Cake mixes aren’t just for making cakes.
They are incredibly versatile, they save time, and generally speaking, when using cake mix in a recipe, the chances of the recipe “turning out” are incredibly high.
The cake mix companies have been in business for a hundred years for a reason: cake mixes work.
Not to mention, certain flavors are incredibly hard to recreate on your own and even if you could, it’s a bit like re-inventing the wheel. Perfect yellow cake, Funfetti, strawberry, and devil’s Food cake come to mind.
The texture, the lightness, the flavor, the balance of flavor intensity to sweetness are all trade secrets are hard to nail perfectly.
15 of my favorite recipes using cake mixes:
and none of them actually make cake
Bars
Coconut Peanut Butter Magic Cake Bars
Cookie Butter Funfetti Triple Chip Bars
Creamy Mixed Berry White Chocolate Crumble Bars
White and Dark Chocolate Cream Cheese Chocolate Cake Bars
White Chocolate Vanilla Marshmallow Cake Bars
Cookies
Pina Colada White Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
Mounds Bar Chocolate Coconut Cake Mix Cookies
Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
Cupcakes and Cake
3 Musketeers Marshmallow Candy-Stuffed White Chocolate Cupcakes with Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream
Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Cupcakes with White Chocolate Icing – use a brownie mix rather than cake mix
Truffles and Chocolate
No Bake Vanilla Cake Batter Chocolate Truffles
Oreo Cookie-Stuffed Brownies with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting– use a brownie mix to make life easier
Popcorn
Vanilla Cake Batter and White Chocolate Chip Caramel Corn
Beverages
Chocolate Cake Batter Milkshake
Do you like cake mix? How do you use it?
Recipe links welcome
Ironically, I don’t tend to make cakes with cake mixes. Everything except cakes.
I love the results from cake mix. There’s no shame in taking a shortcut.
And the smell of cake mix is intoxicating. I’d wear cake mix perfume if such a thing existed. Actually, years ago I had red velvet cake bodyspray by Calgon that I found at Rite-Aid and got tons of compliments on it from passerby. Apparently everyone loves the smell of cake.
However, I know some people like to make everything from scratch and more power to them.
Are you brand loyal to a certain mix?
Sometimes I grab what’s on sale and sometimes I choose with more intention.
Duncan Hines classic yellow cake mix, Duncan Hines Devil’s Food Cake, and any of their cake mixes are probably my top choice if all things are equal. Generally, they tend to be about 50 cents more per box at my grocery store.
I love Betty Crocker’s French Vanilla Cake Mix for white or vanilla cakes. The French vanilla flavor is deeper and I prefer it to other vanillas.
Pillsbury’s Funfetti is one of a kind. Love it. Pillsbury Strawberry Cake Mix is so incredibly moist and the box says there’s “pudding in the mix” and I believe it.
Winner to be announced Saturday for the Ani Phyo Cookbooks Giveaway – Set of Two
Have a great weekend!
i LOVE funfetti cake, but I find it so funny that’s it’s turned into this cultural/generational icon! Such a simple thing yet sooo popular and well-loved. Makes me wish it was my birthday so I had an excuse to make it… although your recipes are telling me no special occasion is necessary and I believe them ;) To Target I go!
Very creative post, lots of inspiration! Truthfully I haven’t used a cake mix in ages, but love the idea of getting creative with leftovers pantry staple ingredients.
I love that huge box of oatmeal in the first picture!
When you cook and bake as much as I do, a couple cups here and a couple cups of oats there, they go fast!
I just smacked my hand on my computer screen because I went to grab your Cookie Butter Funfetti bar! It looks so heavenly that I just wanted to get my hands on it lol Thank you for sharing such great recipes. Most of them seem simple enough to make too…I’ll definitely enjoy trying to make a number of them! Thanks again :)
ALL of them are simple! I love shortcuts and fast recipes!
Thanks for introducing me to Trader Joe’s Flattened Bananas!! The other day I used a Pineapple Supreme cake mix for another recipe. What about trying that in your Pina Colada cookies? I bet it would be SOOOOOO good!!!
I used them in those cookies! And that’s the post I mentioned them in! Glad you’re a fan!
https://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2012/05/pina-colada-white-chocolate-cake-mix-cookies.html
I have only been reading your blog for about two weeks and I have already made 6 things! As a fellow San Diegan I have yet to be disappointed, and I am pretty sure we were born with exactly the same sweet tooth! I just made the candy stuffed cupcakes and the are oh so yummy! You are amazing :) Thank you for all your posts.
Well HELLO!!! Thanks for finding me, for saying hi, and for making SIX things in 2 weeks! Would love to hear what you’ve made, thoughts, reviews, what you’ve especially loved, if things worked out as indicated for you. I love feedback but no worries if you’re busy in the kitchen and just want to keep cooking :) And that you’re local! I live in Hillcrest and can be seen at TJs & Ralph’s loading my cart with sugar 3x a week :)
I live in Bankers Hill and I am always at the Hillcrest TJ’s and Ralphs afer yoga class at core power! Maybe we will bump into each other buying chocolate chips :) So far I have made the oreo balls (I had some jo’jo’s lying around i was tired of) and they were probably my least favorite, although my co workers liked them. I also made the vegan chocolate mousse and froze it, and omg I had no idea something vegan could be so delicious. I just made the avocado and banana soft serve and it is freezing, so after yoga class tonight i cant wait to try it…Even warm it was pretty good. I also made the white chocolate chip and candy cake mix cup cakes this weekend, they were good but very sweet and a little bit dry but i may have over baked them. I could only eat half at a time, but I did finish them all (note to self do not bake on Fridays when I cant give things to co workers!) I loved the cookie butter bars, but i omitted the coconut flakes because I dont like the texture and I think they were not as drippy as yours but they were amazing still (i used a stoneware pan so they were thinner and more cooked because of it). And if that wasn’t enough I also made the rice casserole dish with extra veggies from my CSA box and it was great. I added purplette onions, kale and carrots to it. Every time i see your recipes I am always really pleased to think, wow I have that already in my pantry and I dont have to go out and get anything new. We seem to like many of the same things. I am so glad I stumbled upon your blog :) I will keep you updated on what I make, and any feedback I have.
