I am not a good baker. I always used the box cake hacks Nicole recommended for 30 years. Milk, butter, 1 extra egg and vanilla extract. My family always thought my cakes were homemade. They were. I made them in my home.
I'm just an old guy who has made cakes from scratch instead of mixes and I think it's a no brainer. Scratch cakes are denser and not as airy, that's why I personally prefer them. Plus they're just as quick to make if you have the right tools (measuring cups/spoons) and a little technique from having made them before. I don't even use a mixer, one bowl and a really solid silicone spatula (kind of in the shape a a ruler) Strangely though, I prefer cheap ice cream as opposed to the good stuff because the cheap stuff is full of air. Go figure.
I’m not impressed by anything. I’m disappointed that the “average” person is not discerning enough about quality to know the difference. That’s where we are these days. Still, if you feel like it’s easier to use the mix and your friends and family will be just as happy, go for it I suppose.
I’m so glad you told of mayonnaise. I taught my son this trick. And he learned to beat the whites and yellows of eggs separately then beat together until foamy and fluffed a bit. His cakes are better than mine now. And people request him to make cakes. Yes people turn noses up at this but I’m telling you, it doesn’t add a mayonnaise flavor at all. But a rich moist cake that’ll keep you coming back for more. He uses 3 heaping spoonfuls
@@mignondee same here! Another good way to use mayo, you might think I'm nuts, lol, but sometimes I add a couple heaping tablespoons to my mashed potatoes! Might sound awful but it's really good, makes them so creamy.
those are all great hacks. I've got one to add. Sift your cake mix and mix all dry and wet ingredients separately first before blending. thanks for posting.
I use the Duncan Hines lemon cake and I jazz it up with lemon juice, some grated lemon peel, and instant lemon pudding, turns out great. I also make a glaze using confectioners sugar a bit of lemon juice, and grated peel. Turns out great.
I won second place at my state fair with a boxed cake mix. They never knew it was a mix! Lol Triple Chocolate cake with raspberry jelly filling and dark chocolate ganache.
I used to watch Samantha Brown. Food tasting is one Job, I really wish I had. I would watch other tasters programs as well. But every time I saw Samantha Brown, I used to say that woman stole my job. That is a dream job. The People you meet the aromas the taste of happiness. What a wonderful job.
I'm another Poppy Baker! Started last year during lockdown. Every Sunday the grandkids look forward to a new dessert from Poppy. We also have a short Bible story and a short patriotic lesson.
With buttercream frosting I started sifting the powdered sugar and it is much smoother and creamier. Well worth the extra step even if the lumps in the powdered sugar seem to eventually blend in if you don’t sift.
i LOVE box mix. don’t care that i grew up working in my family’s iconic philadelphia bakery. there’s no award for “i have more refined taste buds than you.” if you love it you love it so eat it
Thanks for the tips, I enjoy baking and homemade is definitely worth the effort, but sometimes time and money dictate a quick fix and I'm always looking for ways to improve the flavor when doing so, so this video was great.
This is sooo true. I never frost a cake when I haven’t first frozen the layers. When you wrap in plastic wrap when “almost” cooled and then freeze, it forms ice crystals in cake. When you take out to frost, those ice crystals melt back into cake making it moist. I always freeze after wrapping in cling wrap and put back in cake pan so they stay super flat. That way no need to thaw before frosting
I grew up on Duncan Hines boxed cake mixes. Never thought I was missing out, with a few exceptions when an experienced baker made a very exceptional cake from scratch cake. Otherwise, Duncan Hines was and has been fine with me.
Duncan Hines French vanilla is one of the best! I've always used the butter and the milk I never used an extra egg and I get a win all the time when I use it for a cannoli cake!
Box cake is no fail and convenient way to use, not to mention very delicious. Homemade cakes made with milk products such as butter, milk, youghurt, sour cream, ect usually become tough and dense specially when refrigerated.
This is my favorite box cake mix. It makes a terrific banana nut, blueberry poppyseed, carrot or zucchini pineapple breads. All I've ever added was milk, eggs and sometimes the butter. Her other suggestions are wonderful!! Also, there is a Pampered Chef recipe that uses boxed cake mix for cookie gun cookies that taste like the butter cookies in the blue tin you see around the holidays.
