Boxed Cake Mix Upgrade Guide
Turn any boxed cake mix into a decadent, bakery-worthy dessert with these simple upgrades, variations, and creative hacks that will wow your guests every time.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Electric Mixer
- Cake Pan
- Oven
Ingredients
Basic Upgrades
- 1 box cake mix any flavor
- 1 cup milk or buttermilk replaces water
- 1 extra egg
- 1/2 cup sour cream for moisture
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract more for vanilla cakes
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise great for chocolate cakes
Optional Add-ins
- citrus zest for vanilla or lemon cakes
- chopped candy bars Snickers, etc.
- rainbow sprinkles for confetti cakes
- fresh berries fold into batter
Instructions
- Preheat your oven according to the cake mix instructions.
- In a large bowl, whisk the cake mix with eggs, milk or buttermilk, and any optional wet ingredients (sour cream, mayo, vanilla extract).
- In a separate bowl, mix any dry add-ins like zest or sprinkles, then fold into the wet batter.
- Pour batter into a greased cake pan. Smooth the top.
- Bake as directed on the box, but begin checking 5 minutes early to prevent overbaking.
- Cool completely before frosting. For upgraded frosting, mix in cream cheese with store-bought icing for a tangy twist.
Notes
Try using your favorite flavor combinations or pantry items. Almost any mix-in can turn a boxed cake into a showstopper. Don’t forget: fully cooled cakes freeze well and still taste amazing when thawed.