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!
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!
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.
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.
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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Thank you for the cake mix mug recipe. But do you happen to have the icing recipe for 1 cake mix mug recipe?
Just beat 2 Tbsp. of butter, add 1 cup of powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp vanilla and small pinch of salt. Then add 1 tsp. of milk (you can use water too)and mix. If it is to thick add a tiny bit more milk and if to thin add more powdered sugar until you get the right consistency.
Add a small amount at a time when adjusting.
I can’t wait to try these thanks , do you have some recipes for instant pudding
You are welcome Cheri. The only pudding recipe we have is where you make it from scratch and cook it not the instant where you just beat in the milk. Here is the one we have which is pretty easy. Chocolate Pudding
I’ve really enjoyed looking through these recipes. My mother and I are both cake decorators and have always used boxed cake mixes. Her reasoning is that these big companies have done all the research and testing- who are we to think we can do better? It’s usually so true- at least with me. I will be stocking up on cake mixes this winter to try out your recipes!
That is so true Jeanne. My mom decorated wedding cakes and things too and she always used box mixes. I myself use box mixes because it seems most scratch cakes are often heavy or something like that but the boxed ones always turn out.
Thank you for sharing these recipes… I am going to try the mug cake first… I have always wanted to try a mug cake LOL
I am going to send this email to my mom and sister!!! 😊