How to Make Box Cake Better (Taste Homemade)
Use these tips and tricks to learn how to make box cake better and how to make box cake taste homemade These simple ingredients yield the best moist cake!
In the last few months, I have gotten a few requests for a recipe on how to make box cake better and how to make box cake taste homemade.
Seriously, after 28 attempts, involving various brands, flavors, addition and replacement of ingredients, I am finally delighted to share the BEST doctored yellow cake mix recipe!
You must be thinking why anyone would want to make a cake from box when they can make it from scratch.
I UNDERSTAND your concerns but honestly, making cakes from scratch is NOT possible all the time!
Maybe you are out of flour, sugar e.t.c OR you are just too tired to make a cake from scratch.
For those days, c this EASY cake from a box cake mix is PERFECT!
TIPS on how to make box cake better and taste like homemade cake
- Use chocolate pudding if you are making a chocolate cake.
- Use butterscotch pudding if you are making a vanilla cake.
- Use the BEST quality extract you can find because your cake is only as good as the ingredients you use.
- I prefer emulsion oils over extracts. They are are pricey but they work better because they DON’T evaporate while baking and the flavor and fragrance is stronger.
- Stick to the Pillsbury brand! I tried many brands and Pillsbury works the best. Also, DON’T use cake mixes which already have pudding. Get the most BASIC Pillsbury cake mix you can find.
- Instead of oil, use UNSALTED butter. It adds more flavor and fat content into your cake and that’s always a good thing.
- Most cake mixes require 2 or 3 eggs. Ignore that and add 4 LARGE eggs.
- Make sure your eggs are FRESH. The older eggs sometimes make your cakes smell odd.
- Most cake mixes require water. Ignore that because it brings NOTHING to your cake. Instead, add WHOLE milk. Don’t use fat-free, soy milk or almond milk. It has to be WHOLE MILK!
- Add pudding (1 container of the pre-made snack pack puddings) to your cake batter. It adds so much flavor, fat content and MOISTURE to your cake.
- DON’T use homemade pudding because it does not yield good results.
- To make the cake SUPER MOIST, I highly recommend this: Allow the cake to cool down and come to room temperature.
- Remove cake from the pan. Then, wrap it up in saran wrap multiple times and place it in the freezer overnight. This seals in all the moisture. The next day, let your cake come to room temperature and then frost it!
- DON’T over-mix the cake batter because that will make your cake tough.
- DON’T over-bake the cake or bake at a higher temperature because that will make your cake dry.
FLAVOR variations
- Vanilla Spice cake: Use a vanilla or yellow cake mix and follow the recipe below. However, also add 1 tsp cinnamon powder, 1/2 tsp nutmeg powder, 1/2 tsp allspice powder in the cake batter.
- Lemon cake: Use a vanilla or yellow cake mix and follow the recipe below. Also, add lemon pudding, 1 tbsp lemon zest and 1 tbsp lemon extract or lemon flavored emulsion oil.
- Orange cake: Use a vanilla or yellow cake mix and follow the recipe below. Also, add 1 tbsp orange zest, 2 tbsp orange marmalade and 1 tbsp orange extract or orange flavored emulsion oil.
- Chocolate orange cake: Use a chocolate cake mix and follow the recipe below. Also add 1 tbsp orange zest, 1 tbsp orange extract or orange flavored emulsion oil.
- Spicy chocolate cake: Use a chocolate cake mix and follow the recipe below. Also add 1 tbsp chili powder, 1/2 tbsp paprika. Use more or less according to your preference.
- Better box red velvet cake: Use a red velvet cake mix and follow the recipe below but replace whole milk with buttermilk. Also, add 1 tbsp cocoa powder and 3 tbsp sour cream to the cake batter.
- You can always stir in some chopped nuts or dried fruits (cranberries, raisins, dried apricots, dried pineapples, dried mangoes) or even chocolate chips into your cake. Fold 1/2 cup of add-ins of your choice in the cake batter at the very end. Read my tips in this post on how to stop chocolate chips sinking. This handy tip applies to nuts, dried fruits and chocolate chips.
Some FROSTING recipes you can try with this cake
- Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
- Cooked Flour Buttercream (Ermine Frosting)
- Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- Best Cream Cheese Frosting
- White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- American Buttercream Frosting
- Seven Minute Frosting
Check out some other Frosting & Filling recipes from my blog archives for more ideas.
How to make a box cake taste homemade? How to make box cake taste like made from scratch?
Start off by mixing together eggs and butter. Then, add cake mix, pudding, milk, vanilla extract and mix until just combined. Pour this batter into 2 greased/floured round cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until an inserted toothpick in the center comes out clean. Let it cool and then ice it with frosting. Enjoy!
How to make box cake mix better for cupcakes?
Instead of a cake, you can use this recipe below to make 24 cupcakes. Mix all the ingredients (eggs, butter, cake mix, pudding, milk, vanilla extract) and bake for about 17-20 minutes or until an inserted toothpick in the center comes out clean.
How to make a moist cake? How to make a box cake moist and fluffy?
The best way to make a box cake mix moist is by:
- Replacing oil with butter
- Replacing water with milk
- Adding 1 extra egg
- Adding pre-made pudding in the batter
How do you add pudding to cake mix?
Don’t use the instant powder. Use the pre-made puddings and just mix it into the cake mix batter.
Can you add sour cream to cake mix?
Yes, you can replace the pudding with 1/4 cup sour cream in this recipe.
How to make a box cake taste like a wedding cake?
Most people want their wedding cakes from scratch but I have heard of some successful cake makers who use doctored cake mixes and their brides prefer this flavor over the “cake from scratch recipe.” Follow the recipe below for a perfectly moist and fluffy cake. It’s great for cake decorating too.
Today’s doctored up chocolate cake that like homemade cake or bakery cake is covered in homemade chocolate frosting and crushed candy canes and topped off with a CUTE candy cane heart.
Perfect romantic cake for Valentine’s day…Right?
I think it would also be great to serve during the holiday season, especially at Christmas parties.
Well, that’s all for today!
I hope you you liked these box cake mix hacks and tips on “how to make make box cake better and taste homemade.”
Other box cake mix recipes
- Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
- Cake Mix Cookie Bars
- Candy Cane Shards Cake
- Cake Mix Chocolate M&M Cookies
- Easy Cake Mix Gingerbread Cookies
- Easy Galaxy Cake
- Easy Apple Cake Recipe with Cake Mix
- Cake Mix Brownies
How to Make Box Cake Better (Taste Homemade)
Ingredients
- 1 box Chocolate cake mix or Vanilla/Yellow cake mix, Pillsbury brand, Get the box without pudding
- 1 cup Whole milk
- 4 Eggs, Large
- ½ cup Butter, Unsalted, Melted
- 1 tbsp Vanilla extract
- 1 Container Snack Pack Pudding, 3.25 oz
Instructions
- In a deep bowl, mix together butter and eggs.
- Add the cake mix powder, pudding, milk, vanilla extract and mix until just combined. Don’t over-mix!
- Pour this batter into 2 greased/floured 8×2 round cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until an inserted toothpick in the center comes out clean.
- This step is optional but it makes the cake SUPER MOIST! I highly recommend it. Let this cake cool down and come to room temperature. Remove the cake from your pan. Then, wrap it up in saran wrap multiple times and place it in the freezer overnight. This seals in all the moisture. The next day, let your cake come to room temperature and then cover it in chocolate frosting! Enjoy!
Notes
- Read all my notes and tips above.
- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Love it!