Cake Mix Hacks {Easy Recipes and Tips}

Who says cake mix is just for cakes? With a little creativity, that box of cake mix in your pantry can be the start of so much more. From cookies and cobblers to decadent desserts and quick breakfast treats, cake mix is the ultimate shortcut ingredient for busy bakers. I’m sharing my favorite tips and recipes to transform an ordinary mix into something extraordinary.

Baking from scratch is ideal, but sometimes life gets in the way.

I love cake. Seriously. Cupcakes, pound cakes, layer cakes… You name it, I love them. The problem is that between soccer practice, batch cooking, and keeping the dust bunnies at bay, to say nothing of work, I don’t always have time to whip up a beautiful chocolate cake ‘just because.’

Heck, even cupcakes for the school event that the kiddo mentioned this morning and which are due at the classroom tomorrow can throw a wrench in my day. So, I’ve made peace with the cake mix. It’s my friend now, and after you finish reading these hacks, I guess it will be yours, too!

Chocolate batter in a bowl with a wooden spoon.

Improve the flavors

Vegetable oil doesn’t add much to the taste of cake mix, but it’s the necessary ‘fat’ that the recipe will always call for. Replacing the oil with melted butter would make even Julia Child a bit proud and will take your cake to bakery-level flavor.

Instead of water, use milk. It adds to the flavor and improves the texture, too. Chocolate milk ramps up a standard chocolate cake mixture, or you could also use buttermilk, but if you do, add a little more than a one-to-one ratio. Want to get to the next level of yum? Replace the water, again on a one-to-one basis, with… wait for it… melted ice cream. Chocolate cake could become chocolate rocky road cake. Just think of the possibilities!

You can also turn plain old chocolate cake into mouthwatering mocha heaven by replacing the water with coffee. And if you use boiling water or coffee instead of cold or room temperature, your chocolate cake mix will taste extra chocolatey and rich.

Add lemon juice and zest if you find the standard yellow cake too sweet. Presto: instant tartness to cut through the sweet.

Add some height and texture

Adding an egg to the recipe will give your cake a fluffier texture and height. So if you’re going for a layer cake, this could be just the ticket.

Another option is to add two tablespoons of mayonnaise. It will add a creamy texture to an otherwise standard box mix.

More is better

You can add things to a cake mix without much risk to the end product: shredded coconut, chopped nuts, sprinkles, raisins… whatever you want! You are only limited by what’s in your pantry! Dip into the vanilla or rum extract for extra fun and flavor, or how about some pumpkin spice in the yellow cake? The beauty of mixes is that they simply set the stage: it’s up to you to put on the full production and create your own flavor combinations.

Add a layer of jam or jelly to a cake made from a box of Devil’s Food cake mix. With a little whipped cream and some shaved chocolate… your family and friends will think you slaved for hours!

Feel like cookies instead?

Use your boxed cake mix to whip up a batch of cookies! Take a standard yellow cake mix and add:

Half a cup of butter
A tablespoon of milk
A teaspoon of vanilla
One egg

Mix it all and add chocolate chips, nuts, or whatever you want.

Dollop onto your cookie sheet, like any other cookie batter, and bake for 10 – 12 minutes in a 350°F degree oven. Easy peasy!

Do you have any cake mix hacks you want to share with us? Shhh… I won’t tell anyone!

Recipes Made With Cake Mix

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21 Comments

I’ve been trying out these ‘hacks’ now for a few weeks – while in isolation and giving the cakes out to family and friends. (can’t eat them all or I’d be the size of a house!). Great success. The only thing I haven’t tried is adding the mayo. That’s next. Thanks for making it possible to whip up a great cake at a moment’s notice.

Can’t wait to try these hacks! Thanks for sharing, Stacie!

For creamy buttery cookies add 1 egg, 1/2 cup butter and 8 oz cream cheese to cake mix. Combine till smooth dough. Place in fridge for 30 minutes so dough is easier to handle. Roll 1 inch balls, roll in icing sugar and cook for 12 minutes at 350. Great cookies no work.

Love the cake mix hacks. Cake mix is easy to keep on hand, often on sale, and versatile. Saving this post!

Thanks for sharing how to make cookies.Would save my bacon when it is 10 o’clock and I am snack mom.

Oh Cool! I always replaced the water with milk but I never thought of buttermilk!! Yummy!!

Great tips. Adding mayo really does give the cake a richer taste and I have been adding mayo to my cakes for years. Replace the water with melted ice cream sounds so interesting. I will have to try this.

Great tips! Thanks for all the great ideas, I will never again do cake mix just like it says on the box! lol

Great tips. Thanks for sharing.

I would never have thought about adding mayo! What a treat.

Great ideas…I’ve added these tips to my recipe file, Thanks you!

I never have thought to use butter instead of oil but that would definitely give great flavour.

I’m no cook that’s for sure. So I’ve always used boxed cakes but you are right, they are pretty insipid. What a great idea to switch the oil for butter and the water for Melted Ice cream. Whoa. That sounds amazing!