13 Out-of-the-Box Cake Mix Recipes to Sweeten Your Life

That box of yellow cake mix in your pantry has more uses than the traditional cake. Sure, you could make an easy cake in less than an hour. But with these cake mix recipes, you can make other sweet treats you never thought would be so simple. 

If you prefer cookies over cake, don't toss that cake mix just yet. Transform it into one of the easiest cookie recipes ever with countless variations.

Ingredients

• One box of any cake mix
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup vegetable oil

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
3. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
4. Portion dough onto a baking sheet using two spoons or a cookie scoop.
5. Bake for ten minutes.

If you have a few very ripe bananas and a box of yellow cake mix, you have almost everything you need to make delicious banana bread. Betty Crocker shows you how to make this easy cake mix banana bread so you can enjoy a sweet treat or find your coffee's perfect companion. 

Dump cakes are another fully customizable dessert you can make with cake mix. They're the perfect marriage between cobbler and cake. We have five amazing dump cake recipes you can make in your slow cooker, and they all include a box of cake mix. 

Related: Costco Cake Hacks to Create Bespoke Cakes for Any Occasion

So many desserts taste better in bar form, including these salted caramel butter cake bars from Practically Homemade. Once you have a box of butter cake mix, you only need a few more ingredients to make this decadent treat. This is a perfect, unique dessert for your next gathering, and no one will ever believe how little time you spent making it.

You're craving brownies, but all you have is chocolate cake mix. You're not worried, though, because it's an easy baking fix to transform that box of cake into a batch of brownies.

Ingredients

• 1 box chocolate cake mix
• ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
2. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
3. Mix all your ingredients until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. 
4. Bake for 25 minutes or until brownies are set on top but slightly gooey in the center. 

This might be the easiest way you could make a warm and comforting cobbler. All you need is cake mix, two additional ingredients, and a scoop of ice cream if you plan to eat cobbler the right way.

Ingredients

• 1 box of yellow cake mix
• 2 cans of any fruit pie filling
• 1 stick of unsalted butter (melted)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13" baking dish.
2. Pour both cans of filling into the baking dish.
3. Sprinkle cake mix on top.
4. Pour the melted butter over the cake mix.
5. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Cookies, cake, and dessert bars become one epic dessert in this cake mix hack. The box of funfetti cake mix you keep on hand for school events is just begging to be transformed with this recipe. All Things Mamma shows you how to make this epic dessert with an easy sugar cookie bar recipe. 

Related: 8 Sweet Upgrades That Make Canned Frosting Taste Amazing

Cake mix can help you with countless desserts, but it can also make your mornings a little easier. The whole family will flock to the table when you announce you're serving these waffles to start the day.

Prepare your cake mix as usual, according to the package instructions. Give your waffle maker a spritz with baking spray and pour in the batter. Cook for three or four minutes then serve up cake waffles to make any day feel like a special occasion.

There's more to cake mix than traditional desserts and breakfast hacks. It can also make a quick and crowd-pleasing dip for your next party. 

Ingredients

• 1 box white cake mix
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 8 ounces whipped topping
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• Fruit, cookies, and other items for dipping

Instructions

1. Bake your cake mix on a baking sheet for five minutes at 350°F to make it safe for consuming raw. Allow it to cool before using. 
2. Start whipping your cream cheese and whipped topping in a stand mixer until fluffy.
3. Add your cake mix, vanilla, and milk.
4. Toss in sprinkles or other garnishes then serve with dippers.

Homemade biscotti sounds intimidating, but a box of yellow cake mix could give you enough confidence to give it a go. Brew your strongest coffee and invite a few friends over because you're going to wow them with your take on biscotti. Pie Lady Bakes gives you an easy breakdown of how to make biscotti with cake mix. 

If you have two boxes of Jiffy corn muffin mix and a box of yellow cake mix, you've just discovered your side dish for tonight's dinner. This recipe (from Mom's Dinner) shows you how to jazz up that Jiffy mix with yellow cake mix for a sweeter take on the classic. 

Nostalgia and simplicity come together for this easy dessert. If you have a spare box of chocolate cake mix then you have the base for these Texas sheet cake cookies (from Practically Homemade). This one might transport you right back to birthday celebrations at grandma's house or those special school days when chocolate cake was served in the lunch room. 

Related: 13 Nostalgic Foods That Send Us Right Back to Childhood 

Your next smoothie gets a sweet spin with a dash of your favorite cake mix. From fruity breakfast smoothies to decadent protein smoothies, just a bit of cake mix goes a long way. Add a tablespoon or two to jazz up your smoothie without adding a ton of extra sugar.

If you're in the mood for cake, by all means, bake one with your favorite mix. But if your sweet tooth calls for something else, don't write that box of cake mix off. Try something new and see just how versatile those mixes can be, and be sure to put your own sweet spin on it.