Cake mix isn’t just for cake! With a few extra ingredients and simple steps, you can turn a basic box into amazing desserts. From cookies to bars and everything in between, these easy recipes are perfect when you want something sweet without a lot of effort.

Chess Squares

A baking dish with several squares of golden-brown cake made from an easy cake mix, one piece served on a black plate beside a fork.
Image Credit: Home. Made.Interest.


 

Easy Southern Chess Squares with a gooey cream cheese topping—perfect dessert bars made from cake mix in under an hour! Get the recipe: Chess Squares

Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls

A close-up of a sliced hot cross bun with raisins, topped with melted icing, on a plate—perfect inspiration for cake mix recipes if you like to fake it till you bake it.
Image Credit: Home. Made.Interest.

This recipe for Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls is an easy Spring brunch recipe filled with raisins, carrots, and cinnamon and topped with cream cheese frosting.
Get the recipe: Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls

RASPBERRY MOUSSE RED VELVET CAKE

Miniature red velvet cakes made from premium cake mix with layers of frosting, each topped with a fresh raspberry. Sweet cheats include additional raspberries scattered around the desserts.
Image Credit: Home. Made.Interest.

Raspberry Mousse Red Velvet Cake is an easy dessert recipe made from layers of light, fluffy raspberry mousse sandwiched between thin layers of red velvet cake.
Get the recipe: Raspberry Mousse Red Velvet Cake

CHOCOLATE TURTLE CAKE

A slice of chocolate cake with caramel oozing from the center, topped with chocolate frosting and pecans, served on a black plate.
Image Credit: Home. Made.Interest.

This delicious Turtle Cake is a chocolatey wonder, overflowing with caramel, and topped with chopped pecans. It is guaranteed to wow your guests! Get the recipe: Chocolate Turtle Cake

BANANA SPLIT CAKE

A square piece of cake topped with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, chopped nuts, and a cherry, served on a black plate with strawberries in the background.
Image Credit: Home. Made.Interest.

This easy Banana Split Cake takes all of the flavors of your favorite ice cream treat and bakes them into a delicious poke cake. Get the recipe: Banana Split Cake

BANANA PUDDING CAKE

A slice of banana pudding cake with frosting and a wafer on top served on a black plate.
Image Credit: Home. Made.Interest.

The perfect make ahead dessert for any party, potluck, or backyard BBQ, this simple Banana Pudding Cake recipe will have everyone going back for seconds! Get the recipe: Banana Pudding Cake

SOCK IT TO ME CAKE

A round bundt cake with white icing drizzled on top and a light dusting of powdered sugar.
Image Credit: Home. Made.Interest.

Sock It to Me Cake is a doctored up cake recipe that starts with a box of cake mix and ends up as a delicious cinnamon sugar bundt cake packed with pecans and brown sugar.
Get the recipe: Sock It to Me Cake

Baked Carrot Cake Donuts

Four baked donuts with white icing, each topped with small orange and green carrot-shaped decorations, are placed on a metal cooling rack—perfect for easy cake mix fans looking to fake it till you bake it.
Image Credit: Home. Made.Interest.

These fluffy Carrot Cake Donuts are glazed with a simple cream cheese frosting for a new twist on a classic Spring dessert. Get the recipe: Baked Carrot Cake Donuts

S’MORES CUPCAKE

A cupcake with chocolate frosting, topped with toasted marshmallows and sprinkled with crumbs, on a dark surface.
Image Credit: Home. Made.Interest.

S’mores Cupcakes is graham cracker cupcake base filled with a perfectly toasted marshmallow and topped with chocolate frosting. Making s’mores has never been so easy! Get the recipe: S’mores Cupcake

RED VELVET CINNAMON ROLLS

A round baking pan with freshly baked red velvet cinnamon rolls topped with icing, placed on a cooling rack. A bottle filled with pink liquid is positioned to the left of the pan.
Image Credit: Home. Made.Interest.

Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls are a fun spin on classic cinnamon rolls made with a box of cake mix to give you that red velvet cake flavor. Top it with a delicious cream cheese frosting.
Get the recipe: Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls

PISTACHIO CAKE

A slice of green cake with white frosting and chopped pistachios on top, being held by a cake server.
Image Credit: Home. Made.Interest.

Pistachio Cake is super moist cake made with pistachio pudding and cake mix. It’s soft green color makes it a great holiday dessert for St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, and Christmas. Get the recipe: Pistachio Cake

LEMON CUPCAKES WITH LEMON BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Four vanilla cupcakes with swirled frosting and sprinkles on top are placed on a cooling rack.
Image Credit: Home. Made.Interest.

Lemon Cupcakes with lemon buttercream frosting are moist cupcakes with a delicate, tender crumb. Make these baked treats for a perfect finish to any occasion!
Get the recipe: Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream Frosting

FROOT LOOPS CUPCAKES

A vanilla cupcake with white frosting, topped with colorful cereal loops, in a turquoise paper liner.
Image Credit: Home. Made.Interest.

These easy Froot Loops Cupcakes, are made with sweet, crunchy, Froot Loops, boxed cake mix, and topped with a cereal milk buttercream. Get the recipe: Froot Loops Cupcakes

COCONUT CAKE RECIPE WITH FRESH COCONUT

A three-layered vanilla cake with white frosting and shredded coconut, with a slice being lifted from the side.
Image Credit: Home. Made.Interest.

This is hands down the BEST Coconut Cake recipe you’ll ever make. This easy coconut cake recipe uses fresh coconut and a secret ingredient to make a super moist coconut cake that is perfect for celebrations and holidays. Get the recipe: Best Coconut Cake Recipe with Fresh Coconut

CARROT CAKE MIX COOKIES

Close-up of several freshly baked cookies cooling on a wire rack. The cookies appear to be slightly crisp around the edges with a golden-brown color.
Image Credit: Home. Made.Interest.

Carrot Cake Mix Cookies only require three simple ingredients to make easy cake batter cookies. It’s a delicious treat any day of the week. Get the recipe: Carrot Cake Mix Cookies