28 Easy Cake Mix Recipes

Looking for easy and delicious ways to transform a simple cake mix into extraordinary desserts? You're in the right place! These semi-homemade cake mix recipes are quick, budget-friendly, and packed with flavor. Whether you're in the mood for muffins, breads, or cobblers, these creative ideas will make dessert prep a breeze.

Why You’ll Love These Boxed Cake Mix Recipes

• Quick and Easy: Most recipes take just 5 minutes to prep and 30 minutes or less to make.
• Minimal Ingredients: These recipes use just a few pantry staples, making them affordable and accessible.
• Customizable: With endless flavor combinations, there’s something for everyone.
• Healthy Swaps: Many of these recipes substitute oil with fruit or veggies like bananas, applesauce, or pumpkin puree.
• Cost Savings: If you aren't a frequent baker, you save money by not having to buy all the different ingredients (flour, sugar, vanilla...).

So let’s dive into these tried-and-true recipes you’ll keep coming back to!

Cake Mix Cookies and Bars

Cake Mix Peanut Butter Cookies

Easy and full of peanut butter flavor. A simple, foolproof cookie recipe. This quick recipe takes just a handful of ingredients and 20 minutes, including baking time.

Get the full Peanut Butter Cake Mix Cookies recipe here!

Easy Cherry Bars

Cherry lovers rejoice! These sweet and fruity bars are perfect for parties or potlucks. And, if you are lucky enough to have any leftovers, I can personally tell you these are awesome for breakfast or with your coffee any time of day.

Get the full Cherry Bar recipe here!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars with Cake Mix

These chocolatey cookie bars use cake mix as a shortcut for a quick and tasty treat. Add nuts or dried fruits for extra flavor. This is a quick and delicious 4 ingredient recipe. This was a favorite substitute for birthday cake with my kids!

Get the full Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar recipe here!

2 Ingredient Pumpkin Cookies

These bite-sized pumpkin treats are soft, sweet, and perfect for a quick snack. Made with spiced cake mix and pumpkin puree, they’re a must-try for fall. These are also known as pumpkin quickies, because of how fast they are to make.

Get the full Pumpkin Cookies recipe here!

Helpful Cake Mix Cookie Tip:  For extra chewy cookies and bars, slightly underbake them and let them cool completely before cutting!

Poke Cakes

Lemon Poke Cake

A zesty, citrus-infused dessert that’s soaked in sweet lemon icing drizzle, making every bite refreshingly moist. A perfect spring and summer treat. Then there is the whipped topping and the quarter lemon slice to make it festive!

Get the full Lemon Poke Cake recipe here!

Strawberry Poke Cake

This Strawberry Poke Cake is a light and fluffy dessert made with strawberry cake mix, soaked with sweet strawberry gelatin, and topped with creamy whipped topping. The poke cake method keeps it extra moist and flavorful, making it a perfect easy strawberry dessert. I've served this Strawberry Jello cake for birthdays, summer parties! It's perfect for when you crave a fruity treat!

Get the Full Strawberry Poke Cake recipe here!

Upside Down Cakes

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

This Pineapple Upside Down Cake made with cake mix is an easy and delicious dessert featuring caramelized pineapple slices and cherries on a buttery brown sugar glaze. A simple yellow cake mix keeps it extra fluffy and foolproof, making it perfect for beginners. Serve this classic pineapple dessert warm for a nostalgic and sweet treat that’s always an impressive crowd-pleaser!

Get the full Pineapple Upside Down Cake recipe here!

Strawberry Upside Down Cake

Fresh strawberries shine in this simple upside-down cake. It’s sweet, fruity, and perfect for spring and summer gatherings. Delicious with a dollop of whipped cream, or as my family prefers, a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Get the full Strawberry Upside Down Cake Recipe here!

Helpful Poke Cake Tip:  Poke holes in the cake while it’s still warm for better absorption of fillings like syrup or pudding. Use the handle of a wooden spoon for evenly sized holes!

Cobblers and Dump Cakes

3 Ingredient Peach Cobbler

A super easy peach cobbler using just cake mix, canned peaches, and butter. A warm, comforting dessert that’s best served with vanilla ice cream. This has been one of my top 3 recipes on Pinterest for the last 6 years! Here is the Pinterest pin if you'd like to pin it.

Get the full Peach Cobbler recipe here!

Apple Dump Cake

An ultra-simple apple dessert using apple pie filling, yellow cake mix, and butter. It's a great easy last-minute treat. The golden, buttery topping and bubbling fruit filling create a delightful taste sensation.

Get the full Apple Dump Cake recipe here!

Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake

This decadent dessert layers chocolate cake mix, cherry pie filling, and butter for a rich and gooey indulgence. This chocolate dessert is perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth or impressing last-minute guests!

Get the full Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake recipe here!

Fruit Cocktail Dump Cake

A classic fruit-filled cake that’s sweet, buttery, and ridiculously easy. Honestly, the first time I made it, it was trying to use up some canned fruit cocktail. The next time I made it, it was by popular request. That canned fruit cocktail isn't fancy, but it sure is nostalgic!

Get the full Fruit Cocktail Dump Cake recipe here!

Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake

A tropical twist featuring sweet cherries and juicy pineapple beneath a golden cake mix crust. If you are looking for a fuss-free recipe this is the perfect easy dessert for busy weeknights or weekend treats.

Get the full Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake recipe here!

