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Easy Milky Way Brownies Recipe made with Cake Mix

ByHeidi Bruaw
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Milky Way brownies come straight from my grandpa’s recipe binder, and they’ve been a favorite in our family for as long as I can remember. They start with a German chocolate cake mix, but once those chopped candy bars melt into the middle, it turns into something completely different. 

Three chocolate brownies arranged on a light wooden surface with a piece of chocolate-covered caramel candy placed on top of the brownies.

I still think about how excited we’d get when he made these, especially when that gooey chocolate layer came out of the oven. The top gets soft and slightly crackly while the inside stays rich and melty in the best way. They’re super simple, and everyone loves them.

Quick Facts

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Bake Time: 30 minutes (10 + 20 minutes)
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Servings: 12–16 squares
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Pan Size: 9×13-inch baking dish
  • Key Ingredients: German chocolate cake mix, yogurt, sweetened condensed milk, Milky Way bars
  • Texture: Soft, gooey center with a lightly crackly top
  • Flavor: Rich chocolate with creamy caramel notes from the melted candy bars
  • Best Time to Make: Potlucks, family get-togethers, or anytime you want an easy crowd-pleasing dessert

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Starts with a shortcut: A box cake mix keeps things simple without sacrificing that homemade feel.

That gooey candy layer: Melted Milky Way bars create a rich, chocolate-caramel center that makes every bite extra good.

Family-approved favorite: This is my grandpa’s recipe, and it’s one we’ve made again and again over the years.

Perfect for sharing: A 9×13 pan makes plenty, so it’s great for potlucks, parties, or casual get-togethers.

Easy but impressive: It looks and tastes like you put in way more effort than you actually did.

Hard to stop at one: Between the soft texture and melty middle, these disappear fast every single time.

Ingredients You Will Need

A can of sweetened condensed milk, a box of Betty Crocker German chocolate cake mix, a container of Lucerne plain yogurt, and a bag of Milky Way fun size bars on a granite countertop.
  • German Chocolate Cake Mix: This is the base of the recipe, giving the brownies structure, sweetness, and that rich chocolate flavor without needing a long list of ingredients. It also keeps everything quick and easy.
  • Plain Yogurt: Adds moisture and helps create a soft, tender texture. It also gives the batter a slight richness and keeps the brownies from drying out.
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk: Brings in extra sweetness and a creamy consistency. It helps make the brownies dense and fudgy while adding that classic caramel-like flavor.
  • Milky Way Bars: The most important ingredient. As they melt, they create a gooey chocolate-and-caramel layer in the center that makes these brownies stand out from the rest.

Helpful Tips

  • Don’t overmix the batter: Stir just until everything is combined so the brownies stay soft and tender.
  • Spread the first layer evenly: This helps create a sturdy base for the melted candy layer.
  • Slice the Milky Ways thin: Smaller pieces melt more evenly and give you that gooey layer in every bite.
  • Work quickly after the first bake: Add the candy while the base is still warm so it starts melting right away.
  • Drop the top batter gently: Spoon it over the candy layer without trying to smooth it out; those uneven spots bake up perfectly.
  • Keep an eye on the final bake: You want the top set but still soft so the center stays nice and gooey.
Chocolate cake batter being mixed in a blue bowl with a green spatula. The batter appears thick and creamy, with swirls showing the mixing process.
Stir cake mix, yogurt, and condensed milk together until combined.
A close-up of a rectangular, golden-brown baked dessert in a metal pan, possibly a tray of brownies or blondies, with a slightly uneven, textured surface.
Spread half of the mixture onto the bottom of the 9×13 pan.

Substitutions and Variations

Candy Bar Substitutions: If you don’t have Milky Way bars, you can use other similar chocolate candy bars, such as Snickers, Twix, or Three Musketeers, to create different flavor variations.

Caramel Swirl: Drizzle caramel sauce over the brownie batter before baking and use a toothpick to gently swirl it into the batter for a caramel-chocolate fusion.

