Yahoo Lifestyle The Super-Simple Way to Make Boxed Chocolate Cake Mix 10x Better
I love chocolate cake—rich, fudgy, and indulgent. But let’s be honest, life gets busy, and making it from scratch isn’t always an option. That’s where boxed cake mix comes to the rescue! And while a boxed cake mix is certainly convenient, it doesn't always taste like a homemade cake that took hours to make.
Luckily, there are ways to dress up boxed cake mix. I know quite a few, but food magazine and media brand Bon Appétit shared one that I've never tried before, but it immediately went on my list.
Related: No Eggs, No Problem! You Can Make a Boxed Cake Without Them—Here's How
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A Quick & Easy Way to Instantly Upgrade Your Boxed Chocolate Cake Mix
If you’re feeling fancy, the Bon Appétit article said mix in chocolate chips to chocolate cake mix to make it even more indulgent. That sounds like a quick way to give some richness and depth to any cake mix and you can choose your favorite type of chocolate, too! You might have semi-sweet chocolate chips around for making cookies, but dark chocolate chips would be tasty, too. White chocolate chips would add a fun speckled almost Oreo-like vibe to your cake.
If you prefer that the chocolate melt a little more into the cake, try chopping up chocolate bars instead of using chocolate chips. Chocolate chips are formulated to keep their shape, but bar chocolate isn't, which means you'll get chocolate puddles instead of chip-like blobs. Both are tasty, it's all up to your preference.
That same article mentioned adding other flavorings, like a splash of liqueur to give your cake a rich flavor, but I also like a dollop of sour cream for a slight tanginess and a smoother, creamier texture.
These add-ins give you a moist, decadent cake that feels homemade without the stress and helps you add a little bit of your personality to your bake.
Related: The British Way to Make a Boxed Cake Mix 10x Better
Other Boxed Cake Mix Tricks You Have To Try
I've dressed up my boxed cakes for years and have some go-to tricks of my own. I always swap out the water the box calls for with milk, which adds richness. If it’s a chocolate cake, you can also use coffee instead—this enhances the chocolate flavor without making it taste like coffee.
Next, you should replace the oil that the box asks for with melted butter for a more homemade taste, and I always add an extra egg to the batter for a fluffier cake. For added moisture, you can use the sour cream mentioned above or mayo (yes, for real). The oil in mayo makes the cake very light and rich.
I use these basic upgrades for every boxed cake mix, but if you want to enhance the flavor even more, start by stirring in a teaspoon of vanilla extract or almond extract (pro-tip: use a dash of both for a richer, more complex flavor) or dash or two of cinnamon or nutmeg. For a fun twist and a hit of texture, you can fold in some chopped nuts or crushed Oreo pieces.
My grandmother swore by using 7-Up in a lemon cake mix and a friend loves layering cakes with a Nutella filling between the layers. Jam is also a great addition between layers. You can use it solo or mix it with the frosting.
If you want to make sure that your boxed cake is extra moist, you can make a cake soak. Just heat up equal parts sugar and water, stir until the sugar dissolves, then add any flavorings you like. You can stir in some vanilla extract, fresh lemon or lime juice or steep fresh herbs in the simple syrup. Mint would be fun for a chocolate cake or make a basil syrup for a yellow cake. Use vanilla frosting and fresh strawberries between the layers for a next-level bake. Brush the syrup between the layers when building your cake.
No matter what you do to the cake, you have to finish strong. Top the finished cake with homemade frosting and garnish with shaved chocolate, coconut flakes or edible flowers for a wow factor that will make people think you spent hours perfecting your dessert.
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