Here are some boxed chocolate cake mix hacks that will elevate the mix and have everyone guessing where did you get that cake!
What's wrong with a boxed cake mix? I don't know about you, but I do really love the ease! All the dry ingredients are already measured and mixed for you. The only problem that I really have with them, is that sometimes (like all the times) they have a boxed cake mix taste/feel. There's something about them that you just know its a boxed cake mix.
And don't get me wrong, there's nothing bad about the taste of the boxed cake mix. But when you're trying to pass off your freshly baked cake as baked from scratch. Well its practically impossible.
Or at least it is, unless you doctor up your cake mix. Instead of following the exact directions on the box, I've gathered up some boxed cake mix hacks that will have anyone (including yourself!) wondering how'd you make this cake!
These are specifically for chocolate cake mixes because every cake flavor has a unique way to elevate it.
Here are some of the Best Boxed Chocolate Cake Mix Hacks:
Use dairy - instead of adding the directed amount of water, replace it with milk! The cake will taste richer.
Or better yet, Add in sour cream or yogurt or buttermilk. Blend in with an electric mixer until full incorporated. Adding in these dairy based alternatives is even better than just replacing the water with milk. They all help to give the cake extra moisture and a slightly tangy flavor. Plus the acidity from these ingredients also helps the cake rise even more.
Use Melted Butter (instead of oil) - Extra flavor from the butter!
Add in Instant Coffee or Espresso Powder. 1 or 2 tablespoons of coffee or espresso to really elevate the chocolate flavor.
Add in Chocolate Pudding mix. The cornstarch in pudding mix helps the structure of the cake, it will bake more dense. And extra chocolate flavor!
Add an extra egg. Almost all cake mixes call for 3 eggs. Throw in an extra one! The cake will be richer and more moist
You can use all of these hacks the next time you make a boxed chocolate cake, or just try 1 or 2 of them! It's up to you, but these tricks will definitely help to elevate the next cake you bake!
Favorite Chocolate Cake Mixes
You can use these hacks on any of your favorite chocolate cake mixes.
Here are some of my favorite mixes: Deliciously Simple Chocolate Cake Mix by King Arthur, Ghirardelli Double Chocolate, Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge
Check out these other creative ideas to elevate boxed cake mixes:
Snickerdoodle Dulce de Leche Cupcakes
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Cake Mix Hacks
Ingredients
- 1 chocolate cake mix
- 1 chocolate pudding mix
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup butter melted
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon Instant Coffee
- Buttercream Frosting your choice of frosting
Instructions
- Preheat oven 350°F. Line a cake pan with parchment paper or grease with butter.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cake mix, pudding mix, buttermilk, eggs, butter and coffee. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until combined. Scrap down bowl and blend on medium speed until fully combined.
- Pour batter into prepared cake pan and bake according to package instructions
- Cool completely before frosting.
Staci
What size pudding box do u use?
Jill Patel
I usually use a 3.4 ounce box.
Brenda Corrie
Can I use this same recipe to make a swiss roll?
Jill Patel
I am not sure about that. I've never tried it and I'm not sure if it is the correct consistency.
E pierce
What size box of pudding? Instant or regular pudding?
Jill Patel
I use the regular 3.4 oz instant pudding mix
Suzy
I followed the recipe exact and it came out very thick, I don't know what I did wrong
Jill Patel
The cornstarch in pudding mixes does make the batter thicker. It can have the consistency of a brownie batter, but I usually just spread out a bit in the pan and it bakes nicely.
Wendi
I just made this (I did all the hack suggestions) and my batter was really thick. I followed the baking time on the box which ended up being too long so the cake was over baked and dry. I think next time I would check the cake sooner and hopefully that will fix the problem. The flavor of the cake was really good--just very dry :(
Mary
Have you used pudding and extra egg/oil in a betty crocker supermoist (pudding in the mix)
I need a dense fudge cake so I'm trying to hack the mix. Any ideas?
Jill Patel
Yes I have and it does come out very nicely!
Faith
What size cake pan do you typically use?
Jill Patel
Typically a 9x13 pan
B
Can you use regular milk instead of buttermilk?
Jill Patel
Yes definitely!
Dorothy
If you use regular milk and sour cream, about 1/2 cup sour cream? Thank you.
Jill Patel
Yes I would do about a half of cup of each
Des
pudding mix instant? cook? sugar free?
Jill Patel
Instant mix, preferably one that matches the flavor of the cake. Sugar free is fine it is just a preference of sweetness
Theresa Gonzalez
Do you use, buttermilk instead of water, add the extra egg, add the chocolate pudding and the coffee at the same time. I was wondering about adding melted Mexican chocolate to irt as well. do you think this would come out well? I tried the mayo instead of the oil and a cup of coffee instead of water butt the batter was too watery and the cake wasn't good. Not sure what I did wrong
Jill Patel
I have used all 3 in a cake mix, buttermilk, additional egg, chocolate pudding and a tablespoon of coffee. I have not tried mayo yet, so I'm not sure about that one.
Theresa Gonzalez
How much mint extract do you add to your cake mix for a chocolate mint cake?
Jill Patel
I would start small, like 1/2 teaspoon of mint extract.
Shawna
I’m wondering if you could use heavy cream in the cake mix, what are your thoughts on that? I like the milk idea for sure but I just happen to have extra cream on hand so I was just wondering what you think
Jill Patel
heavy cream with make the cake dense. Since the fat content of cream is more than milk.
Valerie
I don't have instant coffee but I do have instant espresso, can I use that and if so do I mix the espresso with water first and then add it to the cake or do I just add the dry instant espresso directly to the cake? If I mix with water am I replacing it with any of the milk? Thank you for all your help!
Jill Patel
I would mix the espresso with water first, I think hot or warm water to help the espresso dissolve properly. You can reduce amount of milk by the amount of water you're adding in.
Valerie
Thank you so much for getting back to me, I really appreciate it! I'm going to bake this today, thanks again!