Mini Muffin Tin: Make mini Milky Way brownie bites by baking the batter in a mini muffin tin for bite-sized treats.

Ice Cream Sandwich: Sandwich a scoop of vanilla ice cream between two Milky Way brownie pieces to create a delicious ice cream sandwich dessert.

A baking tray filled with unbaked cookie dough topped with evenly spaced pieces of chopped chocolate and caramel candy bars.
Upon removing the mixture from the oven, lay Milky Way slices on top of the baked crust.
A baking pan filled with a chocolate batter, unevenly spread, and topped with pieces of chocolate-covered wafer bars placed in rows before baking.
Drop remaining batter on top by the spoonful – it does not need to be smooth.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I ensure that the Milky Way pieces are evenly distributed in the brownie batter? After chopping the Milky Way bars, gently fold them into the brownie batter until they are evenly distributed. Be careful not to overmix, as this can cause the candy to melt too much and create uneven pockets in the brownies.

Should I refrigerate the Milky Way bars before adding them to the brownie batter? It’s not necessary to refrigerate the Milky Way bars before adding them to the batter. Chopping them at room temperature should work just fine.

What’s the best way to check for doneness when baking Milky Way brownies? Insert a toothpick into the center of the brownies. If it comes out with a few moist crumbs clinging to it, the brownies are done. Avoid overbaking to ensure a fudgy texture.

Do I prepare the cake mix according to the box directions? No, just use the dry cake mix and combine it with the yogurt and sweetened condensed milk as the recipe lists.

Why do I bake the bottom layer first? That quick bake helps set the base so it can hold the melted candy layer without everything sinking to the bottom.

A close-up of a baked, rectangular tray of brown cinnamon rolls or sweet rolls, showing their textured, slightly cracked, and glossy surface, tightly packed together.
Return to oven and bake for 20 more minutes.
A stack of four fudgy chocolate brownies sits on a light blue plate, with a wooden cutting board in the background. The brownies have a cracked, chewy top and a rich, dense interior.

Storage Tips

  • Let them cool completely first: This helps the gooey center set up just enough, so they hold their shape when stored.
  • Store in an airtight container: Keeps them soft and prevents them from drying out.
  • Keep at room temperature: They’ll stay fresh for about 3–4 days on the counter.
  • Layer with parchment if stacking: This prevents the tops from sticking together.
  • Rewarm before serving (optional): A few seconds in the microwave brings back that soft, melty center.
  • Freeze for longer storage: Wrap individual squares tightly and freeze for up to 2 months, just thaw at room temperature when ready to enjoy.
Four chocolate brownies are placed on a wooden surface, with two unwrapped Milky Way Fun Size chocolate bars nearby. The brownies appear thick and fudgy.

What to Serve with Milky Way Brownies

  • Vanilla ice cream: A scoop on top turns these into an easy dessert that feels a little extra without much effort.
  • Hot coffee or iced coffee: The slight bitterness balances out the rich, sweet chocolate perfectly.
  • Cold milk: Classic for a reason, especially good with that gooey center.
  • Whipped cream: Light and fluffy on top adds a nice contrast to the dense brownies.
  • Fresh berries: Strawberries or raspberries add a little freshness to cut through the richness.
  • Caramel or chocolate drizzle: If you’re going all in, a little drizzle on top makes them feel bakery-style.
  • Salted nuts on the side: A small handful of peanuts or pecans adds a salty crunch that pairs really well.

Other Recipes You May Enjoy

Brownies are one of my favorite things to make. Have you tried my Chocolate Brownies or Butterscotch Brownies? My No Bake Brownies are also delicious. You may also want to try these Red Velvet Brownies or these Strawberry Brownies. 

