• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
      • Breads & Muffins
      • Drinks
      • Eggs
      • Healthy
      • Pancakes, Waffles & more
      • Savory Breakfast
      • Sweet Breakfast
    • Baked Goods
      • Brownies & Bars
      • Cakes & Cupcakes
      • Cast Iron Skillet
      • Cheesecake
      • Cookies
      • Donuts
      • Fruit
      • Muffins
      • Small Batch
      • No Bake
      • Pie
      • Scones
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Subscribe

Bake & Bacon

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Baked Goods » Brownies & Bars

    Published: Feb 17, 2023 by Kelly Hamilton · This post may contain affiliate links

    Brownie Birthday Cake

    Jump to Recipe

    This Brownie Birthday Cake is the perfect way to celebrate- decadent layers of brownie (instead of cake) with chocolate fudge frosting and sprinkles! It's perfect for any brownie lover!

    Brownie Birthday Cake sitting on table freshly frosted and decorated with sprinkles. Also has candles lit sitting on top of it.
    Jump to:
    • Why You Need This Brownie Birthday Cake
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Tips and Tricks
    • Storing & Freezing
    • Want to try more brownie recipes?
    • 📖 Recipe

    This brownie birthday cake is a fun twist for all your celebrations! This birthday cake is made from two layers of delicious, rich, and fudgy brownies and topped with fudge chocolate frosting! Plus lots of sprinkles, because duh!


    This recipe is perfect if you want to bake a birthday cake, but really don't love cake. If brownies are more your love language, this is the cake for you! Plus it doesn't take long to make and you only need a few staple ingredients.

    I’ve already got a few birthday desserts here, like my Funfetti Cookie Cake, but I wanted to have a brownie version! If you're looking for another fun way to make brownies, try my Brownie Crinkle Cookies!

    Why You Need This Brownie Birthday Cake

    • These are cakey brownies so they’re stable enough to stack! Even though the brownies are dense, they are still super flavorful and have the perfect texture for a cake.
    • This fudge frosting is super decadent, but you could use a vanilla buttercream or cream cheese frosting instead.
    • Rainbow sprinkles are a must for birthday cake brownies, but you can leave those out if you prefer! Or add other fun toppings like m&ms, Reese's cups, crushed peppermint, etc.
    • This is the perfect birthday cake for someone who loves brownies! (I am a brownie lover and this is the ultimate cake, trust me)!

    Recipe Ingredients

    Here are some notes on a few ingredients- please see the full ingredient list in the recipe card below!

    • Cocoa Powder: make sure you’re using high-quality cocoa powder as it will make all the difference here!
    • Flour: this recipe has only been tested with all-purpose flour. 
    • Unsalted Butter: I always use unsalted butter in my recipes, this is important so you can control the amount of salt! 
    • Rainbow Sprinkles: totally optional but they’re so fun!
    Ingredients to make Brownie Birthday Cake.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°Fahrenheit. Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with non-stick spray and line the bottom of each pan with parchment paper.

    Step 2: In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Add the light brown sugar and whisk until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking after each addition. Finally, add the vanilla extract.

    Step 3: Mix in the cocoa powder, flour, and salt. Mix until there are no more streaks of flour.

    Step 4: Pour the batter into the two pans and bake for 30-35 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. Allow the brownies to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then flip them onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

    Step 5: Use an electric mixer to beat the butter until smooth. Add the cocoa powder, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix on low until combined, then increase the speed to medium and beat for 1 minute until smooth.

    Step 6: Once the brownie layers have completely cooled, place one layer onto a plate and top it with half of the frosting and sprinkles (if using)! Add the second brownie layer on top and cover with the rest of the frosting and sprinkles. Enjoy your birthday cake brownies!

    How to make Brownie Birthday Cake. 1. wet ingredients in a glass mixing bowl with a whisk. 2. Dry ingredients mixed into wet ingredients in a glass mixing bowl. 3. Brownie Birthday Cake batter poured into baking pan. 4. Chocolate icing whipped up in glass mixing bowl.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What’s the difference between brownies and brownie cake? 

    This brownie cake is much cakier/denser than regular brownies, which are typically fudgy and can be soft. Instead of single brownie bars, this birthday brownie is layered like a cake! 

    Can I use a different frosting?

    If you aren’t a fan of fudge frosting, use my cream cheese frosting instead! Vanilla buttercream would also be great on these. If you're short on time, canned frosting from the grocery store would be a perfect substitution.

    Can I make this ahead of time?

    You can make the brownie layers ahead of time! Bake the brownie layers as directed, then once they’re completely cool wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. You can also make the frosting the day before, storing it in an airtight container in the fridge overnight. When ready to assemble, remove the brownies from the plastic wrap and add the frosting.

    Slice of Brownie Birthday Cake with a fork taking a bite-sized piece out of it.

