How to Make Box Cake Better

Learn how to make box cake mix better with these box cake hacks and tricks! These simple changes can transform your cake. Trust me, don’t miss out on a light, soft, fluffy and moist cake.

Whether you reach for Betty Crocker Cake mix, Duncan Hines cake mix, or any other brand, these tips work! I have done this for years and always get compliments. Also see my list of cake mix recipes that all start with a boxed cake mix.

No one has to know you used box cake mix, I won’t tell! Now you might say, tastes better from scratch, and I can agree. But when you adjust the recipe it can truly transform the batter.

Learn how to make box cake taste homemade – soft, fluffy, moist!

Grab my Free Kitchen Version Printable. This teaches you how many cups in a quart, pint, etc. Great to have on hand when baking.

Why Use Box Cake Mix Instead of Homemade Cake

Budget friendly
Minimal ingredients needed
Easy to adjust recipe to fit needs
Delicious and a better cake mix
Make boxed cake mix taste like a bakery baked it

Tips For How To Make Boxed Cake Better

Swap Milk For Water

Instead of water, swap with milk. Reach for a whole milk as it will add in fat helping to add richness to the cake.

The swap is a 1:1 ratio. So 1 cup water on the cake mix box would be switched with 1 cup milk.

You can even use 2% milk or even skim. I find whole milk offers the best flavor.

Add Coffee to Chocolate Cake

Adding coffee instead of water is another option. Coffee is going to enhance the chocolate flavor in your cake.

You will also find adding coffee helps to make the flavor a more decadent dessert.

Pudding

Mix in a 3.4 oz instant pudding with the cake mix. So for a chocolate cake I would make chocolate pudding. For a vanilla cake I did vanilla pudding,

Just dump package in and mix up with the rest of the ingredients. It truly enhances the flavor.

Butter for Oil

Instead of placing oil in the recipe swap for real butter. Just soften or melt down your butter and mix the same.

You can use salted or unsalted butter with no problem! Just make sure it is rea butter and not margarine.

Mix In Flour and Sugar

You can add in all purpose flour and granulated sugar as well. This is going to help take away the processed flavor of the cake.

I tend to do around ¼ cup flour and ¼ cup granulated sugar, unless a recipe I am using states otherwise.

Extra Eggs

The eggs are going to really help make the cake go from tasty to decadent. You will add in your regular eggs as stated on the box. Then add 2 medium-large egg yolks in as additional.

This adds richness and allows your cake to be moist.

Sour Cream

Sour cream is one ingredient I always add to my box cake mix recipes. It is going to help ensure you have a fluffy and ultra-moist cake. Add ½ cup sour cream per box cake mix.

The sour cream truly is the star of keeping your cake moist but also adds a hint of flavor to the cake.

Vanilla or Almond Extract

Adding in ½ teaspoon vanilla or ¼ teaspoon almond extract can transform the flavor. I recommend using the almond on a white cake. It can give you that wedding cake flavor.

You can always do both in one cake or adjust how much you add to fit your preference of flavor.

More Creative Ways To Elevate Boxed Cake

Real Frosting instead of Store Bought

Instead of homemade frosting consider making homemade! Buttercream frosting is easy to make and I used it for my lemon cupcakes.

Just color the frosting with food coloring or leave plain if you want.

Or go richer and do a cream cheese frosting for even more creamy richness!

Stir In Ingredients

Adding in items like chocolate chips, a few nuts, chopped fruit, etc. can change up the flavor of a cake.

Feel free to try it out of your own or find a recipe that helps walk you through how much to add.

Basics For Doctoring Boxed Cake Mix

Here are the basic changes I start with when working with boxed cake mix. Now, you are more than welcome to use any I listed above. These are just what I do altogether for the optimal flavor of cake.

Swap whole milk for water.
Melted butter for oil
Add 2 extra egg yolks or 1 extra whole egg in addition to what’s on box.
Add in a splash of vanilla extract

Frequently Asked Questions

How to make boxed cake tastes like wedding cake?

Add in white cake mix, then add in 1 cup all purpose flour, ½ cup melted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup sour cream, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 cup milk, 4 egg whites, 1 teaspoon almond extract.
Mix well and pour and bake in prepared baking dishes of your choice. I unwed Duncan Hines brand but Better Crocker will work as well.

What happens if I add an extra egg into the boxed cake mix?

Adding an extra egg will richen the cake. Same goes for swapping butter for oil, and milk for water for ingredients on the back of the box.

Can I use batter for cupcakes instead of a cake?

Want to make cupcakes from boxed cake mix that has been doctored? Go right ahead and just place in a lined cupcake pan.
Bake as directed on the box and when done allow your cupcakes to cool.

What brand of cake mix to use?

When doctoring a cake mix any brand of cake mix works. Simply grab the box and adjust ingredients as needed.

How to make cupcakes with cake mix?

Adjust your cake mix how you would like with the options in this post. Then pour your cake batter into your muffin tin about 3/4th the way. Then bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees. Then bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cupcakes are baked all the way through.

Why Use Box Cake Mix Instead of Homemade Cake