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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 granulated sugar
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ¾ tsp salt
- 4 larg egg whites
- 1 tsp vanilla extract, clear or regular
- 1 cup skim milk
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 cup sour cream
Vanilla Buttercream
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature, 1 cup
- 3-4 cups 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.
- 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.
- Spread the frosting on top of the cooled cake, add sprinkles if desired.
Video
Notes
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.
Can I use 1% milk instead of skim?
Yes!
It never fails to amaze me how food bloggers always reply back so politely and sincerely, after being asked the dumbest questions, some are downright hysterical that it makes me giggle. “Can I omit the chili pepper flakes, my family doesn’t like spicy food?”
When I read stuff like that, sarcasm immediately takes over and I’m thinking ..
🙄No, Janet, you don’t get to make choices like that. Go ahead n make it extra spicy 😐
I love the, “can I omit the salt?”
people.
No Carol, absolutely not. If you do, you’ll change everything and end up with a mystery
meal😐
…And this is why I should never be in charge of Q/A’s section for a food blogger
Totally do the same when reading ratings.. lmao follow the recipe and rate the results . But when one starts omitting and changing and adding I’m blown away with frustration. It’s kinda like having road rage in a different form 😂🥴
I’ve been using this recipe at my venue for weddings 🤔32 years and it’s perfect everytime !!
Wooohooo!!!!!
I have a question. Can I substitute whole milk rather than skim??
Thank you. Can’t wait to try this cake!!
Yes you can!
I made this cake following the directions on Pinterest and it didn’t even taste like cake. Big disappointment.
I baked in a 10×15 pan using 2 box mix doubled everything else baked for 49 min.
I baked in a 10×15 pan using 2 box mix doubled everything else baked for 40 min.
I’m just wondering will the sour cream make it sour if it gets too hot will it go sour
would two percent milk work?
Yes!
Can I use whole milk, or do I need to use skim?
Whole milk is great!
My cake sink a little in the middle. What would have caused that. I did use whole milk because that’s all we had. Someone had commented that they had done the same and it worked. Any ideas?
Are you able to use this recipe for cupcakes?
Yes! It will probably yield at least 24 cupcakes.