How to Make Boxed Cake Mix taste like Bakery cake. Step by step directions on How to Make Boxed Cake Mix taste like Bakery cake are easy to follow and will give you one amazing moist cake! If you want a homemade cake flavor using a box of cake mix this is the post for you!
How to a Make Boxed Cake Mix taste like Bakery cake
As much as I love a fully homemade from scratch cake, there are times when that is just not possible. My backup is making a box of store bought cake mix taste like a homemade cake.
It is a simple way to make the boxed cake taste just like the cakes you get at the bakery, and it only takes a few added ingredients to do so.
I am a baker and after a lot of testing in my kitchen I came up with this easy recipe to make your boxed cake mix taste like you bought it from a bakery. I have been using this recipe for years, and I shared it years ago with you guys and I thought it was time to update the pics and answer some of the questions that are always asked about making a boxed cake taste homemade.
I have worked in quite a few bakeries and the majority of them use a cake mix when making their cakes. The basics of the cake mix is what you find in traditional store box mix, but then there are different added ingredients which make the cake the traditional bakery cake you are used to.
How to Make your Cake Taste homemade
Aside from the easy step by step directions below there are a few other things you can do that will help you doctor up a box of cake mix and have it be the most amazing boxed cake mix that tastes homemade ever!
Add ins. Get creative and add things like crushed up cookies, sprinkles, chocolate candies, swirls of jelly and more. You can let your imagination run wild and get totally creative with the things that you add in!
Homemade Frosting. Seriously skip all of that store bough frosting. It is SO easy to make frosting at home, and any flavor you want too! A homemade frosting can totally take a cake from bland to over the top! So even if you are not fancying up your boxed cake mix (even though I think it is a must), adding a homemade frosting will make a world of a difference!
Fillings. There are many different fillings that you can use when you are making a homemade cake, my personal favorites are Chocolate Ganache, marshmallow fluff, and Bavarian cream. You can also fill cakes with different frosting flavors, or the same frosting you are using to frost the whole cake.
Looking for Frosting recipes ? Check these out!
- Raspberry buttercream
- Mint Buttercream
- Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Lemon Buttercream Frosting
- Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- vanilla buttercream
- marshmallow buttercream
- Caramel Buttercream
- Chocolate Raspberry buttercream
- Peanut butter buttercream
What Flavor Boxed Cake Mix can I use?
Any flavor cake mix will work with this recipe.
If you are stuck coming up with flavor combinations fo cake and frosting here are a few of my favorites.
- Red Velvet cake – Cream Cheese Frosting or Vanilla Buttercream.
- Chocolate Cake – Chocolate frosting, raspberry frosting, mint frosting or Almond buttercream.
- Vanilla Cake – Lemon buttercream, chocolate raspberry buttercream, strawberry buttercream.
- Lemon Cake – Lemon buttercream, raspberry buttercream or vanilla buttercream.
- Strawberry cake – Lemon buttercream, chocolate buttercream, or vanilla buttercream.
How much cake does this recipe make?
This makes the amount of batter you have equal to 1 and 1/2 boxed cake mixes. Follow this guide for making different sized cakes:
- Using a 6 inch round cake pan – 3 cakes.
- Using a 10 inch round pan – 1 cake
- Using a 9 inch by 13 inch cake pan – 1.5 cakes
- Cupcakes – 36
Cake Baking Supplies
You will need a few supplies to make this recipe.
- Spatula
- Stand mixer
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
If you are going to be baking a cake, I highly suggest getting spring pans. Using spring pans makes it so much easier to remove the cake after it has baked.
If you are making cupcakes I highly suggest using cupcake liners. They are much easier then baking cupcakes in a baking pan alone.
Make a Boxed Cake Mix Taste Homemade Ingredients
- boxed cake mix (Any Flavor)
- salt
- flour
- granulated sugar
- sour cream
- water
- eggs
- vanilla extract
How to Make Boxed Cake Mix taste homemade
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees and grease your cake pans.
In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
In your stand mixer bowl or another bowl add the wet ingredients.
Add half of the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix together. Then add the rest of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix completely.
Mix everything on medium speed for 2 minutes if you are using a stand mixer, if using a hand mixer or doing it my hand mix for 2 minutes as well.
Pour the cake batter in to cake pans or cupcake pans. Be sure to only fill the pans half way if making a cake and 2/3 the way if making cupcakes.
Bake at 300 degrees for about 25 minutes then turn the oven up to 325 for an additional 25 minutes.
If you are making cupcakes then you will want to have the cook time be 20 minutes at 300 and an additional 20 minutes at 325.
Allow to cool, remove from pans and let cool completely before frosting or decorating.
Looking for more uses for Boxed cake mix? Check these out!
- Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
- Funfetti Cake mix cookie sandwiches
- Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
- Rainbow Cake Recipe
Looking for more cake ideas? Check these out!
Baking Supplies
Love to bake? Here are some of our favorite tools to make it easier!
How To Make A Box Mix Taste Like A Bakery Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box cake mix Any Flavor
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- salt just a dash
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup water
- 3 whole eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees and grease your pans
- Whisk together the dry ingredients
- In mixer bowl place the wet ingredients
- Add about 1/2 of the dry ingredients into the bowl and mix together
- Then add the rest of the dry ingredients and blend
- Mix for 2 minutes on medium speed
- Pour the batter half way up prepared pans or 2/3 of the cupcake pan
- Bake at 300 degrees for about 20-30 minutes (depending on size of cake) then turn oven up to 325 for about an equal time.
