If you’ve never considered making desserts other than a regular cake using a boxed cake mix, prepare to have your mind blown. With these 21 amazing baked good recipes — from banana bread to doughnuts to cookies — you’ll leave your family in disbelief when you tell them they all started with a store-bought cake mix.
Red and Green Cake Mix Christmas Cookies
After discovering how easy it is to make bakery-quality desserts using boxed cake mix, I knew I wanted to try my hand at making cake mix Christmas cookies. This recipe for Red and Green Cake Mix Christmas Cookies is the end result.
Get the Recipe: Red and Green Cake Mix Christmas Cookies
Yellow Cake Mix Banana Bread
you literally dump all of the ingredients in the pan you’ll be baking your cake in — or in my instance, yellow cake mix banana bread. Then you mix all the ingredients together, pop it in the oven and you get easy peasy banana bread.
Get the Recipe: Yellow Cake Mix Banana Bread
Cake Mix Maple Pecan Cupcakes
I love how easy this recipe is for Cake Mix Maple Pecan Cupcakes. One of the reasons it is simple and quick is because you’re using boxed cake mix.
Get the Recipe: Cake Mix Maple Pecan Cupcakes
Red White and Blue Trifle Dessert
One of my favorite desserts to make on a patriotic, American holiday is a red white and blue trifle. It’s super easy to pull together, with fresh sliced strawberries, blueberries and pieces of vanilla cake made from a box mix.
Get the Recipe: Red White and Blue Trifle Dessert
Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies
These cream cheese thumbprint cookies actually started with a store-bought boxed cake mix blended with cream cheese and butter. Because I made them in time for a Christmas cookie exchange, I decorated them in a festive red and green sugar topping.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies
Christmas Cookies with MMs
I’m calling these Christmas cookies with M&Ms because of the colors I’ve chosen for this batch. But the truth is you can make them year round with any candy pieces you please. In fact, this is a great way to use up leftover Halloween candy.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Cookies with MMs
Yellow Cake Mix Cookies
These yellow cake mix cookies only need four simple ingredients. You can make them in just 20 minutes, which is why they are perfect for a quick, delicious snack! Substitute other kinds of cake mix to mix things up.
Get the Recipe: Yellow Cake Mix Cookies
Strawberry Donuts
Skip the bakery line and make these easy homemade strawberry donuts! Made with a boxed cake mix base, they’re perfect for busy families and anyone craving a delicious treat. Simple, fun, and bursting with flavor!
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Donuts
Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese
Cake mix cookies with cream cheese are simple to make and delicious. With box cake mix and a few easy ingredients, you get delicious homemade cookies that are soft and chewy, with a rich, buttery taste!
Get the Recipe: Cake Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese
Chocolate Cherry Cake
This simple chocolate cherry cake is made by mixing a box of cake mix with cherry pie filling. Topped off with a chocolate glaze, it is the easiest cheater cake recipe ever.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Cake
Cool Whip Cookies
Cool Whip Cookies are tasty cake mix cookies! All you need is a box of lemon cake mix, a tub of Cool Whip and an egg. Whip them all together and bake, and next thing you know, you have a batch of soft and chewy cookies.
Get the Recipe: Cool Whip Cookies
Magic Rhubarb Dump Cake
This magic dump cake gets its name from how fast it disappears when you make it. It is so easy to make. Just dump the ingredients and bake, no mixing needed. Make with fresh or frozen rhubarb plus yellow cake mix.
Get the Recipe: Magic Rhubarb Dump Cake
Blueberry Dump Cake
Blueberry cake made with fresh or frozen blueberries, jello and a cake mix. So if you need a quick and easy dessert, try this delicious blueberry dump cake recipe! Dump, bake, enjoy and listen to the compliments rolling in.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Dump Cake
Cherry Dump Cake
This sweet cherry dump cake is made with layers of pitted bing cherries — frozen or fresh — plus jello mix, boxed cake mix, butter and water. There’s no mixing needed.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Dump Cake
Sweet Potato Dump Cake
Sweet Potato Dump Cake is a straightforward dessert that blends creamy sweet potato filling with the simplicity of a spice cake mix topping. Best of all, you can use a yellow cake mix instead of spice if that’s what you have.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Dump Cake
Strawberry Dump Cake
Fresh strawberries layered with strawberry jello, a dry cake mix, melted butter, and water are baked up together to make this strawberry dump cake. They come together to make magic in the pan.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Dump Cake
Easy Pumpkin Crunch Cake
Try this easy Pumpkin Crunch Cake recipe! It’s like a dump cake meets a pumpkin pie and the result is a layered pumpkin dessert that is perfect for fall or, really, any time of the year.
Get the Recipe: Easy Pumpkin Crunch Cake
Pumpkin Brownies
These three-layer pumpkin brownies start with fudgy box mix brownies mixed according to directions. Then mix in a few other ingredients to create the pumpkin layer of the brownies.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Brownies
Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Try your hand at this Caramel Apple Dump Cake. It is so simple to make, with apples, caramel and boxed cake mix. It is guaranteed to become your new favorite fall dessert recipe.
Get the Recipe: Caramel Apple Dump Cake
Banana Caramel Cake
This Easy Banana Caramel Cake is tender and flavorful and it all starts with a boxed cake mix. The end result tastes like it came from a high-end bakeshop.
Get the Recipe: Banana Caramel Cake
Peanut Butter Cup Brownies
Craving instant gratification with minimal effort? These peanut butter cup brownies are your answer! This simple recipe starts with a boxed mix plus some peanut butter cups.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Cup Brownies