How to Take Boxed Cake Mix From Basic to Baller

boxed cake mix recipe hacks

These box cake mix recipe hacks are ingenious.

We all get by with a little help from our friends, right? Well, when it comes to me and baking cakes, that friend happens to be boxed mix. Ain’t no shame.

As much as I respect and admire the from-scratchers, the packaged stuff deserves more credit than it gets. Not only is it easy to spruce up a basic batch with some simple tricks of the trade—sub in another liquid for water (milk, coffee, dairy), opt for butter instead of vegetable oil (duh), add in extra accent flavorings (vanilla, liqueur)—but also, it offers an easy, reliable blank canvas of sorts for building myriad elaborate baked creations.

Related Reading: The Best New Baking Books for Fall

Below are some of my favorite ways to make the most out of basic boxed cake mix, including everything from cakes (of course) to breakfast pastries, cookies, and even ice cream.

Tiramisu Cake

Your nonna may not necessarily approve of skipping some steps in the name of convenience, but this tiramisu-inspired cake definitely gets points for style and substance. Layers of boxed vanilla cake soaked in espresso and Cognac create the structure for this elaborate confection covered in tangy mascarpone frosting and decorated with shaved chocolate and chocolate-covered espresso beans. Get the Tiramisu Cake recipe.

Betty Crocker Moist Vanilla Cake Mix, $1.19 at Target

This can be the basis of so much more than basic cupcakes.

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Easy Carrot Cake

Making a wow-worthy dessert from box mix doesn’t always have to mean pulling a rabbit out of the hat, transforming it into something completely new and different and unexpected. Sometimes the trick is as simple as giving the cake a gussied-up interior and nice paint job. Take this carrot cake for example. Drab yellow cake mix is given new life with the addition of grated carrots, raisins, crushed pineapple, cinnamon, and walnut; and finger-lickin’-good brown sugar frosting creates a tasty base coat on which to add buttercream carrot decoys. Get the Easy Carrot Cake recipe.

Pillsbury Moist Supreme Classic Yellow Cake Mix, $0.99 at Target

A shortcut to carrot cake (among many other things).

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Red Velvet Cheesecake

Two-for-one is the best kind of special. Especially, as is the case here, when it means that you get two favorite, iconic cakes together under the same roof. In an ingenious, how-did-I-not-think-of-this-first move, red velvet cake mix is used to create two spongy layers that will encase a center of rich, creamy cheesecake. Cream cheese frosting, chopped pecans, and red velvet crumble complete the look. Get the Red Velvet Cheesecake recipe.

Betty Crocker Red Velvet Cake Mix, $1.49 at Target

Ever turned this into cheesecake before?

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Twinkie Cake

Brace yourselves, boxed pound cake mix just took Twinkies to the next level. The iconic Hostess treat is created here as a large format Bundt cake, stuffed with the requisite marshmallow filling down the center, and powdered sugar sprinkled on top. Perfect for kid-at-heart “grown ups.” Get the Twinkie Cake recipe.

Betty Crocker Pound Cake Mix, $1.98 at Walmart

A buttery base for a Twinkie-inspired creation.

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Berry Angel Food Cake Roll

Opting for boxed angel food cake saves you from that whole chore of having to separate the whites from the yolks. This way instead you get to save all your energy for the tricky, delicate act of rolling that sheet cake around those fresh berries and cream without making a mess. Get the Berry Angel Food Cake Roll recipe.

Betty Crocker Angel Food Cake Mix, $2.99 at Target

Angel food made easy.

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Piña Colada Poke Cake

Turns out boxed cake mix likes piña coladas too. In this creative spin on the classic poke cake formula, basic vanilla cake gets the rum-spiked tropical cocktail treatment. Throw in some sweetened condensed milk to soften the boozy sponge, top it with chopped pineapple, shredded coconut, whipped cream, and a cherry for good measure, and you’ve got yourself something that’s a pretty close second to the real deal. Get the Piña Colada Poke Cake recipe.

