Apple Cinnamon Cake Brownies bring together sweet apples, warm cinnamon, and a rich cream cheese frosting in one easy fall dessert. They’re dense, soft, and full of apple flavor, with just enough cinnamon to make your kitchen smell like you know what you’re doing. Starting with a box of cake mix keeps things simple, because sometimes homemade means knowing when to let the box do the heavy lifting.

Apple Cinnamon Cake Brownies are easy to make with perfect fall flavors and a cream cheese frosting.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy to make: A handful of simple ingredients turns a box of cake mix into a delicious apple dessert.
Perfect fall flavors: Apples and cinnamon are a classic combination for good reason.
Cream cheese frosting: A sweet, tangy frosting adds the perfect finishing touch.
No complicated steps: Mix, press, bake, cool, and frost. That’s it. No culinary degree required.

A fall favorite dessert made easily with a cake mix, then frosting with a smooth cream cheese frosting.

Making Apple Cinnamon Cake Brownies

First, prepare the pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang to lift the brownies out later (8×14″ is perfect). Spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
Next, mix the wet ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the vegetable oil, apple butter, eggs, ground cinnamon, and finely diced apple. Stir until well combined.
Then, add the cake mix. Add the yellow cake mix and stir with a wooden spoon or sturdy spatula until everything is combined. The batter will be thick, so don’t expect it to pour like regular cake batter.
Fill the pan. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and press it into an even layer.
Then, bake. Bake at 350°F for 20–24 minutes, or until the center is set. Compared to metal pans, glass dishes can take a few extra minutes to bake, even as much as 5 extra minutes. Why? Because, the glass takes longer than metal to heat up.
Cool completely. Let the brownies cool completely on a wire rack before adding the frosting. Patience is annoying, but frosting that melts into warm brownies isn’t quite the look we’re going for.
Meanwhile, make the frosting. Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and salt on low speed, mixing until creamy, then increase speed on high for light and fluffy frosting.
Lastly, frost and serve. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled brownies. For clean cuts, refrigerate brownies so the frosting hardens up a bit, then cut into squares and serve.

Pro Tips

Dice the apples finely. Small pieces distribute more evenly throughout the batter and make the brownies easier to cut.
Use a sturdy spoon or spatula. This is a thick batter, not a delicate cake mixture. A whisk will just give you something else to wash.
Check early. Ovens vary, so start checking at 20 minutes. You want the center set without drying out the edges. Glass dishes usually take a few more minutes to bake than metal pans.
Let them cool completely. The brownies need time to settle, and the frosting needs a cool surface.

Ways to Make It Your Own

Add extra cinnamon. Sprinkle a little ground cinnamon over the cream cheese frosting for an extra hit of warm spice.
Add a little crunch. Chopped pecans or walnuts would make a delicious addition.
Try a caramel drizzle. A light drizzle of caramel sauce over the frosting would give these an apple-caramel twist.

Search the Site for More Recipes

Looking for more easy desserts? Browse Sweet Ordeal for delicious recipes that make homemade treats a little less work, or use keywords in the search bar for your favorite flavors, like chocolate or lemon. For more on the brownie cake mix series, here’s how the list is shaping up so far:

Apple Cinnamon Cake Brownies uses a cake mix with fresh diced apples and a tangy frosting to finish.

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Apple Cinnamon Cake Brownies

Apple Cinnamon Cake Brownies combine yellow cake mix, apple butter, fresh diced apples, and cinnamon for an easy fall dessert. Cream cheese frosting adds a sweet, tangy finish to these soft, apple-filled brownies.

Prep Time20

Cook Time24

Cooling time30

Total Time1 14

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 8 x 8″, cake mix, cream cheese frosting, easy

Servings:

Calories: 176kcal

Author: Sweet Ordeal

Ingredients

Brownies:

1/4 cup canola oil (or vegetable oil)
1/4 cup apple butter
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 cup apple, peeled and finely diced (from 1/2 apple)
15.25 oz. box yellow cake mix

Frosting:

3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1/8 tsp. salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° and line 8 x 8" baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang to lift the brownies out later. Spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray.

Brownies:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the vegetable oil, apple butter, eggs, ground cinnamon, and finely diced apple. Stir until well combined.
Add the yellow cake mix and stir with a wooden spoon or sturdy spatula until everything is combined. The batter will be thick.
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and press it into an even layer.
Bake at 350°F for 20–24 minutes, or until the center is set. Begin checking at 20 minutes to avoid overbaking. Let the brownies cool completely on a wire rack before adding the frosting.

Frosting:

Beat the softened cream cheese until smooth. Reduce beaters to LOW speed and add the powdered sugar and salt, mixing until creamy. Increase speed to HIGH for a minute or two for light and fluffy frosting. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled brownies. Refrigerate for 30 minutes so the frosting can firm up before slicing and serving. Keep refrigerated. Enjoy!