Oh! i forgot I also made the compost cookies! Big huge hit at work, but not my absolute favorite cookie ever. Much better cooled off than warm, oddly.
Ohmygosh, first, thanks for reading, finding me, making ALL those things, and reporting back! The mousse is amazing, one of my faves. The Oreo balls are one of those “fun” things that people tend to like, great for holiday parties. The vegan avo/banana soft serve, so creamy and good, I love that stuff. The cake mix cupcakes yes are sweet…with candy stuffed in the middle, they’re gonna be sweet :) And yes, cake mix tends to dry out so you really have to watch baking times. The cookie butter bars are awesome and again, watch baking times based on your oven and desired drippyness level. And yes, stoneware dries things out! Well, the carryover cooking time has to be taken into account; it keeps cooking long after you take it out of the oven so you have to budget that in. And the rice casserole, glad to hear you liked it. My next post is a TJ’s special…you’re gonna love it and yes to “shopping in your pantry” and having things on hand. That’s the best and I try really hard with my recipes to never call for random things or hard to source things that may only be used once or very infrequently. Please keep in touch and yes, we may indeed bump into each other one day :) I live in Hillcrest/Mission Hills (used to live in Bankers Hill)…small world around here!
If I buy a cake mix, I usually buy Dr. Oetker’s boxes. They are pretty good! Since I usually have flour, sugar, eggs, etc. on hand, however, I like to throw a bunch of stuff in a bowl, mix it up and bake it like that. When I run low on all the ingredients, it’s nice to grab a box that I just have to add an egg or water to!
I have a yellow cake mix and tomorrow I told Simeon that I would make your homemade twinkies! :-)
Well I cannot wait for his thoughts! You’re such a sweet mama!
I love all of your cake mix creations! Sometimes I feel guilty having a blog and posting recipes that use a mix, but at the same time, I feel like our creative ways with mixes need to be shared with the world. :) Whether you’re busy or just looking for a tasty treat, cake mix can save the day, lol!
Girl until someone blogs for a year(s) and is under the “pressure” of real life, of real life cooking, of coming up with NEW recipes every single day/multiple times per week and still juggles all the balls of life, NO ONE could/should sit in judgment of a blogger who uses cake mix. Ever. (rant over)
:)
Everything looks so so good, A! I can’t wait to try out Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting!! Sounds divine.
Thanks & LMK if you try anything!
oh my gosh. my favorite way to use cake mix is in your cake batter truffles. HOWEVER, it was one of those times i didn’t have “just a couple,” ate the entire batch in a night, had a slight breakdown of remorse, and vowed to never make them again when i know i will be alone in my apartment with them. :p
for now, though, i’ve opened your cookie butter funfetti bars. they look like they might be a close second. hahaha.
That’s quite a story..LOL. Glad they were a big hit :)
This is a great resource, Averie. I have always respected a great cake mix, Duncan Hines is my fave!
I agree with you!
I just got some of TJ’s Cookie Butter, so your funfetti bars are speaking to me!
LMK if you make them!
When it’s on sale, I buy it!! Love these different uses for it!
This post was great timing for me! :)
I bought a box of cake mix a couple of weeks ago, for the first time ever, inspired by all the recipes I’d seen on blogs. But then it has just sat in my cupboard without me making anything…
That changed when I read your post this morning – I went straight to the kitchen and made your vanilla cake batter truffles – delicious, thanks Averie! :-D
Oh wow, thanks for LMK! GREAT timing, huh!
Definitely great timing! I’m thinking of making your creamy mixed berry white chocolate crumble bars tomorrow too, although as my husband doesn’t like berries those will have to be stored in the freezer, haha, they look like the type of dessert that I wouldn’t have much self-control around!! ;)
Oh I’m excited for you :) Keep me posted!
I tried a recipe last week that used a Gluten Free Cake mix ($4.00, ouch!) And I wasn’t sure at all how it would do but it worked great. The house smelled soooo good like you mentioned too. It was an Apple Berry cake https://cannedtime.blogspot.com/2012/06/apple-berry-upside-down-cake-dairy-and.html with lots of cinnamon, tasted moist and had a good rise too. But the price? Do you know any plans the major brands have to make a Gluten Free option? That would bring the price down I’m sure and hopefully keep the quality like the one I used had.
Made your Raw Vegan Caramels, and another batch again today if that tells you how good they were, thanks!
Not sure about GF mixes…I thought that the bigger names like Pillsbury, D Hines, B Crocker, etc all had GF blends? Regular ones are about $2.50 a box so I don’t think $4 is “crazy” but yeah, I hear you!
How did I miss your cookie butter funfetti triple chip bars? Well there goes the weekend diet…!
Lol. LMK if you ever make them!