Here are 8 easy cake mix recipes you can easily make starting with boxed cake mixes! Cake mixes are cheap and already include a lot of the basic ingredients you use for many kinds of baking, so using them can make a perfect shortcut to make your baking easier!
We sometimes hear from readers who avoid boxed cake mixes because they think boxed mixes are somehow too institutional to make great baked goods, but that is far from the truth! Boxed cake mixes include the same basic ingredients necessary to make other baked goods, so they can actually be a great starting point for other delicious recipes. You can use cake mixes to make cookies, waffles, brownies, banana bread, muffins and more!
Cake Mixes can be found SUPER cheap after the holidays! I usually find them 90% off for $0.15-.$0.30 each. That price is as cheap as just buying flour so I stock up and use them for my everyday baking.
Here are 8 easy boxed cake mix recipes, along with lots of wonderful variations to help you use all those wonderful cake mixes!
2-Ingredient Cake Mix and Soda Recipe
This 2-ingredient cake mix and soda recipe is the ultimate quick and easy dessert! With just a box of cake mix and a can of soda, you can whip up a soft, fluffy cake in minutes—no eggs, oil, or milk required. Perfect for busy days, last-minute guests, or when you’re craving something sweet without the fuss. Choose your favorite cake mix and soda combo for endless flavor possibilities!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix dry cake mix and soda in a large bowl until smooth (no eggs, no oil, no milk needed!).
- Pour batter into a greased 9×13-inch pan or two 8-inch round pans.
- Bake according to the cake mix box instructions for the pan size you’re using, usually 25–35 minutes.
- Cool before slicing. Add frosting, powdered sugar, or enjoy plain.
Notes
Chocolate Cake Mix Variations
Vanilla/White Cake Mix Variations
Lemon/Yellow Cake Mix Variations
Fun & Specialty Variations
Easy 3-Ingredient Cake Recipe (Foolproof & Fast!)
This ridiculously easy 3-ingredient cake recipe is easy to make in minutes and turns out unbelievably moist, rich, and full of fruity flavor every single time. Just mix, bake, and watch everyone think you spent hours in the kitchen!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven according to the cake mix package directions (typically 350°F).
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or two 8-inch round pans.
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pie filling, and eggs.
- Mix until fully blended. The batter will be thick—this is normal.
- Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake according to the cake mix package directions (usually 25–35 minutes), or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool completely, then frost as desired. A simple canned frosting, whipped topping, or even a dusting of powdered sugar all work well depending on the flavor combination.
- Slice and serve.
Notes
Tips for Best Results
- Do not add the oil or water listed on the cake mix box—just the 3 ingredients above.
- For extra richness, you can substitute 2 eggs + 1 extra yolk.
- This cake is very moist—let it cool completely before slicing for clean pieces.
Easy Flavor Variations
Chocolate Cake Mix + Cherry Pie Filling – Rich, fudgy, almost like a shortcut Black Forest cake.
Optional upgrade: Add ½ cup chocolate chips or a dusting of powdered sugar.
Strawberry Cake Mix + Strawberry Pie Filling – Double strawberry flavor = bright, sweet, and crowd-pleasing. Great topped with whipped cream.
Yellow Cake Mix + Peach Pie Filling – Tastes like a cross between cake and cobbler. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top before baking for extra flavor.
Pineapple Cake Mix + Pineapple Filling (or Crushed Pineapple) – Light, tropical, and super moist.
Optional upgrade: Add shredded coconut for a piña colada vibe.
Spice Cake Mix + Apple Pie Filling – Warm, cozy flavors—perfect for fall!
Optional: Add chopped nuts or a drizzle of caramel.
Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
1 pkg. cake mix (any flavor)
½ cup oil
2 eggs, slightly beaten
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°. In large bowl, combine all ingredients. Blend well. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10-15 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute. Remove from cookie sheets.
Note: Different cake mixes will act differently. Yellow cake mix spreads out more than the other mixes. See suggested variations below.
High Altitude: Add 2 Tbsp. flour and bake as usual.
For dozens of amazing and delicious variations to make these cookies extra special, check out the cake mix cookies post here! You’ll find variations like chocolate peanut butter cookies, dreamsicle, tutti frutti, cherry delight and lots more!
