25 Delicious Desserts You Can Make With A Boxed Cake Mix

Got a boxed cake mix in your pantry and a craving that will not wait? You are closer to bakery level desserts than you think.

With a few smart add ins, that humble mix becomes cookies, bars, pies, and more that taste totally from scratch. Let’s turn convenience into creativity and make something unforgettable tonight.

1. Gooey Butter Cake Bars

These gooey butter cake bars start with a yellow cake mix and end with a crackly powdered sugar finish. The base bakes into a buttery, tender crust, while the cream cheese layer stays irresistibly soft.

You get chewy edges and a custardy middle in every bite.

Mix, press, and pour, then let the oven do the magic. They slice beautifully once cooled, so be patient.

Bring them to potlucks or keep them for late night cravings you pretend will last all week.

2. Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake

This dump cake is the weeknight hero you will make on repeat. Pour cherry pie filling into a dish, sprinkle dry chocolate cake mix over top, and dot with butter.

As it bakes, the buttery cake mix transforms into crispy, fudgy crumbles over jammy cherries.

It smells like a chocolate covered cherry shop. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream for contrast.

There is no whisk, no mixing bowl, just a spoon and your best dessert instincts guiding the way.

3. Lemon Blueberry Poke Cake

A lemon cake mix bakes up sunny and light, then you poke holes to invite luscious lemon pudding inside. Blueberries burst throughout, giving little pockets of jammy sweetness against the tangy citrus.

The chilled texture feels like summer even in winter.

Top with whipped cream, extra blueberries, and a shower of zest. Every slice is tender, creamy, and speckled with fruit.

You will keep sneaking forkfuls from the fridge, pretending to even out the edges.

4. Strawberry Shortcake Crumble Cups

Bake a vanilla cake mix as a sheet, then crumble it into buttery, golden clusters. Toss fresh strawberries with a little sugar until they glisten and release syrup.

Layer cake crumbles, berries, and whipped cream in cups so everyone gets their own spoonable shortcake moment.

The textures mingle beautifully: soft, juicy, creamy, and slightly crisp. Add a splash of vanilla to the whipped cream for extra warmth.

These transport well, making them perfect for picnics and last minute gatherings.

5. Funfetti Cookie Sandwiches

Turn a funfetti cake mix into soft, chewy cookies packed with rainbow sprinkles. Bake them slightly under for that melt-in-your-mouth bite.

Sandwich two cookies around a swirl of vanilla frosting, and you have instant party vibes with minimal effort.

Chill the assembled sandwiches for neater edges and a marshmallowy chew. Roll the sides in extra sprinkles because you can.

Kids go wild for them, and adults mysteriously do not resist either.

6. Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake

Swirl cinnamon sugar through a yellow cake mix batter to mimic bakery style cinnamon rolls without the kneading. As it bakes, the cinnamon ribbon caramelizes and perfumes the kitchen.

A simple vanilla glaze cascades over the top, settling into the crevices.

Each bite brings tender crumb, gooey swirls, and sweet frosting. Serve with coffee and your coziest morning playlist.

Leftovers reheat beautifully, though there might not be any to test that theory.

7. Peanut Butter Buckeye Brownies

Use a chocolate cake mix to create extra fudgy brownies by reducing liquid and adding melted butter. Spread on a thick peanut butter cream layer that tastes like a buckeye center.

Finish with silky chocolate ganache for triple decker decadence.

The chilled squares slice clean and feel dangerously snackable. A pinch of flaky salt keeps the sweetness in check.

Bring these to any gathering and watch them disappear before someone asks for the recipe.

8. Pineapple Upside Down Sheet Cake

Line a sheet pan with melted butter and brown sugar, then arrange pineapple rings and cherries like a retro quilt. Pour yellow cake mix batter over the top and bake until bubbling and caramelized.

The flip is dramatic, revealing shiny fruit and toffee edges.

Serve warm with lightly whipped cream. The sheet pan format feeds a crowd without fuss.

Every slice delivers tropical sweetness and that irresistible buttery syrup soaking into the crumb.

9. Red Velvet Cheesecake Swirl Bars

Combine a red velvet cake mix with softened butter and egg to make a dense, brownie-like base. Dollop sweetened cream cheese on top and swirl into mesmerizing ribbons.

As it bakes, the tangy cheesecake contrasts the cocoa notes beautifully.

Chill before slicing for sharp edges and dramatic swirls. These bars look bakery fancy with almost no effort.

A dusting of cocoa or powdered sugar right before serving seals the deal.

10. Banana Pudding Trifle Cake

Bake a vanilla cake mix and cube it into bite size pieces to replace wafers in a classic banana pudding. Layer with banana slices, vanilla pudding, and whipped cream for a towering trifle.

The cake soaks custard, turning plush and puddingy.

Chill for at least two hours so flavors marry. Add wafer crumbles on top for crunch if you miss the classic texture.

Every spoonful tastes like comfort layered with nostalgia.

11. S’mores Skillet Cake

Spread chocolate cake mix batter in a buttered skillet and bake until just set. Top with marshmallows, chocolate pieces, and graham cracker crumbs, then broil until toasty.

