24 Easy Cake Mix Desserts

As much as I love getting my hands dirty and creating something special from scratch, I have to admit that I love cake mix desserts.

Why not take all that tried-and-true flavor and put it to good use? 

After all, they can be used to make cake mix cookies, brownies, and even cinnamon rolls. 

I also like to use a dry mix when making my favorite Halloween cake pops. That way, I can spend less time baking and more time decorating!

With that in mind, I’ve gathered a selection of 24 fun, easy, and super delicious cake mix desserts for you to try. 

1. Cake Batter Blondies

This recipe needs just six ingredients and about 10 minutes of your time.

Using a vanilla cake mix, you’ll add oil, eggs, and milk, mixing slowly so that it is thick and dense. The blondies will be chewy and perfect after baking. 

The best part is adding sprinkles and white chocolate chips for fun and creamy sweetness. 

The trick is to bake them until they just start to color on the edges, so you get that fudgy cookie texture we all know and love.

2. Cake Mix Donuts

Baked donuts might not be as good as fried, but these are light, fluffy, and ridiculously easy to make. 

Just whisk the cake mix with oil, water and egg until you get a smooth batter. 

You’ll need a donut pan, which you can find online.

And it’s easier to pipe this batter into the pan. So if you don’t have a piping bag, use a Ziplock bag and snip the corner off.

The glaze is a simple mix of powdered sugar, butter, and milk, but adding some fresh fruit juice will add flavor and a fantastic pop of color.

3. Almond Chocolate Biscotti

Cake mixes are often used to ensure a moist final product. 

So it may seem counter-productive to use one in biscotti, given that they are twice-baked and made to be crunchy.

In this recipe, though, the cake mix is used for all that great chocolate flavor.

With chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, almond extract, and slivered almonds, these cookies are packed with flavor. 

4. Cake Batter Dip

As far as faux-cheesecakes go, this one has to be pretty high on the list. 

Combining white cake mix with cream cheese, sour cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla, you’ll get a creamy and slightly tangy dip that works with graham crackers, apple slices, and pretzels. 

For extra fun, mix through some sprinkles or mini-chocolate chips. 

5. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

There’s no shortcut with this recipe. You’ll still need to knead your yeast based dough and let it rest and rise. 

Using a pumpkin cake mix will absolutely ensure a moist and flavorful crumb. 

Plus, the filling is made up of cinnamon spiced pumpkin puree, so you know it will be worth it!

6. Lemon Pound Cake

Pound cake is simple and delicious, but is easy to overbake. With just a few extra minutes in the oven, it can become dry and bland. 

The combination of yellow cake mix, sour cream, and lemon pudding guarantees not only plenty of lemon-flavor but also that this cake is fool-proof and tender. 

It would be perfect served alone, but I think a blueberry glaze would be a great compliment. 

7. German Chocolate Upside Down Cake

This cake has all the flavors you love about a German chocolate cake, with a little twist.

Instead of the coconut and pecan filling, you’ll sprinkle these in the cake pan so that when you turn the cake out, they will be perfectly toasted on the top. 

Another nice twist is the cheesecake-style filling that will bake into the crumb for creamy and sweet pops of flavor in the chocolate cake. 

It’s so moist that you don’t even need frosting!

8. Strawberry and Rhubarb Dump Cake

You will not believe me here. It sounds insane, but you have to trust the process. 

This crazy delicious cake is made up of six layers. 

Start with pieces of fresh rhubarb in your baking dish. Then sprinkle over sugar, strawberry gelatin, white cake mix, water, and melted butter. 

No mixing. No blending. No work!

Just layer, bake, and enjoy!

9. Sweet Potato Cheesecake Bars

As much as I love shortbread, I really like this cake mix base. It’s soft, buttery, and just firm enough to hold all that cheesecake. 

The filling for these cream cheese bars comes together in a snap. It takes a few minutes in a food processor until smooth and sweet. 

The granola topping provides a little crunch along with extra pumpkin spice. 

Why not try adding some candied pecans on top for something ultra-sweet?

10. Easy Chess Squares

Both layers in this cake mix dessert are equally as thick and delicious. 

Using a yellow cake mix, you only add one egg and melted butter. This creates a moist and short, cookie-like base.

The top layer is a super fast, sweetened cream cheese that bakes firm but with a golden crust on top. 

It really is sweet and moist enough that you don’t need anything else. Although, a drizzle of caramel wouldn’t be out of place.

11. Cake Mix Whoopie Pies

A whoopie pie pan might seem like a frivolous investment, but you’ll be surprised at how often you’ll use it.

The perfect cross between a cake and a cookie, these sandwiches are super cute and versatile. 

This recipe has a vanilla cake and funfetti frosting, but you could easily use a chocolate cake with a coffee filling.

Or how about red velvet and cream cheese frosting?

12. Macadamia Sunshine Bars

The ingredient list might look kind of intimidating here, but it’s really not that complicated. 

Once you have the basic batter mixed and ready to go, it’s just a matter of mixing in the chopped nuts and fruit for a refreshing and sunny bar. 

I love the inclusion of the pineapple, mango, and coconut, along with the lemon cake mix.

The citrus combined with the fruit and mixed nuts all work really well together.

For something a little simpler, try adding dried cranberries and orange zest for a colorful and festive treat.

