This homemade Chocolate Brownie Cake recipe creates a delicious hybrid of chocolate brownies and a Texas sheet cake. The cake is topped with luscious chocolate icing made from scratch.
Most brownie recipes only make an 8×8 or 9×9 batch. I came up with this Homemade Chocolate Brownie Cake in order to make a larger batch.
I combined some elements of a few recipes, tweaked them a little, and bam! These chocolate brownies are what some may call a Brownie Sheet Cake.
🥘 Ingredients
To make a 9×13 pan of chocolate brownie cake from scratch, you need the following ingredients:
Chocolate Syrup
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Brownie Cake Batter
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons espresso powder
- 10 tablespoons butter (= 1 stick + 2 tablespoons)
- ¾ cup baking cocoa
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup chocolate chips
- Chocolate Syrup
Chocolate Icing
- 1¼ cups chocolate chips
- 3 tablespoons corn syrup
- 1 stick butter
🔪How To Make a Chocolate Brownie Cake
Start off by making a simple chocolate syrup. Just sugar, cocoa, water, vanilla, and a little salt.
The reason to make the syrup first is that it has to come to a boil and then cool. It will thicken some during the cooling period.
While the syrup is cooling, start the other aspects of the brownies, like preparing a 9×13 pan. I like to line it with aluminum foil that has been sprayed with non-stick spray.
Next, gather the other ingredients together. (Above is flour, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder.)
It’s best to add eggs one at a time. I like to crack all of mine into a little glass bowl before adding them. You never know when you will run across a bad egg.
Now, microwave the butter until it is melted in a medium-size glass bowl. Add cocoa and oil and whisk until smooth.
Transfer the cocoa mixture to a bowl of an electric mixer. Stir in the sugar and add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla.
Gradually add the flour mixture. Pour in chocolate syrup and chocolate chips.
⏲️ Baking Time
Pour batter into prepared 13×9 pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until done. Let cool before icing.
This is how it looks before the icing is added.
The icing is a simple chocolate glaze made with chocolate chips, butter, and a little corn syrup.
To make the icing, melt chocolate chips and butter together in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals on high, stirring well after each segment. (It took me a total of one minute + an additional 10 seconds.)
Add corn syrup and stir until smooth. Let sit for 5 minutes before pouring over brownies.
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Brownie Cake
Ingredients
Chocolate Syrup
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Brownie Batter
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tabelspoons espresso powder
- 10 Tablespoons butter (1 stick + 2 tablespoons)
- ¾ cup baking cocoa
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅔ cups chocolate chips
- Chocolate Syrup
Chocolate Icing
- 1¼ cups chocolate chips
- 3 tablespoons corn syrup
- ½ cup butter (1 stick)
Instructions
- To make the syrup: in a medium or large saucepan, whisk the cocoa powder and sugar until well blended. Add water and whisk over medium-high until it starts to boil and becomes a little frothy. Continue boiling for approximately 3 minutes. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for 2 more minutes. Remove from the heat and add salt. Let cool.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottom of 13×9 pan with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder and set aside.
- Microwave butter until melted in a medium size glass bowl. Add cocoa and oil and whisk until smooth.
- Transfer cocoa mixture to a bowl of an electric mixer. Stir in sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture. Pour in chocolate syrup and chocolate chips.
- Pour batter into prepared 13×9 pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until done. Let cool before icing.
- To make the icing: Melt chocolate chips and butter together in a microwave-safe bowl in 30 second intervals on high, stirring well after each segment. (It took me a total of one minute + an additional 10 seconds.) Add corn syrup and stir until smooth. Let sit for 5 minutes before pouring over brownies.
Video
Nutrition
Like chocolate? Be sure to check out these other delicious chocolatey desserts:
- Nutella Bread (aka Chocolate Bread) – Luscious Nutella enrobed in a homemade sweet dough – it’s great for breakfast, snack, and dessert!
- Brown Sugar Blondies – This is the recipe for those who really want a brownie but can’t have chocolate.
Kathy Graziano says
can you use fondant frosting on it need to decorate for a school project
Lynda says
You probably could. If my child had a school project, I think I would just use a box of cake mix to keep expenses down rather than make this from scratch.
doris stuart says
well the brownie cake looks good but i would what the one person did was omitt the espresso powder but i wouldnt add anything in place of it. dont drink coffee and dont like the stuff with with coffee in it. and i woud make my own frosting to put on it . thanks
Jeanne B says
I made these and they were excellent! I did make two changes though. I don’t drink coffee, so I used onyx powder instead, it’s a very dark cocoa powder, like in Oreo cookies. Also, I was in a hurry so I substituted a layer of Nutella for the icing on top, which turned out delicious, of course, and softened the dark intensity of the brownies in a good way. Everyone gobbled these bad brownie boys up!
Lynda says
Thanks, Jeanne, for stopping by and leaving your comment. It made me happy to hear that they disappeared!
Jolene says
Made this recipe, a little over the top with all the sugar oil and butter and the taste wasn’t as good as I was hoping for.
Lynda says
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I hate that they were not what you were hoping for. Honestly, at this stage in my life, I probably would find them too sweet and too rich.
Grace says
Thank you for this recipe! I made these this week ( we added pecans to the icing) and it’s been hands down the best brownies I’ve ever made. Thanks!
Lynda says
Your comment makes my heart happy! Thank you so much for sharing. I am so delighted you like the recipe. <3
Chris says
Looks amazing. Can’t wait to try them. How much instant coffee instead of expresso?
Thanks
Lynda says
I would double the amount.
Ethel Anderson says
Would like to bake in a larger sheet cake pan would this work
Lynda says
I am not sure. If you were to do that, you would have to adjust the baking time and/or temperature.
