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    Home » Desserts

    Instant Pot "Boxed" edition: cake, brownies, and corn bread

    Published: Aug 28, 2017 · Modified: May 6, 2021 by Archana · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 61 Comments

    12466 shares

    Instant pot cake, brownies, bread? Well yes!

    Do you think CAKE all the time? If you are a cake, brownie, or bread lover like me.. read on or even better rush to your pantry may be local grocery even. It's time to redefine baking with the ease of boxed cake mixes and the convenience of hands-off Instant Pot cooking.

    Instant Pot cake, brownies, bread

    I recently got the new Instant Pot DUO-60 that comes with a preset cake program. I was excited to try some basic cakes and decided to put some of our favorite boxed mixes to test.

    I made Pillsbury funfetti cake,  Duncan Hines dark chocolate fudge brownies and Trader Joe's cornbread mix all in this 7 inch X 3 inch fat daddio's cake pan.

    Pillsbury funfetti cake was the very first cake I made because it is CAKE and it is FUN to look at and eat! This is one cake that always takes me back to my childhood. It's so similar to the vanilla cake my mom made with rainbow swirls on top!

    Instant Pot cake, brownies, bread

    Funfetti Cake Mix

    Here is how to make the Funfetti cake in the Instant Pot

    1. Grease all sides of the cake pan.
    2. Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot insert.
    3. Beat cake mix, 1 cup water, ½ cup oil, and 3 whole eggs in a bowl.
    4. Pour the batter into the greased cake pan.
    5. Gently cover the cake pan with a paper towel. Using a piece of aluminum foil, cover the paper towel and gently secure the paper towel around the rim of the pan.
    6. Place the cake pan on the trivet and carefully place the trivet inside the Instant Pot.
    7. Press the  "Cake" button and set the mode to "Less". Adjust the cooking time to 50 minutes.
    8. Allow Natural Pressure Release.
    Instant Pot cake, brownies, bread

    Next, we made Duncan Hines dark chocolate fudge brownies with the brownie mix. Why? Because we get brownie requests at random times in my house! I must confess that I never turn down a brownie request. Instant Pot came in handy during hot summer evenings when heating up the entire kitchen was not a good idea.

    Instant Pot cake, brownies, bread

    Chocolate Fudge Brownies

    Here is how to make the Chocolate Fudge Brownies in the Instant Pot:

    1. Grease all sides of the cake pan.
    2. Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot insert.
    3. Stir in brownie mix, 1 egg, ⅓ cup water and ½ cup oil in a bowl until well blended.
    4. Pour the batter in the greased cake pan.
    5. Gently cover the cake pan with a paper towel. Using a piece of aluminum foil, cover the paper towel and gently secure the paper towel around the rim of the pan.
    6. Place the cake pan on the trivet and carefully place the trivet inside the Instant Pot.
    7. Press the  "Cake" button and set the mode to "Normal". Adjust the cook time to 46 minutes.
    8. Allow Natural Pressure Release.
    Instant Pot cake, brownies, bread

    Third boxed cake mix put to test was Trader Joe's cornbread Mix! I always tell myself that this is a healthier bread{cake} and pretend to ignore the 15 grams of sugar per serving. I think this method is going to come in handy for Thanksgiving this year when the ovens are stuffed with turkey!

    Instant Pot cake, brownies, bread

    Cornbread Mix

    Here is how to make the cornbread in the Instant Pot:

    1. Grease all sides of the cake pan.
    2. Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot insert.
    3. Beat cornbread mix, 1 egg, ½ cup oil, and ¾ cup milk in a bowl until moistened. Do not over-mix.
    4. Pour the batter into the greased cake pan.
    5. Gently cover the cake pan with a paper towel. Using a piece of aluminum foil, cover the paper towel and gently secure the paper towel around the rim of the pan.
    6. Place the cake pan on the trivet and carefully place the trivet inside the Instant Pot.
    7. Press the  "Cake" button and set the mode to "Normal". Adjust the cooking time to 45 minutes.
    8. Allow Natural Pressure Release.
    Instant Pot cake, brownies, bread

    I hope you will enjoy the Instant Pot cake, brownies and bread!

