How to Make Box Cake Better (Taste Homemade) Recipe
Introduction
Box cakes are convenient, but often lack that homemade charm. This recipe transforms a simple box cake mix into a moist, flavorful cake that tastes like you spent hours baking from scratch. With a few smart additions, you’ll impress everyone with minimal effort.
Ingredients
- 1 box Chocolate cake mix or Vanilla/Yellow cake mix (Pillsbury brand, get the box without pudding)
- 1 cup Whole milk
- 4 large Eggs
- ½ cup Unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla extract
- 1 container Snack Pack pudding (3.25 oz)
Instructions
- Step 1: In a deep bowl, mix together the melted butter and eggs until well combined.
- Step 2: Add the cake mix powder, pudding, milk, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Stir gently until just combined, being careful not to over-mix.
- Step 3: Pour the batter evenly into two greased and floured 8×2 inch round cake pans. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Step 4: For extra moistness, let the cakes cool to room temperature, remove them from the pans, then tightly wrap them in plastic wrap. Freeze overnight to lock in moisture. The next day, thaw to room temperature before frosting as desired.
Tips & Variations
- Use a high-quality box mix without pudding to control the texture better when adding the extra pudding.
- Melt butter instead of oil for richer flavor and improved moistness.
- If you want a different flavor, swap the vanilla pudding for chocolate or butterscotch pudding varieties.
- Try adding a teaspoon of espresso powder to chocolate cake mix for a deeper chocolate taste.
Storage
After frosting, store the cake covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If frozen wrapped tightly, the cake will keep well for up to a month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature before serving.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use a different brand of cake mix?
Yes, any brand will work, but results may vary slightly. Pillsbury is recommended for best texture and flavor in this recipe.
Is it necessary to freeze the cake overnight?
Freezing is optional but highly recommended to lock in moisture, especially if you want a super moist cake that tastes homemade.
PrintHow to Make Box Cake Better (Taste Homemade) Recipe
This recipe enhances the flavor and texture of a basic boxed cake mix by adding pudding, extra eggs, butter, and whole milk, resulting in a moist, homemade-tasting cake that’s easy to prepare.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 12 hours 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 box Chocolate cake mix or Vanilla/Yellow cake mix (Pillsbury brand, box without pudding)
- 1 container Snack Pack Pudding (3.25 oz)
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup Whole milk
- 4 Large eggs
- ½ cup Unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tbsp Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Mix Butter and Eggs: In a deep bowl, combine the melted unsalted butter and the 4 large eggs, whisking them together until fully blended.
- Add Dry Ingredients and Milk: Add the cake mix powder, the pudding container, whole milk, and vanilla extract to the butter and eggs mixture. Mix gently until just combined, ensuring not to overmix to prevent a dense cake.
- Prepare and Bake: Pour the batter evenly into two greased and floured 8×2 inch round cake pans. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Optional Moisture Enhancement: After baking, allow the cakes to cool to room temperature. Remove cakes from pans and wrap tightly in plastic wrap multiple times. Freeze the wrapped cakes overnight to seal in moisture.
- Final Serving: On the following day, allow the cakes to return to room temperature before frosting with your choice of chocolate frosting. Enjoy a moist, delicious homemade-tasting cake.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter to avoid a dense cake.
- Freezing the cake overnight is optional but highly recommended for extra moistness.
- Use unsalted butter to better control the saltiness in the recipe.
- You can use either chocolate or vanilla/yellow cake mix depending on your flavor preference.
- Make sure to grease and flour the cake pans well to ensure easy cake removal.
Keywords: box cake, homemade cake, cake mix hack, moist cake, chocolate cake, vanilla cake, pudding cake
