How to improve boxed cake mix! Doctor red velvet, chocolate, vanilla, yellow or any boxed cake mix with this easy hack. Plus extra fun ideas for add-ins.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Make boxed mix taste like a bakery cake! Cupcakes or cake!
- You can use boxed cake mix for any flavor and make it better!
- Red velvet, chocolate, white, yellow, carrot cake, strawberry, spiced – you name it!
- Easy time saving hack!
Doctored Cake Mix
Need other ideas to make boxed cake mix taste like bakery cake? I have tested recipes for chocolate cake, carrot cake, red velvet cake, strawberry cake, white cake and yellow cake to name a few!
You can use my basic recipe for boxed cake mix recipes but you can add so many different ingredients to make boxed cake mix better depending on the type of cake you are making. For example:
- Chocolate: Swap coffee for water to make a chocolate espresso cake and add chocolate chips!
- Carrot: Add in shredded carrot and coconut for a boxed carrot cake.
- Red Velvet: Add in a dash of cocoa powder and white chocolate chips.
- Strawberry: Add diced strawberries.
- White or Yellow: Add in nuts or funfetti sprinkles! You can also add lemon or orange zest and mix up your frosting!
- Other ideas: Chopped nuts, almond or vanilla extract, soda or jam! Also, adding sour cream, mayo or pudding mix can add a different dimension to your recipe.
Also, if you are looking for an easy cake mix option when you want a sweet treat, you can try Betty Crocker Mug Treats.
Can you make with almond milk or other alternative milks?
Yes. You can make boxed cake mix recipes with almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, whole milk, 2% milk, 1% milk, fat free milk, half and half or heavy cream!
Frosting recipes for cupcakes
Looking for some amazing frosting recipes for your cupcakes? You can always go with Pillsbury or Betty Crocker if you are short on time. However, if you are looking for some amazing frosting from scratch, checkout:
This Brown Butter Frosting from Self Proclaimed Foodie is amazing! Krissy also has an amazing Mascarpone Frosting that is delicious on cupcakes (or anything!!!!).
Need a vegan recipe? Check out this Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting, by Nora Cooks.
For a basic vanilla buttercream frosting, you will love the Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting is from Belle of the Kitchen!
Helpful tools to make this recipe
- Cupcake Pan: This Wilton Cupcake Pan is the BEST. Period.
- Cupcake Liners: These rainbow cupcake liners are my favorite! I support the LGBTQ community and I love the beautiful rainbow representation of that.
- Cake Pan: This cake pan is a great option if you are making a cake and not cupcakes.
CAN YOU RECOMMEND ANY OTHER NO BAKE DESSERTS?
Yes! You will love my Cake Pops, Oreo Truffles (Carrot Cake Version) or Rum Balls (Coconut). These are desserts are all great choices because they are super easy to make, no bake and transportable. I have brought them to family parties, graduations and BBQs. You name it! Have dessert, will travel!
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How to Improve Boxed Cake Mix: Doctored Cake Mix Hacks!
Equipment
- cake pan, cupcake pan
Ingredients
- 1 15-16 oz box cake mix Betty Crocker, Pillsbury or box mix of choice.
- 5 eggs 4 whole eggs and 1 egg yolk
- 1 cup whole milk (or alternative milk of choice)
- ⅔ cup melted butter
Instructions
- Follow box instructions.
- Note: For cupcakes, I cooked LESS than box instructions, 12 minutes.
Kk
This is my go to recipe for how to improve boxed cake mix. Thank you!
Debi
Just made these cupcakes. They are awesome
Aubrey
Thanks Debi! So happy you enjoyed!
Mary Lou
Hello Ms.Aubrey I want to make mountain dew cupcakes and layered cake for a friends birthday. Can I substituted mountain dew for the milk?
Aubrey
You sure can! Let me know how it turns out for you. 😁
Susan M
I am getting ready to make this. I assume Cook Time: 12 minutes does not apply for a 9×12 cake? What baking time did you use?
Aubrey
Hello Susan! You will want to follow the cook times as indicated on the box mix based on the pan that you are using. I hope that helps. Let me know how it turns out! 😁
Crystal M
Looked in my pantry I have a lemon cake mix. Can I use it on this lemon? Any suggestions?
Aubrey
Hello Crystal – double check your boxed cake mix. Most boxed cakes call for water, oil and eggs. If so, the substitutions should work. Let me know how it turns out! 😁
Laurie
Hi, this recipe sounds good, I’m going to make today. But I want to make sure I understand, use butter and oil? Thanks!
Aubrey
Thanks Laurie! Just use your box of cake mix, plus butter, milk and eggs (amounts in recipe card). Don’t double up with the ingredients on the box. Let me know how it turns out! 😁
Laura
Silly question, does one cake mix and extra ingredients make for 24 cupcakes?
Aubrey
Hey Laura! No silly questions! Yes, approximately 24 cupcakes. Because you are mostly just substituting it will be almost the same amount. Enjoy!
Miranda
Question! Do I still use oil (like on box instructions) and also the melted butter?
Aubrey
Hey Miranda! Just use the boxed cake mix and the ingredients listed (eggs, milk, butter). Let me know how it turns out! 😁
Hilary
Question if I want to use your recipie and still substitute coffee for the milk/water component is the ratio still the same?
Aubrey
Hello Hilary! Great question! While I have never made coffee before, I believe coffee would be the same ratio. Let me know how it turns out! 😁
Chris
When I made 2 9in, came out perfect. Cupcakes flattened out a little but it works for when I need to frost them. They are nice and fluffy but not crumbly.
Aubrey
That is awesome! Thanks so much Chris!
Elena S.
Such easy tweaks that really improve the flavor! I have tried other versions and they weren’t as good. Favorite for sure.
Aubrey
Thanks Elena!!! So happy to hear!
Jennifer
Really good recipe! I was looking for something quick for an impromptu birthday party and these came out perfectly! You couldn’t tell they weren’t made from scratch.
Aubrey
So happy to hear that Jennifer!!! Delicious birthday cake is essential for sure. 🙂
Matilda Jackson
Just made this for my Dad (belated Father’s Day) and they came out INCREDIBLE! Just like a bakery would make, and so easy. Thanks, Aubrey!
Aubrey
Thank you so much! I am so glad you enjoyed! I have been playing with boxed cake mix hacks for a while and this is my fav.
Courtney
I don’t have time to make cake from scratch so I am always looking how to improve boxed bake. I have looked at a million recipes on how to doctor cake mix and this recipe is my favorite so far. Many recipes call for too many eggs and the trick with the eggs and 1 extra yolk is perfect! I used red velvet box mix and added white chocolate chips. So delish!
Aubrey
Thanks Courtney!!! I do appreciate your feedback! I made about a million versions of this box mix recipe to find my favorite so I am super happy you like it! Did you make cupcakes or cake?