This WASC cake recipe is a tender and moist cake that is perfect for white wedding cakes. It's firm enough to stack and cover in fondant but if you're looking for something to carve, you might want to try my white cake recipe.
What does WASC stand for?
WASC stands for white almond sour cream cake. WASC cake recipe has been used for years and adapted many times. I made this recipe many years ago back after reading a thread on Cake Central before I knew how to bake a cake from scratch. The funny thing is by adding all these ingredients, you're basically making a cake from scratch! The only thing you don't have to worry about is the mixing method which can be tricky at first but is easy enough to learn with a couple of tries.
The good thing about WASC is that it's easy to make, is fairly mistake-proof and tastes pretty good and is an easy way to make a boxed cake taste more like a scratch cake recipe.
WASC cake is a tender cake and needs to be fully cooled before you ice it with buttercream.
What is the best box mix to use for WASC?
I prefer Duncan Hines classic white cake mix. Duncan Hines, in my opinion, has the best tasting box mix to start with.
If you need more information on how to make your first cake, check out my full tutorial. In this tutorial, I show you not only how to make this WASC cake recipe, I also show you how to trim your cake layers, fill your cake evenly with buttercream and create a smooth finish.
Because this doctored mix bakes up sturdy, it works great as the base for my Oreo layer cake when you want to fold chopped cookies right into the batter.
Other tutorials that might be helpful for you
How to get sharp buttercream edges
How to cover a cake in fondant
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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
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
- 1 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 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. It's ok to bake your cakes for longer if you're using larger pans.
Rick says
Any tips on adjusting this to make a lemon cake?
Elizabeth Marek says
Use a lemon box mix, lemon extract and add the zest of one lemon to the recipe
Cindy says
Liz I have used the original WASC for years in my business. The recipe would not work correctly once the box mix went from 18 oz to 15 oz. I had to add additional cake mix to 18 oz. (4-5 wedding cakes a week)
Have you had to adjust for the smaller cake box ?
Thank you
Retired
Cherry Lane Cakes.
Elizabeth Marek says
I have not adjusted the recipe and it still works for me
Kim says
Hi Cindy….i add 1/3 cup of cake mix from another box when 15.25oz and 1/2 cup when it’s 13.25 oz.
Susan says
Can I use buttermilk instead if whole milk?
Elizabeth Marek says
Yes you can
Claudia says
I was looking for a vanilla cake recipe for my sister’s gender reveal cake for next weekend. I was wondering if instead of almond extract, can I use vanilla extract? Also can I put gel food coloring on the cake batter?
Thank you!
Elizabeth Marek says
Yes you can use vanilla and yes you can add in food coloring. Make sure if it's blue that you're adding that the color is a true blue because some blue colors look green or purple after baking.
Christina says
I absolutely love this recipe and have made it several times with rave reviews! I’m hoping to make a funfetti type cake and was wondering if I can use this recipe and just add the sprinkles to it or if there are other adjustments that would have to be made? Thanks!
Elizabeth Marek says
Yes you can just add sprinkles
sarah e says
Would this recipe work four other flavors of box cake Max such as yellow red velvet. By removing the almond extract?
Elizabeth Marek says
I would use my chocolate WASC recipe for chocolate and red velvet but yes you can use this one for yellow
Amita says
how much pasteurized egg whites we need for 4 egg whites
Elizabeth Marek says
1 egg white = 1 ounce
Kim says
Ive used a few sugar geek ideas. And they have never let me down. I tend to bake cake in a loaf tin so needed to adjust the timings to roughly 45 minutes. I’ve now started amending the basic recipe, I’ve added lemon Curd, and I’ve added ginger powder and stem ginger. This is fab
Nadea says
This cake was so good!!! I won't make white cake any other way. Thank you for the recipe!
Jennifer says
Used recipe for kids graduation cake yesterday!!!! Also used your easy buttercream recipe. It was a hit, everyone loved it good flavor and consistency..1/2 sheet cake
Rachel says
Do you use salted or unsalted butter in the cake?
Elizabeth Marek says
unsalted
rajal says
Can this be covered under fondant
Elizabeth Marek says
Yes you can
Cindt says
I have made this cake twice now. It’s amazing with the almond extract. I think this is my son’s favorite cake
S. Menefee says
Thank you so much!
S. Menefee says
Using this for cupcakes, what temperature should I use and how long should they bake?
Elizabeth Marek says
Bake at 350 for about 15-18 minutes until the dome is set.