- I'm a former pastry cook, and I think cake mixes are a great low-effort but delicious dessert.
- To amp up a boxed cake mix and make it taste homemade, I'd add sprinkles, extra eggs, or extracts.
- You can also take the cake to the next level by topping it with homemade frosting.
As a former pastry cook, I stand firmly in the belief that pie is vastly superior to cake. However, when an occasion necessitates a cake, boxed mixes are a great way to deliver a surefire success with minimal effort.
Here are some of the best tips and tricks I've learned for making boxed cake mixes taste homemade.
Substitute the water for milk to yield a cake with a richer flavor.
Try substituting the water your boxed mix calls for with the same amount of milk.
Whole milk will add extra decadence to your cake, and coconut milk can give your dessert a tropical twist. Buttermilk can be great in chocolate cake mixes if you want a truly dense, decadent dessert.
Try using melted butter instead of oil.
It's no secret that butter makes everything better. Instead of using the oil the boxed recipe calls for, simply swap it for the same amount of melted butter.
It's an easy way to create a delectable cake that tastes homemade.
Mayo is the secret ingredient for richer cakes.
If you're not a Midwesterner who grew up on Portillo's chocolate-cake shakes, mayo in a cake might sound gag-inducing — but hear me out.
The eggs and oil in mayonnaise are perfect for amping up the richness in your cakes. All you need to do is substitute the oil for the same amount of mayonnaise, and I promise you'll be a convert.
I prefer Duke's mayonnaise, and I suggest skipping olive- or avocado-oil varieties for this application. If you try this tip, you can skip adding an extra egg or yolk to your batter.
Brighten up your dessert with citrus.
Zesting your favorite citrus fruits into your batter will add a subtle edge to your cake.
I love orange or lime zest paired with vanilla or coconut mixes, and lemon zest is also great in yellow or pound cakes.
Don't let the juice go to waste, either. Freshly squeezed orange juice can replace the water in a recipe. Be stingier if you use lemon or lime juice, though, to avoid a sour situation.
A bit of extract can really boost and enhance the flavor of a cake.
For an extra boost of flavor, add a splash of your favorite extract, whether that's a classic lemon or something more unique.
Vanilla is always a crowd-pleaser, and it pairs well with most mixes. To create a bakery-style birthday cake, I love adding almond extract to yellow or vanilla cakes.
When in doubt, add sprinkles.
Confetti cake is a classic for a reason — who doesn't love a little bit of whimsy with their dessert?
For a cake that will make everyone smile, gently fold rainbow or chocolate sprinkles into the batter. Just make sure to stir them in last so the colors don't bleed.
Homemade frosting can elevate an entire cake —even if it was made from a boxed mix exactly as directed.
I'm a huge advocate of cutting corners — it's why I love boxed dessert mixes. However, if you're whipping up a cake for a special occasion, put in a little extra elbow grease by topping it with homemade frosting.
Even if you use only this one piece of advice, you'll trick people into thinking you went all out on your dessert.
This story was originally published in March 2023 and most recently updated on April 14, 2026.
