These Red Velvet Cake Mix Brownies are the perfect easy dessert! Using only 4 ingredients, these will be a new favorite!
It's crazy how Valentine's Day is right around the corner. It feels like Christmas was just here! We never do a ton for Valentine's Day, it isn't our favorite holiday however, we do enjoy breaking out some fun desserts. These red velvet cake mix brownies are the perfect Valentine's Day dessert. These brownies are so easy to make and come out perfect every time!
It doesn't get any easier than 4 ingredients and 30 minutes. These will be your new favorite dessert that you can enjoy on a romantic evening or year around!
For some other fun brownie recipes, check out these Brownie Blondies, or these Dairy-Free Brownies.
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What Makes These Red Velvet Cake Mix Brownies So Great?
- Easy Ingredients- Most of the ingredients you will probably already have in your pantry at home! You only need 4 ingredients to make this recipe.
- Moist and Fudgy- These brownies come out moist, fudgy, and thick from the cake mix. You will have the typical crinkly brownie top but moist and gooey in the middle.
- Budget Friendly-These brownies are the perfect budget-friendly dessert. The total cost to make these brownies for me came out to just under $3.
- Egg-Free- The applesauce plays the role of the butter and the egg in this recipe making these brownies both dairy and egg-free!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Red Velvet Cake Mix- Any boxed red velvet cake mix will work. I tested this with both Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker and had the same result.
- Almond Milk- The plant-based milk will help to keep these brownies moist and fudgy and lighten them up a bit. Feel free to use your favorite plant or regular milk in this recipe.
- Unsweetened Applesauce- The applesauce pulls double duty in this recipe, replacing the eggs and the oil. The applesauce doesn't impart any flavor to the brownies and makes them super moist and delicious.
- White Chocolate Chips- The white chocolate is totally optional but it really elevates the brownies and adds some fun texture. I use dairy-free white chocolate to keep these brownies vegan.
A complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
Instructions
Quick Overview
- Add all the ingredients to a bowl and mix well to combine.
- Stir in the white chocolate chips
- Add the brownie batter to a 9x9 inch square pan and top with more white chocolate
- Bake at 350 for 30 minutes
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1: Add the cake mix, applesauce, and almond milk to a medium mixing bowl.
Step 2: Mix the batter thoroughly until all the cake mix is incorporated. The batter will be very thick.
Step 3: Using a rubber spatula, fold in the white chocolate chips.
Step 4: Transfer the batter to a 9x9 inch square baking pan. Top with extra white chocolate chips, and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes
Variations
Some fun variations to these brownies would include:
- Dark Chocolate -Try swapping out the white chocolate for dark chocolate for a little more depth of flavor.
- Cream cheese frosting - Try topping these brownies with cream cheese frosting to give them a fun boost.
- Pink and white M&M's - Swap the white chocolate for some fun Valentine's Day M&M's to keep these festive!
- Oreos-Swap the white chocolate for crushed Oreos for the ultimate comfort food!
Check out these Strawberry Crunch Cookies for another fun recipe idea!
Storage
If you happen to have leftovers I would be shocked. However, store any leftover brownies in an airtight container for up to 5 days on the counter. You can also freeze these brownies by storing them in an airtight container with parchment paper between the layers. They will freeze for up to 3 months.
Check out these Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies for another great recipe!
Top tips
- Don't overbake the brownies. Part of what makes them moist and gooey is not overbaking them. You want them to be slightly underdone as they will continue to cook as the pan cools.
- Make sure to allow the brownies to cool completely. It is so tempting to jump right in and want to eat them, however, you will be able to slice them cleaner if you allow them to cool.
- Make sure to use unsweetened applesauce. Unsweetened applesauce is the perfect egg replacement and it doesn't add any extra sugar to the already sweet brownies.
Recipe FAQ's
Making brownies out of cake mix is super easy! The cake mix already does most of the work for you. Just combine the dry mix with the wet ingredients and stir to combine, then bake!
Of course! If you want to make brownies with cream cheese frosting then go for it! The cream cheese frosting will pair great with the velvety texture of the brownies.
Red velvet brownies have a slight chocolate flavor to them from the cocoa powder. They are soft yet chewy and super delicious!
Other Great Desserts to Try
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Easy Red Velvet Cake Mix Brownies
Equipment
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Rubber Spatula
- 1 9x9 inch square baking pan
Ingredients
- 1 box Red Velvet Cake Mix
- ½ cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- ½ cup Almond Milk
- 1 cup White Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- Add the cake mix, applesauce, and almond milk to a medium mixing bowl.
- Mix the batter thoroughly until all the cake mix is incorporated. The batter will be very thick.
- Using a rubber spatula, fold in the white chocolate chips.
- Transfer the batter to a 9x9 inch square baking pan. Top with extra white chocolate chips, and bake for 30 minutes
Notes
- Don't overbake the brownies. Part of what makes them moist and gooey is not overbaking them. You want them to be slightly underdone as they will continue to cook as the pan cools.
- Make sure to allow the brownies to cool completely. It is so tempting to jump right in and want to eat them, however, you will be able to slice them cleaner if you allow them to cool.
- Make sure to use unsweetened applesauce. Unsweetened applesauce is the perfect egg replacement and it doesn't add any extra sugar to the already sweet brownies.
Nutrition
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
- See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
kaydimaggio says
These brownies turned out do moist and delicious!