The marshmallows blister and the chocolate puddles into dreamy pools.

Serve straight from the skillet with spoons for campfire energy. Add a drizzle of caramel if you are feeling bold.

It is messy, shareable, and absolutely worth sticky fingers.

12. Orange Creamsicle Bundt Cake

Enhance a white cake mix with orange zest, vanilla, and a splash of soda for lift. Bake in a Bundt pan so the edges turn lightly crisp while the center stays moist.

Finish with a tangy orange glaze that drips into every ridge.

The flavor lands between sherbet and cream soda, playful and nostalgic. It slices beautifully for brunch or dessert.

Leftovers make excellent coffee companions the next morning.

13. Apple Cinnamon Dump Cake

Pour apple pie filling into a baking dish and dust with cinnamon. Sprinkle dry spice cake mix evenly over the fruit and dot with butter.

As it bakes, the topping crisps and the apples bubble into a cinnamon caramel situation.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or sharp cheddar if you are adventurous. It tastes like apple pie without the rolling pin.

Keep this one in your back pocket for cozy nights.

14. Cookies and Cream Icebox Cake

Bake a chocolate cake mix thin, then cut into slabs to layer with whipped cream and crushed sandwich cookies. The cake chills into fudgy layers, and the cookies soften into brownie like bites.

It slices into tidy squares that still feel luscious.

Drizzle with chocolate syrup and sprinkle extra crumbs on top. This make ahead dessert only gets better overnight.

Perfect when the oven should rest but dessert cravings refuse to.

15. Brown Sugar Peach Cobbler Cake

Caramelize peaches with brown sugar and butter, then blanket them with yellow cake mix batter thinned with peach syrup. The fruit bubbles up through the cake, creating sticky edges and tender pockets.

A pinch of cinnamon adds warmth without stealing the show.

Serve with melting ice cream for contrast. Every spoonful tastes like porch swings and long summer evenings.

You will want seconds before the bowl hits the sink.

16. Mocha Tres Leches Cake

Bake a chocolate cake mix in a deep pan and poke generously. Pour over a blend of condensed milk, evaporated milk, and strong coffee.

The cake drinks it up, turning into a silky, spoonable dream.

Top with lightly sweetened whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa. Chill thoroughly so slices hold yet stay tender.

It is tres leches with café flair, perfect for coffee lovers.

17. Almond Joy Magic Bars

Press a simple dough from a yellow cake mix and butter into a pan for a sturdy base. Layer coconut, chocolate chips, and sliced almonds on top.

Pour sweetened condensed milk over everything and bake until toasty and set.

The bars cool into chewy, nutty, candy bar inspired goodness. A sprinkle of flaky salt keeps them balanced.

They pack perfectly for road trips and lunchbox surprises.

18. Carrot Cake Whoopie Pies

Transform a spice cake mix with grated carrots and a touch of oil to make soft, domed cookies. Sandwich them around tangy cream cheese frosting for classic carrot cake vibes in handheld form.

The edges stay tender and cakey.

Chill briefly to set the filling and make snacking less messy. Add chopped pecans to the batter if you want crunch.

These disappear from cookie trays quicker than anything else.

19. Mango Coconut Poke Cake

Soak a warm yellow cake with a mix of coconut milk and sweetened condensed milk for lush richness. Spoon over mango puree so it sinks into the poked holes.

The result is tropical, creamy, and incredibly moist without feeling heavy.

Top with whipped cream and toasted coconut flakes for crunch. Dollop extra mango on top for color.

Every bite transports you straight to a breezy beach afternoon.

20. Maple Pecan Snack Cake

Stir real maple syrup and chopped pecans into a yellow cake mix for a fast, fragrant snack cake. Bake until the top turns golden and nutty.

Drizzle with a simple maple glaze that settles into tiny craters.

The crumb stays tender, while toasted pecans add buttery crunch. It pairs perfectly with afternoon coffee or a late breakfast.

Store covered, though it seldom lasts long enough to matter.

21. Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Cups

Make a quick crust with vanilla cake mix and butter pressed into muffin liners. Fill with a simple cream cheese batter, then swirl in raspberry preserves.

The minis bake fast and chill quicker than a full cheesecake.

They pop out with clean edges and a gorgeous marbled top. Add a fresh raspberry to each for flair.

These little bites disappear in two bites, so make extra.

22. Salted Caramel Turtle Brownies

Turn a chocolate cake mix into dense, fudgy brownies by using less water and adding oil. Swirl in soft caramel, then shower with chopped pecans.

After baking, drizzle with melted chocolate and finish with flaky salt.

The textures stack up: gooey, crunchy, and silky. Every square tastes like a candy counter favorite.

Serve slightly warm so the caramel pulls in glossy ribbons.

23. Blackberry Cornbread Cake

Blend yellow cake mix with fine cornmeal for a tender, slightly gritty crumb, then fold in juicy blackberries. Bake in a hot skillet for crispy edges and a rustic look.

A drizzle of honey over warm slices makes the berries sing.

It straddles dessert and breakfast beautifully. Serve with whipped cream or a dollop of yogurt.

Perfect for late summer when berries are bursting and you crave something homey.