Sara says
I see the instructions to make the chocolate syrup, but no instructions as to what the syrup is for. Is it added to the brownie batter or just something to drizzle on top?
Lynda says
Look at step #5. It gets added to the batter to make it nice and chocolate-y. 🙂
Mai Cua says
I love this cake. It looks so amazing
Fernando says
I’d like to know about espresso powder, because here in Brazil there isn’t it.
Lynda says
Do you have instant coffee available?
Judie Cox says
What is a concession stand for food?
Lynda says
The “concession stand” was a room full of food that was available for parents of children who were competing in the competition. Parents of children at the host school were asked to bring goodies for the visitors.
Vella says
im from the south and these have been touched! I love them
Vella says
hola at your girl omg! These were awesome!
Lynda says
Thanks!
Packing my Suitcase says
Wow!! Thus is indeed a temptation… I love brownies, and I love baking them!! Recipe saved 😀
Loved your blog by the way, I found it via 2 wise monkeys abroad 😀
I will follow you on your social media channels, so we can keep in touch!
Have a great week,
Allane
Lynda says
Thanks! I love the Wise Monkeys Abroad. Such a sweet, sweet couple!
Marilyn Lesniak says
Just a note to say I chose your Chocolate Sheetcake as my Featured Pick for Merry Monday #5. Congratulations! Please stop by at get your featured badge! http://www.marilynstreats.com
Hope to see you again!
Marilyn Lesniak says
Marilyn from Merry Monday stopping by to say thanks for joining and hope to see you next week!
Jesica H says
You must have been reading my mind because I couldn’t stop thinking about making brownies today! LOL.
Pinning!
Jen says
Those look so moist and delicious!
Sarah @Must Have Mom says
Mmm that looks tasty! Anything chocolate and brownie is fine by me!
Hanan says
These remind me of those Little Debbie comic brownies. Love a good brownie!
Audrey at Barking Mad! says
I do NOT like chocolate. Not even the least little bit. BUT? I LOVE Brownies. LOVE THEM! Especially if they are fresh out of the oven, too hot to eat. YUM! And the crispier edges! Super-YUM!
Tamara H says
What kind of chocolate chips did you use?
Lynda says
I cannot recall what brand, but it was more than likely either Nestle, Publix, or Kroger’s Simple Truth Organic chocolate chips.
Tamara says
What kind of chocolate chips did you use for the cake and icing?
Lynda says
Honestly, I don’t remember what brand, but it would probably have been Nestle, Publix brand, or possibly Kroger’s Simple Truth.
Ilia says
Hey just wondering if it would still be yummy without the espresso powder? I don’t have any in my house due to not drinking coffee or using it in anything. They just look so yummy I really want to try them!
Lynda says
I would imagine they should be fine without the espresso powder. If I did not have espresso powder I would still make them. The powder just helps to highlight the chocolate flavor.
Mickey says
That looks awesome! I’ve never put icing on brownies, but clearly should be. 🙂
Mellisa says
Looks amazing. I love brownies.
vanessa: thequeenofswag says
This looks amazing. I would eat the whole sheet myself. lol.
Tosha G. says
My only question is are these cakey or fudgy? They look amazing!
Lynda says
I would say that they are a blend of the two, if that makes any sense. Thanks for stopping by.
Cat Davis says
Those are some good looking brownies. I never have much luck with them myself. Mine always end up hard and overbaked or soft and gooey/raw in the middle.
Marla says
When do you add the stick of butter to the icing?
Lynda says
Thank you so much for catching that! Melt the butter with the chocolate chips in the microwave. (I went back and corrected the recipe.) 🙂
Katy says
This looks great! I also have to make some concession stand food in a couple of weeks. Maybe I’ll try your recipe.
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
I can’t believe you didn’t offer to send me some of these. What kind of friend are you? 😉 Those look sooooooooo good!
Tammy says
I believe my family would gobble that up! I made some Turtle Brownies this weekend, the pan is almost empty, ha ha!
HilLesha says
That looks utterly amazing! Thanks for the recipe. 🙂
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom says
That looks so decadent and delicious!
Jennifer @ The Quirky Momma says
Now that’s the size of brownie recipe I needed! With a large family, this is perfect! Thank you!
Jennifer @ My Sweet Sanity says
Dang it! I really want some brownies now. Thanks for another great recipe that has me drooling.
Kait says
OOoo how yummy! I bet my hubby would love this!
Katie says
that looks SO rich!!
Jennifer H says
I should not of seen this before dinner. My tummy is grumbling! I love chocolate. 🙂
Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving says
Anything with a stick of butter in it has to be good. Looks amazing!
The Involuntary Housewife says
Oh, these look so good! Can’t wait to try them!
Stephanie says
Hello LOVER!!! This looks amazing!
Anne says
Homemade brownies are delicious, I will have to try your recipe
Carla says
OMG! This looks utterly amazing! My son makes something similar but I think he needs to add the syrup. I’m going to show him this.
Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!
Embracing The Good Life says
You had me at brownie but then you took it over the top! I might do this for my little guys 2nd birthday! Great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Sandra (at) Coasahmom (dot) com says
wowza! Really looking good there!
Dee @ Cocktails with Mom says
You just had to go there today. I was all good until I saw that brownie. Man that chocolate icing looks so good.
Singapore Mum Blog says
oh man! the chocolate looks so so so so good on the brownie!
Echo says
That looks fantastic!
patti says
looks delicious….I love the way you tweak, mix and match your recipes!
Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? says
Oh goodness..this looks heavenly!
Meghan @JaMonkey says
This would be good without the icing. I love the crust on the brownies!