When in baking-doubt, cake mixes are always a safe bet to stick with. What a lot of people don’t know is that boxed cake mixes are good for making all kinds of treats besides cakes.

Story by Andrea Ocanas

Illustrations by Kathlin Trang

The whole idea behind a boxed cake mix is to make homemade baking easier. By adding just a few extra ingredients, your baking skills will go from amateur to professional faster than you can preheat your oven.

Brownies 

Of course, brownie mix exists, but what happens if you’re pressed for time and only have a chocolate cake mix on hand? This recipe will leave you with nothing but chocolatey, cakey goodness.

Cookies

Now is your chance to make those cakey little pink cookies you used to love as a kid. All you need is a funfetti cake mix, some oil, eggs and a dollop of frosting to recreate your favorite memories following this recipe. 

Doughnuts

Making your own yeast doughnuts can be one tough feat to accomplish but this task becomes a little easier with the help of an ever-handy cake mix. All you have to do is bake them, no frying this time. With all of the cake mix flavors out there, the possibilities are truly endless once you look at this recipe. 

Whoopie Pies

Sometimes, it can be hard to tell whether you’re craving cake or cookies. Get the best of both worlds with some homemade whoopie pies. Whoopie pies look complex to make, but with the help of cake mix and this guide, you can be the pastry chefs you’ve always wanted to be.

Waffles

Think back to the days when you used to beg your mom to let you have dessert for breakfast and she always turned you down. The day has come where now you can have your cake and eat it too. Perfect for any special occasion breakfast, make sure to keep your cake mixes and sprinkles on hand for this one.

Banana Bread

Bread is another food that can be tricky to make without a perfected recipe. Using a boxed cake mix leads to a quick delicious loaf, perfect for sharing with friends and family. Make the classic banana bread more unique by adding chocolate chips, butterscotch, or even coconut. 

Chocolate Ice Cream

The boxed cake mix is a versatile ingredient that can even be used to make ice cream. With the help of some heavy cream, milk and this recipe, a simple chocolate cake mix can become rich chocolate ice cream in just a few churns.