Video
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Comments & Reviews
Ron says
I have a Betty Crocker Super Moist Red Velvet mix and a Duncan Hines Decadent Classic Carrot Cake Mix (with real carrots and Raisins).
Do you think these would do well this way? Any different?
I was even thinking of baking both and making a 4-Layer cake – alternating each layer. Any thoughts?
Thanks
MidgetMomma says
you can use this recipe for that as well, i think it sounds delicious to have those 2 alternating flavors 🙂 I love carrot cake!
Ron says
Thanks! I’ll let you know when I stop being so lazy – LOL.
Do you have a good butter cream frosting for this combination?
🙂
Maria says
Look on the freaking bag and see what kind of flour, only three choices all-purpose, self-rising, or cake flour!! Not just plain flour!!
Gerri says
How much cocoa to make this chocolate? Increase any liquid?
MidgetMomma says
just use a box of chocolate cake mix 🙂
morgan says
I can do this with chocolate too right?
MidgetMomma says
you can do this with any flavor cake mix 🙂
Laura says
Can Greek yogurt be used instead of sour cream?
Karla says
If I don’t have sour cream what can I use
kim says
Waaaaay way to sweet…Not quite like a bakery cake which when paired with butter cream it evens out…I used the butter cream from this site and frosted the cake and wow! To sweet! Even house full of kids said they couldnt handle..Also had a hard time getting the frosting to hold up..I attempted pretty decorations and it kinda fell a little flat..I mixed for 10 minutes and used all the ingredients step by step so not sure what happened..good for spreading definitely not for decorating …
Vada says
Why would you do all this when you could just make cake from scratch? Baking is already easy and cheap.
MidgetMomma says
because when you get the boxed cake mix for free or pennies with coupons this makes it taste better 🙂
sandy says
Can I use duncan hines spiced cake mix?
MidgetMomma says
yes 🙂 any cake flavor works 🙂
Stephanie says
yes you may
Lisa says
I make this.cake all the time. I add to it or switch it up depending on what kinda of cake I’m making. I love it & so do others. Thank you:)
Kaelin Clark says
So do I follow the steps on the box first? Because it calls for oil, 3 eggs, and water. I don’t know if I should follow those instructions then add the additional stuff you’re. Or if I i’m just using your ingredients and ignoring the box?
MidgetMomma says
Ignore the box instructions 🙂
BriJon says
What if i wanted to make a layered cake using the 9 x 2 inch pans, how much of this mix do i use for each pan if I’m making 2 layers? Does this recipe yield enough for both 9 x 2 in. pans? if so, how much mix do i place in each pan?
Gabby says
Would this work with a carrot cake box mix? Do you think I could add some shredded carrots? Thanks!
Stephanie says
Yes it should work but I haven’t tried it yet.
Lorraine says
I am making two of these for my grandson’s birthday cake and I noticed there is NO oil or butter added, Surely the sour cream doesn’t take the place of a fat does it? I saw chefs on TV offering cake baking tips such as using butter instead of oil, and adding 2 egg yolks plus the 3 eggs. Why are there no extra eggs and leavening to make the scratch part of the recipe rise? They also said add hot water to a chocolate cake mix. My daughter is a FACS teacher and she uses this cake recipe all the time but it could be moister? Nonetheless I’m making as per her directions to follow yours.
Stephanie says
Hello lorraine, there are many recipes out there and this is the one we used at the last bakery I worked at and it was my favorite. Yes the sour cream is the source of fat for this recipe. I’m not sure why you don’t think there is any eggs but the recipe calls for 3 whole eggs. The sour cream will help keep the cake moist. I graduated from the Culinary Institute of American in baking and pastry arts and I have working in some great bakeries so if you have anymore questions please let me know.
Stephanie says
Can I use non fat greek yogurt in place of the sour cream? Thx!
Alicia says
I used this recipe and divided it into 2-6″ and 1- 8″ pan. The cake is moist and delicious but the 8″ didn’t cook completely in the center. Any ideas on what I did wrong? Want to try again for my granddaughter’s birthday cake in a few weeks. Please HELP!?!
Renee Benise says
What dose the Sour Cream do to the cake Mix? Dose the Sour Cream make the cake Mix sour?”
Stephanie says
It adds moisture, no it does not make it sour.
Megan says
How many cupcakes would this recipe make?
MidgetMomma says
same amount as a regular box of cake mix 🙂 12-24 depending on how big the cupcakes are
Renee says
If I ised self rising flour would it make a difference?
Jojo says
Was this a 9×13 or 11×15 pan?
Elise B says
I was sceptical.. Never made a cake with low temps 300 & 325. I thought for sure it would be way too sweet with the extra cup sugar. But had a cake mix in the kitchen and I was bored. It was easy to make. Kinda fun. And… When it was done it looked good. Higher than if I just followed cake box instructions. And when it was cooled and frosted, it looked like a bakery cake. And how was it? Really good and worth making again. I made a yellow cake and followed your instructions. Next time chocolate. Thanks for sharing. P.s totally did not miss butter/oil in this recipe!