6 Easy Ways To Upgrade Your Boxed Cake Mix, According to a Pro Baker (2024)

FAQs

6 Easy Ways To Upgrade Your Boxed Cake Mix, According to a Pro Baker? ›

Because eggs help build the cake's structure (don't use them and you're looking at a gooey mess), adding an extra egg yolk makes the cake batter denser. Translation: you'll have a moister confection. Conversely, she suggests an extra egg white for a fluffier cake.

Because eggs help build the cake's structure (don't use them and you're looking at a gooey mess), adding an extra egg yolk makes the cake batter denser. Translation: you'll have a moister confection. Conversely, she suggests an extra egg white for a fluffier cake.

As a professional baker, I don't often use boxed mixes, but I appreciate how easily they bring a cake together. I think premade mixes are great for beginners gaining confidence around the kitchen and also for last-minute cake "emergencies."

Swap out each cup of water called for with milk. Buttermilk: Instead of water, use the same amount of buttermilk. The acid in the buttermilk interacts with the leavening agents in the mix for a better rise. "Swapping out the water for buttermilk creates a fluffier cake and a moister one, too," says Waterson.

Simply put, most boxed chocolate cake mixes need more chocolate. I've successfully added up to 6 ounces of melted bittersweet chocolate (or Nutella) to box-cake batter. To enhance the richness of chocolate batters even more, add a spoonful of Kahlua, dark rum, or espresso. Pair with chocolate buttercream frosting.

For chemically-leavened cakes — that is, cakes calling for baking powder or baking soda — it's OK if you don't remember to add the eggs until the end. Martina says, “Late in the mixing stage, eggs will incorporate better if you lightly beat them before adding to the batter.

Eggs that are at room temperature are more easily and quickly dispersed and blended with the other ingredients to form a stable emulsion — you'll recognize that "stable emulsion" as a smooth, cohesive batter.

Pastry flour is the middle ground between cake flour and all-purpose flour. Professional bakers love that it's finely milled with a protein content that hovers around eight to nine percent, striking the perfect balance between flakiness and tenderness while maintaining structure.

What is the most moist box cake mix? ›

I'm a baker and I made white cake using boxed mixes from Pillsbury, Duncan Hines, and Betty Crocker. The Duncan Hines cake was moist, not overly sweet, and the fluffiest of the three. The cakes from Pillsbury and Betty Crocker were good, too, but I had a few minor issues with them.

Metal bakeware is often preferred because of its ability to heat up quickly, produce evenly baked goods, and cool down quickly. The nonstick surface is convenient, especially for novice bakers and cooks. Finally, the metal may be able to withstand a higher temperature than other options in glass or ceramic.

The most crucial tip? Instead of buying an entire box of cake flour, simply incorporate two tablespoons of cornstarch into 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour. This blocks the formation of gluten in the flour, which produces a lighter, fluffier cake.

Substitute the water.

My go to is Buttermilk when I swap water in cake mixes. But I have used evaporated milk, which is canned milk if I can't get fresh buttermilk.

Why are eggs so important in a cake? Eggs, much like soy are emulsifiers and they help to hold the rest of the ingredients together. This creates more structure in your cake or baked goods. Adding an extra yolk will only help to hold the batter together better.

The directions on the back of the box will tell you to add vegetable oil; for a denser crumb and bigger flavor, swap in unsalted butter. Melted butter can be used in the same quantity and manner as the fat called for in any boxed cake recipe.

How to use sour cream with boxed cake mix. The best way to use sour cream with a boxed cake mix is to use it to replace the other liquids in the recipe, like milk or water. You can add up to a cup, or essentially the same amount of liquid you were originally meant to add, per the manufacturer's instructions.

Put some pudding in the mix: Add a small box of pudding mix in with the cake mix. (Don't make the pudding.) The mix adds additional flavor, moistness, and a denser texture.