Southern Living
food
Desserts
14 Reasons You Should Buy That Box of Cake Mix

14 Reasons You Should Buy That Box of Cake Mix

These dreamy cakes are anything but basic, but the prep is just that. We cut the time in half by using on of our favorite store-bought convenience ingredients: cake mix.

Start Slideshow

1 of 15

Chocolate Bundt Cake

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.

Advertisement

Advertisement

2 of 15

Naked Lemon Cake with Flower Crown

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.

3 of 15

Cupcakes with Browned Butter Frosting

Recipe: Cupcakes with Browned Butter Frosting

Our Cupcakes with Browned Butter Frosting start with boxed pound cake mix. Top them off with edible flowers for a pretty presentation.

Advertisement

4 of 15

Easy Zucchini Bread

Recipe: Easy Zucchini Bread

For best results, shred zucchini using the large holes in a box grater.

5 of 15

Mini Confetti Cakes

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.

6 of 15

Eggnog Pound Cake

Jennifer R. Davick

Recipe: Eggnog Pound Cake

Boxed pound cake, eggnog, and ground nutmeg go into this festive cake. While it may seem right at home during the holidays, we think you should enjoy it year-round. Now, where to find eggnog in July…

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

7 of 15

Rose Petal Cupcakes

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.

8 of 15

Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Cake

Recipe: Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Cake

This recipe uses not one, but two convenience ingredients: a box of German chocolate cake mix and a box of instant chocolate pudding mix. Prep only takes 15 minutes.

9 of 15

Caramel-Pecan Oatmeal Bars

Recipe: Caramel-Pecan Oatmeal Bars

When you’re in the mood for cookies, try this fiber-rich offering. These are easy to make, especially with the head start of cake mix. Serve with a cold glass of milk, and you’ll agree they are very good.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

10 of 15

Live with Holley Grainger: Last-Minute Summer Desserts

Join us live with nutritionist Holley Grainger to whip up some easy, last-minute summer dessert recipes. She's cooking up a festive macerated berry shooter; a red, white, and blue pound cake parfait; and no-drip watermelon 'popsicles.'

11 of 15

Moist Chocolate Cupcakes

Recipe: Moist Chocolate Cupcakes

Only give ingredients go into these lick-your-fingers-good cupcakes. Prep in a cinch and only takes 10 minutes hands-on time.

12 of 15

Vanilla Layer Cake with Flower Cuff

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.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

13 of 15

Orange Dreamsicle Crispy Treats

Recipe: Orange Dreamsicle Crispy Treats

We hope your sweet tooth is ready. To start, these treats use orange cake mix along with miniature marshmallows, crisp rice cereal, white chocolate morsels, and orange juice.

14 of 15

Chocolate-Butterscotch Lava Cake

Recipe: Chocolate-Butterscotch Lava Cake

This is a chocolate-lover’s dream—and it’s made in the slow cooker! Start with a package of dark chocolate cake mix and a package of chocolate instant pudding mix.

15 of 15

Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Pound Cake

Jennifer R. Davick

Recipe: Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Pound Cake

We love to serve this cake in the morning, but it's equally delicious as a dessert or after-school treat.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Up Next

Advertisement