The recipe on the back of a box of Cake Mix is lackluster. You don’t have to follow box cake mix recipes exactly, you know… you can take a box of cake mix and make it into several different desserts or just a more fun cake. Keep reading to find 5 ways to make cake mix better AND a super simple, easy to follow recipe. Plus, I have a list of several other easy cake mix recipes that are sure to impress your guests!
1. More Fat in Your Box Cake Mix:
If you want a better box cake mix you need to substitute melted butter for the oil and double the amount your recipe calls for. If you are on a diet, use applesauce instead of the extra oil or butter. It won’t be as flavorful, but it will help with moist cakes.
2. Make it Eggcellent:
Add an extra egg or two to make your cake mix recipe extra rich and fluffy – like in the Best Cupcake Recipe EVER from Crystal and Company!
The extra egg yolk or two makes the recipe richer. The egg whites make the box mixes fluffier. So, you can do one or both depending on how your want your cake to taste.
3. Water Strike:
Water is drying out your cake and cupcakes! So, when replacing the water, use milk (chocolate milk?) or soda instead like this Mountain Dew Cupcake Recipe or these Coca-Cola Cupcakes. What flavor of soda pop cake will you make?
You could also add a 1/2 cup to a cup of sour cream make them more moist.
4. Be Adventurous:
Throw stuff in there! Here are a few ideas. Try adding one or more following these box cake mix hacks!
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Extra vanilla extract, strawberry, or almond flavoring.
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2 tablespoons of peanut butter or nutella.
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Your favorite candy bars – like this Reese’s Cupcake Recipe
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Chopped fresh fruit between two cakes, with frosting, can make a delicious and simple layer cake!
I like to make Poke Cake and fill the holes with Jello or pudding – seriously, it is probably my favorite box cake improvements. For a bit extra, try putting pudding in the mix, not just in the holes.
Poke Cake with Icing
5. Make Cake Mix Cookies:
You can make any cake mix into cookies! Think of the possibilities; double chocolate chip, chocolate peppermint, rocky road. Can you tell I like chocolate? Just follow this simple recipe:
- 15.25 oz box cake mix
- ¼ cup oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon milk
- ½ cup mix-ins like chocolate chips optional
- frosting optional
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Preheat oven to 375.
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Stir cake mix, eggs, oil and milk until combined. Stir in mix-ins.
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Make 1inch balls with spoons or a cookie scoop and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet or parchment. Flatten slightly.
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Bake for 6-8 minutes or until golden around the edges.
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Cool for 1 minute before removing. Frost immediately if you are using frosting or making sandwich cookies.
Try one or more of these alterations to your cake mix recipe and never eat a nasty, dry, flavorless boxed cake again!
Kelli’s Boxed Cake Mix Recipes:
Cinnamon Banana Bread Cake Mix Recipe
Blueberry Cobbler from Yellow Cake Mix
Zucchini Bread Easy Cake Mix Recipe
Gluten Free Mint Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
More Ways to Use Box Cake Mix:
- Ultimate Cake Mix Cookie Book: More Than 375 Delectable Cookie Recipes That Begin with a Box of Cake Mix
- Cake Mix Cookies: More Than 175 Delectable Cookie Recipes That Begin With a Box of Cake Mix
- The Cake Mix Doctor: create 150 desserts using a box of cake mix!
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Denay DeGuzman says
March 6, 2018 at 8:50 amOh my gosh! I was so excited to have stumbled up on this post that’s packed with awesome tips to make cake mix better and wonderful recipes. What fabulous ideas! I followed your simple recipe to make cake mix into cookies and it was just like you described – quick, easy and so delicious! I added in some colorful sprinkles just like those in your image. Mmmmm….
Crystal Lopez says
March 6, 2018 at 8:16 amYou had me at cake mix cookies! I love these ideas of taking something ordinary and making it AMAZING! Love!
Christina says
March 6, 2018 at 7:48 amThese are all amazing recipes! I some cake mixes in the pantry that I’m going to doctor up now!
Hil says
December 23, 2016 at 9:03 pmI want to try making cake with soda! That sounds like a lot of fun. I bet with sugared soda though 🙂
Thanks for sharing at Bloggers Spotlight!
Sherry Nappa says
December 23, 2016 at 4:39 amThanks for the great tips. I’ll have to give some of them a try. Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday.
