35 Delicious Ways to Use Pudding Mix in Desserts

Chocolate Overload Cake

"This cake earned me First Prize at the county fair," says recipe creator Denise. With over six thousand 5-star reviews, this is one of the most beloved chocolate cakes on Dinogo. Home cook Ellen E. shares, "This chocolate cake is incredible! I've been making it for two years now, for countless occasions, and it always receives glowing praise."

Jumbo Ding Dong Cake

"What an amazing idea! I turned mine into cupcakes and filled them with a pastry bag for a birthday party, and everyone was asking for the recipe," says Brandy.

Chocolate Overload III

Just four ingredients are all you need to create this five-star sensation. "It's so simple, I almost feel embarrassed when I get all the compliments from friends," says chellebelle. "For an extra chocolatey kick, try drizzling some hot fudge sauce between the whipped topping and brownie layers."

S'mores Popsicles®

"This recipe was created by my 13-year-old daughter for a quick, delicious summer treat. It's simple for anyone to make and enjoy," says Beilerfam.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

"I added a layer of thin banana slices between the peanut butter and chocolate pudding, then topped it with chocolate chips. So delicious!" —BN61079

Simple Chocolate Cookies

"These cookies are a hit! They're super easy to make, incredibly chewy, and packed with chocolate flavor. I love making cookie sandwiches by spreading buttercream frosting between two cookies." —lynnmarie

• 18 of Our Most Chocolaty Chocolate Cookies

Ultimate Chocolate Turtles® Cheesecake

"Followed the recipe exactly and wouldn't change a thing. It was amazing! Already sharing the recipe — a real crowd-pleaser." —mobaker

RumChata® Pudding Shots

"I made these with vanilla cheesecake pudding and chocolate too. Won the 'Best Drink' trophy at a friend's party. So simple and delicious!" —Grandma Ham 2

Award Winning Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

"Everyone asks for this recipe when I bring them to a potluck. To make them truly award-winning, my daughter, Tegan, baked them for a cookie contest and earned a red ribbon! You can use any flavor of pudding you like in this recipe," says Debbi Borsick.

• More Top-Rated Cookie Recipes

Cinnamon Rolls III

"I'd never made cinnamon rolls from scratch before this weekend, but I gave this recipe a try. They're amazing and super easy, even for a beginner like me!" —Louise Maxine

• See our entire collection of cinnamon roll recipes here.

The Ultimate Banana Pudding

"This one's a winner!! The only change I made was using cook 'n serve pudding and letting it cool. It turned out much creamier than using the instant variety." —JRP-DLP

• 13 Best Banana Pudding Recipes That Would Even Impress Grandma

Golden Rum Cake

"I've made this recipe several times, experimenting with different types of rum. The best combination is using Bacardi Dark/Select or Myers for the cake, and Appleton Estates for the glaze. If you can't find Appleton Estates, Bacardi or Myers will work, but Appleton really makes the glaze sweeter and adds a slight tanginess," says Lindsay W.

No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Cake

"The only change I made was out of necessity: I used half-and-half for the pudding mix since I was out of milk. It turned out so rich and creamy! My husband said it was the best dessert I've ever made," says Crystal S. "Everyone who tried it gave rave reviews!"

Cream Puffs

"So simple yet so elegant! I've made this recipe countless times and never changed a thing." —MommyFromSeattle

Heath Bar Pie

"My family couldn't believe I made this! It was so delicious. I can't even tell you about the leftovers—there weren't any. The only change I made was using a package of Heath Bar pieces instead of breaking up my own," says Kathy Fulop Chamberlain.

• More Pie Recipes

Pumpkin Pie Pudding Shots

"Spiced rum gives a fun twist to your table or makes for a great adult treat on Halloween night. These pudding shots are even more delightful with a layer of graham cracker or wafer crumbs." —TINATED

• Pumpkin Desserts That Make Pie Jealous

Margarita Cake

"This cake was a hit at two separate events! I couldn't find orange cake mix, so I used white cake mix and added 1 tablespoon of grated orange rind, some fresh orange juice, and 2 teaspoons of orange extract. I also made extra glaze and coated the cake again before serving," says Kim D.

Berry Trifle

"This recipe is always a crowd-pleaser. One tip: After adding the first layer of cake and berries, pour half of the pudding mixture over the top, then add the second layer and pour the rest of the pudding mixture. The pudding is too thick to cover the bottom layer if you only pour it over the top," says Abby Zollinger Schultz.

