Pudding mix is a busy baker's best friend. Rely on this convenient pantry staple to bake up a dreamy cake that will taste like it was made from scratch.
21 Easy Cake Recipes That Start with a Box of Pudding
Chocolate Comfort Cake
This moist and delicious chocolate cake is usually the first dessert to go. People even eat the crumbs. It’s always my top choice for holiday dinners. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
1/22
2/22
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This luscious, lemony poppy seed cake recipe is one of many collected for a reunion cookbook. —Betty Bjarnason, Egbert, Ontario
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 253 calories, 11g fat (2g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 334mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
3/22
Banana Flip Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s a recipe that will bring back memories of your childhood. Banana flip snack cakes taste just like the banana flips we used to eat when we were kids. —Berta Hagen, International Falls, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 355 calories, 16g fat (7g saturated fat), 71mg cholesterol, 372mg sodium, 49g carbohydrate (35g sugars, 0 fiber), 4g protein.
4/22
Red Velvet Jar Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I love to make these red velvet jar cakes for friends, family and teachers. Red velvet is my favorite during the holidays, but you can use any cake and frosting flavors you like. Then dress up the jars with homemade labels and ribbons for gifting. Don't forget to tie a spoon to the jar; everyone likes to dig right in! —Lillie Collier, Mobile, Alabama
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 530 calories, 28g fat (13g saturated fat), 64mg cholesterol, 358mg sodium, 70g carbohydrate (52g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein.
5/22
Yummy Chocolate Cake
Total Time
35 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband and I are trying to eat lighter but still crave sweets. This moist, healthy chocolate cake really helps with that. With the rich frosting, it makes a decadent treat! —LaDonna Reed, Ponca City, Oklahoma
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 184 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 465mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1/2 fat.
6/22
Strawberry-Banana Pudding Cake
Total Time
3 hours 45 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This luscious pink pudding cake is so easy to put together. Top it with ice cream and fresh fruit, and you have one very happy family. —Nadine Mesch, Mount Healthy, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 373 calories, 29g fat (8g saturated fat), 90mg cholesterol, 239mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (21g sugars, 0 fiber), 5g protein.
7/22
Margarita Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This margarita cake is perfect for a picnic on a warm day. You’ll be surprised at how closely it tastes like the real thing. These other margarita dessert recipes are delicious, too. ?—Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 284 calories, 8g fat (5g saturated fat), 62mg cholesterol, 379mg sodium, 51g carbohydrate (37g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.
8/22
Pudding Poke Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Have your cake and pudding, too! This dessert gets creative by taking an ordinary boxed cake mix and turning it into a pudding-filled, frosting-topped delight. Try mixing it with different cake or pudding flavors for endless options. —Molly Allen, Hood River, Oregon
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 430 calories, 17g fat (6g saturated fat), 56mg cholesterol, 340mg sodium, 68g carbohydrate (50g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
9/22
Chocolate Strawberry Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Although I have some wonderful from-scratch recipes, this one uses a boxed mix with plenty of doctoring. It has become a popular groom’s cake that gets more attention than the wedding cake. —Nora Fitzgerald, Sevierville, Tennessee
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 666 calories, 40g fat (23g saturated fat), 120mg cholesterol, 485mg sodium, 69g carbohydrate (50g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein.
10/22
Warm Rocky Road Cake
Total Time
3 hours 20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When it's warm, this reminds me of super moist lava cake. And until I made this, I didn't think a slow-cooker cake could be so attractive. It's a real winner. —Scarlett Elrod, Newnan, Georgia
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup (calculated without ice cream): 386 calories, 17g fat (8g saturated fat), 59mg cholesterol, 431mg sodium, 55g carbohydrate (34g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein.
