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Funfetti Brownie Layer Cake – this cake is easier than it looks! There’s a layer of brownie and two layers of confetti cake, filled with a cream cheese frosting and topped with a hot fudge chocolate drizzle! It’s the PERFECT brownie birthday cake recipe.

Funfetti Brownie Layer Cake - this cake is easier than it looks! There's a layer of brownie and two layers of confetti cake, filled with a cream cheese frosting and topped with a hot fudge chocolate drizzle!


Brownie Birthday Cake

If you’re looking for a fun and delicious cake recipe for a celebration, you should make this Funfetti Brownie Cake! I’m not a huge cake decorator so I’m always on the lookout for easy ways to make cakes and a sprinkle cake is one of my favorite things.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Starts with a box cake mix for the funfetti layers.
  • Use a brownie mix for the brownie layer!
  • Make homemade frosting and no one will guess you used box mixes!
  • The sprinkles on the outside hide any imperfections…and it’s so pretty too!
Funfetti Brownie Layer Cake

Ingredients Needed

  • Layer one on this cake is a fudgy brownie. I used a box mix but this homemade brownie recipe works as well.
  • The other two layers are yellow cake mix I filled with sprinkles, but feel free to make my yellow cake from scratch and fill it with sprinkles.
  • The most important thing to remember when you’re using a mix is that no one will notice if you make your own frosting, so I filled the cake with my favorite cream cheese frosting.
  • The outside is full of sprinkles and the top is drizzled with an easy chocolate sauce and more sprinkles.

Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

brownie batter in cake pan.
funfetti cake in cake pans
mixer with frosting and sprinkles.
cake on cake plate with frosting.
cake on cake plate with sprinkles around it.
cake on cake plate with sprinkles around it and fudge topping pouring over it.

How to make a Brownie Birthday Cake

  • Make the brownie mix according to package directions. Pour into prepared cake pan and bake for about until a toothpick comes out clean 2” from the edge. Cool, then remove from the pan.
  • Mix the cake mix with milk, oil, and eggs until smooth. Stir in sprinkles. Pour equally into two remaining pans and bake until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before removing from pans.
  • Make the frosting by beating the cream cheese and butter until smooth, then slowly mixing in the powdered sugar. Mix in vanilla and beat until smooth, then stir in sprinkles.
  • Divide the frosting into three parts. Place the brownie layer on the bottom of a cake plate. Top with 1/3 of the frosting. Add one cake layer and another 1/3 of the frosting. Top with remaining cake layer.
  • Frost the top of the cake with some of the remaining frosting and give the sides a light coating with the remaining frosting.
  • To coat the sides with sprinkles, take handfuls and press them onto the sides of the cake.
  • Place chocolate chips, butter, corn syrup, and water in a small pan. Heat over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth. Remove from the hot pan and let cool at least 10 minutes.
  • Finish the cake by coating the top with the chocolate and drizzling it down the sides. Top with more sprinkles. Chill to set.
Funfetti Brownie Layer Cake - this cake is easier than it looks! There's a layer of brownie and two layers of confetti cake, filled with a cream cheese frosting and topped with a hot fudge chocolate drizzle! It's the PERFECT birthday cake recipe.

Tip From Dorothy

Expert Tips for Brownie Cakes

  • Be sure to use good quality sprinkles. I prefer jimmies for baking inside the cake. These Rainbow Sprinkles are the ones I always buy. They don’t melt like some of the cheaper ones do. Nonpareils will melt inside the cake, but are fine for the outside.
  • I used 8″ round pans but you can use 9″ if that’s all you have, but make sure to use all the same brand and same size cake pan (this way the layers are all the same).
  • Level the cakes as needed before stacking.
  • Chill in between layers for easy decorating.
  • I recommend adding the outside coating over the sink – it’s really messy.
Funfetti Brownie Layer Cake