Milky Way Brownies

A close-up of Milky Way Brownies stacked on a light blue plate. One brownie on top has a bite taken out, revealing the moist and fudgy texture inside. The background is slightly blurred.
These Milky Way brownies are rich, gooey, and loaded with melty chocolate and caramel in every bite. They start with a simple cake mix but bake up into something that tastes completely homemade. It’s my grandpa’s recipe, and they never last long once they hit the table.
Heidi Bruaw
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Serving Size 24

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Grease a 9×13 pan, set aside.
  • Stir cake mix, yogurt, and condensed milk together until combined.
  • Spread half of the mixture onto the bottom of the 9×13 pan.
  • Place in oven and bake for 10 minutes.
  • Slice Milky Ways into thin pieces.
  • Upon removing the mixture from the oven, lay Milky Way slices on top of the baked crust.
  • Drop remaining batter on top by the spoonful – it does not need to be smooth.
  • Return to oven and bake for 20 more minutes.

Notes

Helpful Tips
  • Don’t overmix the batter: Stir just until everything is combined so the brownies stay soft and tender.
  • Spread the first layer evenly: This helps create a sturdy base for the melted candy layer.
  • Slice the Milky Ways thin: Smaller pieces melt more evenly and give you that gooey layer in every bite.
  • Work quickly after the first bake: Add the candy while the base is still warm so it starts melting right away.
  • Drop the top batter gently: Spoon it over the candy layer without trying to smooth it out; those uneven spots bake up perfectly.
  • Keep an eye on the final bake: You want the top set but still soft so the center stays nice and gooey.
Sliced brownies made with Milky Way candy bars are shown on a cutting board and a plate, with text reading cake mix hack! and Milky Way Brownies.

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50 Comments

    1. Thank you! I have shared them with the Milky Way lovers in my life and they liked them. These would be great to make with your daughter!

      Reply

  5. Congrats on your second dose! These look and sound amazing – I’ve saved the pin to try one weekend this month! Thanks 🙂

    Reply

  10. I love Milky Ways and I love brownies, so putting the two together sounds like heaven. I’m surprised to see yoghurt as an ingredient though. What are the measurements for none Americans who don’t use cups but use grams and millilitres in cooking instead?

    Reply

  11. These brownies sound delicious and simple to make. I need to try them. Thank you for the recipe.

    Reply

  12. I knew I should have picked up that bag of Milky Ways in the after-Easter clearance section! These sound delicious.

    Reply

  14. Omg! Only 4 ingredients?! So easy and fast! I am amazed cause it looks soooo delicoius! ♥
    Thank you for sharing this recipe! This is really worth trying!

    Reply

  17. congratulations on your second vaccine! These look absolutely delicious, I am sure my sister would love them, she adores milky ways! Thank you for sharing x

    Reply

  18. You just combined two of my favorite things!! How do you keep the Milky Ways from sinking to the bottom?

    Reply

    1. My husband loves both of these as well! The key to keeping them from sinking is cooking the bottom layer for 10 minutes first. Add the candies after that and top with the rest of the batter. When it’s all done, you can’t tell that the bottom has been cooked more. I was worried but it worked out well! 🙂

      Reply

  21. Oh, I’ll be making these for sure! Looks like easy enough for me to make and Milky Way just happens to be my favorite candy bar! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

    1. They are definitely easy. How perfect that Milky Ways are your favorite. Now you have to make them! 😉

      Reply

  25. Such an easy one. I like them with less ingredients the easier the merrier is me. And yea that was quite a hectic one you went through lately. Hope ur girl had fun selling them. And Sorry for the loss but hoping you managed it all through. Sending strength and love your way. Xx
    Isa A. Blogger
    https://bit.ly/39f9FN0

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much! I appreciate the support. My daughter loved selling cookies! It was definitely fun for her. 🙂

      Reply

  27. 5 stars
    What a delicious dessert! It reminded me of when my Grandma would make caramel brownies. We all loved these and were able to share stories and remember her while we sat around and ate these. Thank you so much!

    Reply
5 from 1 vote

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