14 Easy Desserts with Boxed Cake Mix – Cookies, Bars & Dump Cakes

Sofia Baxter Sofia Baxter

Boxed cake mix is one of the best shortcuts in the kitchen. With just a few extra ingredients, you can whip up cookies, dump cakes, bars, and even elegant layered desserts—without spending hours baking from scratch. These 14 easy desserts prove that a cake mix is more than just a birthday cake base. From fruity poke cakes to gooey dump cakes, here are recipes you can tackle tonight with confidence.

1. Cake Mix Cookies

Soft, chewy, and endlessly customizable, these cookies are the ultimate shortcut treat.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box cake mix (any flavor)

  • 2 eggs

  • ½ cup vegetable oil

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

  2. Mix cake mix, eggs, and oil until just combined.

  3. Scoop onto a lined baking sheet and bake 9–11 minutes.

  4. Optional: add mix-ins like chocolate chips or sprinkles.

2. Easy Berry Chantilly Cake

A bakery-worthy cake topped with whipped cream and juicy berries that feels light and fresh.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box white or vanilla cake mix

  • Whipped cream or frosting

  • Fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)

  • 2 tbsp sugar (optional, for macerating)

Steps:

  1. Bake cake according to package directions.

  2. Toss berries with sugar and let sit 10 minutes (optional).

  3. Frost cake with whipped cream and top with berries.

3. Orange Poke Cake

Moist, citrusy, and packed with flavor, this retro classic is always a hit.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box white cake mix

  • 1 box orange Jell-O

  • 1 cup boiling water + 1 cup cold water

  • Whipped topping

Steps:

  1. Bake cake in a 9x13 pan. Cool slightly.

  2. Poke holes all over cake with a fork.

  3. Mix Jell-O with boiling water, then cold water. Pour over cake.

  4. Chill 2–3 hours, then top with whipped topping.

4. Hoda Kotb’s Ritz Cracker Cake

A sweet-and-salty surprise with buttery Ritz crackers baked right in.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box yellow cake mix

  • 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 stick butter, melted

  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk

Steps:

  1. Mix cake batter as directed.

  2. Stir in crushed Ritz crackers.

  3. Bake in a 9x13 pan at 350°F until golden.

  4. Drizzle with condensed milk while warm.

5. 2-Ingredient Angel Bars

Light, fluffy bars with a sweet tropical twist that practically melt in your mouth.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box angel food cake mix

  • 1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple (undrained)

Steps:

  1. Mix cake mix and pineapple together.

  2. Pour into greased 9x13 pan.

  3. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes until golden.

  4. Cool, slice into bars, and dust with powdered sugar.

6. Strawberry Kiss Cookies

Pretty pink cookies topped with chocolate kisses for a fun, chewy treat.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box strawberry cake mix

  • 2 eggs

  • ½ cup oil

  • Chocolate kisses

Steps:

  1. Mix cake mix, eggs, and oil until dough forms.

  2. Scoop and bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes.

  3. Immediately press a chocolate kiss on top of each cookie.

7. Wine Cake

A nostalgic Bundt cake with a moist crumb and warm, comforting flavor.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box yellow cake mix

  • 1 small box vanilla pudding mix

  • ½ cup vegetable oil

  • ½ cup white wine

  • 4 eggs

  • Cinnamon-sugar (optional, for topping)

Steps:

  1. Mix all ingredients until smooth.

  2. Pour into greased Bundt pan.

  3. Bake at 350°F for 45–50 minutes.

  4. Dust with cinnamon-sugar or glaze.

8. Chocolate Dump Cake

Rich, gooey, and perfect for chocolate lovers with zero effort.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box chocolate cake mix

  • 1 (21 oz) can cherry pie filling

  • 1 stick butter, melted

Steps:

  1. Spread cherry filling in a greased 9x13 pan.

  2. Sprinkle dry cake mix on top.

  3. Drizzle with melted butter.

  4. Bake at 350°F for 35–40 minutes.

9. Halfway Homemade Coconut Cake

Moist, rich, and tropical thanks to the magic of canned coconut milk.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box white cake mix

  • 1 cup canned full-fat coconut milk

  • 3 eggs

  • Coconut frosting + shredded coconut

Steps:

  1. Mix cake batter, replacing water with coconut milk.

  2. Bake as directed.

  3. Frost with coconut frosting and top with coconut flakes.

10. Cake Pops

Bite-sized party treats that are fun to dip, decorate, and eat.

Ingredients:

  • 1 baked cake (from mix)

  • ½ cup frosting

  • Candy melts or chocolate coating

  • Sprinkles (optional)

Steps:

  1. Crumble cake into fine crumbs.

  2. Mix with frosting until dough-like.

  3. Shape into balls, chill, and dip into melted candy coating.

  4. Decorate with sprinkles.

11. 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Quickies

Moist, spiced, and naturally vegan—perfect for fall.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box spice cake mix

  • 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin purée

Steps:

  1. Mix pumpkin and cake mix until combined.

  2. Scoop onto baking sheet or into muffin tin.

  3. Bake at 350°F for 15–20 minutes.

  4. Optional: add chocolate chips or sugar topping.

12. 1-Ingredient Upgrade for Any Boxed Cake Mix

A quick hack with ricotta cheese that transforms texture and flavor.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box cake mix (any flavor)

  • ½ cup full-fat ricotta cheese

  • Ingredients listed on the box

Steps:

  1. Prepare cake batter as directed.

  2. Stir in ricotta with wet ingredients.

  3. Bake as directed for a softer, richer crumb.

13. Apple Dump Cake

A warm, rustic dessert that tastes like apple pie with half the effort.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box yellow cake mix

  • 2 cans apple pie filling (or fresh sliced apples + sugar)

  • 1 stick butter, sliced

Steps:

  1. Spread apples in greased 9x13 pan.

  2. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over top.

  3. Lay butter slices across surface.

  4. Bake at 350°F for 40–45 minutes.

14. Easy Jam Cake


Sweet jam swirls baked into cake for a simple but elegant dessert.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box yellow or white cake mix

  • ½ cup fruit jam (raspberry, strawberry, or apricot)

Steps:

  1. Mix cake batter as directed.

  2. Pour into greased pan.

  3. Dollop jam on top and swirl lightly with a knife.

  4. Bake as directed and cool before slicing.

Final Thoughts

With just a box of cake mix and a few pantry staples, you can create everything from cookies and bars to Bundt cakes and poke cakes. These 14 easy recipes show that boxed mix isn’t just a shortcut—it’s a springboard for creativity. Next time your sweet tooth calls, grab that box and whip up something magical.

Sofia Baxter
Sofia Baxter
writer for TrendZap, which covers beauty, fashion, celebrity news, and recipes, keeping readers inspired, informed, and entertained daily.

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