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 teaspoon cinnamon powder, ½ teaspoon nutmeg powder, ½ teaspoon 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 tablespoon lemon zest and 1 tablespoon lemon extract or lemon flavored emulsion oil.
- Orange cake: Use a vanilla or yellow cake mix and follow the recipe below. Also, add 1 tablespoon orange zest, 2 tablespoon orange marmalade and 1 tablespoon orange extract or orange flavored emulsion oil.
- Chocolate orange cake: Use a chocolate cake mix and follow the recipe below. Also add 1 tablespoon orange zest, 1 tablespoon orange extract or orange flavored emulsion oil.
- Spicy chocolate cake: Use a chocolate cake mix and follow the recipe below. Also add 1 tablespoon chili powder, ½ tablespoon 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 tablespoon cocoa powder and 3 tablespoon 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 ½ 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 ¼ 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.
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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
- Cake Mix Chocolate M&M Cookies
- Easy Cake Mix Gingerbread Cookies
- Easy Galaxy Cake
- Easy Apple Cake Recipe with Cake Mix
- Cake Mix Brownies
Recipe
How to Make Box Cake Better (Taste Homemade)
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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 tablespoon 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 8x2 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.
Nutrition
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
Tonia
Why stay away from the pudding already in the mix?
Abeer Rizvi
I have tried my modifications with cake mixes that have pudding and those that don't have pudding. The cake mixes without pudding always worked better... The cakes held their shape better and they tasted better too.
Billie
I bought a Pillsbury cake mix without pudding. The recipe calls for 1 1/4 cup water; should I still only use 1 cup whole milk?
Abeer Rizvi
I would suggest using 1 1/4 cups of milk instead of water. if you reduce the quantity, i think the texture might change and become more "brownie-like." Let me know how it goes
Billie
Sorry, one more question...the box mix recipe also calls for 4 eggs; should i stick with the 4 or add 1 more.
Abeer Rizvi
I would stick with 4 eggs. 5 eggs is a lot for a basic cake recipe...lol.
Leigh
I need to make a 9x13 cake. How much boxed mix do I buy/prepare for that sized pan? Also does it matter what kind of cake pan I use (shiny, black, glass?) assuming that I will oil and flour it before adding batter (so no need for non-stick).
thanks!
Abeer Rizvi
I have never made a cake that size. So, I really don't know how much cake mix you will need. I am guessing 3 or 4 boxes??? I wish I could have helped more :S
As for the pan, any pan works as long as the pan is greased floured and I line a sheet of wax paper at the bottom of the pan.
Sara
You are so talented that it's staggering. Everyone of your cakes is so inspired!
Abeer Rizvi
Thanks! Your comment made me blush so hard that my cheeks are hurting...lol. I am still learning and I try to have fun along the way
vinay
Hey Abeer
Can you please tell the amount of milk in milli liters or the approximate size of a cup
Abeer Rizvi
Hi Vinay... I really don't know about milliliters. I measure 1 cup, using measuring cups. Is that what you meant?
Stephanie
A cup is 250mL.
Trupti parekh
If I want to mk eggless pls say want to use instead of eggs.
Abeer Rizvi
I have never made an eggless cake, using a cake mix. So, I have no idea. Someone once told me that they use 1/4 cup applesauce for each egg that they replace in a recipe. But I have never tried that myself. Please let me know if you try out any variations
amanda
What about a strawberry cake mix?
Abeer Rizvi
I am sure you can apply the same additions to a strawberry cake too. It should work just as well. Let me know how it goes
Lisa
Do you divide the batter into 2 pans? All of this in one pan seems like a lot..
Just wondering..
Abeer Rizvi
I normally use a round 8x3 cake pan and nothing spills out but I do end up with a dome on top. To fix that, I simply press a clean towel or oven mitt on top of the cake and press it down gently (as soon as it comes out of the oven) until it flattens a bit. You can also easily use 2 round 8x2 cake pans, if you like.
Lorraine Orr
I am so glad to see someone else doing what I do and enjoy doing at least weekly. I LOVE that you made changes that I made over 5 years ago. I never use water, I use canned evaporated milk. When my layers cool, i use a kabob skewer to poke many holes in each layer, and i pour evaporated milk over each layer, let them rest, soak up moisture. I also use pudding and butter. I use 5 brown eggs. If i use oil, i use oilve oil, 5 years ago I taught myself to make the homemade coolwhip frosting that we all love on the grocery store cakes. It's amazing, I'm very proud of my accomplishments.
Abeer Rizvi
It's so good to hear that other people like playing around with their cake mix recipes too. I really like your poking idea. I have to remember that for next time
Rudy
Hi Abeer
I tried this recipe, with a mousse filling and ganache frosting, link below.
I doubled the cake recipe, making four layers, filled with a delish chocolate mousse, and topped with a chololate ganache. Only adjustment i made was to add a little extra milk, about 1/4 cup.
Cake was for my partners birthday, so had to pull out all stops to impress the in-laws. OMW! it was really amazing, moist and delish.
Everybody went back for a thick second slice! (and i mean, everybody!)
I even got a offer of marriage after the cake was eaten! (Seriously, unfortunately not from the person i wanted it from! LOL)
This is definitely being added to my secret book of recipes!
Thank you so much.
Rudy
Abeer Rizvi
Hahahahahha. That proposal part was so funny!
I am so happy to hear everyone enjoyed this cake and I love all your additions with mousse filling and ganache frosting...YUM!
Jerrica Handy
What about red velvet cake?
Abeer Rizvi
I updated the post with notes for red velevt cake as well.
Katherine
Hi, just wondering if the eggs and butter should be at room temperature when baking? Thanks
Abeer Rizvi
I prefer room temperature since they blend into the batter more smoothly.
Trang
Wow you have so many good tips, such an awesome post!
Abeer Rizvi
Thank you!
Rebecca Hubbell
I love doctoring up box mixes for my cakes! Thanks for all the tips, especially the one for cupcakes!
Abeer Rizvi
Glad you found them helpful!
Shad
Thanks for the baking tips
Abeer Rizvi
No problem... glad to see it was helpful!