@@Demebeso714 exactly. And you can leave out all the grasp that they put in box mixes. Ugh. I don't care how appealing they might look, they are filled with junk, crappy ingredients. Only box mixes I've ever bought (for doctored up recipes that call for mixes) are organic cake mixes. At least those don't have scary ingredients.
Thanks for this comparison. It is so true, I always gussy up cake mixes, using all your suggestions but not all at same time. I just recently tried the sour cream and that flavor and texture was amazing! Great video, thank you.
I've replaced the water with whole milk and it turned out great. I imagine that 2% might have worked almost as well but skim milk probably would have been no different than water. My aunt always used sour cream and her cakes were delicious. I've made cakes from scratch and from a box. I don't think there's any shame in that.
I made cupcakes from scratch once to take to a get-together....they turned out like hockey pucks. Thankfully, I had time to run to the store and picked up a box of Duncan Hines to the rescue.
This was fun to watch, I also grew up on Duncan Heines, but my mother was European so when she baked- it was if the hook, all her cooking and baking was from scratch, only once in a while she'd make a DH cake 🤗💜🌷
Late 3 years to the cake box party. I recently whipped up a Dundee fruit cake using Duncan Hines yellow by shifting in one cup all purpose flour into the mix, half cup almond flour, 2 cups dried fruits mix with citrus peels and spices, 4 eggs, half cup chopped slivered almonds, half cup orange juice, half cup sour cream and 1 cup of melted butter. Came out really good. Taste wonderful indeed.
yellow cake mix: pureed apricots and juice from apricots, solo almond filling (use like pudding) press halved, well drained, apricot slices into top of cake 1/2 way through baking. Dust with powdered sugar after cake is baked
In 1961 I was adding a stick of butter and extra flavoring to cake mixes. Pudding cake recipes were the latest thing. Time flies! Enjoyed your ideas. Yum!
Excellent video! Thanks for the tips to jazz up a box mix, Im definitely going to give this a try. Also, I struggle with the speaking (intro/out-ro) parts of my cooking videos, its good that you show that side of your out-takes. Shows us how natural it is to be anxious/nervous in front of the camera.
Loved this video! Homecakes is its own class flavor and cake density. However the added ingredients are clever and makes me say crap how common I didnt figure that out. So smart!
to 2 boxes choc cake mix I added: 1 box choc instant pudding - 2 extra eggs - orange juice instead of water - 1 t vanilla - glazed it with a heated jar of orange jam
I'm NOT A BAKER, so I'm going to make the Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme and jazz it up with zest, lemon juice, melted butter, the pudding, and extra eggs, then into a Bundt pan. I'll make my own glaze adding fresh lemon juice and zest to the confectioners sugar and cross my fingers for my friends' sons' graduation party coming up soon!! Thanks so much for these great tips.
To her first recipe - Add a cup of flour- then 2 additional eggs- 1/4 more milk- 1 stick of butter softened- 1/4 cup mayo. This will make a bigger cake plus firm it up. Several years ago cake box company's shrunk the amounts to keep them inexpensive. The box cake in the 1950 and 1960 had more volume. All this does is put that back.
Ok, so that would be 1 box cake mix 1 cup cake flour 3/4 cup sugar 5 eggs plus 1 yoke 1&1/4 cups milk 1&1/3 sticks butter 1/2 cup sour cream 1/4 cup mayo? That seems like a lot of ingredients, especially the eggs, you sure Fred?
Good job! I am a bonafide baked goods snob, I always make my baked goodies from scratch, but every once in a while I get a hankering for that naughty boxed white cake taste from childhood- but I can’t stand the dry crumbly texture! Gonna try a few of your hacks tomorrow! I think I’m gonna try buttermilk tho- and butter to see if that might not fix the texture a bit more to my liking, Thanks!
