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How to Make a Cake Mix Taste Like a Cake from the Bakery

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Just a couple of ingredient swaps is all you will need to make a cake mix taste like a cake from the bakery! Everyone always asks me why my cakes taste so amazing, so today I am sharing my easy hack with you!

If you have been around here for a long time, then you know I LOVE making cakes for people. In the past, I have made my hubby a delicious Strawberry Buttercream Cake (and it came from a box!), as well as a decadent Butterfinger Cake.

I have even made wedding cakes and birthday cakes for people. It brings me so much joy to be able to use a gift that God gave me to make cakes for others.

I recently made this fun Paw Patrol Cake for a sweet little boy that steals everyone's heart!

I don't make a lot of cakes from scratch though. They can be time consuming. But everyone thinks my cakes are from scratch.

My secret is taking a cake mix from a box, adding a few extra ingredients and the end result is that the cake tastes just like it was purchased from a bakery!

So — what's my secret? Here's what you need to do!

How to Make Any Boxed Cake Mix Taste Like the Cake Came from a Bakery

Step One —

Look at the directions on the back of the cake box.

Step two —

Add one more egg than what it calls for. So, for example, if the recipe calls for 3 eggs, add 4.

Step three —

Instead of using oil, use melted butter and double the amount. If the cake mix calls for 1/2 cup of oil, you are going to use 1 cup of melted butter.

Step 4 —

In place of water, be sure to use milk.

Then bake the cake as directed on the box!

When your cake comes out, your guests will be wowed with how amazing it tastes. They will swear up and down that you got the cake from the local bakery.

This has freed up so much of my time with cake baking and everyone truly loves my desserts!

Of course, if you are baking cakes, you are going to need some delicious frosting recipes. Strawberry buttercream frosting is my favorite, but everyone loves my homemade cream cheese frosting. If you want to go traditional, here is my Easy buttercream frosting.

My Favorite Cake Baking Supplies

If you love to bake cakes like I do, here are a few of my favorite cake baking supplies.

  • This set of 367 decorating supplies has pretty much everything you will need for making a cake
  • Food coloring dye set
  • I am a huge fan of the Fat Daddios cake pans. They make great cakes, cook evenly, and nothing ever sticks to them.

If you like making cakes for friends and family, then you will not want to miss this post!

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Theresa

Saturday 27th of May 2023

Can you freeze these cakes?

Jennifer Sikora

Wednesday 31st of May 2023

Yes. Once a cake is baked and completely cooled, wrap it in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil and freeze until ready to use.

Ashley

Saturday 29th of April 2023

I have a white cake mix that calls for 3 egg whites. do I add 4 whites or the extra whole egg?

Jennifer Sikora

Monday 1st of May 2023

You add the extra egg white.

Kathy

Wednesday 8th of March 2023

I made a box cake using all three of your changes. Apparently that is not a good thing to do as my cake fell. Did I do something else wrong? I think I need to make another cake and only use one or two changes this time.

Lindsey

Monday 13th of March 2023

@Kathy, I made cupcakes and they also fell. They’re pretty dry too.

Jennifer Sikora

Thursday 9th of March 2023

I am not sure. They never fall for me. If you only do a couple of changes, leave the oil but change out the water for milk and add the extra egg. That will probably work perfectly for you.

DEB

Sunday 26th of February 2023

I have to make a huge batch of cupcakes and didn't want to put the work in making from "scratch" batter. I will definitely be using the tips you shared with us. This is going to save me so much time!

Thank you so much!

Jennifer Sikora

Monday 27th of February 2023

You are so welcome! This is my go to trick every single time and it works amazingly well.

Michelle

Tuesday 10th of August 2021

Excellent recipe! It really does taste like a bakery cake! I used 2% milk because that is what I had on hand. Still turned out fantastic. I used a homemade vanilla whipped cream frosting (1 cup heavy whipping cream, 1/2 box instant vanilla pudding mix, and some powdered sugar - a bit less than 1/4 cup). Thank you for the great recipe. It is a keeper!

Jennifer Sikora

Friday 13th of August 2021

Thank you!

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