Cake-over! How to Make Boxed Cake Mix Better (2024)

As an avid baking enthusiast with a deep understanding of culinary techniques, particularly in the realm of cake baking, I can assure you that creating a delicious and impressive cake doesn't always require starting from scratch. Sunny Anderson, a culinary whiz known for her creative kitchen tips, shares some invaluable insights on how to elevate the taste and texture of a boxed cake mix. Let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:

1. Chocolate Cake Mix:

• Hot Water: Sunny suggests using hot water instead of room temperature water to make the chocolate flavor more pronounced. This technique is akin to brewing coffee—hot water allows the cocoa in the mix to "bloom" or develop its flavor.

• Eggs + Yolks: To achieve ultra-moistness and density reminiscent of bakery cakes, Sunny recommends adding two extra egg yolks in addition to the eggs specified in the recipe.

2. White Cake Mix:

• Milk: Instead of water, Sunny proposes using milk in the white cake mix. This not only adds density and fat but also enhances the flavor of the cake.

• Egg Whites: To make the cake fluffy and whiter, exclude the egg yolks but compensate for the removed fat by adding two extra tablespoons of butter or one tablespoon of melted butter per each removed egg yolk.

• Vanilla: Freshen up the cake mix with a dash of vanilla extract (1/2 teaspoon) to counteract the potential loss of flavor in the box mix due to aging on store shelves.

3. Tips Applicable to All Cake Mixes:

• Melted Butter: Opt for butter instead of oil. While both are fats, butter imparts better flavor. This simple swap adds richness and depth to the cake.

• Sprinkle with Sugar: Sprinkling sugar on top not only gives the cake a sweet, crunchy texture but also prevents it from rising too much during baking. This is crucial for creating well-proportioned layers.

• Make Extra Layers: Sunny recommends cutting each round of cake in half to create more layers. This ensures an equal cake-to-frosting ratio, resulting in extra moistness throughout the cake.

In summary, Sunny Anderson's tips revolve around strategic ingredient substitutions and additions, each contributing to the overall improvement of boxed cake mixes. These adjustments showcase a nuanced understanding of baking chemistry and flavor development, resulting in a cake that surpasses the expectations set by a standard box mix.