Funfetti Brownie Layer Cake Recipe

5 from 4 votes
Funfetti Brownie Layer Cake – this cake is easier than it looks! There’s a layer of brownie and two layers of confetti cake, filled with a cream cheese frosting and topped with a hot fudge chocolate drizzle! It’s the PERFECT birthday cake recipe.
Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 3 hours
Yield 16 6servings
Serving Size 1 serving
Rate RecipePrint Recipe

Ingredients
 

For the layers:

  • 1 (approximately 18 ounce) box brownie mix , plus ingredients to make the brownies
  • 1 (approximately 15 ounce) box yellow cake mix
  • 1 cup (237ml) milk
  • ⅓ cup (79ml) vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup sprinkles

For the frosting:

  • 8 ounces (226g) cream cheese , room temperature
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter , softened
  • 4 cups (452g) powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup sprinkles , plus more for the outside

For the chocolate drizzle:

  • ¾ cup (128g) chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk)
  • 3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter cubed
  • 3 tablespoons (45ml) light corn syrup
  • 1 ½ teaspoons water
  • Sprinkles for topping
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line one 8″ round cake pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Line two more with parchment paper (bottom only) and spray well with nonstick cooking spray or grease and flour the pans. (If you do not have 3 round cake pans, make the brownies first, let them cool, then make the cake layers.)
  • Make the brownie mix according to package directions. Pour into prepared cake pan (the one with foil) and bake for about 40-50 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean 2” from the edge. Cool, then remove from the pan.
  • Mix the cake mix with milk, oil, and eggs until smooth and no lumps remain. Stir in sprinkles. Pour equally into two remaining pans and bake according to package directions, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before removing from pans.
  • Make the frosting by beating the cream cheese and butter until smooth, then slowly mixing in the powdered sugar. Mix in vanilla and beat until smooth, then stir in sprinkles.
  • Divide the frosting into three parts. Place the brownie layer on the bottom of a cake plate. Top with 1/3 of the frosting. Add one cake layer and another 1/3 of the frosting. Top with remaining cake layer.
  • Frost the top of the cake with some of the remaining frosting and give the sides a light coating with the remaining frosting. This is also called a “crumb coat”. You’ll still see the cake through the sides but that doesn’t matter because you’re coating it with sprinkles.
  • To coat the sides with sprinkles, take handfuls and press them onto the sides of the cake. This is a messy step! Chill the cake until ready to finish it.
  • Make the chocolate drizzle: place chocolate chips, butter, corn syrup, and water in a small pan. Heat over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth. Remove from the hot pan and let cool at least 10 minutes, stirring a few times.
  • Finish the cake by coating the top with the chocolate and drizzling it down the sides. Top with more sprinkles. Chill to set.

Recipe Notes

  • Be sure to use good quality sprinkles. I prefer jimmies for baking inside the cake. They don’t melt like some of the cheaper ones do. Nonpareils will melt inside the cake, but are fine for the outside.
  • I used 8″ round pans but you can use 9″ if that’s all you have, but make sure to use all the same brand and same size cake pan (this way the layers are all the same).
  • Level the cakes as needed before stacking.
  • Chill in between layers for easy decorating.
  • I recommend adding the outside coating over the sink – it’s really messy.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 416kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 67mg | Potassium: 80mg | Fiber: 0.001g | Sugar: 52g | Vitamin A: 502IU | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Author Dorothy Kern

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Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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22 Comments

  2. Happy birthday Dorothy!! I loved reading this post and how you are looking forward to turning 40! Hope you enjoy your day 🙂

    Reply

  3. Happy birthday! I turned 40 in August, would love to celebrate the way you are! Happy blog-versary too, so glad you started this! You are one of my favorite, read every post bloggers!

    Reply

  4. Happy Birthday, Dorothy! And Happy Birthday Crazy for Crust blog!! This cake is fun, festive and perfect for celebrations! Have fun this weekend!

    Reply

  5. Happy Birthday! I will be making this cake for a birthday party next week. I’m not a big cake fan but do love a cake with good frosting and brownies, YES! and chocolate YES! and Jimmies YES!

    Have fun! Bartenders, dancing, and sprinkles with friends! What else do you need!

    40 is fabulous! Enjoy every year.

    Reply