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.
Table of contents
- Why You’ll Love These Boxed Cake Mix Recipes
- Cake Mix Cookies and Bars
- Cake Mix Peanut Butter Cookies
- Easy Cherry Bars
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars with Cake Mix
- 2 Ingredient Pumpkin Cookies
- Poke Cakes
- Lemon Poke Cake
- Strawberry Poke Cake
- Upside Down Cakes
- Pineapple Upside Down Cake
- Strawberry Upside Down Cake
- Cobblers and Dump Cakes
- 3 Ingredient Peach Cobbler
- Apple Dump Cake
- Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
- Fruit Cocktail Dump Cake
- Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake
- Muffins
- 2 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins
- Cake Mix Blueberry Muffins
- 3 Ingredient Chocolate Banana Muffins
- Carrot Cake Muffins (Using Cake Mix)
- Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
- Apple Spice Muffins (3 Ingredients)
- 3 Ingredient Blueberry Yogurt Muffins
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins with Cake Mix
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!
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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!
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!
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