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Cake Mix Quick Bread Recipe
This delicious cake mix quick bread recipe is a simple cake mix recipe quick and easy to make! With delicious flavor variations like cherry chip loaf, gingerbread, cinnamon swirl and more, it’s one of those cake mix recipes your family and friends will love!
Ingredients
1 box cake mix (any flavor)
1 cup milk
1/2 cup oil
3 eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease loaf or mini loaf pans.
- In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, milk, oil, and eggs until smooth.
- Add add-ins. Stir until mixed.
- Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.
- Bake for 20–40 minutes, depending on the size of your mini loaf pans, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. (About 30-40 minutes for a regular loaf and 18-30 minutes for mini loaf.)
- Cool slightly before removing from pans.
Notes
- Works with any cake mix flavor—try lemon, spice, chocolate, or Funfetti.
- For one large loaf, bake closer to the 40-minute mark and check for doneness.
Variations
- Cherry Chip Loaf – Add 1/2 cup cherry chips
- Chocolate Cherry Chip Loaf – Add ¼ cup cherry chips and ¼ cup chocolate chips
- Banana Cherry Bread – Add 2 bananas, mashed, and ½ cup cherry chips
- Chocolate Chip Bread – Add ½ cup chocolate chips
- Date Nut Bread – Add 1 cup chopped dates and ½ cup walnuts or pecans
- Orange Cranberry Walnut Bread – Add zest of 1 orange, ½ cup chopped walnuts, and ½ cup cranberries
- Gingerbread – Add 1 tsp gingerbread spice and ½ cup molasses or dark corn syrup
- Eggnog Bread – Use eggnog instead of milk. Add 1 tsp. gingerbread spice, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg, and 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
- Cinnamon Swirl Bread – Mix ½ cup sugar or brown sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon. Swirl into the batter before baking.
- Cherry Nut Bread – Add 1 cup chopped candied cherries and ½ cup walnuts
2 Ingredient Angel Food Cake Mix Recipe
This 2-Ingredient Angel Food Cake is light, fluffy, and ready in minutes! just two ingredients and a few minutes of prep! Just mix a box of angel food cake mix with your favorite pie filling—cherry, blueberry, or pineapple—and bake. That’s it! Easy, fruity, and crowd-pleasing every time. Perfect for last-minute guests or a quick sweet treat.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix and pie filling until combined. (Do NOT use any water!)
- Pour the batter into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the top is golden.
- Cool completely before serving.
- Optional: Top with powdered sugar or whipped cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
*Great Pie Filling Options:
- Cherry
- Strawberry
- Blueberry
- Blackberry
- Pumpkin
- Lemon
*Angel Food Cake Mix Recipe Variations (use one instead of pie filling):
Cake Mix Mug Cake Recipe
Having a chocolate attack? This mug cake recipe is a super easy way to make a delicious single serving cake in just 2 minutes! With just 2 ingredients, it’s so easy, older kids can make it for themselves.
Ingredients
6 Tbsp. Cake Mix
3 Tbsp. water
Instructions
Mix ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl or mug. Microwave 1 1/2 minutes. Cool before frosting.
Cake Mix Waffles Recipe
Ingredients
1 package white cake mix (16.25 oz.)
⅓ cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
3 eggs
Instructions
Heat waffle iron to medium heat. In a bowl, mix cake mix, oil, water and eggs until smooth. Pour ⅔ cup batter onto the waffle iron. Bake 5 minutes or until the waffle is golden in color. Repeat with remaining batter.
Cake Mix Pancakes Recipe
Ingredients
1 package cake mix (any flavor)
½ cup flour
2 eggs
2½ cups milk
¼ cup oil
Instructions
Preheat griddle or pan to medium heat. In a bowl, mix the cake mix, flour, eggs, milk and oil together, until smooth. Grease the griddle with cooking spray or bacon grease. Ladle batter onto the pan and cook until the top of the batter starts to bubble. Flip the pancake and cook for another minute on the other side, until cooked all the way through.
Cake Mix Brownies Recipe
Did you know you can make brownies starting with a cake mix? This cake mix recipe makes it easy to make decadent brownies with just 4 ingredients! With just 5 minutes prep time, you’ll love how easy it is!
Ingredients
1 box chocolate cake mix or 1 box white cake mix with ½ cup baking cocoa
⅓ cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 cup chocolate chips or white chocolate chips
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease an 8 x 8 inch baking pan. Mix cake mix, oil and eggs, until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into baking pan and bake for 20 minutes. Let cool before cutting.
