How to make cake mix BETTER│Tips & Tricks

I think we can all agree that a cake made from a box mix does not taste nearly as good as it does from scratch. Sure they are easier to make – they require a lot less ingredients and only need one bowl. However, I can’t stand the flavor I get from them. Today I will be sharing tips on how to make a cake mix taste like it was made from scratch, which will come in handy if you ever need to make a good last minute cake!

1. Use a 2:1 ratio of milk to water. If you are making vanilla or red velvet cake (from a mix), use buttermilk. For example, if a cake mix asks for 1 cup of water, so 2/3 cup of milk and 1/3 cup of butter.
2. Use half melted butter, and half oil. Oil will add moisture to your cake, and the butter will add flavor. Many box mixes call for only oil, however that is what makes them lack flavor. Especially if you are making a vanilla or white cake, definitely use melted butter.
3. Add a 1/4 cup of boiling water. If you are subbing some oil for melted butter, you still want moisture! The boiling water especially comes in handy when making chocolate or red velvet cakes – it blooms the cocoa flavor. Don’t worry the batter, will be thin, but it is key to make a moist and fluffy cake.
4. Add sour cream. I tried this with vanilla, red velvet, and chocolate cakes and it has it’s own strength in each flavor! It brings out a nice tang (with the buttermilk) to the red velvet, makes a more plush cake, and creates an incredible moisture! I usually add 2-3 tablespoons. You can also use greek yogurt.
5. Use homemade frosting. Trust me on this; you can see my recipes under my “frosting” category for some ideas!

I hope you enjoyed these tips and they come in handy!!

-Annabel