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These rich and gooey red velvet brownies with cake mix are super yummy. These brownies are also so easy to make. You can bake these up in only 30 minutes with 4 simple ingredients.
If you love decadent brownies, then these simple to make red velvet cake mix brownies are a must try. You can eat them plain or dress them up with things like cream cheese frosting or white chocolate chips.
Plus, they are so easy to make since they use a premade cake mix. Using box mixes as a base for desserts is so easy and lets you get creative. Just like with these Lemon Cake mix cookies or these Muffin Mix Cookies.
The bright red color of these brownies makes them a great addition for Anniversaries, Valentine's Day and Christmas celebrations. But, they are so fast to make, you can really enjoy them anytime you are looking to fulfill your sweet tooth.
🧁Why To Try This Recipe
Fast & easy - these brownies are super fast and easy to make. All you have to do is throw your ingredients together, mix them up and throw them in the oven. It only takes about 30 minutes.
Decadent - the flavor and texture of these brownies is so perfect. They are decadent, rich and fudgey.
Inexpensive - with only 4 simple ingredients, these brownies are really inexpensive to throw together.
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🥄Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Cup
- Wooden spoon, Spatula or Whisk
- 8x8 Baking Dish
- Knife
📋Ingredients
- Red Velvet Cake Mix
- Vegetable Oil
- Eggs
- Cream Cheese Frosting
See recipe card for quantities.
📖Substitutions & Variations
Here are a few ingredient substitutions and flavor variations you can try out to customize your brownies.
- Use Butter - instead of using vegetable oil, you can substitute and equal amount of melted butter.
- Add mix-ins - add some other flavors by mixing in a cup of chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, crushed Oreos, pecans or your other favorite flavors.
- Make your own frosting - instead of using store bought cream cheese frosting, you can make your own.
- Decorate them - make them for a holiday like Valentine's day by adding candy hearts on top, or Christmas by adding green sprinkles to the frosting.
- Make double - these are so easy to make, if you need a large serving you can make a double batch just by doubling the ingredients. It is best to use 2 - 8x8 pans though and not a larger 9x13 for the whole batch at once.
Looking for a cookie version? Try out these Red Velvet Oreo Cookies.
⏲️Instructions
Follow these super easy step-by-step instructions and process shots to put together your perfect red velvet cake mix brownies.
Step one: Grease your 8x8 pan with non-stick cooking spray or by rubbing a thin layer of butter on it. Also, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step two: Add red velvet cake mix into mixing bowl.
Step three: Pour oil into bowl with cake mix.
Step four: Crack eggs into bowl with cake mix and oil.
Step five: Stir everything together well until it is completely combined. Mixture will be very thick and sticky.
Step six: Pour the batter from the mixing bowl into the greased 8x8 pan.
Step seven: Make sure that the batter is evenly spread in the pan and then pop it into the oven for 20 - 25 minutes.
Step eight: Once brownies have cooled, add cream cheese frosting to the tops and enjoy.
Hint: brownies will be done cooking when edges are firm and you can place a fork or toothpick in the center and remove it without having batter stick to it.
⭐Recipe Tips for Success
- Cool Completely - trying to cut these before they are completely cooled will lead to crumbly brownies that are sticky and fall apart. Let them cool completely so that you can cut them cleanly.
- Don't overcook - if you want nice fudgey brownies that aren't dry and crumbly, make sure not to overcook them. Remove from the oven when the edges are firm and the center is set, but not firm.
- Don't mix too much - overmixing the batter will make the resulting brownies tough and crumbly. You only want to mix the ingredients just enough to get them well combined.
- Add a sprinkle of water - this batter will be really thick. If it is too sticky and thick to work with easily, you can add a little sprinkle of water (not much at all) to the batter to make it easier to get from the bowl into the pan.
Storage
To store: keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 - 4 days or up to a week in the refrigerator. If they have frosting, you will want to keep them in the fridge.
To freeze: wrap them in cling wrap and then put them in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. To defrost them, place them in the refrigerator overnight.
💭FAQ
Red velvet flavor is usually achieved with a subtle amount of cocoa powder to add a chocolate flavor mixed with red food dye and sometimes a little tang from buttermilk or vinegar.
A higher fat content and less mixing and baking soda or powder lead to more chewy brownies versus more cakey brownies.
The difference between cake and brownie mix is generally that cake mix has more leavener. Additionally, cake mix will call for more liquid ingredients that create a lighter and thinner batter.
Red Velvet Brownies from Cake Mix
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring Cup
- 8x8 Pan
- Knife
- Wooden Spoon, Spatula or Whisk
Ingredients
- 1 box Red Velvet Cake Mix
- 2 Eggs
- .5 Cups Vegetable oil
- 1 Container Cream Cheese Frosting optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farhenheit. And grease the 8x8 pan with non-stick cooking spray, a little oil or a thin layer of butter.
- Pour the red velvet cake mix into the mixing bowl.
- Add 2 eggs and .5 cup of vegetable oil to the bowl.
- Stir the ingredients together so that they are well combined.
- Pour the batter into the greased pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes. Edges should be firm when done.
- Let brownies cool and add cream cheese frosting on top, if desired.
Notes
- Substitute butter - you can use ½ cup of melted butter instead of oil, if preferred.
- Add mix-ins - ramp up the decadence by adding chocolate chips, chopped nuts, white chocolate chips, crushed Oreos or your other favorite flavors.
- Don't overmix - overmixing the batter can lead to tough brownies. Just hand mix the ingredients until they are well combined.
- Don't overbake - overbaking will make the brownies dry. Make sure that the edges are firm and that you can put a fork in the center without having batter stick. But, the center may still be soft to touch when you remove them from the oven.
- Fully cooled - allow brownies to fully cool before frosting and cutting. This will ensure, nice clean cut brownies and will make sure the frosting doesn't melt.
- Storing - keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for 4 - 5 days. If they have frosting, they should be kept in the fridge for up to a week.
- Freezing - if frosted, flash freeze. Then, individually wrap brownies in cling wrap. Then place them in an airtight container or freezer bag. Can be frozen for 3 - 5 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge.
