FAQs
Bump up the flavor by adding ½ to 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Making a spice cake? Add a little rum, almond, or orange extract as well. If you're making a white or yellow cake, add a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon or lime zest, or a bit of juice.
What can I add to box cake mix to make it better? ›
Here are THE BEST Tricks On How To Make Box Cake Better!
- Use milk instead of water. ...
- Add extra eggs. ...
- Add sugar and flour to the dry mix. ...
- Use coffee instead of water for chocolate cakes. ...
- Sour Cream is perfect for adding moisture and rich flavor. ...
- Pudding adds moisture and flavor.
How to jazz up a box cake mix? ›
Bump up the flavor by adding ½ to 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Making a spice cake? Add a little rum, almond, or orange extract as well. If you're making a white or yellow cake, add a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon or lime zest, or a bit of juice.
Does adding an extra egg to cake mix make it better? ›
Boxed cake mixes tend to be lighter in consistency, but if you're craving that thicker, moister, denser cake, then all you have to do is add an extra egg to your mix. The additional fat in the egg yolk helps create a more tender and moist cake that is full of flavor.
How to make a box cake mix rise more? ›
To make a box cake mix rise higher, try using a smaller pan, adding an extra egg, using milk instead of water, adding baking powder, mixing for longer, using room temperature ingredients, baking at a higher temperature, or using cake strips.
How to make a box cake taste like homemade? ›
Using your Mad Hungry Spurtle Set, sift and stir your eggs, fats, and liquids, to achieve that velvety batter we all know and love.
- Replace Water with Milk or Buttermilk.
- Substitute Oil for Butter.
- Use More Eggs.
- Add Vanilla Extract.
- Make It a Chocolate Lovers' Cake. ...
- Decorate Your Cake Like A Pro.
Can you add milk instead of water to box cake mix? ›
Most box cake recipes will tell you to add water to the mix. Instead, try adding milk using the same proportions. This will make the cake richer and creamier because it ups the fat content. You can even use buttermilk here for a pleasant tang.
What makes a box cake fluffier? ›
Buttermilk: Instead of water, use the same amount of buttermilk. The acid in the buttermilk interacts with the leavening agents in the mix for a better rise. "Swapping out the water for buttermilk creates a fluffier cake and a moister one, too," says Waterson.
Can I replace oil with melted butter in cake mix? ›
Most cake mixes call for oil, but butter will bring in amazing flavor. To substitute butter for oil in baking just melt the butter, measure it, let it cool, and add it as you would the oil. Compared to oil, butter will create a cake with a firmer, cakeier texture.
What to use instead of oil in a box cake? ›
Melted, unsalted butter is the perfect substitute for oil, and can even add a richer flavor to baked recipes. Swap in butter for oil in a 1:1 ratio, melting butter in the microwave or on the stovetop. Vegan butter or ghee can also work in this instance.
Martina says, “Late in the mixing stage, eggs will incorporate better if you lightly beat them before adding to the batter. The finished cake may be slightly shorter than expected, but its flavor and tenderness shouldn't be affected.” For egg-leavened cakes, the eggs are crucial.
How many eggs for 2 boxes of cake mix? ›
If you are planning to combine the two boxes into one cake you are going to need six eggs. If you use only three the cake will not rise and will be dense and sort of chewy. Any recipe that you double, even if it's a box recipe, needs to be followed correctly.
How to make box cake more dense and moist? ›
How To Make Boxed Cake Denser
- Add 2 extra egg yolks. ...
- Swap out oil for melted butter. ...
- Add 2 mashed ripe bananas, fold in just before baking. ...
- Add 1 cup pumpkin purée, fold in just before baking. ...
- Swap out water for coconut milk. ...
- Swap out oil for ricotta cheese. ...
- Add 4 ounces of chocolate, melted. ...
- Swap out water for heavy cream.
How do you spruce up boxed cake mix? ›
Add Milk, Coffee, or Soda
Boxed cakes often call for water, but swapping it out for equal amounts of milk, coffee, or even soda will give you a moister, more tender, and flavorful cake. For white cake mix, you can use whole milk or your favorite non-dairy milk.
What happens if you use two eggs instead of three in a cake? ›
Using too few eggs will make your desserts dense, but using too many will make them rubbery. The explanation for this lies in the fact that eggs are made up of protein. As Fine Cooking explains, when the protein in eggs combines with the protein in flour, they produce the overall structure of the baked good.
What happens if I use whole eggs in white cake mix? ›
It's common for a white cake only to use egg whites, which gives you a purer “white” color and light texture. I like using the whole egg for a more decadent, slightly denser cake for this white cake recipe with a subtle vanilla flavor.
Can I use sour cream instead of water in a cake mix? ›
How to use sour cream with boxed cake mix. The best way to use sour cream with a boxed cake mix is to use it to replace the other liquids in the recipe, like milk or water. You can add up to a cup, or essentially the same amount of liquid you were originally meant to add, per the manufacturer's instructions.
Why do bakers doctor a box cake? ›
The added ingredients give the cake a better texture, more flavor, and more stability for stacking. Doctoring a box mix is a great way to make your cake taste better if you're not a confident baker yet or you just need a shortcut.