With these gourmet dessert recipes, no one is going to believe that you started, not from scratch, but with a store-bought boxed cake mix. However, each of these recipes include clever hacks that transform an ordinary cake mix into something that tastes like a pastry chef made it.
![A bowl of cake topped with blueberries and strawberries, served on a flag-themed cloth.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/red-white-and-blue-trifle-cake-featured-image-1024x853.jpg)
Yellow Cake Mix Cookies
![Overhead view of yellow cake mix cookies after baking.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Yellow-Cake-Mix-Cookies.jpg)
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
![A stack of colorful, glazed doughnuts with sprinkles, displayed on a white surface surrounded by scattered candies.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/strawberry-donuts-6.jpg)
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 stacked up on a cutting board.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cake-mix-cookies-with-cream-cheese-1210821-1200x901-1-edited.jpg)
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
![Slice of chocolate cherry cake topped with cherry pie filling.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cherry-cake-1100551.jpg)
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
Red White and Blue Trifle Dessert
![A layered trifle dessert in a glass bowl, topped with whole strawberries and blueberries. The layers include cake, cream, and fruit.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/red-white-and-blue-trifle-vertical-top-off-cropped-horizontal.jpeg)
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
Cool Whip Cookies
![Cool whip cookies on parchment with powdered sugar.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cool-whip-cookies-1210885-edited.jpg)
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
![Rhubarb and cake mix in a dessert pan.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/magic-rhubarb-cake-edited.jpg)
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 dump cake in a baking dish.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Blueberry-Dump-Cake-Edited-14.jpg)
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
Mountain Dew Bundt Cake
![An overhead view of an iced Mountain Dew bundt cake on a yellow plate.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FDL-Mountain-Dew-Cake.jpg)
Bundt cakes are so easy to make and this Mountain Dew Bundt Cake has a delicious lemon flavor with creamy icing drizzling down the sides. Lemon lovers, you’ll want to bake this for your next dessert.
Get the Recipe: Mountain Dew Bundt Cake
Cherry Dump Cake
![Cherry dump cake in a baking dish.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cherry-Dump-Cake-Bing-2-2.jpg)
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 in a baking dish.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Sweet-Potato-Dump-Cake-ALL-Photos-13.jpg)
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
![A pan with a scoops of cake dessert taked out.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Dump-Cake-Strawberry-14.jpg)
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
![Slices of pumpkin crunch cake in white plates with forks on the side.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Dump-Cake-Pumpkin-Crunch-Facebook-photo.jpg)
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
Cake Mix Maple Pecan Cupcakes
![A plate of five cupcakes with cream frosting, decorated with nuts, is placed next to a sprig of orange berries and autumn leaves on a light gray surface. A small glass cup of tea is also nearby.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/maple-pecan-cupcake-horizontal.jpeg)
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
Pumpkin Brownies
![Stacked layered pumpkin brownies.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Pumpkin-Brownies-6-2048x1365-1.jpg)
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
![A bowl of cake with ice cream on top.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Caramel-Apple-Dump-Cake-1.jpg)
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
![Iced banana cake with pecans on top.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Banana-cake-FDL.jpg)
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
![Squares of peanut butter brownies.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Peanut-butter-brownies-fdl.jpg)
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
Pumpkin Tiramisu Dessert
![Three glass dessert cups filled with layers of pumpkin mousse, whipped cream, and sponge cake sit on a wooden surface, adorned with greenery and cinnamon sticks. A small white pumpkin is in the background.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/pumpkin-tiramisu-from-side-horizontal.jpg)
This pumpkin tiramisu dessert, served in mini trifle dishes, is a fall flavor and spices take on the traditional Italian dessert that is typically made with espresso and cocoa powder.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Tiramisu Dessert
How to Make Box Cake Mix Better
![A dessert topped with blueberries in the shape of a corner rectangle and strawberry slices arranged to resemble the American flag. A hand is adding a blueberry.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/red-white-and-blue-flag-cake-made-with-boxed-cake-mix.jpeg)
With these tips, you can enhance the flavor and texture of a boxed cake mix to create a homemade dessert that offers the ease of a boxed mix and the deliciousness of a from-scratch creation.
Get the Recipe: How to Make Box Cake Mix Better