Cake mix recipes are a popular choice for creating delicious treats in the kitchen with minimal effort and time. Here are some of the best, most widely-loved recipes to try!
Cake mix recipes have been something that I’ve kept in my bag of baking tricks for many years now. They helped me out immensely when my kids were babies and I wanted to bake something tasty and make my home smell bakery fresh, but didn’t have a lot of extra time on my hands. Later, these were quick, fuss-free recipes that allowed me to involve young kids in the baking process because of the reduced mess and the fact that these recipes come together quickly, making them perfect for shorter attention spans. Although I often have a bit more time for baking from scratch these days, I still find myself returning to these recipes because they’re so reliable and work out beautifully every time. I’ve shared quite a few recipes that use cake mix as an ingredient over the year, and I’ve always received lots of positive feedback about how useful these were to others as well, so today, I thought I’d make a big master list to make these easy recipes quick to find on my site.
If you click through to each full post, you’ll find a printable recipe card that you can add to your recipe binder if you prefer to follow along on paper rather than on a phone or tablet. I typically don’t even bring out my electric mixer to make any of these recipes because they’re so quick and easy to do by hand. Whether you prefer Better Crocker, Duncan Hines, Pillsbury, or generic brand boxed cake mixes, you’ll find something in here that will no doubt make your life a little easier and a little tastier.
Three Ingredient Cake Mix Banana Bread
This quick bread recipe using yellow cake mix went viral on Pinterest as soon as I shared it many years ago and has become a go-to recipe in so many households. Every home baker needs a yummy banana bread recipe, and this one works perfectly every time with almost no effort required. I accidentally discovered that the batter for this can even be saved in the refrigerator and baked later with great results.
Get the recipe: 3 Ingredient Banana Bread
Three Ingredient Chocolate Zucchini Cake
This chocolate loaf cake has helped countless gardeners use up their bumper zucchini crop every summer, but even if you don’t grow a garden, it’s worth picking up a zucchini or two from the farmer’s market to whip up this classic summertime treat. Although this recipe is loaded with zucchini, it’s rich, chocolatey, and absolutely decadent. You’ll want to fill all your cake pans with this amazing moist cake.
Get the recipe: 3 Ingredient Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Cake Mix Pudding Cookies
This simple recipe using vanilla cake bakes the perfect cookie if you have any “plain cookie” fans in your house like I do. They come out perfectly soft and chewy and I hear from a lot of readers who like to make these at Christmas, but they’re really perfect for any time of year. You can decorate them easily as well for those that like something a little more festive.
Get the recipe: Cake Mix Pudding Cookies
Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
These dark chocolate crinkle cookies are also made using a combination of pudding mix and cake mix and are just the right thing to make if you know someone who really loves chocolate. It’s becoming quite easy to find dairy-free pudding mix in supermarkets, so these can be made plant-based as well. Try adding chopped nuts or chocolate chunks as well.
Get the recipe: Dark Chocolate Cookies With Cake Mix
The Famous Oreo Sheet Cake
This fluffy sheet cake recipe uses chocolate cake, icing, and crumbled oreo cookies to create this crowd-pleasing dessert. I’ve been making these for years, but I always get asked how to make it every time I bring it to a potluck or gathering, so finally I wrote everything down to share with anyone who wants to try it.
Get the recipe: The Famous Oreo Sheet Cake
Three Ingredient Applesauce Bread
This apple bread recipe is a comforting breakfast, snack, or dessert that can be made easily with pantry staples. It can be doctored up to make a wonderfully cozy fall or winter treat if you add an easy streusel topping as well before baking.
Get the recipe: 3 Ingredient Applesauce Bread
Three Ingredient Pumpkin Bread With Cake Mix
This dense and moist quick bread is one of my very favorites, and I always make it at least once every fall during pumpkin spice season. This freezes beautifully so you can slice it and place it in the freezer to be able to enjoy it throughout the colder months. This would be wonderful as a bundt cake with extra cinnamon and cream cheese frosting as well.
Get the recipe: 3 Ingredient Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin Dump Cake in the Slow Cooker
Another pumpkin dessert to try during the autumn months. This one is rich and indulgent and makes enough to serve a crowd. Don’t forget the whipped cream or vanilla ice cream to top this delicious warm dessert that stays hot in the crock pot until you’re ready to serve it. No need to whisk the cake mix, melted butter, and pumpkin puree together; just dump and cover! No fuss or cookbook required.
Get the recipe: Crock Pot Pumpkin Dump Cake
Three Ingredient Peach Cobbler
Peach cobbler is an essential summer dessert and this one makes it extra easy to make a big batch in your 9×13 baking dish after a trip to the orchard or the farmer’s market.
Get the recipe: 3 Ingredient Peach Cobbler
Slow Cooker Apple Pie Dump Cake
This clever dessert uses a slow cooker, cake mix, and canned apple pie filling for a quick dessert that stays warm until you’re ready to dig in. It is an interesting and easy alternative to apple pie for any fall or winter gathering, such as Thanksgiving.
Get the recipe: Apple Pie Dump Cake in the Crock Pot
Four Ingredient Zucchini Spice Cake
If you need to another recipe to use up your extra zucchini this summer, but want to try something different than your usual chocolate loaf cake, try this delectable, spicy zucchini cake for a delicious variation. Top it with buttercream frosting or a simple almond glaze made with confectioner sugar to elevate it to something really special.
Get the recipe: 4 Ingredient Zucchini Spice Cake
Homemade Cake Mix Recipe
Did you know that you don’t have to use store-bought cake mix for all your favorite easy cake mix recipes? You can actually make a big batch of your own cake mix ahead of time using your own flour and pantry essentials and measure it out as needed. This allows you to control what you add to your cake mix and keep out anything artificial or unwanted. This recipe makes a white cake mix, or you can make a yellow cake from it as well.
Get the recipe: Homemade Cake Mix
Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix
This is the chocolate version of the cake mix recipe above. Great to keep in the pantry for birthday cakes, cupcakes, or any of your favorite chocolate-flavored cake mix recipes.
Get the recipe: Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix
Courtenay Hartford is the author of creeklinehouse.com, a blog based on her adventures renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada. On her blog, Courtenay shares interior design tips based on her own farmhouse and her work as founder and stylist of the interior photography firm Art & Spaces. She also writes about her farmhouse garden, plant-based recipes, family travel, and homekeeping best practices. Courtenay is the author of the book The Cleaning Ninja and has been featured in numerous magazines including Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Our Homes.