Boxed mixes come with all the dry ingredients needed to bake a cake. All that's left to do is add the wet ingredients and put the cake in the oven, saving you time and mess. Show
The only issue? Boxed cake mixes can sometimes turn out to be too dry or bland, or they lack that homemade flavor you're looking for. "Swap out the ingredients that are called for on the back of the box and make homemade frosting," advises Elizabeth Waterson, the founder and blogger behind Confessions of a Baking Queen. "I bet you no one will ever know you started with a boxed cake!" A few simple swaps or additions can transform a boxed cake mix. These changes are sure to make it taste like it was baked from scratch or picked up from a gourmet bakery. 1. Replace the water with another liquidReplace the water with coffee for added flavor, or add richness with milk or coconut milk.nikkimeel/ShutterstockThe average cake mix calls for water, which is fine, but a little boring. Instead of using water, consider substituting any of these options:
2. Replace the oil to add flavor and bodyCake mixes typically call for vegetable oil. Make one of these simple swaps for a cake that's rich, moist, and flavorful:
3. Add extracts for more flavorSpruce up a chocolate or vanilla cake mix with the addition of flavored extracts such as pure vanilla extract, coconut extract, or maple extract. "If you are making a chocolate cake, adding peppermint extract would be a perfect addition for a chocolatey, minty cake," says Waterson. "Or, try almond extract with a white cake mix." Start with 1 teaspoon of any extract and increase the amount as desired. 4. Use spices for a great twistAdding spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or even cardamom can add warmth and boost the flavor of your cake.Leszek Glasner/ShutterstockBaking spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and allspice can enhance a cake. Mix 1 teaspoon of cinnamon into a vanilla cake mix for a touch of flavor. Mix 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, ½ teaspoon of nutmeg, and ½ teaspoon of allspice into a white or yellow cake mix to make a spice cake. 5. Incorporate citrusTransform a vanilla, chocolate, or yellow cake mix with citrus. Mix in 1 tablespoon of freshly grated orange, lime, grapefruit, or lemon zest. "For a citrus cake, also try using lemon juice or orange juice," says Waterson. Replace 1/8 cup of the water called for on the box with lemon or orange juice to amp up the flavor. 6. Change the eggs to make it fluffy and airyEggs provide structure and moisture in a cake mix. Make your cake richer or fluffier with these quick options:
7. Incorporate fresh fruitYou can mix fruits such as blueberries, raspberries, sliced strawberries, or chopped pineapple into a cake mix to make it more interesting. Prepare the batter according to the directions on the box. Toss the fruit in flour to prevent sinking, and then fold the fruit into the batter. Bake the cake according to the time on the box. 8. Add crunchAdd crunch, texture, and flavor with coconut, chopped chocolate, or nuts.Hrendon/ShutterstockAdding texture to a cake mix can make it taste gourmet. Consider including one of these delicious mix-ins:
Quick tip: Want to add a streusel topping to make a quick coffee cake? Mix together 1 stick of melted butter, 1 ½ cups flour, ½ cup brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon cinnamon until crumbly. Sprinkle the streusel over the cake batter before baking. 9. Mix in pudding for more moistureAmp up moisture and flavor with pudding. "Adding a box of pudding mix can create an incredibly moist but denser cake," says Waterson. Mix in a small box of dry pudding mix with your dry ingredients, and then finish preparing the cake mix according to the box instructions. 10. Increase moisture with sour creamSour cream will enhance the crumb of a cake mix. Make a moist cake by mixing 3 tablespoons of sour cream into the batter. Finish baking the cake as directed. 11. Replace eggs and oil with sodaYou can skip the eggs, oil, and water called for on the box and use soda such as Sprite, Strawberry Fanta, or Pepsi instead to make a vegan cake. Keep in mind that this will make the cake a bit sweeter. Mix together the dry mix and a 12-ounce can of soda. Bake the cake according to the box instructions. 12. Use an egg substituteSkip the eggs to make a cake vegan. Use an egg replacer, ¼ cup applesauce, or ¼ cup mashed banana for every egg the mix calls for. Keep in mind that the applesauce and banana will add extra sweetness as well. 13. Use homemade frostingPairing a boxed cake mix with delicious frosting is one of the simplest ways to spruce it up. Skip store-bought frosting and make homemade frosting instead. Cream together ½ cup of softened butter, 2 tablespoons of milk, 5 cups powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract until light and fluffy for an easy vanilla frosting. Insider's takeawayUsing a boxed cake mix can make baking a cake much simpler and faster. To make a cake that has more moisture, is richer, or even vegan, you can use simple swaps or additions. Extracts, spices, and a variety of mix-ins can also transform a box cake mix, making it taste gourmet. Molly Allen Molly Allen is a former bakery owner and event planner. Now, a freelance writer and editor covering food and beverage, lifestyle, travel, and parties, she brings her years of experience and industry knowledge to readers across a variety of platforms. Her work has appeared in Taste of Home, Brides, Cidercraft Magazine, among others. Follow her on Instagram @mollyallenmedia. How do you make a box cake taste like a bakery cake?Substitute the water in box directions for milk. Replace the oil in the box directions with butter and DOUBLE the amount. Add one additional egg than what the box instructions call for. Mix ingredients together and follow baking directions from the box.
What can you add to a box cake mix to make it taste better?Try adding a few of these tips to your box cake mix taste 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 can I make my cake more rich?Add More Eggs
To get an extra rich and moist cake, stir in two extra egg yolks along with the eggs the recipe calls for (save the egg whites to make these delicious meringues). For a lighter and more airy cake, use only egg whites (and save the egg yolks for crème brûlée).
How do you make box cake taste store bought?Tip #2 on how to make box mix taste homemade. Replace water with milk for more flavor and moisture. If you're making red velvet you can use buttermilk.. Replace the oil with melted butter for more flavor and homemade texture.. For chocolate cakes, try replacing the water with cooled coffee.. |