Box Cake Mix Recipes that Taste Homemade

Caitlin Bensel
Southern bakers have always been crafty with the ingredients they have on hand and the time they have to use them. Even if Mama is a diehard from-scratch baker, there are times when everyone has to turn to a box of cake mix. These dreamy cakes are anything but basic, but the prep is just that. With these incredible box cake mix recipes, not a soul at the party will know you had a little help from Betty Crocker. Whether you’re short on time, are a novice baker, or need an easy baking project to do with the kids this weekend, these box cake recipes are so much fun. With festive recipes using boxed cake mix like Candy Cane Cake Bars, Halloween Cake Pops, Heart Cookies, Pumpkin Dump Cake, and more, you’ll have simple cake recipes for every holiday this year. You’ll be amazed at how homemade these cake recipes taste from simply adding a few ingredients and a dreamy frosting. So go ahead and hit the baking aisle—we promise it’ll be worth it.  
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Chocolate Bundt Cake

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Chocolate Bundt Cake

The key to this super simple, super delicious chocolate Bundt cake? Boxed cake mix and boxed brownie mix.

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Praline Mini Cakes

Southern Living

Recipe: Praline Mini Cakes

If you’re not into sharing dessert (we understand), these personal cakes are just the right size.

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Naked Lemon Cake with Flower Crown

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Naked Lemon Cake with Flower Crown

This cake is simple and fresh, with a lemon cake base and a light layer of frosting.

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Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Want the chewiest cookies? Use cake mix! Plus, the higher oil content helps them keep better than regular cookies.

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Mini Confetti Cakes

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Mini Confetti Cakes

These mini two-layer cakes are perfect for a bridal or baby shower. Top them with color-coordinated edible flowers.

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Peach Cobbler

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Peach Cobbler

This might be the easiest peach cobbler recipe you ever make: Simply put all the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it do its thing!

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Rose Petal Cupcakes

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Rose Petal Cupcakes

We flavored our homemade buttercream with rose and vanilla, but you can make it whatever you want. With the addition of edible rose petals, the rose flavor is a nice touch.

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Chocolate-Peanut Butter Mousse Cake

Photo: J. Savage Gibson

Recipe: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Mousse Cake

If you’re not in the mood to cut a layer cake for every guest at the party, this recipe includes an option to make personal parfaits instead.

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Vanilla Layer Cake with Flower Cuff

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Vanilla Layer Cake with Flower Cuff

If you’re looking for an impressive layer cake without all the fuss, we love this one. Yellow cake mix, homemade buttercream, and an abundance of flowers combine for a show-stopper dessert.

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Mint Chocolate Chip Ice-Cream Cake

Recipe: Mint Chocolate Chip Ice-Cream Cake

This refreshing ice-cream cake is a summertime dream come true.

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Candy Cane Cake Bars

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Candy Cane Cake Bars

These festive bars make an adorable Christmas dessert or gift in a pretty tin.

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Blackberry-Raspberry Truffle Cake

Recipe: Blackberry-Raspberry Truffle Cake

The presentation for this easy holiday cake couldn’t be prettier, so no one will know it started with a box of mix.

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Pumpkin Dump Cake

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pumpkin Dump Cake

Pumpkin pie is a fall favorite, but it can’t feed a huge crowd. This easy dump cake has the same flavor you love, and every guest will get a slice. Homemade whipped cream and freshly grated nutmeg are a delicious seasonal topping to make it feel holiday-worthy.

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SweeTARTS and Smarties Tie-Dye Cake

Alison Miksch

Recipe: SweeTARTS and Smarties Tie-Dye Cake

Sheet cakes are ideal for birthdays because they’re festive and feed even the biggest party. This colorful cake is a callback to the ’70s, but today’s kids will eat it right up.

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Red Velvet Cake Balls

Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Balls

Whether for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or any celebration, these cake bites are a cute and easy way to serve dessert.

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Snickers Cake

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Snickers Cake

This decadent chocolate-caramel cake is uses Snickers in the cake mix and as a garnish.

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Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

Recipe: Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

Would you believe this gorgeous cake came from the slow cooker? You should!

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Sweet Potato Sheet Cake

Southern Living

Recipe: Sweet Potato Sheet Cake

This sweet and salty cake is the ultimate fall dessert for your at-home football watch party or Thanksgiving feast.

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Heart Cookies

Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Heart Cookies

These chewy cookies are the sweetest way to a party spread that’s Instagram-worthy.

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Gingerbread Cake With Stout Buttercream

Southern Living

Recipe: Gingerbread Cake With Stout Buttercream

It seems too good to be true that this holiday stunner only takes five ingredients to make.

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Apricot-Almond Coffee Cake

Southern Living

Recipe: Apricot-Almond Coffee Cake

Brunch with the girls? This easy breakfast treat pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee.

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Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting

Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

Recipe: Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting

Southerners know: Everything tastes better with a little Cheerwine in the mix!

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Candy Corn Cake

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Candy Corn Cake

You can make the layers for this colorful cake ahead of time and freeze them until your Halloween party.

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Reese’s Cake

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Reese’s Cake

This Reese’s-garnished cake looks beautiful, but when you cut into it, the peanut butter-cream cheese filling is the best surprise.

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Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Greg DuPree; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

Recipe: Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

With presentation this cute, no one will notice these birthday cupcakes were made with boxed cake mix.

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Red Velvet Peppermint Cake

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Red Velvet Peppermint Cake

This recipe adds a bit of peppermint extract to classic cream cheese icing for a festive holiday finish.

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Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake

This super-simple dump cake is best when finished off with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

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Halloween Cake Pops

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Halloween Cake Pops

How cute are these? Give the kids a batch to decorate for themselves for a fun Halloween activity.

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Sugar-and-Spice Cake

Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Recipe: Sugar-and-Spice Cake

Serve a showstopping Christmas cake with classic vanilla buttercream that guests will never realize wasn’t from scratch.

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Nehi Orange Poke Cake

Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

Recipe: Nehi Orange Poke Cake

This old-school soda cake is inspired by one of Mama Dip’s famous cakes.

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Chocolate-Cinnamon Latte Cake

Recipe: Chocolate-Cinnamon Latte Cake

Chocolate lovers will adore this dreamy cake that’s made with the hands-off help from your slow cooker.

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Candy Corn Cupcakes

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Candy Corn Cupcakes

If your kids need a last-minute treat for the class, this simple cupcake recipe can be made on the fly.

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Peach Dump Cake