How to make box mix taste homemade in 5 easy steps
This is how to make box mix taste homemade. You guys know, no one loves a cake made from scratch more than I do! But sometimes, I just gotta bust out the box mix. Usually for red velvet cake or chocolate cake when I want a nice flavor but don't have time bake from scratch. Or maybe I don't have all the ingredients on hand that I need. That happens a LOT.
But I still want that delicious flavor! I don't really love that "chemical" taste that can come from a straight up box so here are my tips on how to make box mix taste homemade.
Don't be afraid of the box mix
There's an endless debate over what's better, box mix or baking from scratch. SO many people will get into a down-right battle to the death over this one. Honestly, who cares?
Using box mix is up to you. It's definitely a short-cut and sometimes the best option. A lot of professional cake decorators out there use doctored box mix in all their cakes. You get consistent results and it's an easy mixing method.
The only thing I would suggest is you be upfront with your customers. In some areas, no one would probably mind if you used a box or if you made a cake from scratch. But in my area (Portland) people are extremely concerned about what they put into their body (Portlandia is real ya'll).
Clients will actually email me to confirm that I bake from scratch. So I am sure to put that information on my website so there's no question. If you are using a doctored box mix you don't have to say so in so many words. You can simply state "baked fresh daily" and if you have specific inquiry about baking from scratch, just be honest.
If you want more recipes on how to bake from scratch, check out my tried and true cake recipes on Sugar Geek Show.
Tip #1 on how to make box mix taste homemade
Start with the best box mix possible. I'm a Duncan Hines girl myself. The price is a little bit more expensive than the super cheap box mix but I believe you get what you pay for. Not to mention Duncan Hines are often on sale so stock up on your top flavors and enjoy all the funny looks you'll get at check out.
My favorite Duncan Hines box mix flavors are Red Velvet, Triple Chocolate, White Cake (for making WASC) and strawberry. Sometime I can't find duncan hines strawberry so I'll go with Betty Crocker. These are all recipes that take a ton of time to make from scratch and are the most requested flavors from my clients. For the chocolate version of this recipe check out my Chocolate WASC Recipe
Tip #2 on how to make box mix taste homemade
Usually a box mix has the following ingredients listed on the back that they want you to add. Eggs, water and oil. This is smart on their end because pretty much everyone has these ingredients on hand already.
The thing about these ingredients though, they don't add much to the cake as far as flavor goes.
- 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. The coffee intensifies the chocolate flavor! Get the recipe Chocolate WASC
Tip #3 on how to make box mix taste homemade
You might have heard of WASC (white almond sour cream cake) and wondered what it is. It's basically the best doctored box mix recipe of all time. The taste, texture and flavor of this cake is TO DIE FOR. It's no wonder its the recipe of choice when you need a perfect white cake for so many bakers.
How to make WASC
- Start with one box of white Duncan Hines mix
- Add in one cup of AP flour
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup melted butter
- 1 cup of water or milk
- 4 egg whites
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
Place all of your ingredients into the bowl of your stand mixer (or you can mix by hand) and stir on low to combine until just moistened. Then bump up to medium speed and mix for 2 minutes to develop the texture and structure of the cake.
Pour your batter into your prepared pans. I like to use a homemade pan release (cake goop). The best homemade pan release there is! Bake at 350ºF for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick comes out from the center cleanly.
Let cool completely before decorating. For more info on decorating your first cake, check out my free training on how to make your first cake.
Tip #4 on how to make box mix taste homemade
Make your buttercream from scratch. I know this sounds counter-intuitive because we're trying to go for easy here. Maybe you've never made homemade buttercream before and you're intimidated. Well let me put your mind at ease.
My easy buttercream recipe is so simple, it may as well be cheating. Simply place all your ingredients in a bowl, whip it until it's light and fluffy. Then let it mix on low with the paddle attachment for 10 minutes to get rid of bubbles.
Voila, perfect easy buttercream frosting.
And way, way, WAY better than that frosting from a can. What even IS that?
Other great frosting options for you
- Stable cream cheese frosting
- Stabilized whipped cream (ok for one tier cakes with no fondant)
- Chocolate ganache
- American buttercream
Tip #5 on how to make box mix taste homemade
Go crazy with some yummy fillings! You might not want to make your cake from scratch but most fillings for a cake can be made from scratch and they are super simple.
Try out these tasty fillings for your cake
See, that wasn't so hard was it? You're on your way to making a delicious cake made from a box. Do you have some tips on how to make your box mix taste homemade? Leave them in the comments!
Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 box white cake mix I like duncan hines
- 5 oz AP flour 1 cup (spooned into cup, not scooped)
- 7 oz granulated sugar 1 cup
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 9 oz sour cream 1 cup room temp
- 4 oz melted butter ½ cup
- 8 oz milk 1 cup room temperature
- 4 large egg whites room temperature
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
WASC CAKE INSTRUCTIONS
- The instructions for this cake are super easy. Basically, put all the ingredients into a bowl and mix it on medium speed for 2 minutes! Voila! Cake batter is ready. Pour batter into two prepared 8" pans and bake at 350ºF for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Jocelyn says
Can I use this same method for a box of yellow cake mix?
The Sugar Geek Show says
Sure can!
Janet says
I’m currently attempting to bake this for a tiered cake. I could only find Fat Daddio’s 3” deep pans size 10”, 8”and 6”. Does the cooking time or temperature change? My cake keeps coming out jiggly in the middle. I have an oven with the convection feature.
