Quick and easy cake mix recipes, homemade with simple ingredients. Use various flavors of box mixes to make cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, breads, candies.
Even when you love to make desserts from scratch, sometimes there is just not enough time to do it. Using a pre-made cake mix allows you to still make a homemade dessert, without consuming your whole day. By the time you are done doctoring it like this How To Make Box Cake Mix Better (Taste Homemade) suggests, no one will even know there is a box mix in there!
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What can be made from a cake mix?
- Cakes (sheet cakes, layer cakes, cake rolls)
- Cupcakes
- Cookies
- Brownies and bars
- Truffles and no bake candies
- Waffles
- Pancakes
- Sweet breads
- Muffins
- Donuts
What Flavor Cake Mix To Use?
This depends on what you are making.
- Chocolate flavor- Use Devil's food cake mix or chocolate fudge for an intense cocoa flavor or milk chocolate for milder flavor.
- Vanilla or fruit based desserts- Stick to yellow cake mix. French vanilla would be a close second choice.
- Fall and pumpkin desserts- Use spice cake mix.
What Cake Mix Brand To Use?
I stick very closely to Pillsbury and Betty Crocker brands. Duncan Hines is a close third. They give similar results. I don't recommend using gluten free mixes in these recipes below because the results will not be the same. I also don't recommend the store's generic brand because I find that it's not high quality.
Chocolate Cake Mix Recipes
These are just the base recipes for 3 of the most popular desserts: cakes, cupcakes, cookies. Don't forget your add-ins like nuts and chocolate chips and zests to elevate them further. Plus, you can fill and frost them after baking.
- Cookies- 1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix + ⅓ cup oil + 2 large eggs
- Cupcakes- 1 box Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix + ½ cup oil + 1 cup strongly brewed coffee + 4 large eggs
- Cakes- 1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix + ½ cup oil + 1 cup strongly brewed coffee + 4 large eggs
White/ Vanilla/ Yellow Cake Mix Recipes
This is the base recipe for 3 main desserts: cakes, cupcakes, cookies. Make sure to think of including some add-ins like nuts, zests, poppy seeds, chocolate chips, extracts. Also, consider your filling and frosting options after they are done baking. The flavor combinations are entirely up to you.
- Cookies- 1 box Yellow Cake Mix + ⅓ cup oil + 2 large eggs
- Cupcakes- 1 box Yellow Cake Mix + ½ cup oil + 1 cup whole milk + 4 large eggs
- Cakes- 1 box French Vanilla Cake Mix + ½ cup oil + 1 cup whole milk + 4 large eggs
More Cake Mix Hacks
- If you decide to use water in the recipe anyways, make sure to use hot water in chocolate cake because this allows the cocoa in the box to "bloom" and intensify the cocoa flavor.
- Add 1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt cream instead of milk
- Make a 2 ingredient cake with just the cake mix and a can of soda (such as Fanta, Crush, Sprite)
Why Should You Use A Cake Mix Instead Of Baking From Scratch?
Using a cake mix saves so much time when making desserts. It allows you to just add additional ingredients to make a delicious dessert that is homemade without making the base from scratch.
How to Make a White Cake Mix Chocolate?
This is a very common question. Here is a neat little hack for you. All you have to do is mix in ¼ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder in the yellow cake mix. If you want an intense chocolate flavor, use Dutch processed cocoa powder, special dark cocoa powder or black cocoa powder. You can even use "cacao powder" but it has a milder cocoa flavor.
How to Make Box Cake Mix Better, Homemade, Bakery Style? What to Add to it?
This really depends on what you are making. However, these are some basic swaps and additions:
- Replace water with whole milk or buttermilk.
- Use melted unsalted butter instead of oil.
- Add an extra egg.
- Mix in a small package of dry pudding mix or prepared Snack Pack pudding mix.
- For rich chocolate cakes, use strongly brewed coffee in place of water or add some espresso powder.