Made it! So I substituted some organic soured milk (essential buttermilk) I had for water -organic butter for the oil it asks for, organic whole eggs instead of just the whites- and a teaspoon of organic vanilla. It whipped up very nicely - thicker smoothness more like a scratch cake, which I was excited for- and it baked up better looking than the box one would! A much denser crumb not gummy and very moist. I reduced about 1/2 c of pineapple juice- dash of lemon juice, nutmeg and ginger- and oh yes about a 1/3c powdered sugar to thicken and curb a bit of bitterness of pineapple and lemon juice. Turned out great -Thanks for your suggestions! 😋✨
Me too! I enjoyed the video and couldn't help but feel connected to the host. She has such a warm and genuine personality. It is nice to see authenticity on YT and such a rare thing these days. Looking forward to checking out more content from this channel.
I loved the honest feedback sharing. Great video. Im trying the hack now with a Duncan Hines yellow cake 🍰 (minus the box of pudding) adding sour cream and vanilla then enhancing the egg quantity and. Using milk 🥛. I will let you know how the keto cake turns out.
I learned from my aunty to make the make from scratch, set aside, then make the box according to directions and then mix them all up together, then bake. Yummy trick. The made from scratch mix overpowers the box.
Ermagersh ... sounds delish !!! I've got everything for the chocolate cake 'n Kahlua [ 'n wish I had everything to make the Lemonchello !!! ] BTW ... adding mayo is "trick" used by my friend for decades ... she is very successful caterer in Miami Beach !
@@robind8149 1box German Chocolate Cake Mix 1c sour cream 1pkg (3.4oz) instant chocolate pudding mix 4 lg eggs 1/2 C Veg Oil 1/2C Milk 4tbs Kahlúa (Coffee) 6oz chocolate Chips Glaze: 1/2C Whipping Creme 1C chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350 Grease & Flour a10-in Bundt Pan Mix liquid ingredients in a large bowl Mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl Add to liquid ingredients in small batches & mix well Fold in chocolate chips last Bake for 45-50 min Allow to cool before removing from the pan Icing: Place cream & chips in a small pot over medium heat & stir until smooth. While warm drizzle over the top of cooled Bundt pan. It also works in the microwave
I remember a family birthday where I thought the cake was so delicious and asked my aunt about how she made it so moist. She said it was one of the box mixes that come with pudding.
Great video Nicole! Fun to watch. I would like to suggest instead of using regular eggs use brown ones. You want need to add any extra eggs because the brown ones will make the cake very rich and moist. I know this from experience baking cakes from scratch. I know some people today will say there is no difference between brown and white eggs but what do they know. They obviously don't bake from scratch and probably can't even boil water! LOL Your cakes look delicious by the way.
I'm about to try a boxed chocolate cake with buttermilk, an extra egg, vanilla bean and browned butter. Fingers crossed it comes out yummy 😋 Thanks for these tips!!! Also, I'm making 7 minute frosting for the top.
Duncan Hines is supreme. Never fails me. The Devils Food flavor is perfect without adding anything! In fact, as an experiment, I did cake hacks but found they made the cake texture too dense! Did not improve anything. With the Vanilla, I do use butter, but some oil. Add Vanilla, add 2 T. of dry Vanilla pudding mix. Yum.
I’ve made both home made and hacked box cakes. I personally like the box better. It’s not as dense, and it lasts much longer. A home made cake is dense and drys out fast. I like a box better. 😂
One tip if you're baking at high elevation, as I am, and have trouble with cakes (box or homemade) collapsing in the middle during baking. Add 1/2 cup of flour to your box mix or recipe. I got this tip from a local baker and it really works.
I've never put mayonnaise in a cake mix, but I've made a chocolate cake from scratch with mayo and it's 1 of the most rich delicious chocolate cake recipes I have! And doesn't everybody put a hardy splash of vanilla extract in everything they bake? I sure do! (Forget that 1 teaspoon nonsense) LOL
I have been doing this for years, frosting too, and everyone thinks I make homemade cakes. They're really good! I have to admit though, I use to make from scratch and there is a big difference in texture and taste and it's much better.
Just found ya Betty! Excellent video!!! Wow REAL people on here finally. I found a spice cake mix that's new on the market making that & I'm going to add bananas and some of your hacks. ♥
WOW! This what you did....came out great. The spice cake I mentioned....it has been out ... BUT there is a new "signature one" out now ... & it's better. I used 3 different flavors of cake mix. Then added 3 very ripe bananas...& it's juice from being frozen. (frozen old bananas are kick ass) I Used 1/2 box of EACH FLAVOR. MEASURED 1/2 box!!! Made muffins. Added my mom's coffee cake walnut/cinnamon/brown sugar mixture into...the middle .....of each muffin. So moist. Refrigerated them with a cream cheese frosting. BEST EVER CAKE/MUFFINS.
