This is how I doctor a red velvet box mix to make it taste more like it's made from scratch. 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.
The doctored version is the shortcut, and the scratch red velvet cake recipe is the full from-scratch version for when you want maximum flavor and texture control.
Doctored Red Velvet Cake Ingredients
This recipe is based on my WASC cake recipe and my chocolate WASC. The reason why we add more ingredients to a box mix is that on its own, a box mix is pretty fluffy and soft. Nothing wrong with that really but most of my readers are professional cake decorators or passionate hobby bakers and like a firmer cake for stacking. 
The funny thing is, red velvet from scratch is really really easy to make too. Probably one of the easiest cakes to bake from scratch so if you're interested in taking that leap, check out my authentic red velvet cake recipe.
If you don't have buttermilk, you can make a buttermilk substitute or use milk instead.
Doctored Red Velvet Cake Step-By-Step
Step 1 - Preheat your oven to 335ºF and prepare three 8"x2" cake pans with cake goop or your preferred type of pan release.
Step 2 - Bring your eggs, sour cream, and buttermilk to room temperature.
Step 3 - Combine the cake mix and all your ingredients in the bowl of your stand mixer with the whisk attachment attached.
Step 4 - Mix on low for 30 seconds to combine the ingredients then scrape the bowl.
Step 5 - Increase the speed to medium and mix for two minutes.
Step 6 - Divide the batter between the three pans and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the center cleanly.
Step 7 - Let your cakes cool in the pan until the pan is barely warm (about 10 minutes) then flip them out onto a wire rack to cool fully.
If you want to decorate your cake right away, I suggest placing the cakes into the freezer for 60 minutes to flash cool them and then you can frost them. Or you can wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them overnight if you want to decorate the next day.
Pro-tip: Freezing your cakes warm locks in moisture and prevents them from drying out.
Step 8 - After your cakes are cool you can decorate your cake however you want or check out the video to see how I decorated mine with this cute ombre look!
How To Decorate The Cake
I colored ⅓ of my buttercream dark pink with super red food coloring from Americolor and then ⅓ a light pink with the same food coloring and left the last bit white.
If you need to learn more about how to decorate cakes you can check out my how to make your first cake tutorial.
To smooth the outside of my cake, I'm using the crown jewel cake comb from Ester Cakes.
Related Recipes
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Cups of Batter Needed
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Note: measurements are estimated based off the vanilla cake recipe using standard US cake pans and sizes. Measurements used are for 2" tall cake pans only. Your results may vary. Do not overfill cake pans above manufacturer's recommended guidelines.
Recipe
Equipment
- Three, 8"x2" cake pans
- Stand mixer, hand mixer or even a bowl with a whisk
- For decorating: 8" cake board, bench scraper, offset spatula, rustic scallop cake comb, piping bag and Wilton 2D piping tip.
Ingredients
Doctored Red Velvet Cake
- 1 box red velvet cake mix I like Betty Crocker Delights super moist red velvet cake mix, or Duncan Hines.
- 5 ounces all purpose flour 1 cup spooned in and leveled
- 7 ounces granulated sugar 1 cup
- 6 ounces sour cream, room temperature or plain greek yogurt - ¾ cup
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ounces vegetable oil ¼ cup
- 4 ounces unsalted butter, melted ½ cup
- 12 ounces buttermilk, room temperature or regular milk + 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. 1 ½ cups
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 Tablespoon Super Red Food Coloring
Easy Swiss Meringue Buttercream
- 6 ounces pasteurized egg whites
- 24 ounces sifted powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 24 ounces unsalted butter room temperature
- ⅛ teaspoon yellow food coloring
- 1 teaspoon electric pink food coloring
- 2 Tablespoons super red food coloring
Instructions
Before you Begin
- Preheat the oven to 335º F and prepare your cake pans. Bring eggs, sour cream, and buttermilk to room temperature before mixing. Cold ingredients can cause the batter to look lumpy. If short on time, warm eggs in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes.
For The Cake
- Preheat oven to 335º F. Prepare three 8-inch round cake pans with cake goop or preferred pan release.
- Add all cake ingredients to the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Mix on low for 30 seconds, then scrape the bowl.
- Increase to medium speed and mix for 2 minutes until smooth.
- Divide batter evenly between prepared pans.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Check at 25 minutes.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then flip onto a wire rack. Wrap warm layers in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 1 hour before frosting for best moisture and handling.
Easy Swiss Meringue Buttercream
- Place egg whites and sifted powdered sugar in the stand mixer bowl with the whisk attachment. Mix on low to combine, then whip on high for 1 minute to dissolve the powdered sugar.
