just can’t fully replicate. A truly rich chocolate cake! Or should I say more of a cake-like brownie!
Related Desserts...
Looking for other dessert recipes like this? Try these:
Best Brownie Cake Dessert Recipe (Easy & Fudgy)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment.
- In a saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate chips and butter together until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl, add in the melted butter chocolate mixture. Whisk in the sugars, water, oil, milk, egg, and vanilla. Stir!
- Add the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, folding gently with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs (not wet batter).
- Let cool in the pan for 15–20 minutes before transferring to a rack. (See video below)
- Ganache: Boil the heavy cream and pour it hot over chocolate or Nutella in a medium bowl. Let it sit for 1 minute before mixing.Let the ganache cool slightly before pouring it over your cake.
Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Karolyn George says
Love the recipes! They seem simple and can’t wit to try one this evening!