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
Jenn says
I am not sure why you are adding even more flour and sugar to those asked for in the box mix. All I did with my mix was add an extra egg, substitute milk for water (equal amounts), and melted butter instead of oil (doubled the butter). Just doing that made a great cake! I just decided to try it and it turned out great! Your recipe turned out pretty good…but, I just felt that adding more dry ingredients was sort of unnecessary. If more than one cake mix is needed, why not just use two cake mixes?
Stephanie says
This is a common recipe that you can find a lot of bakeries use. It just yields a great texture. If you just double the cake mix you will end up with to much of other ingredients.
Sherri says
This is the recipe that I use, adding the flour and sugar, I don’t know about the sugar, but the flour will make the cake denser. I made a cake yesterday, and used a different recipe, and didn’t add the flour and sugar and it wasn’t as good. Will go back to this recipe, it’s alot better, and you do need to double the butter, but I don’t use the sour cream and I do add an extra egg if it asks for 3 I use 4 and they say you can you can use 5 if you want.
Catherine smith says
I’ve seen two recipes for this by far this one is the best we’ll be using it as often as I can
MidgetMomma says
Thanks! It is the only recipe that we use in our house 🙂
Jessica says
So it says 20-30 minutes, then turn up the heat for an equal amount of time. If I’m doing an 8″ pan, should I stay closer to 20 minutes? Thanks!
Stephanie says
Yes
Darlene says
This was great…I used a cherry chip cake mix adding chopped cherry’s along with the extra flour, sugar, and the sour cream, the cake turned out perfect. It’s nice for once to have a cake that raised to the top and filled the whole pan. I will use this recipe again, thank you for sharing.
Diana J says
Where did you get that cake pan?
Stephanie says
I bought it here. https://www.amazon.com/USA-Pan-Bakeware-Rectangular-Aluminized/dp/B0029JOC6I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1489954523&sr=8-3&keywords=cake+pan+rectangle
Joann Blackwell says
I used Greek yogurt will let I know how it turns out
Stephanie says
Im excited to find out how it taste.
Lisa says
I have been making my cakes this way for over a year now. Wonderful everytime. Thank you for sharing:)
Enji says
No oil or butter….?
Stephanie says
No, the fat is from the sour cream.
M. J. Hanson says
What is the baking time for cupcakes?
Stephanie says
15-18 minutes depending on your oven.
Pam says
Are the cupcakes baked at 300 then raise the temp as well? If so, how long on each temp?
Stephanie says
You will bake them for the first 8 minutes at 300 then raise it up to 325 until a toothpick comes out clean from the middle.
Amanda says
I made as cupcakes, but the cake is sticking to the liners, I assume from lack of fat. I used whole fat sour cream. Any suggestions? Also, do I start them at 300, then move the temp up like the cake or cook at 325 the whole time?? Thanks!
Stephanie says
I’m sorry I do not have any suggestions on why they are sticking I have not had that problem so I’m not sure why it’s doing that. Yes, you will cook them just like the cake.
Lisa says
Hi there, I just want you to know. I have need making this cake now for awhile and love it. It’s the only way I .ake them. Ow. My question is. I want to try it in a bundt pan. Have you tried it this way? I was looking at the comments to see if this was asked before. A lot of comments
Aziza says
Should I be putting oil in this?
Stephanie says
No oil needed the fat comes from the sour cream.
Dianna Varnes says
Hi, Can you please tell me if I need to use all purpose or self rising flour?
Thanks
Dianna
Stephanie says
all-purpose
Jane says
The box mixes are smaller now. Used to be 18 ounces, now only 15. What did you use? I made one recipe for a cake this way and it wasn’t the best because the box mix was smaller. They should put the size mix on the recipe.
Stephanie says
I just made one two weeks ago and the cake came out the same as before so just follow the same recipe.
Margee’ says
I noticed that the mixes are smaller. Takes allot more mixes to make wedding cakes now.
Nancy says
I always make these cakes in a Bundt pan and they’ve been fantastic. I slice the Bundt cake into 2 layers and add raspberry jam, lemon curd or anything I’d like between the layers. Really wonderful cake!!
FRAN BANKS says
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS RECIPE! I MAKE SHEET CAKES AS WELL BUT WANTED TO TRY THIS. HOW WOULD I CONVERT THE TIME.
Suzie Lloyd says
What about red velvet cake?
Stephanie says
It works the same.
sheron budhram says
Can you use any cake mix?
Stephanie says
yes, you may.
Pamela Kaess says
Self rising flour?
Stephanie says
Just all-purpose
Sarah says
Just double checking before i try. My box says to use 2 eggs already, do i then add the additional 3 or just 1 more to make the total 3?
Stephanie says
just three eggs
Yvonne Stonehocker-Schmidt says
what about doing this with a chocolate cake mix?
Stephanie says
It works but its not as strong of a chocolate flavor.
Mtalley2tx says
Make the chocolate cake as directed above except substitute cocoa powder for 1/3 cup of the flour. So yummy and I always get asked for the recipe.
Rhonda Ward says
Thanks, I needed this
June says
I made this just this week and took your advice on adding more cocoa powder. It turned out great. Everyone raved about how good it was. Thanks for the suggestions!
Gail Dampman says
I was disappointed in the flavor of the chocolate cake. Any suggestions on adding cocoa or chocolate syrup?
Stephanie says
I love this recipe for all other favors of cake but chocolate I’m still trying to work out. I like to add about 1/4 cup of cocoa powder to it.
Tosha says
I noticed there was no oil or butter, do you not use any at all??
Tosha says
I noticed there was no oil or butter in the recipe. Do you not use any??
Stephanie says
The fat comes from the sour cream.
Lisa says
Trying for the first time today kind of excited to see how this recipe works !! I will write again afterwards !!