19 Quick and Easy Cake Mix Recipes to Wow Your Guests

Even on your busiest day, a delicious cake is only a few whisks away. When you feel creative and want to switch things up, turn to these easy cake mix recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth.

What else can I make with cake mix?

Cake mixes are a combination of flour, sugar, leavening, and some type of added flavor. Typically, they also have other ingredients to make the mix shelf-stable. All in all, you’ll find the base ingredients you’d need to bake just about anything.

With some tinkering, you can make a lot more than just follow the simple recipe on the cake box. You could make different types of cakes, cupcakes, cake rolls, brownies, and a lot more. All it takes is some planning.

11 traditional cake mix recipes

There’s no need to break out complicated family recipes or stock up on special ingredients. These 11 recipes are proof you can make delicious, traditional desserts with half the effort.

1. Apple butter spice cake

Perfect for the fall, this apple butter spice cake is best served warm with a drizzle of caramel. Swap out the flour, sugar, baking soda, and vanilla extract for vanilla cake mix.

2. Blueberry birthday cupcakes

This easy recipe can be made even simpler by swapping the dry ingredients for yellow cake mix. Fold blueberries into the batter, bake, and top with whipped cream.

3. Frosted red velvet cake

Red velvet cake is a classic and always a hit. If you use boxed red velvet cake mix, all you have to worry about is frosting it.

4. Chocolate chip banana cake

This fluffy, airy chocolate chip and banana cake makes for a sweet snack. Use yellow cake mix instead of the dry ingredients, and go heavy on the chocolate chips for an extra decadent bite.

5. Blueberry yogurt cake

Originally written for a pound cake, this recipe works just as well if you use vanilla cake mix. The blueberries add just the right amount of freshness.

6. Simple berry cake

This berry cake couldn’t be easier to make. Just bake a lemon cake mix following the package instructions and serve with mixed berries and cream.

7. Glazed almond vanilla cake

Use a vanilla cake mix instead of the dry ingredients to make this elegant cake. Almond extract and sliced almonds take it to the next level. 

8. Chocolate ganache cake

Add the espresso powder, almond liqueur, liquid extracts, and chocolate syrup—along with the wet ingredients—to the chocolate cake mix. Bake, then bathe with the ganache.

9. Pineapple upside-down yellow cake

Give your dessert a tropical twist with a brown sugar glaze and pineapple slices. If you use a yellow cake mix, it will all be ready in just under an hour.

10. Chocolate peanut butter cake

This chocolate peanut butter cake was written for convenience lovers. Follow it to a T, and you’ll have a gorgeous, decadent dessert ready in under 2 hours.

11. Triple citrus fruit cake

If you have lemon cake mix on hand, you can whip up this fresh, summery triple citrus fruit cake. The zestiness of the grapefruit, lime, and orange liven up the dessert.

8 unique cake mix recipes

Craving different flavors? No problem, there are many more ways to transform a simple cake mix batter into something unique and special.

1. Apple dumpling cake

When you want to indulge in apple dumplings but don’t want to follow a long recipe, this one’s for you. All you’ll need is apples, cinnamon, and white cake mix.

2. Blueberry lemon ricotta cake

It’s easy altering this pound cake recipe—just use cake mix instead of all the dry ingredients. The lemon, blueberries, and ricotta are what make it unique and worth a try.

3. Boscobel Beach ginger cake

Originally from Jamaica, this spiced cake works well with plain box cake mixes. Freshly grated ginger, ginger powder, and cinnamon give it an unforgettable kick.

4. Chocolate surprise cupcakes

You can bake cupcakes with chocolate cake mix, but these aren’t just any cupcakes: they have a cream cheese surprise in the center.

5. Slow-cooker coffee cake

Coffee cakes are traditional, but what about a slow-cooker cake? Give this cooking method a try and use a moist yellow cake mix for an easy, set-it-and-forget-it dessert.

6. Gluten-free slow-cooked peach upside-down cake

You can still partake in these delicious desserts even if you’re intolerant to gluten. Use gluten-free cake mix to make this peach upside-down cake.

7. Cinnamon toasted cake

Bake a white cake mix, slice it, then toast it and serve with whipped dessert topping, berries, and jam for an unconventional but oh-so-yummy dessert.

8. Cream cheese coffee cake

Another coffee cake you can make using boxed cake mix, this one has something special: a delightful spread of cream cheese between 2 cake layers. Use room-temperature coffee instead of water to the dry mix, along with the eggs and oil, and you’ll have a rich, moist cake.

Scratch that sweetness itch with these cake mix recipes

Whether you’re a master pâtissier looking for some fun or simply looking to upgrade your box mix game, Instacart’s got you covered. Just add your preferred flavors and ingredients to your cart and choose same-day delivery or pick up at check out. With so many treats to try, let Instacart run your errands for you and have everything delivered directly to your home, hotel, Airbnb, or vacation rental.

Grab it now on Instacart:

Best Choice Yellow Ultra Moist Cake Mix (16.5 oz)

Betty Crocker Super Moist Red Velvet Cake Mix (15.25 oz)

Betty Crocker Super Moist French Vanilla Cake Mix (15.25 oz)

Betty Crocker Super Moist Butter Recipe Chocolate Cake Mix (15.25 oz)

Betty Crocker Super Moist Lemon Cake Mix (15.25 oz)

First Street White Cake Mix (4 lb)

Full Circle White Gluten Free Cake Mix (19 oz)

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