Welcome to Out of the Box Baking!
We treat boxed mixes as a starting point, not the finished product.
Latest Posts
Strawberry Dream Cupcakes
These Strawberry Dream Cupcakes start with a white cake mix and are enhanced with freeze-dried strawberries, sour cream, strawberry extract, and milk for a soft, bakery-style crumb. Finished with stabilized whipped cream and strawberry swirls, they’re light, fluffy, and irresistible.
Ultimate Monster Cookies
Chewy, classic monster cookies are simple and delicious! These easy oatmeal cookies are loaded with peanut butter, peanuts, pretzels and M&Ms and can be made year-round or dressed up as festive Christmas monster cookies.
Easy Heath Toffee Fudge
Rich, creamy Heath Toffee Fudge made with chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. This easy, no-fail fudge recipe is perfect for holiday gifts, cookie trays, and parties.
Mint M&M Brownie Cookies
Mint M&M brownie cookies made with a boxed brownie mix are soft, fudgy, and packed with minty chocolate flavor. A quick, easy cookie recipe perfect for any occasion.
Cookies for Kids: Easy, Fun Treats to Bake All Year Long
Kid-friendly cookies, bars, brownies, and blondies perfect for baking all year long. Easy, fun treats kids love to bake and eat—great for families, parties, and classrooms.
Peppermint Bark Brownies
These Peppermint Bark Brownies are made with a boxed brownie mix, chopped Andes mints, and a crisp peppermint bark topping. An easy, festive chocolate dessert perfect for holidays, parties, and cookie trays.
Cheesecake Recipes You’ll Love (Baked, No-Bake, Bars & Bites)
Discover our favorite cheesecake recipes, including baked cheesecakes, no-bake desserts, bars, cookies, and bite-size treats—easy, creamy, and perfect for any occasion.
Luscious Raspberry Cheesecake Bites
Creamy baked cheesecake bites with a thick graham cracker crust, sliced into perfect squares and topped with fresh raspberries — ideal for parties and events.
The Boxed Mix Philosophy
Why boxed mixes make sense for home bakers—how a reliable base, real ingredients, and thoughtful upgrades lead to confident, stress-free baking.
Hot Cocoa Brownies (Doctored Brownie Mix)
Rich, fudgy brownies with real hot cocoa flavor, melty chocolate chips, and a cozy café-style finish
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About Janice
Let’s Step Out of the Box, Y’all!
If you love to bake and you’re looking for great hacks that start with a boxed mix, you’ve come to the right place! Out of the Box Baking is the brain-child of Janice Thompson (yours truly), an inspirational author of over 165 books and self-proclaimed cake and cookie expert.




