I use buttermilk for the water, Kerrygold butter (huge difference) for the oil and an extra egg yolk, (or if I want a lighter colored, not yellow) cake- just all egg whites + an extra one. I use Duncan Hines mixes and always get asked for the recipe.
That was fun & informative! About the: milk / Butter / extra eggs hack, will I need to change the box's required time of cooking in any way to compensate? Thank you.
Try Making a German chocolate cake mix adding one extra egg, changing The water to milk, mix As directed. Then fold in the topping that you purchased to go on it. So your icing is inside the cake instead of on top.Takes a little longer to cook than the box recommendsSo depending on your oven it may need an extra 10 minutes. When cool dust with powdered sugar. My family loves it!
I use sour cream in place of butter milk whenever it's called for simply because i always have sour cream on hand and I don't use buttermilk. I used to mix a vinegar with milk to sub it but sour cream works just as well if not better, and i actually prefer it.
New sub from Belgium here and I'm just about to "jazz up" a store-bought Betty Crocker cake (French Vanilla Delight) that I brought back from Central America in November (as we can't get Betty Crocker here - maybe in The Netherlands or the UK but I'm not sure). This was a very enjoyable little video and btw, I love your southern accent!
Adding into the frosting cool whip, or cream cheese and whipping it with the mixer about 2 to 3 minutes it will form soft peaks when done, makes it taste much better not nearly as sweet and is nice and light and fluffy! Hope this helps everyone.
Yeah used that frosting and said never again. It was major yuk for me. But didn't know it was a thing to jazz up boxed cakes, I've been doing it for a while trying to hide cheating when I am short on time.
I guess they are professionals for a reason. They probably can smell it as well. I would probably think they all taste the same! :) I love cake! I will definitely try your hacks. Even just changing milk for water, adding another egg and a little more vanilla. I like adding almond extract. It seems to make everything better!
But the thing I’ve always loved about from-a-box cakes is that they DO taste like they’re from a box! I don’t enjoy the heaviness of cakes that are strictly from scratch! Also, the box cakes are the only ones that you can actually get away with not adding any oil at all, but just adding a few extra tablespoons of water, instead, to the batter. Then, be sure to frost it with real, homemade buttercream frosting! No one has ever commented or complained!
I substitute my water for milk, oil for melted butter. Box mix called for 3 eggs. I put 2 whole eggs in the batter and with the other 3 (1 for the original recipe plus 2 more eggs I added), I separated the yolks and whites added the yolks into the batter. With the egg whites separated from those 3 eggs, I beat them until I had stiff peaks and folded the beaten egg whites gently into the finished cake mix baked at the same time.
“Frown your nose”? I think you mean “don’t turn your nose up”. Thanks for all of the great tips...some I know but even after baking all kinds of homemade cakes and using “Dream Cakes” for wedding cakes, I can’t wait to try some of these super tips!
I believe it. I use it on my cake orders and my customers come back for more. I think it really is how you bake the cake box mix that will make a big difference. Glad to know I can spice up the plain cake box with other ingredients. Will try it! 😊
@Theresa Nardino it is from an OLD junior league cookbook. You can pretty much bank on recipes from junior league and Southern living being good. LOL The book is called Southern Sideboards. I've seen it at thrift stores more than once. It also has an amazing blueberry pound cake and a great Apple cake with brown sugar frosting. And a mincemeat cake that got rave reviews when I made it.
I personally think it may have been more advantageous for you to have gone with a CHOCOLATE CAKE or even maybe a carrot cake, who doesn't like CHOCOLATE 😋 That may have been harder to distinguish the difference's 🙈
Hate wet moist cake and box cake it already to moist wet over sweet. Nothing new here have been these things for over 20 years even add a 1/2 cup of flour to give it some texture.
I am not a good baker. I always used the box cake hacks Nicole recommended for 30 years. Milk, butter, 1 extra egg and vanilla extract. My family always thought my cakes were homemade. They were. I made them in my home.