Easy Molten Lava Cakes

individual molten chocolate lava cakes recipe

Chowhound

Inspired by the famous Chili’s dessert, a surprise oozy hot fudge center helps turn basic chocolate cake mix into a dinner party showpiece. Get the Easy Molten Lava Cakes recipe.

Strawberry Shortcake Trifle

Don’t let the name fool you, this semi-homemade showstopper is making the most of its humble roots. Starring simple boxed vanilla cake mix, this charming dessert also calls on other childhood favorites strawberry Jell-O and Cool Whip for the jelly glaze and cream layers respectively. Get the Strawberry Shortcake Trifle recipe.

Pumpkin Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls

You know what never fails to impress? Serving cake for breakfast. Your medium: Cinnamon rolls. Of course, you could keep it classic with cinnamon sugar and frosting, or if you’re feeling a little more creative, get cutesy with funfetti-style sprinkles, or even tug at the heartstrings with a red velvet variety. But since fall has officially returned, why not tip your hat to the season with this variety featuring pumpkin cake mix, pumpkin puree filling, and maple syrup glaze. Get the Pumpkin Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls recipe.

Pillsbury Pumpkin Cake Mix, $1.25 at Target

A seasonally appropriate option.

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Chocolate Cake Mix Doughnuts

If your vote is for Team Cake in the cake vs. yeast doughnuts debate, then you definitely need to try this clever cake mix hack. Here, basic chocolate cake is used as the base for—and I’m sorry to have to use this word—moist doughnuts that are then topped with vanilla glaze, chocolate sprinkles, and crushed Oreos. Get the Chocolate Cake Mix Doughnuts recipe.

Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Premium Cake Mix, 2 boxes for $4.88 at Walmart

If you’re going for chocolate, why not go for double chocolate?

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Cake Batter Pancakes

“Cake” is already in the name so why shouldn’t you sub cake batter for pancake batter tomorrow morning? Just about any flavor will work, but these sprinkle-flecked stacks really get the festive point across. (P.S. the technique works great with waffles too.) Get the Cake Batter Pancakes recipe.

Pillsbury Funfetti Cake Mix, $0.99 at Target

Make any day a celebration.

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Cake Batter Ice Cream with Sprinkles

Don’t even try to lie, licking the leftover batter from the mixing bowl is everyone’s favorite part of baking. It’s as, if not more, satisfying than cutting that first slice and taking a bite. So why not just skip the whole baking part, and instead use that batter as the base for an equally sinfully satisfying ice cream? (Milkshakes also fit the bill here too.) Get the Cake Batter Ice Cream with Sprinkles recipe.

Related Reading: How to Turn Melted Ice Cream Into Dessert

Devil’s Food Cake Rice Krispie Treats

Rice Krispies treats drift over to the dark side here, flavored with rich devil’s food cake mix, studded with mini marshmallows, and slathered with dark chocolate frosting. Get the Devil’s Food Cake Rice Krispie Treats recipe.

Duncan Hines Devil’s Food Cake Mix, $0.99 at Target

Diabolically delicious.

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Salted Caramel Pretzel Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

The contrarian in me loves everything about the fact that in this topsy-turvy world, you can have your cake mix and eat your cookies too. Like, all kinds of different cookies: Four-ingredient lemon crinkle cookies for the in-a-rush baker, jam-filled thumbprint cookies, crunchy biscotti, chocolate chip cookie bars, you name it. But if you really want to show off cake mix’s cookie swagger, try this decadent variety featuring chocolate cake, chocolate chips, salted caramel sauce, and pretzels. Because more is more, right? Get the Salted Caramel Pretzel Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies recipe.

Key Lime Whoopie Pies

The classic citrus pie gets a mini-fied makeover here, with graham cracker-spiked yellow cake mix substituting for the traditional crust. The individual little cookies are then paired up to sandwich a hearty dollop of key lime zest and juice-infused cream cheese frosting. Because poppable pie bites are more reasonable than a whole slice, right? Get the Key Lime Whoopie Pies recipe.