Boxed cake mix is one of those things you pick up at the store on an impulse. You see Betty Crocker and just go for it. But then you get home and don't feel like baking a plain old cake. What you don't realize is that there are plenty of things to make with cake mix that aren't cake.
Mix it up a little bit with one of these recipes next time you're looking to make a dessert using that box of cake mix that's sitting in your pantry. Your friends will be asking you for your secret recipe before you know it.
Birthday Pancakes
I thought I'd start off this list with an excuse to eat cake for breakfast. You can turn any type of cake mix into pancakes, but for a special birthday celebration, try this pancake recipe using boxed funfetti cake mix.
Birthday Cake Shots
While we're on the birthday theme, I thought I'd give you this birthday cake shot recipe. Cross birthday cake and booze and you're sure to be in for a fun night, whether it's actually your birthday or not.
If you're liking the idea of boozy desserts, check out this article for 25 desserts you can spike.
3-Ingredient Cookies
No matter what flavor cake mix you have, you can make some delicious cookies using this recipe. They're moist and are especially delicious when you serve them sandwich style with some icing in the middle.
Try red velvet cake mix with cream cheese icing or angel's food cake mix with chocolate buttercream icing. You can even get crazy and add mix-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit into the cookie mix.
Cake Batter Pull Apart Bread
This simple and delicious recipe is great for when you are craving a carby dessert with cake flavor, but don't want to go through the whole process of actually baking a cake. It's perfect for breathing life into an almost-stale loaf.
If you're digging the idea of pull-apart bread, but are more of a savory person, try one of these recipes.
Cake Batter Milkshake
Turn your run-of-the-mill milkshake into an even more decadent treat by blending in a bit of your favorite cake mix. This recipe gives you the perfect balance of ingredients for a think, creamy milkshake.
Pumpkin Spice Cookies
Using pumpkin puree instead of traditional add-ins for boxed cake mix cuts down on fat and calories and results in an even more moist, flavorful cookie. This is the perfect recipe to bring to a fall potluck and it's healthy enough to eat for a snack.
Birthday Cake Soft Pretzels
This out of the (cake) box recipe takes regular old pretzels and turns them into a snack that will satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth. It's ready in less than 10 minutes, so no more waiting for a cake to bake to curb your cravings.
Puppy Chow
The next time you're craving a nostalgic childhood sweet snack, try making puppy chow with cake mix. This recipe makes a red velvet, white chocolate, and cream cheese flavor, but you can get creative by switching up the cake mix.
Watermelon Whoopee Pies
Using strawberry cake mix, chocolate chips, buttercream frosting, and green sprinkles, you can make watermelon whoopee pies. These are a fun dessert to bring to your next backyard barbecue, with none of the hassle of baking from scratch.
#SpoonTip: You could also try using red velvet cake mix and cream cheese frosting for more vibrant color.
Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins
These simple two-ingredient muffins combine only pumpkin puree and chocolate cake mix. They're healthy enough to enjoy for breakfast and just have a hint of pumpkin alongside strong chocolate flavor. Try mixing up the cake mix you use for different flavors.
Cake Balls
Although this recipe has "cake" in the title, I don't really count it as cake. Cake balls are a more moist and decadent relative of regular cake that are the perfect finger food for parties. Check out this recipe for a patriotic version.
Apple Butter Bars
In my option, apples are right up there with pumpkin in the competition for the most classic fall flavor. Use this recipe to turn your cake mix into delicious apple butter bars that are great for snacking or dessert all year long.
No-Bake Birthday Cake Cheesecake
If you want the full on experience of eating birthday cake, but don't want to turn on the oven, check out this recipe. It combines cheesecake and birthday cake inside a graham cracker crust. What more could you want?
Dunkaroo Dip
Throw it back to the good old days of eating Dunkaroos and watching cartoons with this three-ingredient recipe. In under five minutes, you can be dipping graham crackers or teddy grahams in a sugary, icing-like concoction.
No-Churn Cake Batter Ice Cream
This recipe has everything going for it to make it the best hot-day dessert ever. It only uses four ingredients, is low-calorie, and doesn't require an ice cream maker. Mix it all up, throw it in the freezer, and you have a feel-good dessert in no time.
Personal Peach Cobbler
One of the drawbacks of liking to cook when you live alone is having to deal with eating lots of leftovers or wasting a lot of food. With this recipe, you can use your cake mix to make a peach cobbler for one. No food waste and no overeating.
Cake Batter and White Chocolate Caramel Corn
Popcorn is one of those great snack bases that tastes great pretty much any way you want to spice it up. You can go savory with butter or cayenne pepper or try this recipe to make it a sweet treat.
Baking a plain old cake from boxed cake mix can get a little boring and leave you feeling unsatisfied. Thankfully, there are plenty things to make with cake mixes of all flavors.