Love Dolly Parton? Explore this collection of Dolly Parton-inspired cakes, cookies, breads, bars, and easy Southern desserts.

A Little Bit Country, A Whole Lot of Sweet

If you've spent much time around Out of the Box Baking, you already know that I love taking a simple boxed mix and turning it into something completely unexpected. So when Dolly Parton teamed up with Duncan Hines to create her own line of baking mixes, you can imagine how much fun I had experimenting with them!

Over the years I've made everything from banana bread and coconut cookies to cakes, bars, brownies, and other Southern-inspired treats using Dolly's mixes. I've also taken inspiration from Dolly herself, from the famous cinnamon bread at Dollywood to some of the old-fashioned Southern desserts that just seem to fit her perfectly.

What started with a recipe or two has turned into a whole collection, so I decided it was time to put all of my Dolly Parton-inspired recipes in one place.

Why Dolly?

For me, this collection goes beyond a box of cake mix. I've loved Dolly's music and personality for most of my life, but I've always especially appreciated her faith, generosity, humor, and deep love for her Tennessee roots.

I recently wrote a personal tribute called Dolly, I Will Always Love You, where I shared more about what Dolly has meant to me through the years. If you're a Dolly fan, I hope you'll take a few minutes to read it.

Check out the DOLLY, I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU tribute.

Now, let's get to the baking!

Dolly Parton Cakes

Dolly Parton Pineapple Coconut Cake

If you love tropical flavors, this easy cake brings pineapple and coconut together in one sweet Southern dessert. It's a terrific way to dress up a Dolly Parton cake mix and turn it into something special.

Check out the Dolly Parton Pineapple Coconut Cake!

Dolly Parton Mississippi Mud Cake

This one's for the serious chocolate lovers! Dolly Parton chocolate cake mix becomes the base for a rich Mississippi mud cake topped with marshmallows, chocolate, and pecans. It's gooey, messy, unapologetically sweet—and definitely a fork-required dessert.

Check out the Dolly Parton Mississippi Mud Cake.

Dolly Parton Strawberry Pound Cake

Dolly's strawberry cake mix makes a pretty pink Bundt-style pound cake with a tender crumb and a light strawberry flavor. I found that the berry flavor comes through better when the cake is served at room temperature, so give it a little time out of the refrigerator before slicing.

Check out the Dolly Parton Strawberry Pound Cake.

Dolly Parton Sock It to Me Cake

This old-fashioned Southern favorite gets an easy shortcut with Dolly Parton yellow cake mix. A ribbon of cinnamon, brown sugar, and pecans runs through the center, giving you something wonderful in just about every slice.

Check out the Dolly Parton Sock It to Me Cake

Dolly Parton Cookies & Bars

Dolly Parton Banana Bread Cookies

Banana bread meets cookies in this fun cake-mix recipe. These easy cookies have all of those cozy banana flavors in a treat you can pick up and eat with your hands.

Check out the Dolly Parton Banana Bread Cookies

Dolly Parton Coconut Cookies with Lemon Glaze

Coconut and lemon are such a lovely combination, and these easy cookies make the most of both. They start with Dolly Parton coconut cake mix and finish with a bright lemon glaze.

Check out the Dolly Parton Coconut Cookies with Lemon Glaze

Dolly Parton Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies with Nutella

These might look fancy, but they start with a box of Dolly Parton chocolate cake mix. The cookies have an almost brownie-like texture, and those little centers of creamy Nutella make them especially decadent.

Check out the Dolly Parton Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies with Nutella

Dolly Parton Gooey Butter Cake

Oh, these bars! A buttery cake-mix crust topped with a sweet cream cheese layer makes them rich, soft, gooey, and dangerously easy to eat. If you love old-fashioned gooey butter cake, put this one near the top of your list.

Check out the Dolly Parton Gooey Butter Bars.

Dolly Parton Strawberry Lemonade Cheesecake Bars

These cool and creamy bars start with a buttery Dolly Parton strawberry cake-mix crust, followed by a tangy lemon cream layer, strawberry pie filling, and fresh berries. They’re sweet, tart, fruity, and especially refreshing served cold. 

Check out the Dolly Parton Strawberry Lemonade Cheesecake Bars

Dolly Parton Breads

Dollywood Cinnamon Bread

If you've ever visited Dollywood, there's a good chance you've heard about the famous cinnamon bread. My copycat version starts with frozen bread dough, making it surprisingly easy to recreate that buttery cinnamon-sugar goodness at home.

Check out the Dollywood Cinnamon Bread – Copycat Recipe

Dolly Parton Banana Bread

This easy banana bread starts with Dolly Parton's banana cake mix, giving you a shortcut to a moist, flavorful loaf. It's perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon treat with a cup of coffee.

Check out the Dolly Parton Banana Bread.

More Dolly-Inspired Southern Sweets

Dolly Parton Apples & Bananas Dump Cake

Apples and bananas might sound like an unusual pairing, but they come together beautifully in this ridiculously simple dump cake. It's warm, fruity, comforting, and exactly the sort of easy dessert I love making from a boxed mix.

Check out the Dolly Parton Apples & Bananas Dump Cake.

More Dolly Baking Is Coming!

I have a feeling this collection isn't finished yet. There are simply too many fun things you can do with Dolly Parton's baking mixes—and too many Southern sweets still calling my name.

So bookmark this page and check back from time to time. Whenever another Dolly-inspired recipe comes out of my kitchen, I'll add it right here.

Which Dolly Parton Recipe Should You Try First?

If you're not sure where to begin, I'd start with the Dollywood Cinnamon Bread if you're in the mood for something warm and nostalgic, the Gooey Butter Bars if you're craving something outrageously rich, or the Sock It to Me Cakeif you want a classic Southern cake to serve with coffee.

And if you've got one of Dolly's cake mixes sitting in your pantry and you're wondering what to do with it, you've definitely come to the right place.

Happy baking, y'all!

Thanks for Stopping By, Friends!

If you make any of these recipes and enjoy them, please leave a comment or review. And before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?