- Add in your salt and vanilla extract
- Add butter in chunks and whip to combine. The buttercream will look curdled at first. Keep whipping.
- If it looks curdled, remove ⅓ cup, melt it in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds until barely melted, and pour it back into the mixer to bring it together.
- Switch to the paddle attachment and mix on low for 15 to 20 minutes until smooth and free of air bubbles.
- Divide and color as desired.
Video
Notes
- Unfrosted layers: wrap and freeze up to 3 months.
- SMB-frosted cake: room temperature under a dome, up to 3 days.
- Cream cheese-frosted cake: refrigerator in an airtight container, up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Erica says
I’ve made this recipe for cupcakes and they were just as delicious as when i make a total from scratch recipe. Everyone loved them. Wish I could remember how long I baked them for. I’ll have to edit this comment next time I make them. Thank you for posting your recipe.
Debra Latimer says
Just made this cake for my granddaughter’s birthday. It was absolutely yummy! And the Swiss meringue buttercream made it even more delicious. Thank you!!!
Any chance you can create a purple velvet cake recipe?
Elizabeth Marek says
Check out my recipe for green velvet, you can change it to any color. https://sugargeekshow.com/green-velvet-cake/
Teresa says
How many eggs? Video show 4 eggs and the recipe call for 3eggs
Elizabeth Marek says
Follow the recipe
Jewel Holstad says
I’ve made a lot of delicious red velvet cakes but this is the BEST EVER
Renee says
I just put this cake in the oven. I doubled the recipe and am baking it in three 9" x 3"tall cake pans. It's for my granddaughter's 17th birthday......After I mixed it up, I realized I had not read any reviews ......came here, and happily found they were all good. Will let you know how doubling works out.....crossing my fingers. 🙂
Kelly WAUGH says
Amazing, by far the best red velvet cake I've ever tasted.
Susie says
This cake is absolutely delicious. So moist and tasty!
Anya says
When it says all purposes flour do I use regular all purposes flour or all purposes cake flour?
Elizabeth Marek says
there is only one kind of all purpose flour. Cake flour is different.
Lornetta Boyett says
Delicious
Cilicia says
THANK YOU!! I made the cake.. Very happy to share.. THIS cake recipe IS EVERYTHING! Can the same be applied to other boxcake mix flavs? Please share doctored box cake mix for yellow/vanilla cake. It's NEEDED.
Thank you.
Sugar Geek Show says
Hello! I'm so glad that you liked it. Yes, I have a few other doctored box mix recipes including chocolate and strawberry. Here is a link to my white cake box mix recipe: https://sugargeekshow.com/wasc-cake-recipe/
JLee says
Thank you for this delicious recipe! I baked it exactly according to recipe and it turned out so tasty! My family loved it! 😍
Mar says
I made this cake and it was really good! Very moist and a HUGE improvement from the regular cake mix recipe, as it tastes way better and doesn’t fall apart when decorating. Thank you!!
Terri says
Getting ready to make this cake however the video shows 4 eggs and the recipe says 3eggs. How many eggs should be used?? I need to know as soon as possible I want to make this cake today. Thank you
Elizabeth Marek says
Follow the recipe
Tracy Haskins says
Thank you Thank you! This cake is supreme in every way. Moist, decadent, easy to tort and overall wonderful flavor!! Honestly, all your recipes are amazing, so thank you for sharing! I made this with my grandma's old school cream cheese frosting (she was also a baker) and I have never tasted anything so wonderful. My picky son loved it and I sent one in with my husband to his work and ALL the first responders there raved about it! You have a gift and I thank you for sharing it with all of us...it's truly been a sanity savior during this time of covid and I love that I can spread a little of your cake joy to the people here in my area who really need it right now. Blessings to you and yours
Dylan says
Hello I love all your recipes. Is there anyway you could convert any of the OZ measurements to cups for me please.
Sugar Geek Show says
Hi, thank you! This one has cups on the recipe card: https://sugargeekshow.com/doctored-red-velvet-cake-mix/ But for my other cake recipes, I highly recommend that you use a scale for the best accuracy. Check out my blog post for more info on how and why to use a scale: https://sugargeekshow.com/digital-kitchen-scale/
Maricar Magdowski says
I was thinking of doctoring cake boxes for a while and actually purchased red velvet box cake recently. I can’t wait to try this recipe. I love your easy SMBC. Super easy to make and comes out perfect! I’ll keep you posted after I try this recipe. Thanks
Amy says
Everyone in my family requests this for their birthday cake! It’s the best red velvet cake I have ever had and it comes out perfect every time!