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Find out why people have called this easy white cake “the best cake they have EVER had”! Be prepared for tons of compliments when you make this! Follow my easy hacks to make a box cake taste homemade and you’ll be shocked how good it is!
This was the best cake I have EVER had. Thanks so much. Now, I am making the chocolate version for my friend.
-Jill
These are the Best Box Cake Mix Hacks
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 cake mix 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 white cake comes together just as quick as the box mix because you can still put everything into one bowl and beat it together.
I love a good Boxed Cake – Why Make Box Cake Better?
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.
No one will know it came from a box with these Boxed Cake Mix Hacks
It’s all about adding ingredients to the cake mix to give the cake better texture & taste. In our case, we’re adding ingredients with moisture.
Ingredients to Make Box Cake Better
- 1 box of white cake mix
- sugar: adds sweetness and flavor
- all purpose flour: flour is necessary to build structure
- salt: just a pinch to balance the sweetness
- egg whites: binds the cake together by providing structure – using only egg whites keeps the cake more white in color
- vanilla extract: adds that classic vanilla flavor to the cake
- skim milk: adds moisture
- buttermilk: adds moisture & fat for richness
- sour cream: adds moisture & fat for richness
Boxed Cake Mix Hax: Doctoring up your box cake
For this recipe you’ll want to use a 15.25 oz box of Duncan Hines white or vanilla cake mix. I know some boxes out there are 18.25 oz, so be sure you’re getting the right size. You’ll use egg whites only to keep the cake looking extra white.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the cake mix, sugar, flour, salt, egg whites, milk, buttermilk, and sour cream, beat with an electric mixer until combined, 2-3 minutes.
- Spray a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 37-43 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.
Frosting to Pair with Vanilla Cake
- Chocolate frosting
- Peanut butter frosting
- Salted caramel frosting
- Pumpkin frosting
- Strawberry frosting
- Lemon frosting
- Oreo frosting
- Cream cheese frosting
- Chocolate whipped cream
Try our chocolate cake mix recipe from a box or our easy white cupcakes from a box!
Box Cake Mix Hacks FAQs
White cake is technically made with egg whites only, to keep the cake as white as possible. Bakers may also use clear vanilla extract to keep the cake white.
Vanilla cake is typically made with whole eggs (the white and the yolk) and contain regular vanilla extract. The flavor of white cake and vanilla cake are nearly identical. This recipe for easy white cake could also be called vanilla sheet cake. The are pretty interchangeable.
To make a box cake mix more moist, add buttermilk and sour cream. These ingredients add fat to the cake, making it more moist and richer in flavor!
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How to Make Box Cake Better (White Cake Mix)
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 box white cake mix, 15.25 oz (I prefer Duncan Hines)
- 1 cup (198g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (120g) all purpose flour
- ¾ tsp salt
- 4 large egg whites
- 1 tsp vanilla extract, clear or regular
- 1 cup (236ml) skim milk
- ½ cup (118ml) buttermilk
- 1 cup (228g) sour cream
Vanilla Buttercream
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature, 2 sticks
- 3-4 cups (339g-454g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp milk, if frosting becomes too thick
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350º F.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the cake mix, sugar, flour, salt, egg whites, vanilla extract, milk, buttermilk, and sour cream, beat with an electric mixer until combined, 1-2 minutes.1 box white cake mix, 1 cup (198g) granulated sugar, 1 cup (120g) all purpose flour, 3/4 tsp salt, 4 large egg whites, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 cup (236ml) skim milk, 1/2 cup (118ml) buttermilk, 1 cup (228g) sour cream
- Spray a 9×13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 37-43 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely before adding frosting.
Vanilla Buttercream
- In a mixing bowl, combine the butter and vanilla extract, beat using an electric mixer until fluffy. Begin to add the powdered sugar, about 1 cup at a time, mixing by hand. Continue adding powdered sugar until the frosting no longer looks wet and tastes good to you. Then I use my electric mixer one last time to make sure the powdered sugar is really incorporated and ready to go. If the frosting becomes too thick, add a dash of milk.1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature, 3-4 cups (339g-454g) powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 Tbsp milk
- Spread the frosting on top of the cooled cake, add sprinkles if desired.
I had high hopes for this recipe, but I was very disappointed! All the ingredients sounded good for doctoring up a box cake mix. The cake part didn’t have much flavor and it was an extremely dense cake!!! You actually had to “chew” this cake! Everyone one at my husbands bday party didn’t like the cake either!! So my quest for a good white cake will continue.
I’ve made this cake twice so far and both times it has fallen. 😔 Any suggestions on how to fix this?
Otherwise, absolutely delicious cake, and I thought I made great frosting until I made this recipe. I want to be buried with this stuff.
Can it be done in a bundt pan?
Yes you can, the bake time will need to be adjusted!
Isn’t there any oil in this recipe?
I love your recipes! I bought your muffin cookbook and have made all the .
Thanks for sharing!
One of the worst recipes I have ever made. Too much milk/moisture. If you are making cupcakes, this is not the recipe for you. But still, they should have rose, not been an overly saturated mess with no cake-like texture. Sorry, I cannot recommend this recipe. Chewy & dense like someone else said. White cake is supposed to have tender, light crumb. This recipe does not.
I was so excited to find this cake mix for my grandson’s first birthday party only to be completely disappointed when I cut into and served it to all the guests. The cake was spongy, dense, too moist and quite flavorless – I should have stuck with the regular cake mix. Shame on me for not reading the reviews as I now see that many others had the same thoughts. Moving on, though, just wanted to share my experience in hopes that others will not have the same results.
Very easy and convenient recipe but this cake comes out too dense and is not as white as pictured. The taste was ok. Trying another recipe.
Definitely going to try this, thanks! Would I be able to use this recipe to make smaller cakes out of it instead of a big one? Want my grandkids to make their own mini cakes.
I have used your recipe several times. Normally I make 3 layers. It is always moist and delicious.
No changes, just follow the instructions. Thank you.
How long to bake cupcakes?
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before adding the frosting.