Apple Cranberry Dump Cake

This Apple Cranberry Dump Cake is a simple and delicious dessert with the perfect balance of tart cranberries, sweet apples, and a buttery cake topping. With just a few ingredients and no mixing required, it’s an easy go-to treat for the holidays or any time you need a fuss-free dessert.

Get the full apple cranberry dump cake recipe here!

Easy Strawberry Dump Cake

This Strawberry Dump Cake is a simple, fruit-filled dessert made with juicy, fresh strawberries and a buttery cake mix topping. With minimal prep and just a few ingredients, it’s the perfect easy treat for any strawberry lover!

Get the full Strawberry Dump Cake (with real Strawberries) recipe here.

Easy Blackberry Dump Cake

This Fresh Blackberry Dump Cake is an effortless dessert bursting with juicy blackberries and a golden, buttery cake topping. With just a few simple ingredients and no mixing required, it’s the perfect way to enjoy ripe blackberries in a quick and delicious treat!

Get the full Blackberry Dump Cake here!

3 Ingredient Cherry Cobbler with Cake Mix

This easy Three-Ingredient Cherry Cobbler comes together in minutes with cherry pie filling, cake mix, and butter, creating a warm, bubbly dessert with a golden, buttery topping. Whether you need a last-minute treat or a fuss-free classic, this cobbler delivers big flavor with almost no effort!

Get the 3 Ingredient Cherry Cobbler Recipe!

Blueberry Cobbler - 3 Ingredients

This easy Three-Ingredient Blueberry Cobbler is bursting with sweet, juicy blueberries and topped with a golden, buttery cake mix crust. With just a few minutes of prep, this no-fuss dessert is perfect for a quick weeknight treat or a simple crowd-pleaser!

Go to the Blueberry Cobbler with cake mix recipe!

Fruit Cocktail Dump Cake

This classic Fruit Cocktail Dump Cake is a nostalgic, no-fuss dessert made with a canned fruit cocktail, cake mix, and butter to make a sweet, buttery topping. With its vintage charm and effortless prep, this easy dessert is just like the one grandma used to make!

Get the Fruit Cocktail Dump Cake Recipe!

Pumpkin Pudding Dump Cake

This Pumpkin Pudding Dump Cake is a rich and creamy twist on a classic dump cake, combining pudding with a flavorful spice cake mix. With warm fall flavors and an effortless prep, this dessert is perfect for autumn gatherings or whenever you’re craving an easy pumpkin treat!

Get the Pumpkin Pudding Dump Cake recipe!

Muffins

2 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins

These moist and fluffy pumpkin muffins are packed with fall flavor! Yes, this is 'that' easy recipe showing you how to make pumpkin muffins using spice cake mix and pumpkin.
This was the very first recipe I ever published on this site! And it's been one of my top (super easy) recipes for over 10 years.

Get the full Pumpkin Muffins Recipe here!

Cake Mix Blueberry Muffins

These bakery-style blueberry muffins are bursting with juicy blueberries and have a soft, buttery texture. These have a special ingredient so these cake mix muffins taste like you've made them from scratch! Doesn't it look delicious?

Get the full Blueberry Cake Mix Muffins recipe here!

3 Ingredient Chocolate Banana Muffins

Rich chocolate meets sweet banana in these soft and moist muffins. This recipe uses a chocolate cake mix, transforming it with the natural sweetness and moisture of ripe bananas and eggs. It's my go-to recipe when I need to use up some bananas!

Get the full Chocolate Banana Muffins recipe here!

Carrot Cake Muffins (Using Cake Mix)

Love carrot cake but short on time? These shortcut muffins are spiced, soft, and bake up so deliciously for a bakery-style treat. Adding some pineapple makes these extra delicious!

Get the full Carrot Cake Muffins recipe here!

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

These moist chocolate muffins have hidden zucchini for a sneaky veggie boost! This is the perfect recipe when you want to use ups some zucchini but don't necessarily want anyone to know. You don't taste or see the zucchini in these!

Get the full Chocolate Zucchini Muffins recipe here!

Apple Spice Muffins (3 Ingredients)

These fall-inspired apple spice muffins use just spice cake mix, applesauce, and chopped apples. The spice cake mix gives these apple muffins an apple pie-like taste, and the chopped apples give them a homemade touch.

Get the full Apple Spice Muffins recipe here!

3 Ingredient Blueberry Yogurt Muffins

Made with blueberries, yogurt, and cake mix, these fluffy muffins have a slightly tangy twist. They are easy to make and adding Greek yogurt gives them a bit of a protein boost.

Get the full Blueberry Yogurt Muffins recipe here!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins with Cake Mix

A fall-favorite muffin that’s soft, warmly spiced, and loaded with chocolate chips. This is a three-ingredient recipe; can you believe it?

Get the full Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins recipe here!

Helpful Muffin Making Tip:  Don't over-stir the batter! Just stir until the ingredients are combined. That helps obtain the nice bakery-style texture of the muffins.

Strawberry Cupcakes with Cake Mix

NOT a muffin, but just as easy and so delicious!

Light, fluffy, and full of strawberry flavor! These easy strawberry cupcakes are perfect for birthdays, baby showers, or summer parties. I'll even show you how to pipe the icing (it's easy)!

Get the full Strawberry Cupcake recipe here!

These easy cake mix recipes are perfect for busy bakers who want delicious desserts without the hassle. Whether you’re making muffins, cobblers, poke cakes, or cookies, these simple and creative cake mix ideas are sure to be family favorites!

 Love these easy cake mix desserts? Pin this post for later and share it with fellow bakers!