😆😆😆
I like that. Lol homemade, made in my home.
Lol
❤❤❤
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I am impressed with how much the professional tasters can detect!!!
I'm just an old guy who has made cakes from scratch instead of mixes and I think it's a no brainer. Scratch cakes are denser and not as airy, that's why I personally prefer them. Plus they're just as quick to make if you have the right tools (measuring cups/spoons) and a little technique from having made them before. I don't even use a mixer, one bowl and a really solid silicone spatula (kind of in the shape a a ruler) Strangely though, I prefer cheap ice cream as opposed to the good stuff because the cheap stuff is full of air. Go figure.
I make cakes from scratch and I can tell the difference in a homemade cake or one from a box with ingredients added.
@@lindasolomon9348 which taste better, in your opinion? I don't know if I could tell the difference but I have to guess the homemade one is better.
Love that cheap ice cream with my cake too as opposed to gourmet stuff. Thought I was the only one!
I’m not impressed by anything. I’m disappointed that the “average” person is not discerning enough about quality to know the difference. That’s where we are these days. Still, if you feel like it’s easier to use the mix and your friends and family will be just as happy, go for it I suppose.
I’m so glad you told of mayonnaise. I taught my son this trick. And he learned to beat the whites and yellows of eggs separately then beat together until foamy and fluffed a bit. His cakes are better than mine now. And people request him to make cakes. Yes people turn noses up at this but I’m telling you, it doesn’t add a mayonnaise flavor at all. But a rich moist cake that’ll keep you coming back for more. He uses 3 heaping spoonfuls
You think mayonesse is better than 1/2 cup sour cream ?
Mayonnaise would’ve stumped them. I add it in place of eggs.
@@mignondee same here! Another good way to use mayo, you might think I'm nuts, lol, but sometimes I add a couple heaping tablespoons to my mashed potatoes! Might sound awful but it's really good, makes them so creamy.
I’m toying with the idea of using apple sauce instead of oil or butter but then adding a couple tablespoons of Mayo for flavor. 🤔
@@MM-yb2fy so, use sour cream, in place for milk?
those are all great hacks. I've got one to add. Sift your cake mix and mix all dry and wet ingredients separately first before blending. thanks for posting.
Great tip!
I think boxed mixes are very good
@@gloriafloyd9769 I think they're great too. It's the prepared icing I can't stand.
@@Jannie227 Exactly! Can we please get a hack for that disgusting store bought icing?! *bleck*
I did see a hack once on TH-cam but didn’t try it as I can’t stand those bought icings either, ladies.
I use the Duncan Hines lemon cake and I jazz it up with lemon juice, some grated lemon peel, and instant lemon pudding, turns out great. I also make a glaze using confectioners sugar a bit of lemon juice, and grated peel. Turns out great.
Yes!
Sods so good if you like lemon flavor.
Woo-Hoo!!!
I love 🍋🥰
Thay sounds yummy. I love lemon. I also love lemon bars
I won second place at my state fair with a boxed cake mix. They never knew it was a mix! Lol Triple Chocolate cake with raspberry jelly filling and dark chocolate ganache.
Woah - awesome!
They do now. 😂🤣😂🤣
@@myrecipes would you please tell me how to make a Sacher Torte from a box cake mix, and how to make the glaze and the filling?
@@snooooopycomehome 😂😂😂😂
@@snooooopycomehome 😲🤣😂
A professional taster? My dream job!😱😱😱
Wait are you joking 🙃 or are you saying it for reals if reals 😐
ME TOO
Where can I sign up, my tastebuds are ready.
I used to watch Samantha Brown. Food tasting is one Job, I really wish I had. I would watch other tasters programs as well. But every time I saw Samantha Brown, I used to say that woman stole my job. That is a dream job. The People you meet the aromas the taste of happiness. What a wonderful job.
It's amazing how the tasters are not really big 👌
It's homemade if I made it at home.... southern girl.❤️✝️🕊️♥️😝
Period
😂😂
Agreed!
