Easy Tricks To Make A Cake Mix Taste Homemade

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Three Simple Swaps That Make All The Difference

A boxed cake mix is wonderfully convenient, but three simple swaps can definitely make a cake mix taste homemade.

Here is the whole trick:

• Add one more egg than the box calls for.
• Replace the water with the same amount of whole milk.
• Replace the oil with an equal amount of melted butter.

That’s it! These easy substitutions make a boxed cake taste richer, moister, and more homemade without adding any real work.

I learned this trick from my good friend Judi after she brought a wonderful red velvet cake to my mom’s celebration of life. Everyone loved it, and I was amazed when Judi told me it began with a boxed cake mix. I tried her method later with red velvet cupcakes, and it worked beautifully.

You'll Love Knowing How To Make A Cake Mix Taste Homemade

Julia Child is my cooking hero, and she taught me that fat gives things flavor. With this easy hack, the cake batter is richer, moister, and more flavorful. This hack works on any cake mix, but Here's what I did with this great new information: I made cupcakes.

For red velvet cake or any other chocolate cake, adding instant espresso powder or instant dark roast coffee enhances the flavor without adding coffee flavor. Coffee and chocolate are a great marriage.😉

Julia Child also advised eating great food in moderate portions, and I wholeheartedly believe that is the key! That's why cupcakes are so perfect! A cake mix makes 12 to 15 pieces, but 18 to 24 cupcakes!

Here is what the batter looked like when I used this method with a red velvet cake mix. The same easy swaps work beautifully with yellow, white, chocolate, spice, lemon, and other standard cake mixes.

Why These Simple Cake Mix Swaps Work

The secret to how to make a cake mix taste homemade is adding richness without complicating the process. The extra egg gives the cake more structure and a richer flavor. Whole milk replaces plain water, adding fat and creating a softer, more tender crumb. Melted butter provides the flavor we associate with a cake made from scratch.

These swaps work together to produce a cake that is moist, flavorful, and sturdy enough to frost. Best of all, you still get the convenience and dependable results of starting with a boxed cake mix.

Use This Easy Hack With Almost Any Cake Mix

This method works with yellow, white, chocolate, spice, lemon, funfetti, and red velvet cake mixes. The only exception is angel food cake mix, which depends on its special formulation to rise properly.

You can also complement the flavor of the mix with a few simple additions:

• Add vanilla extract to yellow, white, or funfetti cake.
• Add almond extract to white cake for a bakery-style flavor.
• Use instant espresso powder or instant dark roast coffee in chocolate or red velvet cake.
• Add lemon zest to lemon cake for a brighter, fresher flavor.
• Add cinnamon to spice cake when you want a warmer flavor.

PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD

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Yield: 24 cupcakes or one 13" by 9" cake, or two layers.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

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Here's how to make cupcakes made with a cake mix that tastes homemade! Works with any cake mix, with special instructions for any type of chocolate cake mix.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• One 15.25-ounce boxed red velvet cake mix, but any flavor is enhanced by this method.
• 4 eggs , if the directions list 3 eggs. Add an extra egg.
• 1/3 cup melted butter, if the directions list 1/3 cup of oil. Use melted butter in place of oil.
• 1 cup milk, if the directions list one cup water. Use milk instead of water and 2% or whole milk is best.
• 2 Tbsp espresso powder or instant dark roast coffee if you are making a CHOCOLATE cake.

Instructions

1. Make the cake according to the package directions. You can make this into a 13" by 9" cake, too!
2. Bake cupcakes for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cake mixes are wonderfully useful when you need a dependable dessert fast. I am more of a pie girl myself, but sometimes you need a cake! Here are a couple of our favorite quick and easy cakes: Mountain Dew Cake, Pig Pickin' Cake, and Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake With Peanuts. All of them start with a cake mix, and they're all amazing.

If you enjoyed a post, I'd love it if you would leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review or a comment. It really helps others find my recipes- because you are exactly the kind of cook I write for!

Love GB (Betty Streff)

Real food. Real kitchen. Real easy.

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