I’m head over heels for the cozy magic a box of spice cake mix can work. I’ve rounded up 16 ridiculously good ways to turn it into tender quick breads, soft cookies, dreamy cakes, and grab-and-go muffins. These are my new fall favorites, and I have a feeling they’re about to become yours too.
1. Pumpkin Spice Cake
This roundup is all about spiced baked goods. So there has to be at least one pumpkin cake, right?
The pumpkin puree ensures the cake is so flavorful and moist, you don’t need frosting at all. But, of course, you can take it to the next level with a silky and buttery cream cheese frosting.
2. Pumpkin Cookies With Spice Cake Mix
Soft, sweet, and bursting with chocolate and pumpkin flavors, these cookies are just as tasty for breakfast as dessert. The batter is spiked with an extra dose of pumpkin spice to give the cookies that unmistakable aroma and flavor.
Just combine the ingredients, drop spoonfuls of dough onto a baking sheet, and pop it in the oven. Easy peasy.
3. Pumpkin Bread With Cake Mix
The spiced fragrance of this pumpkin bread makes mornings just a little sweeter. And it tastes just as phenomenal as it smells, so expect to be blown away after one bite. From the moist crumb to the luscious maple glaze, this pumpkin bread is a guaranteed show-stopper.
4. 3-Ingredient Apple Spice Muffins
Following the same concept as the recipe above, these muffins also only require very few ingredients yet yield surprisingly epic results. Here, you’ll enlist the help of applesauce and diced apples to transform the cake mix into moist, tender, and heavenly apple muffins.
You can even customize the recipe to make caramel apple muffins! Just add a cup of caramel bits to the batter and bake as instructed.
5. Cake Mix Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls
You’re probably wondering how a box of cake mix will yield the same chewy texture as bread. The answer?
Active dry yeast. Like any decent cinnamon roll recipe, expect this one to require some time and effort.
6. Spice Cake Mix Cookies
Spice cake mix isn’t just for making cakes, you know! You can use it in all kinds of recipes, including these tender cake mix cookies.
This recipe is so embarrassingly easy, you can whip it up in a flash. To turn the cake batter into cookie dough, simply add your favorite cookie mix-ins. It can be anything from chocolate chips to dried fruit.
7. Caramel Apple Spice Cupcakes
Caramel apples are my favorite apple picking treat. I like them tart, crisp, and oh-so-gooey.
Luckily, this recipe captures the flavors and sticky texture in one terrific cupcake. It’s sweet, fresh, and decadent. Just what you need after a long day raking leaves.
8. Easy Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
You can't beat these pumpkin spiced cupcakes if you need something that'll travel well. They're just as tender and flavorful as the cake above, but they're ideal for parties. Top tip: give the cupcakes a crunchy texture by sprinkling chopped toasted pecans on top.
9. Time-Saver Carrot Cupcakes
Here’s another carrot-filled delight your tastebuds will enjoy. We’ve already covered the carrot cake and the carrot cookies.
Now it’s time to give the spotlight to these carrot cupcakes. From the cake base to the frosting, this dessert has the same flavor and texture profile as the two previous recipes.
10. Shortcut Carrot Cake
Carrot cakes are fantastic; there’s no denying it. But with all the work it requires – from shredding carrots to measuring ingredients – baking from scratch is time-consuming.
Here’s a simple solution: skip a few steps and use a spiced cake mix. You can even use store-bought frosting if you're in a rush!
11. Homemade Spice Cake Mix
I know I said in the beginning that this roundup would cover recipes that use a box of spiced cake mix. But allow me to be a bit rebellious for this last one.
I think it’s only fitting (poetic, even) to cap off this list with a recipe for a homemade spiced cake mix. While you will have to measure out the ingredients yourself, the process is still pretty easy.
12. Spice Cake Banana Bread
Many banana bread recipes call for cinnamon to add a slight warmth. But this one takes it to another level.
And despite its simplicity (you need just five ingredients!), this might be the best banana bread I've ever tried. Add a sweet caramel glaze, and you're all set.
13. Cream Cheese Buttercream Apple Spice Cake
I love a shortcut that feels this indulgent. Tossing apple pie filling right into the spice cake batter does double duty: it brings that sweet
14. Easy Pumpkin Coffee Cake
A day that starts with coffee and a slice (or maybe two) of this pumpkin coffee cake is a good day. Combining the goodness of pumpkin, spices, pecans, and maple icing, this coffee cake is “Fall” on a plate.
15. Gingerbread Cupcakes
Could these gingerbread cupcakes be any cuter? Showered with sprinkles and garnished with a little gingerbread person on top, I really don’t think so. If you’re looking for a festive holiday dessert to bring to a Christmas potluck, let this be it.
16. Easy Carrot Cake Cookies
If you've never tried a carrot cake cookie, prepare to swoon. Sweet, moist, and packed with flavor, these cookies are delightful, bright, and perfect for any cookie exchange or holiday party.
The only problem is it’s hard to stop after just one. So, if you’re trying to limit your sweets, I don’t recommend this recipe.