    Tips and Tricks

    • Let the brownie layers cool completely before assembling, otherwise, the fudge frosting might melt right off! 
    • I recommend ensuring your ingredients are at room temperature before starting, especially your eggs.
    • Make sure to measure your flour correctly! While we want the brownie layers to be cakey, we don’t want them to be dry and make your brownies crumbly.
    • These brownies are RICH, so I suggest slicing them into small slices. You won't need a huge slice to feel satisfied.
    • These are my favorite sprinkles to use!

    Storing & Freezing

    You can keep slices of this brownie birthday cake in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days, or up to a week in the fridge.

    You can also freeze slices for up to 2 months, either wrapped in saranwrap/tinfoil or stored in an airtight container. To thaw, defrost in the fridge overnight before enjoying.

    Overhead shot of the Brownie Birthday Cake that was freshly iced and dusted with rainbow sprinkles!

    Want to try more brownie recipes?

    • Mini Egg Brownies
    • Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Biscoff Blondies
    • Lemon Bars

    If you made this recipe, I would love to know what you thought! Leave me a star rating and a comment below ⭐️ Your reviews not only help my business but other bakers as well!

    Want an exclusive first look at all my recipes? Join my email newsletter which sends Bake & Bacon recipes straight to your inbox as soon as they go live, so you never miss a recipe!

    Want to keep up with Bake & Bacon outside of the blog? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Youtube. Tag me on any social media and use the hashtag #bakeandbacon so I can see what you are baking!

    📖 Recipe

    Brownie Birthday Cake

    Kelly Hamilton
    This Brownie Birthday Cake is the perfect way to celebrate- decadent layers of brownie (instead of cake) with chocolate fudge frosting and sprinkles! It's perfect for any brownie lover!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    chill time 2 hrs
    Total Time 3 hrs
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 572 kcal

    Equipment

    • 8 inch round cake pans
    • Mixing Bowl Set
    • Silicone Spatula
    • Whisk
    • Electric Hand Mixer
    • Stand Mixer

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1¼ cup unsalted butter melted
    • 2½ cup light brown sugar packed
    • 4 large eggs at room temperature
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1½ cups cocoa powder
    • ¾ cup all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
    • ¾ teaspoon salt

    Icing

    • 5 tablespoon unsalted butter at room temperature
    • ½ cup cocoa powder + 2 tbsp
    • 2½ cups powdered sugar
    • ⅓ cup milk
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • rainbow sprinkles optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with non-stick spray and line the bottom with parchment paper. Set aside.
    • In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Add in the brown sugar and whisk until fully combined. Add in the eggs, one at a time, whisking in between. Then add the vanilla extract.
    • Mix in the cocoa powder, flour, and salt until just combined and no streaks remain. The batter will be thick.
    • Pour the batter equally into the two prepared pans. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the brownies to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, run a sharp knife around the edges to release the brownies, and then flip them onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
    • To make the fudge frosting, use an electric mixer to beat the butter until smooth. Add in the cocoa powder, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla, mixing on low until combined. Increase speed to medium and beat for another minute until smooth. If the frosting is too thick, add 1 teaspoon of milk at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
    • Once the brownie layers have cooled completely, place one layer onto a cake plate and top it with half the frosting (and sprinkles if using). Add the second brownie layer on top, followed by the rest of the frosting and sprinkles.

    Notes

    • Let the brownie layers cool completely before assembling, otherwise, the fudge frosting might melt right off! 
    • I recommend ensuring your ingredients are at room temperature before starting, especially your eggs.
    • Make sure to measure your flour correctly! While we want the brownie layers to be cakey, we don’t want them to be dry and make your brownies crumbly.
    • These are my favorite sprinkles to use!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 572kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 189mg | Potassium: 327mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 70g | Vitamin A: 827IU | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was! Share on Instagram and tag @bake.andbacon

    This post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something off of one of those links I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my blog!

    « Red Velvet Oreo Cookies
    Strawberry Glazed Donuts »
    Get the Brunch Pro Theme

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. bridget says

      March 07, 2023 at 10:16 am

      5 stars
      my husband doesn't like cake (??? i know??) so I made him this for his bday this year and he was obsessed. we ate it all in 2 days between the two of us. thanks for this recipe!!

      Reply
      • Kelly Hamilton says

        March 15, 2023 at 10:17 am

        I love that he enjoyed this cake for his birthday! Thanks for trying it out, Bridget.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Kelly! I'm the self-taught baker, food photographer, and dog mom behind Bake & Bacon. I'm here to bring you easy recipes for my favorite things- delicious breakfasts and decadent desserts!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Protein Overnight Oats- 3 Ways
    • Small-Batch Peanut Butter Cookies
    • White Chocolate and Raspberry Cookies
    • Lemon Bars
    • Banana Blueberry Muffins
    • Coconut Raspberry Crumble Bars
    • Strawberry Cake Pops
    • Small-Batch Sugar Cookies

    Featured On

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Portfolio
    • Work with me

    Disclaimers

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Contact

    • Contact Me
    • Client Inquiry Form
    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020-2022 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme