Home Cook Completely Disregards Boxed Cake Mix Directions — And The Results Are 10x Better

We've all heard of boxed cake mix hacks, like using applesauce instead of oil or using egg whites in place of some of the eggs called for by the box directions. While these swaps cut down on calories, they don't do much in the way of making the cake more delicious. A TikTok video from @theotherkaee takes boxed cake mix swaps to the next level, focusing on creating a melt-in-your-mouth cake that all starts with a simple box of yellow or butter cake mix (Pillsbury Moist Supreme yellow cake mix was the winner in our boxed yellow cake mix ranking, just FYI).

@theotherkendric

It literally meltsss in your mouth. 😩 This my 2nd one ina week &a half.😭 #boxcake #cakemix #foodie #chocolatecake

♬ original sound – theotherkaee

The swaps are pretty simple, and you can use ingredients that you likely already have in your own kitchen. In addition to making some easy adjustments to the ingredients listed on the box (like using a stick of butter instead of oil and tossing an extra egg into the batter), the home cook in the video also recommends switching up the pan size — using a 9x11 pan instead of a 9x13 pan. This change requires a longer bake time (he also recommends increasing the bake time by up to 10 minutes), which makes sense, as the cake is thicker. Normally, this could result in a dried-out cake, but he takes care of this potential issue by dropping the oven temperature from the box-recommended 350 degrees Fahrenheit to 315 degrees Fahrenheit — dropping the temperature of the oven is a smart way take boxed cake mix from so-so to bakery quality.

One of the tips mentioned — adding an extra egg to the mix — is a well-known hack for making boxed cake mixes better. Adding an extra egg to boxed cake mix creates a deeper, richer flavor without any extra work. In addition to a better overall flavor, you might also find that the addition of an extra egg increases the moisture in your cake.

The home cook in the video also recommends using milk instead of water. The flavor boost you'll get from adding milk comes from the milk's fat, so it makes sense to use whole milk if you have it. As we mentioned earlier, it's also recommended that you add butter instead of oil. Just like with milk, this adds richness to your cake. You can even brown the butter before you add it to create a deeper, slightly nutty flavor that will leave your guests wondering what secret ingredient has been added to your cake.

Finally, the video recommends that you warm the frosting until it's pourable before using it to top your completely-cooled cake. You truly do need to let the cake cool completely — we're talking just two hours or so — before frosting it. Pouring your frosting onto your cake too early can actually cause it to seep into the cake, rather than stay put on top. We know the waiting can be tough when you're ready to try your jazzed-up cake, but we promise, it'll be well worth your while.