Birthday cake brownies are EASY to make and they’re a delicious treat for people who love chocolate and sprinkles! This is one recipe you’ll make over and over again!
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Why have I waited so long to add sprinkles to brownies? It’s a mistake I intend to remedy by baking batches of birthday cake brownies weekly for at least the next year.
One bite and you’ll feel the same way, I’m sure. Because not only are these babies cute—they’re also DELISH!
The sprinkle layer really just cheesecake that’s flavored with powdered cake mix and lots of vanilla so it actually does taste like birthday cake. Combine that with a fudgy brownie and you have yourself a celebration-worthy treat!
Why you’ll love these birthday cake brownies:
- They freeze beautifully so you can always have dessert on hand
- The ingredients are all kitchen staples you probably have right now
- They’re easy to make!
How to make birthday cake brownies
Start by making the filling layer. You’ll see that the recipe calls for cake mix; either white or yellow mix is fine but using white allows the sprinkles to pop more.
- Combine room temperature cream cheese with a few other ingredients and beat until very smooth.
- Fold in rainbow jimmies, then set aside.
Be sure your cream cheese is at room temp; if it’s too cold the filling won’t get smooth and you’ll have lumps of cream cheese that aren’t fully blended.
- Combine sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a mixing bowl.
- Stir vigorously to combine.
- Stir in butter and chocolate that have been melted and cooled.
- Fold in flour, cake mix, and salt and stir until smooth (or mostly smooth–like in the second picture above).
Then you’re ready to assemble.
- Pour about half of your brownie batter into an 8-inch square baking pan.
- Spread the filling into an even layer over the batter.
- Spread the remaining batter over that.
- Use a butter knife or the handle of a wooden spoon to swirl the two together. Then bake! (Don’t over-swirl the brownies–just drag the knife around the pan a couple of times.)
Note: the brownies are thick and will puff up while baking so be sure your pan is at least 2 inches tall—otherwise your brownies will spill over.
Your birthday cake brownies are easier to slice neatly if you refrigerate them overnight but that’s not absolutely necessary.
What is the difference between sprinkles and jimmies?
All jimmies are sprinkles but not all sprinkles are jimmies—kind of like how all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares.
“Sprinkle” can refer to all kinds of differently shaped confections used to decorate cakes, candies, and the like.
Jimmies is the name sometimes given to the more oblong-shaped sprinkles. I specified jimmies for this recipe because I find they work best in baking. Nonpareils (little round balls) and confetti (flat discs) often bleed into your batter more.
That said, you’re welcome to use whatever type of sprinkles you like; even if your sprinkles bleed into the birthday cake layer, your brownies will still be delicious!
I was just thinking: you don’t have to use rainbow jimmies for the filling. You could use red, white and blue and you have a fabulous dessert for America’s birthday.
But really, birthday cake brownies shouldn’t be reserved just for bdays. Any old day will do!
A few more chocolatey recipes
Strawberry Chocolate Cake
Rocky Road Brownies
Raspberry Brownies
Triple Chocolate Cheesecake
White Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
Did you make these birthday cake brownies? That’s great! Let me know what you think with a comment and a rating below. And post a pic on Insta–tag @theitsybitsykitchen so I can see your creations!
Birthday cake brownies are a delicious treat for anyone who loves chocolate and sprinkles!
- 8 ounces full fat cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk
- 1/2 cup white or yellow cake mix powder
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons rainbow jimmies
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter
- 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate finely chopped
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup white or yellow cake mix powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Place the cream cheese, egg, egg yolk, cake mix, sugar, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until very smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Fold in the jimmies. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with foil. Spray the foil with cooking spray and set pan aside.
- Combine the butter and unsweetened chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted and smooth. (Or you can do this in the top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water.) Set the mixture aside to cool for 5 minutes.
- Combine the sugar, eggs, and vanilla, in a large mixing bowl. Stir vigorously with a rubber spatula until well combined. Stir in the chocolate mixture.
- Add the flour, cake mix, and salt and mix until just combined.
- Pour half of the brownie batter into the prepared pan. Use an offset spatula to spread the filling into an even layer over the brownie batter.
- Dollop the remaining brownie batter over the filling, then carefully spread it out. Use a butter knife to swirl the batter and the filling together (don’t over-swirl).
- Bake 45 to 50 minutes, until the brownies have just begun to pull away from the pan at the edges and the center is still a little jiggly.
- Cool completely, then slice and serve. (The brownies are easier to slice neatly if you chill the overnight first.)
- Uneaten brownies can be stored in the fridge, tightly wrapped, for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Recipe Video
You can use either white or yellow cake mix in these brownies but using white cake mix allows the sprinkles to pop a little more.
There’s a lot of batter so be sure your baking pan is at least 2 inches tall. If it isn’t, the batter might puff up and fall over the edges in the oven.
emily says
hi! just wondering, is it possible to make these in a 9-inch springform pan?
