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Here’s a secret: even a lot of bakeries use boxed cake mix! These simple tips for how to make a box cake mix taste homemade will take all your cupcakes and birthday cakes to the next level!

Homemade cupcakes with title superimposed over image: 10 Tricks to Make A Box Cake Mix Taste Like Homemade

I don’t know about you, but I don’t always have time to make a recipe from scratch. There’s no shame in the boxed cake mix game, but of course, we want it to taste as good as homemade. And that’s where these tips for doctoring up box cake mix come in! (These doctored up cake mix recipes will come through in a pinch too.)

How To Make a Box Cake Mix Taste Better

While I love my homemade cake mix, I’m assuming you’re here because Betty Crocker is your sous chef today. And that’s okay! Because like I mentioned before, a lot of professional bakers use boxed cake mixes.

I had no idea until I saw one of our town’s biggest wedding cake bakers checking out at the store with powdered sugar, butter, eggs, and several boxes of Duncan Hines White Cake Mix! What a scandal, right?!

I could have sworn her cakes were homemade! Nope. Instead, professionals start with the boxed stuff and add the right ingredients to make it taste like it was made from scratch.

Overhead view of boxed cake mix with measuring cup of oil and 2 eggs

First Step: Start With a GOOD Cake Mix

A trusted friend who is known for her amazing cakes let me in on a secret: they teach bakers in classes that you really can’t beat Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker. These two options are considered the best boxed cake mixes, with the right mix of ingredients for a perfectly finished cake, every time!

While you can definitely try other brands and I think you’d likely have good results, I can’t vouch for them personally. I only tested these hacks with Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker cake mixes.

Hand holding cupcake made with doctored up cake mix

Tried-and-True Hacks for Making Boxed Cake Mix Taste Better

I tested these hacks with boxed cake mix and my homemade buttercream frosting. Then, I had my family try the doctored up cake mix cakes and rate them against cakes made by following the package directions. The results?

The doctored up cake mix cakes tasted more like homemade and we all thought they had better flavor and texture.

Here are the tricks to improving the taste of box cake mix:

Use milk instead of water.
Using whole milk or buttermilk gives the cake a richer texture like homemade, with an improved taste.
Add extra eggs.
To get an extra rich and moist cake, stir in two extra egg yolks along with the eggs the recipe calls for.
Add sugar and flour to the dry mix.
Add 1/4 to 1 cup sugar and flour to your cake mix.
Use coffee instead of water for chocolate cakes.
For chocolate cakes, use strong brewed coffee instead of water to deepen the flavor.
Add sour cream for an extra moist cake.
Add in 1/2 cup of sour cream for more moisture and richness.
Jazz it up with pudding mix.
Add a small box of instant pudding to the cake mix for extra moisture and flavor.
Give it a boost with vanilla and salt.
Add in a teaspoon of vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the mix.
Swap butter for the oil.
Use melted butter in the place of vegetable oil for a richer taste. For an extra decadent cake, add two tablespoons of mayonnaise, like this Copycat Portillo’s Chocolate Cake.
Level up the flavor with mix-ins.
Add a handful of chocolate chips, fruit, or nuts.
Upgrade your cake mix with homemade frosting.
Make homemade buttercream frosting! This cream cheese frosting is also excellent!

Homemade vanilla cupcake made with cake mix, topped with vanilla buttercream, rainbow nonpareils, and candle.

More Baking Tips and Hacks

This free printable shows you How Many Cups in a Quart, Pint or Gallon so you don’t have to guess or Google it every time. Just hang it on your fridge!
You’ll love this list of the The Best Easy Cake Recipes, which can be whipped up super fast!
If you’re completely new to baking and need to know How to Bake a Cake, I have you covered, too!
Out of eggs? Try this Baker’s Guide to Egg Substitutes and find the perfect replacement!
Do you really need cake flour for that recipe? And what is cake flour, anyway? Learn more: Cake Flour vs. All Purpose Flour.
It’s also important to know When to Use Salted vs. Unsalted Butter in all your baking recipes.

If you want to see some of these tricks in action, check out this video where I make this cake LIVE on Good Day Marketplace HERE!

chocolate cupcakes topped with cream cheese frosting

How to Make A Box Cake Mix Taste Homemade

I tested the best tips for making box cake mix taste homemade and now I'm sharing them with you. Spoiler alert: they're simple and they WORK!

4.15 from 220 votes

Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate Recipe Print Recipe

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Kasey Schwartz

Servings:

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 18

Total Time: 28

Ingredients

Instructions

Gather your ingredients. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking pan.
Place all cake mix ingredients in a bowl. Mix with an electric mixer on medium speed until well combined and fluffy for about 3 minutes.
Pour into baking pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 35-40 minutes.
Cool completely before frosting.