The Sugar Geek Show says
If you are filling a very deep pan then you will have to bake it for much longer. Or you can only fill your pans half way and they will bake faster
Amarjit says
Can I use you yogurt in place of sour cream
The Sugar Geek Show says
Yes you can, I recommend greek yogurt that isn't too sugary
Kathy says
This was recipe was excellent, the cake was so tender, yet stable and had a good taste. When it was paired with the easy buttercream, the cake was divine. And it was so easy! Sure, you can do more complicated mixes, but why when it's so easy with the box mix. Thank you Sugargeek! I love this site.
Melissa Ihrke says
Thanks so much for the tips - baking a unicorn cake for my daughter’s birthday. I’m curious if you’ve ever used fat free greek yogurt instead of sour cream? Only because I have that already and it would save me a trip to the store 😉 Thanks again!!
The Sugar Geek Show says
You can totally use that instead! Mmm so good!
Nee says
For the Easy Buttercream Frosting recipe (using the strawberry purée to make strawberry icing), do you simply throw all the ingredients in the mixer bowl at once? Or do you need to stagger the ingredients and incorporate them separately?
The Sugar Geek Show says
You can put it all in the mixer and just mix it! Super easy 😀
Bre says
Can I use this recipe for carrot cake mix as well?
The Sugar Geek Show says
I haven't tried it with carrot cake, you definitely could but I would also add in more spices and carrots too
Neva says
How can I use Duncan Hines WHITE boxed cake mix to make a key lime cake BUT keep layers WHITE?
The Sugar Geek Show says
Add key lime extract
Rachael Gonzales says
Can I use food color gels to change the colors of this cake as well as use a piping bag to drop dollops into a cupcake pan?
The Sugar Geek Show says
Yes you can
Gina says
I found this recipe to be absolutely delicious!...the one thing I would note is that I made cupcakes, and they rose a lot more than I expected. Next timeI will cut back to 1/2-2/3 full in the standard Wilton cupcake pan. Definitely a keeper, thank you! Also, I recommend watching the video before you make the easy swiss buttercream instead of just reading the recipe instructions. I didn't mix the egg whites with the powdered sugar before adding the rest of the ingredients and I believe it affected the texture of the final product...it was a bit grainy.
Kristina says
Cake came out tasting amazing , but took over an hour to bake hahah. Oven definitely working properly.
Rica Muhammad says
I love this recipe!! I often only need half of the recipe. Any guidance on cutting the recipe in half?
The Sugar Geek Show says
Use half the box of mix and cut all other ingredients in half
Melissa L says
Do I have to add the sour cream? I can not wait to try this!
The Sugar Geek Show says
It is part of what makes the cake taste so good (white almond sour cream cake)
Vania says
Can I do this with Duncan Hines Rainbow Chip cake mix? It’s what I have in my pantry ?
The Sugar Geek Show says
You sure can!
Mary says
What baking pans are best? Aluminum or Stainless Steel?
The Sugar Geek Show says
I personally love fat daddio or magic line pans the best
Lucy Palumbo says
I need to make a 10” square cake Do I double the recipe?
The Sugar Geek Show says
It depends on how tall your cake pans are but 10" is really tall for a cake. You might need to make a double barrel. I can't say exactly how many batches you will have to make. I would start with a double because your mixer probably wont hold any more than that and measure how tall your cake layers are, then keep making more until you have enough cake to stack to make 10". Here is more info on making a double barrel cake. https://sugargeekshow.com/news/cake-decorating-basics-easy-double-barrel/
Terri says
I’m going to make this tomorrow... Will the butter in the recipe give the cake a yell tinge?
The Sugar Geek Show says
No it doesn't
Angela says
Can’t wait to try the WASC cake, can I substitute vanilla extract for almond??
The Sugar Geek Show says
Yes you can
Momto2boys says
I only have Self Rising flour on hand. Can I use that instead of AP flour? And would I use 4 whole eggs? I’m making the Duncan Classic Yellow for cupcakes. Thank you!
The Sugar Geek Show says
I dont think you can since self rising flour has rising agent in it 🙁
RickB says
So if I’m understanding correctly, for a strawberry cake, I can follow the WASC recipe, but substitute strawberry box mix?
Also, do you happen to have the recipe posted by weight instead of volume?
Thanks.
The Sugar Geek Show says
Yes you can use a strawberry box mix.
Tina says
Want to make a coconut cake. Do you think I could use coconut milk & coconut extract?
The Sugar Geek Show says
definitely!
HayDee says
Hello! Should I use milk or water if I’m planning to frost the cake the next day?
Thank you so much.
The Sugar Geek Show says
You can still use milk
Rebecca Bex says
This cake is amaze balls. I used Betty Crocker white cake because it’s the only one I had. Spectacular. The buttercream is amazing too. Did it without strawberry though. Thanks Liz!
Erica Hernandez says
Can I use yellow box mix With the same ingredients? I want to make cake popsicles so need to cook it in a 9 by 13
The Sugar Geek Show says
Yes you can use a yellow box mix
Lena says
Hi Liz! Thanks for all these great recipes! They have been amazing. I have a quick question. If I wanted to do a boxed red velvet cake, would it still be 1 cup of ap flour? Or would I need to add cocoa powder and more red food coloring? I plan on using buttermilk as well 😉
The Sugar Geek Show says
I would add a couple tablespoons of cocoa powder and reduce the flour by the same amount on top of using buttermilk. I don't think you'd need any more red food coloring but you should be able to tell visually if you do.
Shelby says
Do you use salted orninsalted melted butter for the cake? 😁
The Sugar Geek Show says
I use unsalted because salted butter will make the cake taste very salty