Miz Helen says
December 17, 2016 at 12:56 pmGreat tips for a better cake! Hope you have a fantastic weekend and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
Monika Dabrowski says
December 16, 2016 at 11:05 amGreat tips! Thank you for sharing:)
Angie Rose says
December 15, 2016 at 4:13 pmHey Kelli! These are excellent tips. Cake mix cookies seem like they are delicious! Definitely going to change up the way I bake now. Thank you so much for joining the party at Dishing It & Digging It this week!
Rhonda says
December 13, 2016 at 10:29 amI love these tips. I also like the confetti cookies. They may go in my holiday treat bags this year. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
December 11, 2016 at 9:03 amGreat ideas!! My husband is the cake man – I’ll share these with him! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up – Would love to have you give us a comment at the party!
Mindy says
May 19, 2016 at 6:01 pmThese are great tips. I’m going to bake cupcakes but will try for the first time to make buttercream frosting.
Just Plain Marie says
January 20, 2016 at 4:34 pmAlthough I usually do cook from scratch, I sometimes can’t resist the convenience of cake mixes. I do many of the things you suggest, using the mix as a starting point for my own creation. Great tips. Break out of the box! 😀
Rachel says
January 14, 2016 at 12:42 pmI had no idea that boxed cake mix could be so versatile. Thank you for the great tips and recipes. I will be trying some of these this weekend. My kids will be excited.
Stephanie M Beck says
January 1, 2016 at 4:40 amWhen I make cupcakes I use a boxed white cake mix, the ingredients called for on the back of the box, except I only use 2 egg whites and add 2 more whole eggs. I also add a small box of instant fat free sugar free vanilla pudding powder mix, 1 teaspoon of clear vanilla flavoring, 1 teaspoon of coconut flavoring and the beans of 1 whole vanilla bean. I bake on 325. Everyone asks for these cupcakes and they can never figure out the flavoring combo. Over the years, I’ve just tweaked and tweaked the recipe till now and it’s perfect. I have used butter for oil and milk for water but to me, they are alittle too dense so I just stick with my tweaked recipe.
Kelli Miller says
January 8, 2016 at 6:46 amThis sounds super delicious – I love to try adding new things and taking out old things from a boxed mix 🙂
Jill says
March 14, 2014 at 8:27 amI use olive oil instead of the regular cooking oil or butter. It makes the most moist and delicious cakes I have ever tried!
Tulip says
September 15, 2013 at 6:54 pmJust wanted to let you know that the pictures aren’t showing up for me. 🙂 Trying to repin this again.
Kelli Miller says
September 15, 2013 at 7:27 pmI see all but the top one – I have let the lady that combined my sites know. 🙂 Thanks bunches for telling me!
Brenda Coser says
September 4, 2013 at 11:03 pmIf you add milk to the cake mix does that mean you need to refrigerate it after it is baked?
Shamene@sayitwithcake says
August 24, 2013 at 11:49 amGreat cake tips! I can really use them! Thanks for sharing!
Miz Helen says
August 24, 2013 at 10:28 amGreat tips for making our cakes better, I will have to try some of these. Hope you have a great weekend and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Melissa Duet says
August 23, 2013 at 8:03 pmYou ought to try Vanilla Butter Nut flavoring by McCormick instead of just plain vanilla.
Kandy says
May 1, 2013 at 3:07 pmGreat ideas. One more. . . When making pineapple upside down cake, use the pineapple juice in the cake instead of water. So much more flavorful!!!
Diana Rambles says
April 2, 2013 at 1:46 pmGreat tips!
Gina says
April 2, 2013 at 8:49 amAll good ideas – my daughter swears by putting more oil in brownie mix, too…hey, it isn’t diet food! I made a cake for Easter that was pineapple flavored and added a small can of crushed pineapple to it to amp up the flavor. it was moist and wonderful! Pinning this post – thanks!
Kelli says
April 3, 2013 at 8:34 amAmen, Gina! If we wanted diet food, we wouldn’t be eating cake. 🙂
Miz Helen says
March 30, 2013 at 10:35 amGreat Ideas! Thank you so much for sharing your awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday and have a great weekend.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
bj says
March 28, 2013 at 1:28 pmLove these great tips…I always add Vanilla to EVERYthing almost but never thought to use any of the others you speak of.
Over from Miz Helens
emily says
March 27, 2013 at 6:43 pmooo fun ideas! Thanks for linking up to Tasteful Tuesdays! love it! Really appreciate you stopping by my blog! I’m trying to keep in better touch with my linkers/readers… If you already follow me, please let me know I will find your blog on Bloglovin (I’m transferring my follows there)if you don’t follow in any way, would you consider following via GFC or other method?
http://www.nap-timecreations.com