13. Apricot-Pecan Thumb-Print Cookies

These yellow cake mix cookies have a sweet apricot filling and chopped pecan coating. They’re the perfect little bites. 

With just a hint of spice from cinnamon and ginger, they’re great additions to any cookie plate. 

Although the apricot jam gives just the right amount of sweetness, I think you could substitute apple butter for a really great flavor change. 

14. Cake Mix Cobbler

How is this different from a dump cake recipe? I’m glad you asked!

This recipe is even easier. All you need is a bag of frozen berries, a box of cake mix, and some Sprite.

As with the dump cake, everything gets layered in the dish and baked without any mixing involved. 

The Sprite not only offers a slight citrus flavor, but also makes the cobbler top nice and airy.

Just be sure to use a clear soda so that the cobbler isn’t discolored. Ginger ale would make a nice change with the right fruit.

15. Cake Mix Banana Bread

Much like pound cake, banana bread is easy to over bake.

With loaves, it’s not uncommon to have the edges and top brown quickly only to leave the middle a gooey mess. 

Using a cake mix with mashed bananas, oil, and a touch of cinnamon helps to keep this loaf moist and full of banana flavor. 

Feel free to add in chopped nuts or chocolate chips.

16. Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies

Strawberries are easily a favorite of mine. 

As a kid, I always chose strawberry ice cream or milkshake. As an adult, I will eat anything with strawberries front and center.

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to get that bold flavor when baking, and I’m not afraid to say I’ve turned to a cake mix more than once. 

These cookies need to be mixed just until they become smooth and when baked, will have a great crackle effect on top. 

Try drizzling a little lemon glaze on top for some added zest.

17. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Mix Cookie Bars

In case you haven’t noticed, yellow cake mix is kind of a miracle creation. 

This recipe is no different.

The batter is a mixture of cake mix, peanut butter, eggs and melted butter, which gets pressed into your baking dish as a thick, cookie base. 

Just don’t forget to save a little for the topping. 

The chocolate fudge is made with melted chocolate and condensed milk for an extra smooth and rich filling. 

When baked, be sure to cool completely before cutting into squares and serving with coffee.

18. Birthday Cake Popcorn

If you’re looking for something bright, sweet, and easy to make, this recipe is for you.

It’s so easy, you can make this with the kids.

Make the popcorn per the instructions on the bag. You can use a lightly buttered option or even unflavored since you’ll be covering it all in chocolate soon.

Melt some white chocolate with a little oil in a microwave, using 20-second intervals. When it’s smooth, stir in the cake mix. 

Now, for the fun!

Put the popcorn and chocolate mix into a Ziplock bag, along with some sprinkles and shake, shake, shake!

19. Cake Mix Dessert Waffles

When I got a waffle maker for Christmas a few years ago, I shook my head and made room in the kitchen cupboard. I mean, when would I ever use it?

Every week! I use it every week!

Making waffles is always fun, and having a plate full of toppings is a great way to get everyone involved.

These waffles are made with chocolate cake mix for super moist and rich waffles, but you can use any flavor you prefer! 

Maybe try out a new flavor every week?

20. Two Ingredient Pumpkin Cookies

Yes, you read that right. 

Just two ingredients and less than half-an-hour will give you a tray of these soft, chewy, perfectly spiced, pumpkin cookies. 

Mix the spiced cake mix with pumpkin puree until it’s smooth and there are no lumps left. 

Using a spoon, drop the batter onto lined baking sheets and bake for 13-15 minutes. 

These cookies are delicious, but adding a cinnamon frosting or glaze would make them extra special. 

21. Cake Batter Rice Krispie Treats

If you want something no-bake and great for a crowd, these cake mix Rice Krispie treats with cake mix frosting are for you.

I love the addition of condensed milk in the Rice Krispies. It makes them sticky, chewy and totally irresistible.

But that’s not all. 

The frosting, which is more of a set fudge, has more condensed milk and cake mix for that real unmistakable cake batter flavor. 

Just don’t be shy with the sprinkles!

22. Cake Mix Brownies

Why make brownies from a cake mix?

Sometimes it’s raining and dark and all you have is a box of chocolate cake mix. 

Cake mix brownies are just as fudgy and moist as a boxed brownie mix. You’ll get all that chocolate flavor with just a couple of tweaks. 

Load the batter with plenty of chopped chocolate for pockets of melted chocolate throughout.

If you can wait, let them cool before cutting. But I won’t tell if you dig right in with a fork.

23. Chocolate Oreo Peppermint Cake Mix Cookies

Not only are these cookies made using a dark chocolate cake mix, but they also have cream cheese, chopped Oreos, and Ghirardelli peppermint chunks.

An obvious Christmas favorite, I think these cookies are delicious year round.

Be careful when using peppermint extract, as it can be quite strong, and make sure to use Ghirardelli peppermint chunks.

Cheaper options can burn and sometimes don’t melt in the same way. 

24. Chocolate Pudding Trifle Dessert

Trifles are big, over-the-top, crowd pleasers. 

You can make them with any number of flavors, but this chocolate pudding dessert should be at the top of your list.

As crazy as it looks, this dessert comes together so easily. 

Using a good chocolate cake mix, instant chocolate pudding, and whipped cream, you can layer this as high as your dish will allow!

Although, minis in mason jars would look adorable.