Yep
Thank you 💁🏼♀️
I'm a rookie Grandpa Baker and I learned so much from watching this now time to test these hacks on my 12 grandchildren professional eaters 😂😂
I'm another Poppy Baker! Started last year during lockdown. Every Sunday the grandkids look forward to a new dessert from Poppy. We also have a short Bible story and a short patriotic lesson.
With buttercream frosting I started sifting the powdered sugar and it is much smoother and creamier. Well worth the extra step even if the lumps in the powdered sugar seem to eventually blend in if you don’t sift.
i LOVE box mix. don’t care that i grew up working in my family’s iconic philadelphia bakery. there’s no award for “i have more refined taste buds than you.” if you love it you love it so eat it
Thanks for the tips, I enjoy baking and homemade is definitely worth the effort, but sometimes time and money dictate a quick fix and I'm always looking for ways to improve the flavor when doing so, so this video was great.
Awesome! Thanks for commenting
If you grew up with boxed cake mix, you end up loving it more than homemade
I've secretly used about half of those ! Thanks for another batch of secret ingredients. You are incredibly easy to listen to..
Hey, this was fun to see if these ladies could choose the homemade cake. They, all three cakes, looked delicious!
I have also found that if you make them and freeze the layers for later when needed, thaw and then add the icing, the cake is so much moister.
This is sooo true. I never frost a cake when I haven’t first frozen the layers. When you wrap in plastic wrap when “almost” cooled and then freeze, it forms ice crystals in cake. When you take out to frost, those ice crystals melt back into cake making it moist. I always freeze after wrapping in cling wrap and put back in cake pan so they stay super flat. That way no need to thaw before frosting
The 3rd tast tester... her hair is fantastic! Just beautiful. Enjoyed the cake hacks and got a style bonus! Thanks for sharing 😊
Thats it....I am going to start my baking season.....in the middle of a heat wave.......Those cakes look so good!!!!
Sounds great! Good luck!
I grew up on Duncan Hines boxed cake mixes. Never thought I was missing out, with a few exceptions when an experienced baker made a very exceptional cake from scratch cake. Otherwise, Duncan Hines was and has been fine with me.
GoGreen1977 try making cake from scratch, you will forget about cake box
Duncan Hines French vanilla is one of the best! I've always used the butter and the milk I never used an extra egg and I get a win all the time when I use it for a cannoli cake!
That's because the cannoli cake requires a lot of extra work! Otherwise I love making a homemade cake!
Box cake is no fail and convenient way to use, not to mention very delicious. Homemade cakes made with milk products such as butter, milk, youghurt, sour cream, ect usually become tough and dense specially when refrigerated.
It’s funny how I’m the exact opposite of you. Lol. I’m fine with the made from scratch but has been impressed with the box.
This is my favorite box cake mix. It makes a terrific banana nut, blueberry poppyseed, carrot or zucchini pineapple breads. All I've ever added was milk, eggs and sometimes the butter. Her other suggestions are wonderful!! Also, there is a Pampered Chef recipe that uses boxed cake mix for cookie gun cookies that taste like the butter cookies in the blue tin you see around the holidays.
What are gun cookies?
@@jewellevy cookie press..I believe
Great video! Many people will never know that there are MANY famous bakeries in NY City use Box cake mix!
Makes no sense
If you have to add all that just make a cake the old fashioned way
@@Demebeso714 exactly. And you can leave out all the grasp that they put in box mixes. Ugh. I don't care how appealing they might look, they are filled with junk, crappy ingredients.
Only box mixes I've ever bought (for doctored up recipes that call for mixes) are organic cake mixes. At least those don't have scary ingredients.
Yep, they come in massive bags rather than boxes.
I have used these hacks and my husband begs for me to make one right after the other! Delicious! 😋
Thanks for this comparison. It is so true, I always gussy up cake mixes, using all your suggestions but not all at same time. I just recently tried the sour cream and that flavor and texture was amazing! Great video, thank you.
Have you used mayo ? Compared to sour cream?
Sour cream instead of what?
@@sandratorres5633 In addition to
I've replaced the water with whole milk and it turned out great. I imagine that 2% might have worked almost as well but skim milk probably would have been no different than water. My aunt always used sour cream and her cakes were delicious. I've made cakes from scratch and from a box. I don't think there's any shame in that.
Agreed! And thanks for the insights :)
Use butter instead of oils.
