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Our family loves this recipe for easy chocolate cake! This box mix chocolate cake is super moist and chocolate-y because of the added buttermilk and cocoa powder, our recipe doesn’t call for pudding mix or coffee! Learn our cake mix hacks for how to make a box cake taste homemade.
I’m a fan of box cake mix recipes probably just as much as you are! They are super quick and convenient.
I wanted to share this recipe because I know many of us don’t have lots of free time to be spending in the kitchen, but when you make something, you want it to taste good, right?
This easy chocolate cake recipe is perfect for all of us who like the ease of a box mix, but maybe want to doctor up the cake mix for more of a homemade taste. Plus, I feel that this doctored up version of a chocolate cake comes together just as quick as the box mix because you can still put everything into one bowl and beat it together.
What is an Easy Chocolate Cake?
I consider an easy cake to be one that starts with a box mix. Box cake mixes are great and very handy, plus they can be transformed into bakery style cakes with a few extra ingredients. You are essentially doctoring up a cake mix with a few cake mix hacks.
How to Make a Box Cake Taste Homemade
It’s all about adding ingredients to the cake mix to give the cake better texture & taste.
Adding additional dry ingredients to the cake mix like flour, sugar and cocoa powder will improve the structure and texture of the cake.
Adding buttermilk will ensure your cake turns out incredibly moist. Plus the acid in the buttermilk punches up the chocolate flavor.
Adding additional eggs enhances the flavor and fluffiness of the cake.
Use butter in place of oil. Butter has more flavor than oil and improves the texture of the cake.
Easy Chocolate Cake Ingredients
- buttermilk: adds moisture & fat
- melted butter: adds moisture & fat
- eggs: binds the cake together by providing structure
- vanilla extract: adds that classic vanilla flavor
- 1 box of devil’s food cake mix
- sugar: adds sweetness and flavor
- all purpose flour: adds structure
- cocoa powder: intensifies the chocolate flavor
How to make Box Chocolate Cake Recipe
For this recipe you’ll want to use a 15.25 oz box of Duncan Hines devil’s food or chocolate cake mix. I know some boxes out there are 18.25 oz, so be sure you’re getting the right size.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, cake mix, sugar, flour and cocoa powder, beat with an electric mixer until combined, 1-2 minutes.
- Spray a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 30-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely before adding frosting.
What Brand of Cake Mix to Use
I prefer Duncan Hines cake mixes, as do a lot of food bloggers, plus Wilton recommends Duncan Hines brand and Wilton is a cake powerhouse, so I trust their opinion.
Cake Mix vs. Doctored Up Cake Mix Comparison
The above image compares 2 pieces of cake – the one on the left is a chocolate cake mix, following the directions on the back of the box and the one on the right is our recipe for easy chocolate cake using a box mix.
You can see that the left one is pretty airy and spongy compared to the right one. The doctored up version (right) is incredibly moist and it’s more dense and rich, like a homemade cake would be. The doctored up one also has a deeper chocolate flavor.
How To Make Doctored Up Chocolate Cake Without Pudding or Coffee
The big thing for me when coming up with this recipe was I didn’t want to use pudding mix or coffee as elements to doctor up the cake mix.
Why?
There are already a lot of doctored up cake recipes out there that use those things. Plus, a common thing I saw people asking was “What can I use in place of the pudding/coffee?” So we’re bringing you a recipe that doesn’t use those items.
To make a doctored up chocolate cake you need to start with a high quality box of cake mix.
Then we added buttermilk and melted butter to increase the moisture and fat content and additional cocoa powder to amp up the chocolate flavor.
How to Make Easy Chocolate Curls
My secret for making easy chocolate curls is to get a Hershey’s bar and use a vegetable peeler to make curls, it’s so simple! Be sure to hold the chocolate bar on the wrapper so the heat from your fingers doesn’t leave imprints on the chocolate bar.
Frostings to Pair with Chocolate Cake
- Chocolate frosting
- Peanut butter frosting
- Salted caramel frosting
- Pumpkin frosting
- Strawberry frosting
- Oreo frosting
- Chocolate whipped cream
- Peanut butter whipped cream
Looking for a doctored up white cake mix recipe?
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Easy Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
- 1 stick unsalted butter, melted, 1/2 cup
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 box devil’s food cake mix, 15.25 oz
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
Chocolate Frosting
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature, 1 cup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup cocoa powder
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- dash milk if frosting becomes too thick
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350º F.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, devil’s food cake mix, sugar, flour, and cocoa powder, beat with an electric mixer until combined, 1-2 minutes.
- Spray a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 30-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely before adding frosting.
Chocolate Frosting
- Place room temperature unsalted butter in a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer on medium and beat the butter for 1 minute, until whipped and fluffy.
- Add in the cocoa powder, powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beat again on low for 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until everything is incorporated.
- If the frosting is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk or heavy cream, and beat until creamy.
- Spread on top of the cooled cake, add chocolate curls if desired. My secret for making easy chocolate curls is to get a hershey’s bar and use a vegetable peeler to make curls, it’s so simple! Be sure to hold the chocolate bar on the wrapper so the heat from your fingers doesn’t leave imprints on the chocolate bar.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclosure
All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
I have all ingredients except cocoa can I still make this chocolate cake
Hi Pamela! Cocoa powder is essential in chocolate cake.
I’m trying this cake tomorrow for my grandchildren’s birthday. Question: can I use round cake pans and make this a layered cake?.. Found answer in other’s comments, sorry.
DO you think this recipe would do well in a bundt stoneware? I’m sure it might take longer. My husband love a devils food bundt cake no icing and you’re cake recipe sounds great! Thanks for your input.
Hi Mia! I’m guessing it would bake just fine in a bundt pan!
I am making it now for a neighbor in a Bundt pan. Fingers crossed it comes out well!
Have you ever made a layer cake with this recipe??
Not yet! But I’ll add it to my list!
Can it be used on a german chocolate cake mix
Hi Linda! Yes, I think that would be fine!
Can I use this recipe when making an Italian Love Cake?
This recipe is soooo good 😍 ive made it with a store bought cake mix & a homemade ‘box cake mix’ & both turned out delicious! The only thing I’ve found that varies from the recipe card is the first time I made it, i used a 9×11 pan as called for buuut that didn’t cut it (there was cake spillage alll kinds of burnt onto the oven) soooo I used a 10×15 pan the second time & all the cake stayed in the pan! Anywho, this recipe is Heaven sent ❤️ Thanks for posting!!
****9×13, my bad :)
I’ve used this recipe several times now and the cake disappears so fast! Everyone raves about how moist it is. It’s my go to recipe. I never tell anyone my secret cake recipe lol.
We love this cake! The flavor and texture is beautiful. I didn’t have buttermilk so I used strong coffee instead and it still turned out great. Thank you for the recipe!
I am going to try this out for a group picnic.
However, I live at a high altitude which creates havoc when baking, especially anything chocolate. Is this recipe for a low altitude? If so I will need to adjust the recipe.