12 Cake Mix Desserts That Make You Look Like a Pro Baker When All You Did Was Stir and Pour

ByLeah Ingram

Cake mix is the shortcut that turns you into a baking genius without all the measuring and mixing. With these 12 cake mix desserts, it will make it look like you spent hours in the kitchen when all you really did was stir and pour. Get ready for compliments because no one has to know how easy these dozen desserts were to make.

Two pieces of frosted yellow cake with cinnamon swirl stacked on a white plate.
Honey Bun Recipe with Yellow Cake Mix. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Two Ingredient Lemon Bars with Angel Food Cake Mix

A stack of lemon bars topped with whipped cream and a lemon slice on a white plate, placed on a blue striped cloth.
Two Ingredient Lemon Bars with Angel Food Cake Mix. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

A recipe that makes delicious lemon bars using only two ingredients? Sounds impossible, I know. But once you try it, you’ll believe that it is possible to make something this yummy with so few ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Two Ingredient Lemon Bars with Angel Food Cake Mix

Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies

Three cookies with chocolate centers on a red plate, surrounded by holiday decorations and a plaid gift.
Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies start with a boxed cake mix, cream cheese and butter, so they’re as easy as they are tasty. I made these for a Christmas cookie exchange and dressed them up with red and green sugar for a festive touch.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies

Honey Bun Recipe with Yellow Cake Mix

A slice of yellow cake with a white icing on top and a swirl of brown filling in the middle.
Honey Bun Recipe with Yellow Cake Mix. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

When holiday desserts take center stage, Honey Bun Cake always steals the show. I’ve seen it make an appearance at both Thanksgiving and Christmas, and for good reason. It starts with yellow cake mix — but don’t let that fool you. This cake bakes up so rich and sweet that no one would ever guess it came from a box.
Get the Recipe: Honey Bun Recipe with Yellow Cake Mix

Pink Snowballs

A plate of three coconut and chocolate lamingtons with pink icing sits on a tablecloth, resembling snowball brownies, next to a mug and wooden spoon.
Pink Snowballs. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Did you love those bright pink Hostess snowball snack cakes as a kid? Same here. Pink Snowball brownies bring that childhood favorite back but in brownie form. Start with a boxed mix, then add a few simple extras to make them soft, sweet and totally nostalgic.
Get the Recipe: Pink Snowballs

Three Layer Easter Cake with Lemon

A slice of colorful Easter layer cake with pink, yellow, and blue layers, topped with yellow frosting and sprinkles. Decorated eggs and greenery surround the plate.
Three Layer Easter Cake with Lemon. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This Easter Layer Cake dessert is a triple-layer treat that knows how to make an entrance. The soft lemon flavor comes from real lemons, not just flavoring. The colorful layers turn every slice into a surprise. Since it starts with a boxed cake mix, making it is easy—no need to stress over the details.
Get the Recipe: Three Layer Easter Cake with Lemon

Cookies with MMs

Cookies decorated with red and green candies on a gray plate, surrounded by pinecones, a gift, and greenery on a festive table.
Cookies with MMs. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

I first made these cookies for Christmas cookie exchange, thus the red and green M&Ms you see. But the truth is you can make them year round with any candy pieces you please, such as leftover Halloween or Easter candy. Just choose the color of M&Ms to best reflect the theme of your party or what mood you’re in when you bake these cookies.
Get the Recipe: Cookies with MMs

Cake Mix Maple Pecan Cupcakes

A plate of five cupcakes with white frosting and pecan toppings, surrounded by autumn leaves and berries on a gray surface.
Cake Mix Maple Pecan Cupcakes. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Cake Mix Maple Pecan Cupcakes bring big maple flavor without a big hassle. The secret? Store-bought cake mix does the heavy lifting. Just mix, bake and enjoy a batch of sweet, nutty treats with almost no effort.
Get the Recipe: Cake Mix Maple Pecan Cupcakes

Yellow Cake Mix Banana Bread

Two slices of banana bread on a red plate, with two ripe bananas and a glass of milk in the background.
Yellow Cake Mix Banana Bread. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

You literally dump all of the ingredients in the pan you’ll be baking your cake in — or in my instance, Yellow Cake Mix Banana Bread. Then you mix all the ingredients together, pop it in the oven and you get easy peasy banana bread.
Get the Recipe: Yellow Cake Mix Banana Bread

Red White and Blue Trifle

A trifle dessert in a glass bowl, topped with strawberries and blueberries, layered with cream and cake pieces.
Red White and Blue Trifle. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

What I love about this Red White and Blue Trifle dessert is that the recipe includes store-bought elements as well as homemade ones. You’re making a boxed cake mix for the cake portion, adding store-bought fruit and then homemade whipped cream for some of the filling.
Get the Recipe: Red White and Blue Trifle

Strawberry Cream Cheese Dump Cake

A rectangular baking dish with a golden-brown baked dessert, topped with whipped cream, sliced strawberry, and a mint sprig. Red sauce edges the dish.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Dump Cake. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Dump Cake is as easy as it gets. Just grab a boxed yellow cake mix and strawberry pie filling, then let the oven do the work. It’s a great way to whip up something sweet without making a mess. Serve it up and watch it disappear.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Cream Cheese Dump Cake

No Bake Chocolate Icebox Cake

Close-up of a dessert bar with layers of cream and chocolate cookie pieces, topped with chocolate drizzle.
No Bake Chocolate Icebox Cake. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

No-Bake Chocolate Icebox Cake takes cake mix desserts to the next level with layers that soften into a dreamy bite. Let the fridge or freezer do the work while you kick back. It’s a great way to cool off when you want something sweet without turning on the oven.
Get the Recipe: No Bake Chocolate Icebox Cake

Banana Pudding Icebox Cake

A slice of banana pudding is topped with whipped cream and a banana slice, served on a white plate.
Banana Pudding Icebox Cake. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Banana pudding icebox cake is a great way to whip up something sweet without spending all day in the kitchen. Just layer it together in the morning, and it’s ready to impress by dinnertime. Perfect for holidays, parties or potlucks — the hardest part is waiting for it to chill.
Get the Recipe: Banana Pudding Icebox Cake