Cake Mix Banana Bread Recipe
If you’re craving banana bread, try this easy banana bread cake mix recipe! Requiring just 5 minutes prep time and less than an hour to bake, it’s a quick and easy way to have banana bread fast!
Ingredients
1 box cake mix
3 eggs
⅓ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup sour cream or plain yogurt
3 bananas, mashed
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan OR 2 smaller loaf pans.
Mash bananas in a large bowl with a masher or the back of a fork. Stir in cake mix, oil, eggs and sour cream. Mix until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the bread cool before removing from the pan.
Easy Zucchini Bread/Zucchini Cake Recipe (Starting With A Cake Mix)
This Easy Zucchini Bread Recipe, also known as Zucchini Cake starts with a simple box of spice cake mix and turns out perfectly moist and delicious every time! With just a few ingredients and minimal prep, you’ll have a delicious zucchini bread that’s perfect for breakfast, snacks, or dessert. It’s a great way to use up fresh zucchini from the garden—and no one will even guess it started with a mix!
Ingredients
1 box spice cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup milk or water
3 eggs
2 cups coarsely shredded zucchini (about 2 medium zucchini)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Beat on low speed for 1 minute, scraping the bowl constantly.
- Increase to medium speed and beat for 2 more minutes, scraping the bowl occasionally.
- Pour the batter into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Bake for about 45 minutes.
- Let cool before serving.
Notes
Variations
No-Bake Zucchini Bread Recipe Starting With A Cake Mix
Simplify your baking with this easy zucchini bread recipe that starts with a cake mix as a shortcut. By adding freshly grated zucchini and a few simple ingredients to a boxed cake mix, you can quickly whip up a moist, flavorful bread with minimal effort. Perfect for busy days, this recipe delivers a deliciously sweet and spiced treat in no time.
Ingredients
1 box Yellow Cake Mix
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup milk or water
3 eggs
2 cups coarsely shredded zucchini (about 2 medium zucchini)
Instructions
- Mix ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Cook the Zucchini Bread in a waffle iron.
Notes
Simplify your baking with this easy zucchini bread recipe that starts with a cake mix as a shortcut. By adding freshly grated zucchini and a few simple ingredients to a boxed cake mix, you can quickly whip up a moist, flavorful bread with minimal effort. Perfect for busy days, this recipe delivers a deliciously sweet and spiced treat in no time.
Cake Mix Whoopie Pies Recipe
I love whoopie pies! If you don’t know what they are, they are popular large cream filled soft cookie sandwiches and they are super yummy! You can easily make your own whoopie pies with this easy cake mix recipe! It’s a perfect quick treat for kids! If you’re feeling extra adventurous, let the kids help you make them!
Ingredients
1 package cake mix
⅔ cup water
½ cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
Instructions
Preheat oven 350°. In a bowl, mix with a mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Drop 2 tablespoons batter for each cookie onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake 8-9 minutes, until set. To make whoopie pies, frost one cookie with frosting and place a second cookie on top.
Blueberry Cake Mix Muffins
This blueberry cake mix muffins recipe makes incredibly delicious muffins full of juicy blueberries and a sweet crumb topping. Quick, easy, and made in minutes, this blueberry cake mix muffins recipe is perfect when you want homemade flavor while keeping it simple!
Ingredients
Topping Ingredients:
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line or grease a muffin tin.
- In a large bowl, mix together all muffin ingredients until just combined.
- Pour batter evenly into prepared muffin cups.
- In a small bowl, mix topping ingredients until crumbly.
- Sprinkle topping evenly over each muffin.
- Bake for 23–28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cool slightly, then serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Toss blueberries in a little flour before adding to prevent sinking.
- Frozen blueberries work great—no need to thaw.
- Don’t overmix the batter or the muffins can turn dense.
Cake Mix Oatmeal Muffins Recipe
Here’s an easy cake mix oatmeal muffins recipe you can make, starting with a boxed cake mix! For lots of flavor variations, try adding nuts, raisins, chocolate chips, chopped apples or any of your favorite dried fruits!
Ingredients
1 yellow cake mix
1⅓ cups water
⅓ cup canola oil
2 large eggs
2 cups oats (quick-cook)
1½ teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup raisins (optional)
½ cup chopped walnuts(optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°. Mix everything together. Bake for 12-15 minutes.
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