20 Delicious Desserts That You Can Make With Boxed Cake Mix
It's one of Ree's best-kept secrets to baking.
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There are times in your life when making a cake from scratch feels special and impressive. But do you know what's equally impressive? Elevating store-bought cake mix and still presenting something freshly baked in a fraction of the time. If you do it right, anyone tasting your cake mix desserts will think, "Oh my, how yummy!" and never "Is this from a box?" It's the ultimate baking hack that saves time and money, regardless your skills as a baker.
You can start small, by just folding chocolate chips or sprinkles into the batter. Or go all out and make a thick chocolate ganache glaze or one of these decadent homemade frostings.
Cake mixes can be used for Bundt cakes, sheet cakes, and layered cakes simply by adjusting the baking time. But you'll find so many other easy desserts that start with a box of cake mix, too, including cake pops and cupcakes. Scroll through this list for ideas, head over to your pantry, and see what you've got. Then get baking!
Cake Mix Cookies
Start with a box of white cake mix, adding butter, eggs, cinnamon, and sprinkles. Then, just scoop, bake, and voilà: You've got a batch of chewy homemade cookies.
Get the Cake Mix Cookies recipe.
Knock You Naked Brownies
These ultra rich bars have a pecan and chocolate top and bottom crust with a thick layer of caramel in the middle. They might not actually knock you naked, but they will satisfy your sweet tooth.
Get Ree's Knock You Naked Brownies recipe.
Key Lime Pie Cupcakes
Adding bottled juice to a box of white cake mix is the key (or key lime if you will) to the perfect sweet-tart bite. Add it to both the batter and the frosting.
Get Ree's Key Lime Pie Cupcakes recipe.
Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
Think of these as a cross between ooey gooey butter cake and lemon bars. They're creamy and zesty and start with a box of lemon or yellow cake mix.
Get the Lemon Cream Cheese Bars recipe.
Carrot Cake Trifle
Starting with a box of carrot cake mix cuts the prep down significantly. That way, you can send more time layering this beauty with pudding and candied carrots!
Get the Carrot Cake Trifle recipe.
Bridal Shower Cake Pops
What a way to celebrate! Infuse a box of vanilla or white cake mix with sparkling wine for an extra special treat. There's bubbly in the frosting!
Get the Bridal Shower Cake Pops recipe.
Jell-O Cake
A fun way to doctor up a cake mix is by turning it into a poke cake. In this case, a box of raspberry Jell-O gives it not only fruity flavor, but a fun tie-dyed look as well.
Get the Jell-O Cake recipe.
Apple Dump Cake
Oh, the magic of dump cakes! All you need for this one is four ingredients, and you don't even have to mix it. The result is almost like a cobbler or crisp but with way less work.
Get Ree's Apple Dump Cake recipe.
Ooey Gooey Butter Cake
Did you know the original version of this was a happy accident? Well, now you can make it on purpose with box of yellow cake and yes, lots of butter.
Get the Ooey Gooey Butter Cake recipe.
Salted Caramel Cupcakes
There's not one but two hacks in this recipe. You'll need cake mix and a jar of salted caramel sauce. It's amazing what the results will be!
Get Ree's Salted Caramel Cupcakes recipe.
Irish Cream Poke Cake
Here's another cake you can make all year long, though it is perfect for St. Paddy's Day. Start with a box of German chocolate cake mix and doctor it up with pudding and Irish cream.
Get the Irish Cream Poke Cake recipe.
Cherry Dump Cake
Have a scoop of summer with just five minutes of prep time! Cans of cherry pie filling turn yellow cake mix into a sweet dessert that just begs for a scoop or three of ice cream.
Get the Cherry Dump Cake recipe.
Caramel Macchiato Cupcakes
Doctor up devil's food cake with instant chocolate pudding and some brewed coffee for a moist and flavorful base. Finish them with a drizzle of store-bought caramel sauce.
Get the Caramel Macchiato Cupcakes recipe.
Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
Yes, you can make cookies from devil's food cake mix, too! Have fun with sprinkle colors you use. They can be so festive depending on the time of year you make them.
Get Ree's Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies recipe.
Peach Dump Cake
Ree says, "I'd make this dump cake any day of the week (and twice on Sunday)." And because you use canned peaches, you really can make it any time you want!
Get the Peach Dump Cake recipe.
Champagne Cupcakes
Yes, you can add sparkling wine to cake mix (along with eggs and oil) and the result is a delicious party in your mouth! These are great for a quick celebration dessert.
Get the Champagne Cupcakes recipe.
Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake
Ree joked all the way back in 2008 that this recipe is "comfort food at its canned and processed finest." One bite and you'll know why everyone in her family loved it!
Get Ree's Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake recipe.
Pumpkin Trifle
Hello, ultimate seasonal dessert! Start with spice cake mix and layer it with a creamy pumpkin filling, whipped cream, and crunchy gingersnap cookies. Candied ginger on top adds an extra kick.
Get the Pumpkin Trifle recipe.
Ghost Cupcakes
Sure, they might make an appearance only once a year around Halloween... but they're cute enough to eat anytime! These cupcakes are topped with fluffy buttercream frosting and baked with (fittingly) devil's food cake mix.
Get the Ghost Cupcakes recipe.
Rum Cake
Cake hacks run in the Drummond family. Ree originally inherited this recipe from her mother-in-law who made this boozy delight every Christmas. You don't have to wait until December to make it yourself, though.
Get Ree's Rum Cake recipe.
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