Kelsie says
I think that should be fine. You’ll probably need to decrease the baking time (maybe start checking for doneness at about 30 minutes). And instead of dividing the brownie batter, I’d just pour all of it into the bottom of the pan and top with the cream cheese layer. Hope that makes sense! Let me know if you have more questions!
Mason says
Looks good. Going to try this soon. Just curious if there’s a recipe for my own or sub for cake powder? Don’t really want to buy it just to use 1/2 cup :/
Kelsie says
Unfortunately no, there’s no substitute because that’s what gives the brownies birthday cake flavor. Leftover cake mix will keep in the pantry for several months though, and there are a lot of cake batter/birthday cake-flavored recipes around that use cake mix if you’re looking for a way to use it up.
Joanne says
Im a huge fan of sprinkles!! These brownies are so celebratory!!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Joanne!
Shashi at SavorySpin says
Wow Kelsie – these sound and look fantastic! And they have me torn – I started a new job 4 weeks ago and this week my boss took off and left me to run things – and I’ve had someone else help me out immensely and i was going to put together a treat box for him with your Nutella bars and some of my cookies but now you have me wanting to include these as well! Hoping your week is going great!
Kelsie says
Awww thank you so much, Shashi! I hope you’re enjoying your weekend!
Ashika | Gardening Foodie says
These brownies look so delicious Kelsie. And I am absolutely loving that cream cheese layer filled with sprinkles. Such a fun birthday treat 🙂
Kelsie says
Thank you, Ashika!
John / Kitchen Riffs says
Great looking recipe! And I didn’t actually know the difference between sprinkles and jimmies. But now I do. 🙂 Thanks!
Kelsie says
Thank you, John!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
Our summer is filled with numerous birthdays for family and friends! I know what I’ll be making! Thanks for making my life a bit easier and way more delicious Kelsie!
Kelsie says
Awww thank YOU, Mary Ann!
Ben|Havocinthekitchen says
I’ll be honest: I’m not a huge fan of sprinkles. Most likely I avoid a donut or cake with any sprinkles on top. Yes, I’m totally a weirdo haha. However, I recently tried “birthday cake” ice cream, and you know what? I didn’t hate the addition of sprinkles at all. So you should send me a few slices of this brownies – probably, my taste has changed 🙂 And of course I must admit sprinkles do make any dessert look so much brighter and inviting!
Kelsie says
Haha! The brownies are in the mail! Thanks, Ben!
linda says
I made these yesterday (yes the same day you posted them) and they are DEELISH! My family has already eaten all of them. Okay maybe I had more than my share. I will be making them again!
Kelsie says
I’m so glad you loved them! Thanks for letting me know, Linda!
Marissa says
You come up with the most festive (and delicious!) ideas, Kelsie! That sprinkle layer is so fun and I love adding that creamy layer to the brownie! Perfect birthday treat!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Marissa!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
These brownies are SO fun, Kelsie! My birthday is in a month, and I’m thinking I need to make these (blondie style because of my stupid allergy to cocoa) for myself! I mean, after all, every celebration needs sprinkles! Or, these would be so fun for the 4th of July with Red, White & Blue sprinkles!!!!! Love these SO stinkin’ much!!!
Kelsie says
They’d be great made as blondies! Thanks, Chey!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
So genius, Kelsie. Sprinkles and brownies 100% belong together!! This is a match made in heaven. I feel like my 10 year old self is jumping up and down really fast right now, haha! Hope you had a great weekend my friend! XO
Kelsie says
Thank you, Katherine!
Laura says
Kelsie – Oh, My! These are so festive, I’ll be looking for the next birthday boy or girl for whom I can make these delicious brownies! I’m normally not a sprinkle person, but these have chocolate, cream cheese and brownie attached! Yum!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Laura!
Carlee says
Oh lordy, I definitely need to make a batch of these. They are so fun and I already know they are delicious too!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Carlee!
Kelly @ Kelly Lynn’s Sweets and Treats says
These are so fun! Why have I never thought to put sprinkles in brownies before?!! Love that cake layer. YUMMMMM
Kelsie says
Thank you, Kelly!
Milena says
So pretty and colorful! I can see myself baking a batch weekly per your newfound inspiration:) Pinned!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Milena!
Kim Lange says
Loving the sprinkles! Always a celebration when these arrive to the party! Pinning! xo
David @ Spiced says
So my birthday is coming up in July, and I think I need a batch of these birthday cake brownies! What a fun idea, Kelsie. I love the flavor combination here, and these brownies are so festive. Would it be wrong to just bake a batch of these and keep ’em all for myself?? 🙂
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says
I’ve never heard them called jimmies. So I’ve learned something new to start my Monday! Also, these are super fun. My birthday happens to be next month, so I may have to whip these up for myself. Or send this to my hubby and see what he can whip up! 😉 Happy Monday Kelsie!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
It doesn’t matter that you’ve waited so long, at least these delicious brownies are here now! What is it about sprinkles (or jimmies) that make things so much more fun? Pinned! And I agree….these would be awesome on just about any day, especially Monday 😉 Have a great week, Kelsie!
Kelsie says
Thank you so much, Dawn!