Cakes are an important part of any family reunion or get-together in the South. Seriously. Once my Mother-In-Law planned an impromptu dinner for the family. When I asked if I needed to grab a dessert from the store, she said, “I’ll use the coconut cake I have stored in the freezer.” Even I, meal pre-prepper that I am, was surprised to find someone kept an entire cake specially wrapped and frozen in case of emergencies.
And, don’t get me started on how my family is big on homemade desserts. I prefer the taste, but I don’t always have time to drop everything and whip up a cake from scratch. Then, a friend shared the “secret” of How To Make Boxed Cake Mix Taste Homemade. I ran with the basic idea, experimenting with add-ins and additional ingredients. People often ask me for the recipe, expecting it to be complicated, and are amazed when I tell them it begins with a boxed mix. Try these tips and see if you agree. It’s the perfect formula for days when you need a dessert in a hurry and there’s no cake stashed in your freezer.
How To Make A Boxed Cake Mix Taste Homemade
This “homemade hack” works well with gluten-free cake mixes too. At Critter’s third birthday party, a friend offered to make a gluten-free cake as part of her present. It was so moist and so delicious, I asked if she made it from scratch. “No,” she said, “it just tastes like it.” That’s when she shared her secret.
What’s the Secret to Making Boxed Cake Mix Taste Homemade?
It’s simple. Most boxed cake mixes need the additional ingredients of oil, eggs, and water. The secret is to replace those ingredients with something that makes the cake moist. Here’s what you’ll need instead.
- Replace the vegetable oil with an equal amount of melted butter. Don’t use margarine. It will not work and will make the cake spread. You can use salted or unsalted butter.
- Replace the water with an equal amount of whole milk. Note: I often use 2% but whole does make it more flavorful.
- Add one additional egg to the amount called for on the package.
Additional Add-ins to the Basic Mix:
These are optional but I sometimes add them as it gives the cake additional moisture and flavor.
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 small (3.5-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
Once you’ve mixed the cake, prepare it as directed on the package. That’s it! You have a rich, delicious cake people will think is homemade.
Baking Tips:
- Spray the pan with cooking spray and add a small amount of flour to the pan before baking to help prevent the cake from sticking. You can use butter or shortening to grease the pan if you prefer.
- Allow the cake to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before removing it from the pan.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before adding frosting.
- You can use whatever flavor of cake mix you prefer when making this cake.
- You can add any flavor of extract or flavoring to the cake you prefer to replace the vanilla.
- Keep the oven door closed as much as possible when baking the cake to prevent the cake from “falling.” This is when the center of the cake falls inward.
- The cake is done when a knife inserted in the center comes out “clean.” This means without signs of batter or an excess of sticky crumbs on the knife.
Cake Variations:
This recipe can be adapted to make almost any flavor of cake you can imagine. Try some of these variates. You can use any of the ones listed below.
- Coconut: Add 1 cup toasted coconut and 1 teaspoon coconut extract. You can also substitute an equal amount of coconut milk or cream of coconut for the water called for in the recipe.
- Peanut Butter: Add 1/2 to 1 cup of creamy peanut butter to the basic batter. You can make the cake peanut butter chocolate by adding in 1 cup of milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips or add 1 cup of peanut butter chips.
- Butterscotch: Add 1 package of instant butterscotch pudding and 1 cup of butterscotch chips.
- Butter Pecan: Use a package of butter pecan cake mix and add 1 cup toasted pecans.
- Double Chocolate: Use a package of chocolate cake mix and 1 cup of chocolate chips of your choice; milk, dark, or semi-sweet. You can make this a chocolate toffee cake by adding 1 cup of toffee chips.
Printable Recipe:
How To Make Boxed Cake Mix Taste Homemade
Ingredients
1 (15.25) ounce boxed cake mix in flavor of your choice
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup whole milk
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 (3.5-ounce) package pudding mix, optional
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, add the cake mix, melted butter, milk, and eggs. Using a mixer, beat until blended.
- Add in the pudding mix and vanilla extract, if using. Stir until blended.
- Spray a 9 cup Bundt pan, 2 8-ounce round pans, or one 9″ by 13″ baking dish with cooking spray. Sprinkle the pan(s) with flour. Bake the cake for the amount of time directed on the package. The cake is done when a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
I hope this easy hack to make a boxed cake mix taste homemade makes your life easier. It certainly has mine! Do you have a favorite way to “dress up” a boxed cake mix? What are your best tips for adding flavor to a boxed mix?
All the yums! I’m trying this today because what better day to make a cake and try a new recipe, right? I can’t wait.
These are great tips! I love making “semi-homemade” cakes using a cake mix. I am going to try your tips next time I make one!
Wow, how cool. I’m going to have to give this a try over the weekend for sure. Thanks for sharing!!!
Okay, that is amazing! I think I will need to just make a cake tomorrow just so I can try it.
I like your homemade boxed cake mix. I like all these tips to add more taste to this mix. I am going to give it a try.
Very interesting. It’s good to know how to improve on the box mix and make it taste homemade. Will definitely be trying this!
Thank you for these tips. I will try them next time I’ll use cake mix!
This is great to know! I’ll have to make sure to try this the next time I make a boxed cake. I never really thought about swapping out ingredients.
My aunt gave me a cookbook that had all sorts of additions and changes to boxed mixes to make fancy cakes. It is so simple!
I have used a similar trick before and it turned out amazing! Thank you for sharing!
I use a mix for all my chocolate and yellow cakes, and make other varieties from scratch. I’ll have to try these tips to make my chocolate and yellow cakes tastier.
My brother in law’s mom does this exact thing. Her cakes are always fabulous. She made one for Memorial day
I use box cake mix a lot. This is a great hack.
OMG I so love these tips. I am not a huge baker but when I do I used a box cake and I totally wish it could taste more homemade. I am so following these tips. Thankssss!
I use boxed cakes all the time. A few special add ins like a flavored extract can make a huge difference in the flavor and texture. I love the switch water for milk tip.
I am a-ok with boxed mixes, but if I can have one AND have it taste homemade, too! SCORE!
Oh nice! I’m happy, because I usually only used boxed cakes 😉 I’m all about easy. This cake looks amazing!
Thank you for sharing this secret! I can’t wait to make this, and see if people ask if it’s from a box!
So genius! Then you can trick everyone into thinking you’re ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT when it comes to baking – however, this trick really is pretty brilliant, thus you wouldn’t really be tricking anyone into thinking this! haha!