Betty Crocker vs Duncan Hines: What's the Difference? (2023) (2024)

Last Updated on March 6, 2023 by Lori Walker

When it comes to boxed cake mixes, Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines are cult classics. Either box can yield simple, reliable, and oh-so-yummy desserts. Most households probably have both in their pantry as they make life easier.

We’re here to settle the score once and for all in today’s cake-off. Which boxed cake mix ultimately wins?

Here’s our take on Duncan Hines vs Betty Crocker.

Cake Mix Face Off: Betty Crocker & Duncan Hines

Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker have the same advocacy: to make dessert-making super simple and easy. Cake mix is best for an amateur or busy homemaker because you won’t need to know any fancy professional baker tricks.

Once the packets are taken out of the box, both require the addition of other ingredients from your pantry, like eggs, oil, and water.

In this cake-off, we’ll be working with their individual chocolate fudge boxed cake mix. Both brands have enough key differences that make one stand out.

Key Differences

Reality vs Fantasy

It would surprise many of you to know that Duncan Hines was a real person. Hines was a savvy salesman who traveled all over the United States and ate at many restaurants.

This gave him the novel idea of creating a guidebook to all the restaurants he’s been to as a reference, which became a huge hit. His popularity earned him a column in the national newspaper, “Adventures in Good Eating at Home.” [1]

In 1952 when he was around 70 years old, he sold the license to his name and book to Roy H. Park, who formed Hines-Park Foods. The Duncan Hines Cake Mix was first launched under this company.

Conversely, Betty Crocker was not a real person, but a character used to market products. She had a radio show called the “Betty Crocker Cooking School of the Air,” voiced by Marjorie Husted.

The radio cooking show became a huge hit and was soon picked up by NBC. This gave it a nationwide audience. Betty Crocker was portrayed and voiced by many women, who gave her a real-life presence despite being a fictional character, over the years.

Cookbooks, cookware, and other products were made under her name, including the cake mix you know today.

Nutrition Claims

Both brands have more or less the same calorie content. Betty Crocker’s has 280 calories per serving. Duncan Hines cake mixes have just slightly less at 260 calories per serving.

Ingredients

These cake mixes will require you to add simple ingredients you already have in your pantry. Although both packets weigh the same, you are required to add different amounts of ingredients to them.

Duncan Hines

• 1 cup water
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs

Betty Crocker

• 1 ¼ cup water
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs

Batter Texture

Betty Crocker’s had a smoother and lighter texture.

On the other hand, Duncan Hines was chunkier, thicker, and fudgier. This is probably because you are required to add fewer liquid ingredients to it.

Price Point

Both brands fall under similar price points. You can get Duncan Hines at around $2.80 and Betty Crocker at around $2.60.

Ownership

Duncan Hines is a brand owned by Pinnacle Food Corp.

“Cake is happiness!”

– C. JoyBell C. , Author

On the other hand, Betty Crocker is owned by General Mills. You may recognize General Mills as having other big names under its belt, including Pillsbury, Cheerios, and Blue Buffalo.

Varieties

Today, there are over 25 Betty Crocker mixes. Betty Crocker divides their selection into three categories: Cake Mixes, Super Moist Delights, and Super Moist Favorites.

Angel food and pound cake fall under the Cake Mix category; vanilla, chocolate, and devil’s food cake fall under Super Moist Favorites; and specials like lemon, strawberry, and triple chocolate fudge fall under Super Moist Delights.

On the other hand, there are 23 different Duncan Hines cake mixes.

Its Classic line includes white cake, butter golden, and yellow golden, while its Signature collection includes carrot cake, orange supreme, pineapple, banana, coconut, and tres leches.

Overall Taste

As a whole, Betty’s was a light and fluffy cake. However, we found it to be slightly crumbly. [2]

On the other hand, Duncan Hines makes denser and fudgier cakes. Each bite was thick yet very moist and had a great taste.

Do They Share Similarities?

Yes, both Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker cakes have similarities. Their most notable resemblance is that the mixes have a similar flavor. They also have similar price points.

Find out if Betty Crocker Chip Cake Mix was discontinued here.

Tips & Tricks When Baking Using Cake Mix

• Replace water with milk to get a creamier cake.
• Similarly, you can also replace oil with butter. The fat content in the butter will give you a more moist cake.
• Add a dash of vanilla extract. The vanilla extract will give it a subtle caramel flavor.
• Pour hot brewed coffee into the cake batter. The bitterness of the coffee will add depth to the chocolate flavor.
• Take your time to decorate. The boxed cake will look stunning with a thick layer of frosting and some fresh berries. No one will know that you used cake mix if you go this route.

Related Post: How Do You Make A Cake Out Of Betty Crocker Brownie Mix?

FAQs

Final Verdict

So in this cake-off, Duncan Hines takes the cake (pun intended) as the best cake mix.

Duncan Hines gave us everything we wanted in a chocolate cake: fudginess, richness, and chocolatey goodness. To be honest, we don’t go for cake mixes that often, but whenever we do, we always go for this brand because of its superb quality.

However, this isn’t to say that Betty Crocker isn’t a good brand. Plenty of people go for this brand because of its fluffiest texture.

Do you agree with our best cake mix? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off below.

References:

1. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/03/26/520866833/duncan-hines-the-original-road-warrior-who-shaped-restaurant-history
2. https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/bake/how-to-make-cakes-soft-and-springy/