A simple boxed cake mix is a fantastic foundation for a quick and easy recipe, but with creativity and experimentation, it can be elevated to a whole new level.

Ina Garten’s Lemon Yogurt Cake is the latter. I saved the recipe on a whim and then put off making it for weeks, thinking it ...

Just like the best lemon bars, this dump cake is the right balance of sweet and tart, but the tangy cream cheese filling brings this dessert to a whole new level. It’s made for sharing.

Beneath that easy icing, the cake itself is equally retro and simple to make. A Depression-era favorite known as hot milk cake, it calls for minimal butter and only two eggs, which, with egg ...

The 18-ounce cake, which combines “moist, flavorful cake with smooth vanilla buttercream frosting,” per the company, has some people calling it their “ death row meal.” ...