• Top-Rated Trifle Recipes

Lemon Poke Cake II

"So lemony and absolutely delicious! I used both lemon cake mix and lemon pudding mix. I also doubled the glaze amount and generously poured it over the cake, letting it soak into every inch. It turned out incredibly tasty!" —yummywife

Key Lime Cake II

"The cupcakes turned out to be more like a lemon cake than lime, but they were still incredibly moist and delicious. I opted for a lime cream cheese frosting, using one of the lemon cream cheese frosting recipes on this site, simply swapping in lime. They were a big hit at the party!" —mominml

Copycat of Starbucks® Lemon Bread

"This was incredible! It tasted almost exactly like the Starbucks lemon loaf. I made a mistake by using instant pudding, but added a bit more liquid, and it turned out perfect. I brought it to work and it was gone within an hour! I highly recommend this recipe and will definitely make it again," says Kate.

Lemon Pudding Cookies

"This recipe is quick and easy, and the cookies turn out wonderfully soft, which is exactly how I like them! I’m planning to try other pudding flavors next time," says Stephanie. Tip: For a simple glaze, mix lemon juice with powdered sugar.

Outrageous Lemon Berry Trifle

"It was absolutely delicious and became an instant favorite. I’ll definitely be making it again this summer. It’s so refreshing," says codenamejag.

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

"These were so quick and simple to make! The only adjustment I made was to add a drizzle of glaze made from powdered sugar, lemon juice, and zest. My husband, who’s not typically a muffin fan, thought they were amazing," says Deanna Rebman Sommers.

Lemon Lush

"This is always a top request at our family gatherings and summer picnics! It’s like a cooler, creamier version of lemon meringue pie, but even better," says MANOPA.

• Pucker Up for Our 21 Best Sweet/Tart Lemon Desserts

Butterscotch Pecan Cookies

"Mmm! Butterscotch is one of my favorites, and these did not disappoint. They were super simple to make too," says sweetiepeaz.

Butterscotch Pudding Pancakes

"These pancakes are the perfect mix of sweet and savory, especially when paired with a side of crispy bacon. I created this twist to break up our usual breakfast routine. Serve with sautéed apples and maple syrup for an extra treat," says Leslie Kelly.

• How to Make the Best Pancakes From Scratch

Pumpkin Ginger Cupcakes

"These were the star of the party! Someone even exclaimed, 'These are to die for!' Other guests mentioned that they were even better than the pricey cupcakes from a local shop," says Julie.

• 11 of the Easiest Pumpkin Desserts You'll Ever Make

Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies

"These are absolutely amazing! I was skeptical at first, but after tasting them, I understood the hype. I made three variations: lemon pudding with white chocolate chips, vanilla pudding with butterscotch chips, and butterscotch pudding with milk chocolate chips," says KRANEY.

Quick and Easy Monkey Bread

"This is hands down the best cinnamon roll monkey bread I've ever made. Everyone goes crazy for it! It's definitely a keeper. One tweak I made was dipping each piece of dough in melted butter before assembling—it really makes it extra gooey," says A Baker's Dozen.

• More Monkey Bread

Apple Snicker Salad

"This recipe is fantastic as it is, but the secret is the butterscotch pudding! To make breaking the candy bars easier, freeze them first. Then, place them on a hard surface and give them a good whack with a hammer. This will break them into perfect little pieces," says scot.

Banana Trifle

"This was absolutely delicious! I followed the recipe exactly, and it turned out beautifully. For the vanilla wafers, I put them in a ziplock bag and used a rolling pin to crush them. When serving, I topped it off with extra crushed wafers for a perfect finishing touch. It was the star of the evening," says SHORECOOK.

• We have a bunch of banana recipes here, too.

Easy Banana Pudding Cake

"This cake is always a hit with my family! I like to layer three or four sliced bananas on top before adding the whipped cream," says Diane Culifer Akerman. "It's absolutely delicious!"

Banana Cream Pie Made Easy

"This is super simple and absolutely delicious! I skipped the ice cubes and it turned out with the perfect texture. I can definitely see this working with chocolate cream as well!" —idagal

Fast and Easy Creamy Ice Cream

"This two-ingredient ice cream recipe never fails to create thick, creamy goodness. It’s versatile too—you can make it fat-free or sugar-free in any flavor of pudding mix!" —Andi

Pudding mix is a secret weapon when it comes to making all sorts of tasty treats! Check out these recipe collections for tons of ideas:

• Pudding Mix Frosting Recipes
• How to Turn Pudding Mix Into Frozen Desserts
• Get Cake Recipes Made With Pudding Mix