I made cupcakes from scratch once to take to a get-together....they turned out like hockey pucks. Thankfully, I had time to run to the store and picked up a box of Duncan Hines to the rescue.
This was fun to watch, I also grew up on Duncan Heines, but my mother was European so when she baked- it was if the hook, all her cooking and baking was from scratch, only once in a while she'd make a DH cake 🤗💜🌷
I always do butter, sour cream, milk in my box cakes. Tried 7up in a pound cake, will try the coffee in my chocolate cake. Thx...
Sounds great!
Late 3 years to the cake box party. I recently whipped up a Dundee fruit cake using Duncan Hines yellow by shifting in one cup all purpose flour into the mix, half cup almond flour, 2 cups dried fruits mix with citrus peels and spices, 4 eggs, half cup chopped slivered almonds, half cup orange juice, half cup sour cream and 1 cup of melted butter. Came out really good. Taste wonderful indeed.
I love watching your videos! With your facial expressions, added sounds, and witty comments...it just makes me happy! Great hacks and recipes too! lol
I used some of your hacks with a $1.00 box of chocolate cake from Walmart and it turned out amazingly well!! Thanks 😊😊😊
My Mom made the best box cakes. She used a lot of these tricks. Thanks for sharing
yellow cake mix: pureed apricots and juice from apricots, solo almond filling (use like pudding) press halved, well drained, apricot slices into top of cake 1/2 way through baking. Dust with powdered sugar after cake is baked
In 1961 I was adding a stick of butter and extra flavoring to cake mixes. Pudding cake recipes were the latest thing. Time flies!
Enjoyed your ideas. Yum!
Excellent video! Thanks for the tips to jazz up a box mix, Im definitely going to give this a try. Also, I struggle with the speaking (intro/out-ro) parts of my cooking videos, its good that you show that side of your out-takes. Shows us how natural it is to be anxious/nervous in front of the camera.
Professional cake tester 😍 what a wonderful job to have.
Loved this video! Homecakes is its own class flavor and cake density. However the added ingredients are clever and makes me say crap how common I didnt figure that out. So smart!
This was fun to watch. Thank you. I like that you had guests. That's really cool.
I’m going to use these ingredients on the next cake I make! Super excited and I’m a professional Eater too!!!!
The first taster was awesome!👏
to 2 boxes choc cake mix I added: 1 box choc instant pudding - 2 extra eggs - orange juice instead of water - 1 t vanilla - glazed it with a heated jar of orange jam
That was awesome ♥️. My mom always made Homemade cakes.♥️. Sometimes jazzed up boxed cakes.
I'm NOT A BAKER, so I'm going to make the Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme and jazz it up with zest, lemon juice, melted butter, the pudding, and extra eggs, then into a Bundt pan. I'll make my own glaze adding fresh lemon juice and zest to the confectioners sugar and cross my fingers for my friends' sons' graduation party coming up soon!! Thanks so much for these great tips.
Love your approach. Not too complicated or problematic just practical.
To her first recipe - Add a cup of flour- then 2 additional eggs- 1/4 more milk- 1 stick of butter softened- 1/4 cup mayo. This will make a bigger cake plus firm it up. Several years ago cake box company's shrunk the amounts to keep them inexpensive. The box cake in the 1950 and 1960 had more volume. All this does is put that back.
I'm JUST starting to learn, so I apologize for the dumb question. Self rising or all purpose flour? Thanks!
@@marnak24 I use cake flour but all-purpose will work.
I know this is an old post, but shouldn't you add more sugar as well, will it be sweet enough?
@@eliciasmith2488 the recipe hack I used added 3/4-1 cup of sugar.
Ok, so that would be
1 box cake mix
1 cup cake flour
3/4 cup sugar
5 eggs plus 1 yoke
1&1/4 cups milk
1&1/3 sticks butter
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayo?
That seems like a lot of ingredients, especially the eggs, you sure Fred?
Good job! I am a bonafide baked goods snob, I always make my baked goodies from scratch, but every once in a while I get a hankering for that naughty boxed white cake taste from childhood- but I can’t stand the dry crumbly texture! Gonna try a few of your hacks tomorrow! I think I’m gonna try buttermilk tho- and butter to see if that might not fix the texture a bit more to my liking, Thanks!