11/22
Down South Sweet Tea Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I think this recipe combines two of the best and most famous ingredients from the South: sweet tea and pecans! Using a cake mix simplifies prep and helps ease the holiday time crunch. —Melissa Millwood, Lyman, South Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 511 calories, 29g fat (6g saturated fat), 76mg cholesterol, 357mg sodium, 62g carbohydrate (44g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
12/22
Slow-Cooker Tropical Orange Cake
Total Time
4 hours 15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Inspired by the fruity tropical flavors of my all-time favorite yogurt, this makes
for a fresh, fun and comforting treat. Try it for a beautiful dessert that is
ridiculously easy to prepare! —Lisa Renshaw, Kansas City, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 518 calories, 20g fat (6g saturated fat), 77mg cholesterol, 596mg sodium, 73g carbohydrate (50g sugars, 1g fiber), 9g protein.
13/22
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Dump Cake
Total Time
35 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I am a huge fan of the chocolate-peanut butter combination. I'm also a fan of easy recipes, including dump cakes. On occasion, I've omitted the peanut butter chips and used 1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips with very tasty results. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 349 calories, 14g fat (6g saturated fat), 3mg cholesterol, 373mg sodium, 51g carbohydrate (33g sugars, 3g fiber), 7g protein.
14/22
Double Butterscotch Coconut Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I got this recipe for coconut cake from a co-worker years ago, then I changed it up a bit by adding a family favorite: butterscotch. It’s super easy to throw together and it makes a perfect accompaniment to coffee or tea. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 327 calories, 15g fat (10g saturated fat), 49mg cholesterol, 359mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (30g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
15/22
Mint Swirl Fudge Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Mint pairs with a silky, mild chocolate flavor for this colorful, beautiful cake that will be the talk of the holiday buffet. —Heidi Kelly, Norwood, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 436 calories, 18g fat (8g saturated fat), 54mg cholesterol, 366mg sodium, 62g carbohydrate (41g sugars, 3g fiber), 6g protein.
16/22
Slow-Cooker Spumoni Cake
Total Time
4 hours 10 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I created this cake for a holiday potluck one year. It has become one of my most requested desserts. If you prefer, you can use all semisweet chips instead of a mix. —Lisa Renshaw, Kansas City, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 588 calories, 27g fat (9g saturated fat), 9mg cholesterol, 594mg sodium, 79g carbohydrate (54g sugars, 3g fiber), 10g protein.
17/22
Spiced Sherry Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother received this recipe from a friend years ago when fluted tube pans first became popular. The cake lasts a few days in the refrigerator, if you don't eat it all right away. I personally love to serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. —Debbie Pelletier, Jupiter, Florida
18/22
Come-Home-to-Mama Chocolate Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You'll spend less than a half hour whipping up this cure-all cake that starts with a mix. Sour cream and chocolate pudding make it rich and moist, and chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate make it decadent comfort food at its finest. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 754 calories, 49g fat (25g saturated fat), 144mg cholesterol, 655mg sodium, 75g carbohydrate (53g sugars, 6g fiber), 9g protein.
19/22
Pistachio Bundt Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Pistachio pudding mix gives this moist cake a pretty tint of green. As it bakes, the outside browns nicely to form a slightly crunchy crust. The cake slices beautifully and would make a fun dessert for St. Patrick's Day.
-Becky Gant, South Bend, Indiana
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 406 calories, 20g fat (4g saturated fat), 74mg cholesterol, 415mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (34g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
20/22
Pumpkin Spice Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We sometimes call this pumpkin spice cake "Thanksgiving Cake" because it's a tasty alternative to pie, but we don't relegate it to just that holiday. I think you'll agree it's delicious any time of the year. —Kathy Rhoads, Circleville, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 318 calories, 14g fat (3g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 328mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (29g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
21/22
Marble Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Pound cake and chocolate make the best marble cake. — Ellen Riley, Birmingham, Alabama
Nutrition Facts:
1 slice: 683 calories, 33g fat (20g saturated fat), 138mg cholesterol, 330mg sodium, 97g carbohydrate (79g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
22/22
Chocolate Almond Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Fluffy white homemade frosting tops this rich chocolate almond cake. Sliced toasted almonds on top add a little crunch. —Sherri Gentry, Dallas, Oregon
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 370 calories, 15g fat (9g saturated fat), 68mg cholesterol, 386mg sodium, 55g carbohydrate (39g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
