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! For more cake inspiration, visit this list of Interesting Cake Recipes.
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! Making this cake was an absolute blast.

I don't make a lot of cakes from scratch though. They can be time consuming. But everyone thinks my cakes are from scratch. If you want a from scratch cake, check out my German Chocolate Cake.
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 butter, which is 2 sticks. Just make sure to melt it before adding to the cake mix.
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!
Love Cakes? Check Out These Delicious Cake Recipes
How to Make a Boxed Cake Take Like a Cake from the Bakery

Take a boxed cake from good to great with these tips.
Ingredients
- 1 box of cake mix
- milk to replace water
- butter to replace oil
Instructions
Look at the directions on the back of the cake box.
Add one more egg than what it calls for. So, for example, if the recipe calls for 3 eggs, add 4.
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, which is 2 sticks of butter.
In place of water, be sure to use milk.
Then bake the cake as directed on the box!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 288Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 504mgCarbohydrates: 55gFiber: 1gSugar: 30gProtein: 3g
Minnetta
Friday 18th of April 2025
I’m anxious to try this recipe.
Jennifer Sikora
Sunday 20th of April 2025
Try it. It really is great and tastes like it just came from the bakery.
Heather
Friday 28th of March 2025
I do exactly what you do BUT I use Greek yogurt instead of replacing the water with milk. OMG JACK POT!!
Jennifer Sikora
Friday 28th of March 2025
Oh i will have to try that! thanks for the tip!
Pat
Friday 21st of February 2025
I’m excited to try this today. But my box cake calls for 7 tbsp of butter instead of oil. Do I double that or use the 7 tbsp?
Jennifer Sikora
Monday 3rd of March 2025
Use just the 7 tbsp of butter. Do not double it.
Rebecca
Thursday 23rd of January 2025
What if recipe calls for butter, same amount or double???
Jennifer Sikora
Friday 24th of January 2025
Most cake mix boxes don't call for butter. They call for oil
Stacy
Friday 17th of January 2025
I'm assuming this method would work for a Gluten free mix as well?
Jennifer Sikora
Saturday 18th of January 2025
Yes it would work for gluten free as well.