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    Home » Cooking Tips

    5 Cake Mix Baking Secrets

    Published: Jun 6, 2020 · Modified: Jan 20, 2023 by Lois · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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    Today I'm going to share with you 5 cake mix baking secrets or Cake Mix Hacks that will help you turn an ordinary box mix into a delicious dessert your family will think came from a bakery!

    how to make box cake better.

    You can always find a box of cake mix in my pantry. In fact I included them as part of my 10 Essentials Pantry Items Printable.

    These are easy tips that will help you bake a delicious dessert that uses an ordinary box of cake mix as an ingredient in a recipe. 

    Each recipe is sure to get rave reviews from your family and take your baking to the next level. No one will know that amazing dessert they’re enjoying started out with a box of cake mix. 

    Make sure you grab the FREE printable below to help you remember all these yummy secrets!

    Table of Contents
    • 🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools
    • 💭Add Baking Powder to the Cake Mix
    • 💭Replace the Oil with Butter
    • 💭Use Cake Mix as a Crumb Topping
    • 💭Add extra moisture to the batter
    • 💭Serve an ordinary cake mix with a Homemade Frosting
    • 💡Ready to put these secrets into action?
    • 💬 Comments

    🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools

    This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, click here.

    Cookie Scoop SetCookie Scoop SetMore InformationReynolds Kitchens Cookie Baking Sheets, Pre-Cut ParchmentReynolds Kitchens Cookie Baking Sheets, Pre-Cut ParchmentMore InformationNordic Ware Formed Bundt Pan, 6-Cup, NavyNordic Ware Formed Bundt Pan, 6-Cup, NavyMore InformationWilton Perfect Results Premium Non-Stick Bakeware 12-CupWilton Perfect Results Premium Non-Stick Bakeware 12-CupMore Information56 Pcs Silicone Cupcake Liners,Reusable Cupcake Liners,Baking56 Pcs Silicone Cupcake Liners,Reusable Cupcake Liners,BakingMore InformationKraft Cupcake Boxes,50pcs Single Cupcake CarrierKraft Cupcake Boxes,50pcs Single Cupcake CarrierMore InformationCupcake Holders - Individual Cupcake Containers -Cupcake Holders - Individual Cupcake Containers -More InformationPL8 Cupcake Carrier & DisplayPL8 Cupcake Carrier & DisplayMore InformationVonShef Snap and Stack Cupcake Storage CarrierVonShef Snap and Stack Cupcake Storage CarrierMore Information

     

    💭Add Baking Powder to the Cake Mix

    Our very first cake mix baking secrets is easy! The next time you’re using a cake mix for any recipe, add half a teaspoon to a full teaspoon of baking powder to the cake mix. 

    If you’re like me, you tend to purchase boxes of cake mixes when they’re on sale. 

    Adding the teaspoon of baking powder to the mix helps boost the freshness of the cake mix. Because, let’s be honest, sometimes we have cake mixes sitting in our pantry for a long time. Or maybe it’s just in my house? 

    I add an extra teaspoon of baking powder to the batter for my Chocolate Chunk Muffins recipe.

    Add Baking Powder to Cake Mix in Bowl

    💭Replace the Oil with Butter

    Next time you bake a cake using a box mix, try using melted butter in place of the oil in a 1-to-1 substitution. Your cake will have a delicious buttery flavor!

    💭Use Cake Mix as a Crumb Topping

    Do you love fruit crisps as much as I do? Did you know that by simply cutting butter into a cake mix creates a sweet, crumb topping streusel to sprinkle over coffee cakes, muffins or fruit desserts just before baking.

    I think my favorite cake mix baking secrets is to use cake mix as a crumb topping when making fruit desserts like my recipes for Peach Dump Cake, and Blueberry Lemon Dump Cake. There's even a recipe for Pumpkin Apple Dump Cake that's slowly becoming one of my favorites!

    Blueberry Lemon Crunch Cake

    💭Add extra moisture to the batter

    Another way to make boxed cake more delicious is to help add moisture to the batter by adding one of the following to the dry cake mix: 

    • Sour Cream - add anywhere from ¾ cup to one full cup of full fat sour cream when baking. I add sour cream to the batter for my Marble Bundt Cake Recipe!
    • Cream Cheese - you can add 2 ounces of softened cream cheese. 
    • Mayonnaise - yes, as strange as this sounds, adding up to two tablespoons of full fat mayonnaise will add moisture to a cake mix batter.
    • Eggs - add an extra egg to the cake batter.  
    Add butter to cake mix batter to make the recipe creamy.

    💭Serve an ordinary cake mix with a Homemade Frosting

    Our final tip is to ditch the canned frosting you usually reach for when baking a boxed cake mix and instead make homemade frosting! 

    This really does make any ordinary cake mix recipe taste homemade or even from a bakery. It really does make all the difference in the world.

    A few of my favorite homemade frosting recipes already on the blog are:

    • Homemade Chocolate Frosting
    • Coconut Pecan Frosting
    • Homemade Chocolate Ganache
    • Easy Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting
    Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting in piping bags and cake mix vanilla cupcakes.

    💡Ready to put these secrets into action?

    Here are a few of my favorite desserts that all start out with a cake mix:

    • German Chocolate Cake with Coconut Pecan Frosting
    • Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies
    • Marble Bundt Cake
    • Peach Crunch Cake

    Make It with a Cake MixMake It with a Cake MixMore Information101 Things To Do With a Cake Mix101 Things To Do With a Cake MixMore InformationThe Ultimate Cake Mix & More CookbookThe Ultimate Cake Mix & More CookbookMore InformationTaste of Home Cake Mix Creations!Taste of Home Cake Mix Creations!More InformationThe Ultimate Cake Mix Cookie BookThe Ultimate Cake Mix Cookie BookMore Information

     

    Kitchen Aid Mixer with dry cake mix, sticks of butter and wooden spoons.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Donna @ Modern on Monticello says

      June 16, 2020 at 10:46 am

      Fabulous tips! So glad you shared them. I will never think of a box cake mix the same again and will be trying out your cake box recipes this summer. Thanks so much for sharing. #HomeMattersParty

      Reply
    2. Ann says

      June 14, 2020 at 9:22 am

      Wonderful tips! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ's.

      Reply

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