- For citrus cakes, use orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice juice in place of water.
- Add freshly grated zest of lemon, lime, orange.
- Add extracts such as almond, vanilla, coconut e.t.c.
- Mix in some chopped nuts or mini chocolate chips or finely chopped candy bars or even poppy seeds. Check out this post on How to Stop Chocolate Chips From Sinking to Bottom of Cake.
What Frosting To Pair With Doctored Cake Mix Recipes?
Depending on the flavor of your dessert, there are so many options. Make sure you chose the correct pairing for best overall flavor. E.g. Don't pair chocolate frosting with lemon cake because it will taste horrible.
Vanilla Frostings
- White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- American Buttercream Frosting Recipe
- Marshmallow Frosting
- Cooked Flour Buttercream (Ermine Frosting)
- Seven Minute Frosting
Whipped Creams
Cream Cheese Frostings
Chocolate Frostings
Fruit or Berry Frostings
- Maraschino Cherry Frosting
- Blackberry Buttercream Frosting
- Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- Mango Frosting
Citrus Frostings
Unique Frostings
- Easy Maple Frosting
- Brown Sugar Frosting
- Caramel Frosting
- Peanut Butter Frosting (4 Ingredients)
- German Chocolate Cake Frosting (Coconut Pecan Frosting)
- Easy Mint Frosting
What Filling to Add to Layer Cakes, Cupcakes and Sandwich Cookies?
The sky is the limit here. All you have to keep in mind is that certain flavors work really well together and some just don't. Play around and get creative.
Pie fillings
Curds
Custard and puddings
Sauces
- Homemade Caramel Sauce
- Easy Chocolate Ganache
- Homemade Dulce De Leche
- Hot Fudge Sauce (Chocolate Fudge Sauce)
Jams, preserves and butters
- Easy Homemade Strawberry Jam
- Homemade Vanilla Pudding
- Pumpkin Butter (Crockpot)
- Apple Butter (Crockpot)
Storage Of Cake Mix Desserts
Refrigerate- In a sealed container for up to 3 days.
Freezer- You can freeze unfrosted doctored cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, breads, wrapped in saran wrap, for up to 1 month. Thaw and decorate when ready to use.
Classic Cakes
These recipes are staples and traditions at family and holiday events. Some of these recipes have been around for generations and everyone has their own subtle twist on it.
Chocolate Cakes
Whether they are full of cocoa powder, ganache, or chocolate chips, these cakes are rich and decadent and are perfect for chocoholics.
Spiced Cakes
These ones are full of wonderful aromatic spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice or they use a blend such as pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice.
Fruit and Citrus Flavored Cakes
Bright, tangy, sweet, and velvety, these cakes are always a showstoppers in flavor and appearance.
Pound Cakes
Known for their dense, moist texture, these treats are as buttery as they come. They can be enjoyed as is or topped with whipped cream and fresh berries.
Dump Cakes
These have almost a cobbler-like texture. All the ingredients are dumped in an oven safe-pan, mixed and baked for ooey gooey perfection. These are best served warm with ice cream.
Cupcakes
Many folks are intimidated by making fancy cakes but cupcakes are somehow less intimidating. These recipes make 24 cupcakes and are perfect to serve at large crowds like parties, picnics and potlucks.
Cookies
Chewy, crisp, sweet, decadent, colorful, or spiced, Cookies are always the right answer in the dessert category.
Candies and No bake Desserts
When you are short on time, these recipes are the best. They taste delicious and look incredible and come together so quickly.
Breads
Homemade bread makes the perfect snack or dessert for loved ones. You can even enjoy it for breakfast with a smear of almond butter or peanut butter.
Brownies and Bars
Not only are these incredibly easy to make with minimal ingredients, you can also modify the flavor by your choice of box mix base.
Breakfast and Brunch
Shockingly enough, a box mix can help out at breakfast too. You can make pancakes, waffles, baked donuts and even muffins!
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