    Boxed cake Times to Instant Pot

    Here is a rough formula for Instant Pot cake, brownies and bread:

    • For all three, start with the MAX cook time on the box for 8" X 8" pan. Since I am using the 7" X 3" cake pan,  add 5 mins to this cook time.
    • For lighter cakes like the funfetti,  add extra 7 mins since it is cooking under "Less" mode. So the total cook time is 38+5+7=50 mins
    • For fudge brownies, add extra 7 minutes of cook time. In my initial attempts, the brownie was bit moist and so adding the extra time helped. Brownies will not be crunchy but more moist/cake like. Total cook time is 34+5+7=46 mins
    • For dense breads just adding extra 5 mins to account for the cake pan size worked well. Total cook time 40+5=45 mins

    Hope this is a helpful guide for you to start experimenting with boxed mixed with the Instant Pot. Do you have better cook times for Instant pot cake, brownies, bread? Please let me know, I will try them for sure.

    Still hungry for more?  Try this delicious zucchini bread in Instant Pot and put those summers' best zucchinis to good use!

    Author: Archana

    Hey there! I am a techie turned recipe developer, cooking instructor, and food blogger. I love food and enjoy developing easy and healthy recipes for busy lifestyles. I live in New Jersey with my husband and two sons.
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    1. LKMarshall says

      March 15, 2020 at 1:55 pm

      I have made many box cake or cornbread mixes in my 6-quart multi-cooker (Fagor brand, 6-quart) and have never needed more than 30 minutes of actual cook time on high pressure (excludes time coming to pressure and natural release time) or needed any covering (paper towel or foil). My finished products have been great, never too moist or at all dried out, never wet with condensation. ???????

      Reply
      • Archana says

        March 15, 2020 at 6:06 pm

        I do not have Fagor brand, but its great if you can make them in under 30 minutes. As far as the covering that is optional. When I open the Instant Pot lid many times I end up dripping the excess water inside on the cake pan, so I prefer closing 🙂

        Reply
    2. Rachel says

      April 03, 2020 at 10:11 pm

      What if I have a regular insta pot that doesn’t have a cake button... can I still make cakes/brownies in my insta pot

      Reply
      • Archana says

        April 04, 2020 at 3:19 pm

        Yes you can use the pressure cook option instead.

        Reply
    3. Michelle Combs says

      August 26, 2020 at 10:23 am

      I'm going to try a recipe that I have had for years, It's a gooey caramel apple cake. I would like to use my 8 quart IP to make it. It is a very dense cake. I'll be using my 7 inch spring form pan. Have never used the cake setting on this IP yet. Just wondering what would be the best temp and time for a dense cake using the cake setting. Any advise would be appreciated. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Archana says

        August 26, 2020 at 12:59 pm

        Check out the timings in my apple cake. I think it will work great! https://ministryofcurry.com/apple-cake-instant-pot/

        Reply
        • Michelle Combs says

          August 26, 2020 at 5:23 pm

          So I should use the manual button instead of the cake function? I will try that first at the 60 mins. And see how it turns out. Thank you!!! Will let you know how it turns out.

          Reply
    4. Camille says

      September 05, 2020 at 7:56 pm

      Can you use two cake pans with two trivets inside at the same time?

      Reply
      • Archana says

        September 11, 2020 at 11:07 am

        Yes as long as they fit and the lid can be closed properly.

        Reply
    5. Leah says

      September 08, 2020 at 2:24 pm

      One whole box of cake mix or brownie mix fits into this fat diddio one u suggest? Because I have tried to make cakes and I have to cook 2 cakes at 2 different times w one box of mix in a spring pan. If this fat diddio pan wholes a whole box of mix-IM SOLD!! And will order today. Also when I’ve made a cake in a spring pan,it turns out not cake like but more like ummm the middle of a Starbucks cake pop...in a bad fall apart too moist rubbery flex kind of way lol. Do u know why? Thanks so much! Can’t wait for your reply! On amazon now from your link!

      Reply
      • Archana says

        September 11, 2020 at 11:04 am

        Hi Leah, I find that some box mixes, like the ones I have used in this recipe work well. But you are right about the textures, it a a bit more moist rather than dry oven baked texture. So you want to use box mixes that will taste good if they "steam baked" in the Instant Pot

        Reply
    6. Stephanie says

      February 09, 2022 at 12:28 pm

      What kind of trivet? Did you purchase separately? Did it come with your instant pot? Pic please. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Archana says

        February 10, 2022 at 4:55 pm

        I used the trivet that comes with the Instant Pot

        Reply
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    Hi, I'm Archana: a former software engineer, now a full-time blogger. I am a mother of two boys who share my love for food and cooking. Words I love to hear are, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” The same words I say to my mom every time we speak. I live in the greater New York City Area with my husband and sons.

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