Video

Nutrition

Did you make this recipe?Mention @kasey_allthingsmamma or tag #allthingsmamma!

Click Below for My FREE Printable Cheat Sheet 10 Tricks For Making A Box Cake Taste Homemade – Printable

Winning Box Cake Mix Recipes

Cake

Comments

Kumar says:

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Thanks for sharing this information it’s very useful for me. You have clearly explained thank you.

Raegan says:

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Hi! The box cake I am using is Duncan Hines Classic White deliciously moist cake mix. It call for 3 large egg whites. Should I still add the extra egg including the yolk or just use more egg whites?

Thanks for the post! It is very helpful 😊

1. Roy says:
  
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  Would 1% milk work? Can you add gumdrops in the cake mix?
  
  1. Kasey says:
    
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    Yes, you can use 1% milk but I’m not sure about gumdrops in the cake. I haven’t tried it but let me know if you do!
Viola says:

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It says add flour,
Plain or self-arising to the box mix?

1. Kasey says:
  
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  Regular flour.
  
Jackie Lindsay says:

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When I make a chocolate cake (Devils Food, Fudge, German Chocolate, Swiss, etc.), I always add 2 to 3 Tablespoons of cocoa to the mix. It really amps up the taste, flavor, and richness of all varieties of chocolate cakes.

Kay says:

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If you sub the oil for butter, do you have to double the amount? I have read that elsewhere, but am unsure of what to do.

Shopy says:

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Thanks for sharing this article.
All box cake mix are so delicious. My favorite one is Air Head Candy Cupcakes.

1. Kasey says:
  
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  Oh good! I’m glad you liked it!!
  
Big Momma says:

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Can I print some of your ideas/lists? I have tried but not luck. You have so many GREAT ideas.

1. Kasey says:
  
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  There is a printable for this post – look above to find the printable with all the tips. 🙂
  
John Mc says:

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One thing I like to do is to sift the cake mix so there is a more even texture throughout the ‘crumb’. It will reduce your listed mix time so watch your batter and don’t over mix or else the crumb will compact.

Jim says:

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I have a question regarding the tip about adding sugar and flour, is it equal parts of each from 1/4 of a cup to 1 cup?

Lynda says:

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I put chocolate milk in my chocolate cakes, and Greek yogurt., but I did try the coffee tip and I love it. Thanks for the great tips!

ashley says:

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Hi im Ashley

Cait says:

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please note and I’m telling everyone! I keep a box of white/yellow cake mix in a seal tight container. cake mixes are no longer 18.25. So I add 2/3 cup to one of the newer scant cheapie cheater cake mixes and then continue to use as required. This is for dump cakes, cake mix cookies, etc I am SO ANGRY. but I figured out a way around them!

1. Pam says:
  
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  Well Cait thanks for the heads up! I’ll be putting a new sealed container in my cupboard!
  
Pam says:

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Today I’m making a chocolate cake and am adding coffee. However I’m using some coffee that is chocolate/raspberry!! Mmm I’m not sure if the raspberry will come thru enough to taste, any ideas? Also I add cinnamon to my chocolate cakes everyone loves them and can’t figure out the “special” ingredient! LoL I love it
Also think I should also use cpl other add ins to make it great? It’s for my daughter in-law so I have to make sure it’s good or I’ll hear about it.

1. Pam-TN says:
  
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  Please any ideas? I’ve got to make it today as tomorrow I have surgery and won’t be able. Would greatly appreciate any ideas
  
Emily says:

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So I am home in the snow today and craving something sweet. I googled things to do with a box cake mix and came across this site. I used a box yellow cake mix and added 1 c skim milk (all I had), 1/4 flour, 1/4 sugar, vanilla, salt, chocolate chips, Heath bar bits and then put crumbled Oreos on top. All things I had from caramel apple party I had in October. Best cake ever. I could not believe how those few extra ingredients with no frosting at all, made such a great difference in the texture and taste of my sheet cake. Thanks for making my craving so satisfying.

Jenn says:

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Three failed attempts yesterday. Substituted milk for water. Added and extra egg and doubled the butter substituting the oil. They keep overflowing, then flat and shrinking. I didn’t overbeat and followed the box directions and temp. Any insight.

chickensherri says:

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split your mixed batter into 3 or 4 bowls. make them each a different,vivid color with food coloring (about 15 drops per bowl), pour each colored bowl of batter one after the other into cake pan. Bake according to instructions.,, WOW WOW WOW! CRAZY COOL!