How to Hack Boxed Cake Mix So It Tastes Homemade

A little extract and an extra egg can go a long way

For many people, including myself, boxed cake mix is the entry point to baking. It’s both convenient to use and easily adaptable, which makes it perfect for keeping in the pantry for any type of cake emergency. Plus, the variety of flavors means that there’s a boxed cake mix for every palate.

Jocelyn Delk Adams, a blogger and the author of Grandbaby Cakes and Everyday Grand, is known for her gorgeous cakes, but acknowledges the importance of boxed cake mix, too. “Boxed cake mixes are the best starter pack,” she says. “They’re a great jumping-off point for your creativity or easy to jazz up, without needing [to have] every ingredient on hand, especially if you’re baking in a burst of spontaneity.”

And using boxed cake mix doesn’t make you any less of a baker, or lessen the joy that cake can bring. “Whether you’re making a homemade cake or using a boxed mix, good food is a gathering place for great memories,” Adams says. That said, diverging from the directions and ingredients listed on the box can make cake mix feel a little more scratchmade. Here, Adam shares her tips to make any boxed cake even better.

Add an extra egg

Typically, boxed cake mixes only require one or two eggs. But if you can look past the current egg shortage and spare an extra egg, it can make all the difference. “Add an extra egg for extra richness,” Adams advises. An additional egg can also add moisture and extra protein to the cake, creating a more tender crumb and substantial bite.

Use extracts

“Vanilla extract [adds] that homemade touch,” says Adams. If you’re baking a white cake, you can also add a splash of almond or cardamom extract, or coconut extract for a coconut cake. The extracts reinforce and build upon the flavors of the cake, making them even more aromatic and boosting the cake’s overall flavor. You can also experiment with other extracts — like pandan, ube, maple, or even cake batter — to make the cake feel more unique and less like it came out of a box.

Swap the water for milk, or bump up the dairy

Just as adding an extra egg provides more fat and protein, so does switching out water for milk. Any type of milk will do here, but milk that is higher in fat will add more body to the cake and provide richness. Adams particularly enjoys using buttermilk in a chocolate cake mix. If you don’t have milk, sour cream and yogurt also work to bring moisture to the cake (and, like buttermilk, you can’t even taste the tang).

Add mix-ins

Incorporating additional ingredients can change the texture and flavor of boxed cake mix. Adams recommends folding in chocolate chips, toasted nuts, shredded coconut, and lemon zest. You can also add sprinkles, grated carrots, or zucchini for a spice cake mix, along with sesame seeds or dried fruit like cranberries and raisins.

Make your frosting homemade

If you’re already using boxed cake mix, frosting is where you can devote extra time and attention to really transform the cake. “I think homemade frosting is the best way to zhuzh up a boxed mix,” Adams says. “This is where my somewhat homemade theory comes in — shortcut the cake, then make your frosting from scratch. Together it’s so good, they’ll never know.”