This Chocolate Brownie Cake combines the best of both worlds—a moist chocolate cake and rich fudge brownie. Topped with a smooth chocolate ganache, it’s an indulgent dessert perfect for special occasions or when you’re craving something truly decadent. With simple ingredients and easy steps, this cake is sure to impress with its beautiful ganache finish and deep chocolate flavor.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Chocolate Lover’s Dream: Combining a chocolate cake mix with a brownie mix creates an ultra-rich cake with a brownie-like texture that’s fudgy, moist, and bursting with chocolate flavor.
Easy Yet Impressive: Using boxed mixes as the base means you can make this decadent dessert with minimal effort while still achieving a homemade taste and presentation.
Perfect Ganache Finish: The smooth, shiny ganache adds a beautiful, professional-looking finish and an extra layer of chocolatey goodness.
Great for Any Occasion: This cake is perfect for holidays, birthdays, potlucks, or any gathering where a crowd-pleasing dessert is needed.
Ingredient Tips
Chocolate Cake and Brownie Mix: The combination of these two mixes gives the cake its unique texture. Any brand of chocolate cake and fudge brownie mix will work, though high-quality brands may provide a more intense chocolate flavor.
Eggs: Adding eggs helps bind the ingredients and creates a moist, tender crumb. Using large eggs is best for this recipe.
Heavy Whipping Cream: This is key for a rich ganache. Heavy cream creates a luscious, shiny ganache that hardens just slightly as it cools for a glossy, beautiful finish.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels: Semi-sweet chocolate has a balanced sweetness that’s perfect for ganache, adding richness without overwhelming sweetness.
Complete list of ingredients with quantities and instructions is located in the recipe card below
Preparing the Cake
Preheat the Oven: Start by setting your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s fully heated when you’re ready to bake.
Prepare the Bundt Pan: Thoroughly coat a bundt pan with baker’s spray. If you don’t have baker’s spray, use butter and then dust with flour to prevent sticking.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, sift together the chocolate cake mix and fudge brownie mix. Sifting eliminates lumps and contributes to a smooth batter.
Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, water, and oil to the dry mixture. Whisk for about 2 minutes, or until mostly smooth.
Pour the Batter: Carefully pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan, spreading it evenly to ensure uniform baking.
Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 50-55 minutes. Check doneness at the 50-minute mark using a toothpick or cake tester—it should come out clean or with a few crumbs when the cake is done.
Cool the Cake: After baking, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. Then, turn the cake onto a cooling rack and let it cool completely for at least 30 minutes before adding the ganache.
Preparing the Ganache
Heat the Cream: Pour the heavy whipping cream into a large microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave for about 2 minutes, or until it just starts to boil.
Add the Chocolate: Carefully add the semi-sweet chocolate morsels to the hot cream and let it sit for about 5 minutes without stirring to allow the chocolate to melt.
Mix Until Smooth: After 5 minutes, whisk the mixture until it’s smooth and shiny, which should take about 1 minute. If there are still lumps, heat briefly and whisk again.
Apply the Ganache: Once the cake is fully cooled, pour the ganache over the top, using a spatula to spread it evenly if needed for a rich, glossy finish.
Serving Suggestions:
This Chocolate Brownie Cake is incredibly rich and pairs well with a few simple accompaniments:
Fresh Berries: Serve with fresh strawberries or raspberries for a burst of color and a tart contrast to the chocolate.
Whipped Cream: Add a dollop of whipped cream to each slice for a light, airy complement to the dense cake.
Ice Cream: Vanilla or coffee ice cream goes wonderfully with the rich chocolate flavor and adds a cool contrast.
Espresso: A small shot of espresso or a cup of coffee enhances the chocolate flavor and balances the cake’s sweetness.
Storage and Freezing Tips:
This cake stores beautifully, making it a great option for make-ahead desserts.
Room Temperature: Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Refrigeration: To keep the ganache from melting in warmer climates, store the cake in the refrigerator for up to a week. Let it come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
Freezing: You can freeze the cake for up to 3 months. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before bringing it to room temperature.
Recipe Variations:
Add Espresso Powder: For an extra depth of flavor, add a teaspoon of espresso powder to the cake batter to intensify the chocolate flavor.
Chocolate Chip Surprise: Stir in a handful of chocolate chips or chopped nuts into the batter for a surprise texture in each bite.
Mint Chocolate Ganache: Add a drop of peppermint extract to the ganache for a festive mint-chocolate variation.
Raspberry Drizzle: Drizzle raspberry sauce over the ganache for a fruity twist.
Salted Caramel Topping: Drizzle a salted caramel sauce over the ganache for a sweet and salty variation.
Conclusion:
This Chocolate Brownie Cake is the perfect dessert for serious chocolate fans, with a rich, fudgy texture and a decadent ganache finish that takes it over the top. Whether you’re serving it for a special occasion or simply treating yourself, this cake is sure to satisfy any chocolate craving. With its easy preparation and impressive presentation, it’s a dessert you’ll want to make again and again.
Serve up a slice, and enjoy the ultimate chocolate experience!
