18 Easy Recipes That Start With a Box Mix

In need of a quick and easy dessert or brunch dish? Look no further than your pantry! While pantry recipes may be known best for pastas and soups, that lingering box of cake, brownie, or pancake mix can certainly be put to good use—and for far more than just cakes. In fact, box mixes contain many of the ingredients needed for a wide variety of baked goods (like flour, sweeteners, and leaveners), that simplify everything from quick breads to quiche. These red velvet cinnamon rolls are a prime example. Using cake mix to make yeasted cinnamon rolls cuts down on kneading and proofing time, so they are on your table in less time and with less hassle. The red velvet mix makes them as visually striking as they are delicious. Serve at brunch for a delicious (and beautiful) sweet treat!

Much like a dump cake, this easy peach cobbler is made by spreading dry cake mix over a syrupy filling and then covering the top with pats of butter. In the oven, the juices from the filling and the melting butter slowly moisten the cake mix to create the batter. It's much easier than whipping up a batter from scratch — and faster, too!

Cake mix is the secret shortcut to light, fluffy cookies. Crispy cornflakes, pretzels and big chunks of dark chocolate give these an irresistible combination of crunch and gooiness. Toss in some sprinkles just for fun!

This beautiful yet simple banana bread comes together with just three basic, easy-to-find ingredients— bananas, eggs and store-bought cake mix! The bananas make this quick bread moist and sweet, while the spice cake mix adds a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg. Cut the banana bread into thick slices and serve for breakfast, dessert or even an indulgent snack.

This retro pistachio pudding cake is made easily with the help of convenience products but packs a major punch in flavor and presentation. Boxed cake mix adds that quintessential fluffy texture, while pistachio pudding mix provides a lovely nutty flavor and beautiful green hue. And the secret ingredient: seltzer!

This crustless quiche has just enough eggs to be recognizably quiche-y, but most of the body comes from a surprising ingredient: pancake mix! This inventive hack for quiche was extremely popular in the ‘60s and ‘70s and, like all trends, has come back around as a quick, easy and reliable recipe. The filling here is a breakfast combo of bacon, onion and cheese, but feel free to customize it however you like.

Consider this recipe the ultimate cookie hack. A combination of brownie mix, butter, eggs and chocolate chips creates the fudgiest chocolate chip cookie ever that’s made even better with a cold glass of milk. Want to dress them up a little? Feel free to add crushed candies, white chocolate or whatever you have on hand.

Who says churros are only for carnivals? Flavor pancake batter with vanilla and cinnamon, then fry them at home for a fun, delectable treat. The batter ensures that the churros will remain light and fluffy on the inside!

When you need an easy-peasy dessert that’s sure to please, grab a box of cake mix. With a few simple add-ins (and Ree’s recipe) you can turn it into a pan of chewy, candy-studded treat bars! These are the perfect pack-and-go treats, so it's a great recipe to have in your back pocket.

No pancake mix needed here! Thanks to cake mix, these pancakes are fluffy and a bit sweeter than usual, which makes them a perfect match for the tart lemony-blueberry sauce spooned on top. Blueberries can vary in texture and water content, so feel free to adjust the consistency of the sauce with either a few extra minutes of cooking time to thicken it or a few extra tablespoons of water to thin it.

Our tasters went nuts for these muffins — they're moist, fragrant, and put big old bakery muffins to shame. A big dollop of yogurt in the batter makes them moist and tender. Plus, the orange zest in the sweet glaze adds a punch of acidity without being overbearing.

Baking mix and canned peaches are the keys to this ultra-easy peach cobbler that can be enjoyed any time of year. We love the rustic look of the cobbler in a cast-iron pan but you can also make it in a baking dish. Either way, a scoop of vanilla ice cream is the perfect topper.

Need a sweet treat for a crowd? This ice cream cake is sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike. You can add the sundae toppings before serving, or put them out in bowls to let each person personalize his or her own slice.

If you’re craving an omelet from a certain pancake house, this copycat recipe will surely do the trick. Ever wondered why their omelets are just so delicious? A bit of pancake batter adds sweetness, moisture and an extra-fluffy texture.

This recipe requires just seven ingredients — and you probably have most of them in the pantry already! Chocolate cake mix makes a big, chewy cookie that’s perfect for sandwiching a marshmallow-mint filling. The cookies will puff up in the oven but settle as they cool, so be sure to allow plenty of time for them to sit before filling.

This pumpkin bread is beautiful enough to give as a present — and it requires only three ingredients! The secret is in using pumpkin pie filling, which is already generously spiced and sweetened. Combine it with cake mix and you get a ton of flavor with very little effort.

Pancake mix serves as the base for Ree's dessert crepes. She thins out the mix with milk and melted butter to get the perfect consistency. Fill with berries and top with whipped cream and chocolate syrup for a rich, flavorful dessert!