15 Ways To Make Boxed Cake Mix Better

The day I saw Semi-Homemade by Sandra Lee on the Food channel was a game changer for me.  Sandra Lee and her famous semi-homemade philosophy made it perfectly okay to cut corners when creating a meal for family and friends.  I’ve cut down so much time from my cooking with the semi-homemade approach.  Desserts are just as easy to make semi-homemade.  I’m not embarrassed to say that I use boxed cake mix.  My family doesn’t even know!  Well…. now they do, I suppose.  Adding a few extra ingredients to your boxed cake mix will make it so much better and give it a delicious homemade taste!

15 Ways To Make Boxed Cake Mix Recipes Better!

Before you bake…Add ons to amp up your cake flavor

1. 1 teaspoon of cinnamon (great in chocolate and yellow cake mixes)
2. 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg (perfect paired with cinnamon in yellow cake mix)
3. 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika (brings out the chocolate flavor in chocolate mixes)
4. 1 1/2 teaspoons of allspice with 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (perfect for vanilla cake mix)
5. 1 cup of chocolate chips
6. 1 cup of chopped nuts (walnuts are my favorite!)
7. 1 extra egg will make your cake more moist
8. *BONUS* 1 teaspoon of good quality vanilla goes a long way!

Mix Revamps!….New recipes to make with cake mix

1. Instead of adding the wet ingredients to a box of spice cake mix, add a 29oz can of pumpkin with 1 cup of chocolate chips and make pumpkin cupcake muffins
2. Add 2 sticks of softened butter to a box of yellow cake mix and a 29oz can of peaches in syrup to make peach cobbler. (see my full recipe here)
3. Place two cans of apple pie filling in a baking dish and sprinkle a box of spice cake on top. Pour 2 melted sticks of butter on top using fork to lightly mix with the cake mix. Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes to make apple cobbler.
4. Transform your cake mix into cookies by mixing a box of cake mix, 2 eggs, a 1/2 cup vegetable oil, and a 12 oz bag of peanut butter baking chips, m&m candies, or any other baking candy or nuts.   Bake for 9-10 minutes at 350F.

After the show is done….Ideas for cake after it’s baked

1. Bake a lemon cake in a baking dish per box directions, poke several holes in the cake with a clean or gloved finger and top the cake with lemon pudding.
2. Remove the center of a strawberry cupcake and fill with chopped fresh strawberries. Top with plenty of vanilla icing
3. Cut a chocolate cupcake in half (or can remove the center of the cupcake to make it easy) and add a scoop of cherry pie filling, replace the cupcake top and add a dollop of whipped frosting.
4. Add mini chocolate chips or chopped up candy bars to your frosting before placing on your cake or cupcakes.
5. *BONUS* Top your frosted cupcakes or cake with add ons like chopped nuts, coconut flakes, or a piece of dried or fresh fruit.

Check out these other ways to bring new life to basic ingredients!