Made it! So I substituted some organic soured milk (essential buttermilk) I had for water -organic butter for the oil it asks for, organic whole eggs instead of just the whites- and a teaspoon of organic vanilla. It whipped up very nicely - thicker smoothness more like a scratch cake, which I was excited for- and it baked up better looking than the box one would! A much denser crumb not gummy and very moist. I reduced about 1/2 c of pineapple juice- dash of lemon juice, nutmeg and ginger- and oh yes about a 1/3c powdered sugar to thicken and curb a bit of bitterness of pineapple and lemon juice. Turned out great -Thanks for your suggestions! 😋✨
Just watched your cake hack video. Delightful. Learned some great tricks and was entertained at the same time. thanks
Glad you enjoyed it!
I know this was a long time ago, but this video has helped me, and just having all three different cakes and having people taste them was perfect! 😊
I could listen to your accent all day...
Great video, thank you!
I really like the host she can appeal to every one . Blessings to your channel.
Me too! I enjoyed the video and couldn't help but feel connected to the host. She has such a warm and genuine personality. It is nice to see authenticity on YT and such a rare thing these days. Looking forward to checking out more content from this channel.
I loved the honest feedback sharing. Great video. Im trying the hack now with a Duncan Hines yellow cake 🍰 (minus the box of pudding) adding sour cream and vanilla then enhancing the egg quantity and. Using milk 🥛. I will let you know how the keto cake turns out.
well???
@@chaoswitch1974 I sure hope she survived the pandemic?
I learned from my aunty to make the make from scratch, set aside, then make the box according to directions and then mix them all up together, then bake. Yummy trick. The made from scratch mix overpowers the box.
Ps. I’m gonna call you Betty cause your hacks look real good.
That's a great idea!
LOL! Thanks!
I’ve used that recipe for years now but with chocolate cake mix w/Kahlúa and Lemon cake mix w/Lemonchello
Sounds great!
Ermagersh ... sounds delish !!! I've got everything for the chocolate cake 'n Kahlua [ 'n wish I had everything to make the Lemonchello !!! ] BTW ... adding mayo is "trick" used by my friend for decades ... she is very successful caterer in Miami Beach !
Donna Maria Dixson - May I please ask what exactly goes into the chocolate mix/Kahlúa combo... and in what amounts? I definitely want to try it!!!😋
@@robind8149
1box German Chocolate Cake Mix
1c sour cream
1pkg (3.4oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
4 lg eggs
1/2 C Veg Oil
1/2C Milk
4tbs Kahlúa (Coffee)
6oz chocolate Chips
Glaze:
1/2C Whipping Creme
1C chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350
Grease & Flour a10-in Bundt Pan
Mix liquid ingredients in a large bowl
Mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl Add to liquid ingredients in small batches & mix well
Fold in chocolate chips last
Bake for 45-50 min
Allow to cool before removing from the pan
Icing:
Place cream & chips in a small pot over medium heat & stir until smooth. While warm drizzle over the top of cooled Bundt pan. It also works in the microwave
Better Than Sex Cake
Great tips! Especially the addition of puddings!
Glad you like them!
I remember a family birthday where I thought the cake was so delicious and asked my aunt about how she made it so moist. She said it was one of the box mixes that come with pudding.
It's the cornstarch that contributes to a cake's lightness.
Great video Nicole! Fun to watch. I would like to suggest instead of using regular eggs use brown ones. You want need to add any extra eggs because the brown ones will make the cake very rich and moist. I know this from experience baking cakes from scratch. I know some people today will say there is no difference between brown and white eggs but what do they know. They obviously don't bake from scratch and probably can't even boil water! LOL Your cakes look delicious by the way.
You are very right....and room temp
I'm about to try a boxed chocolate cake with buttermilk, an extra egg, vanilla bean and browned butter. Fingers crossed it comes out yummy 😋 Thanks for these tips!!! Also, I'm making 7 minute frosting for the top.
Wish I had seen this video last month when I made a box cake for my birthday. I'm sure it would have tasted even more awesome!
Next time!
Those first two ladies meant business, lol. I was so nervous. Also, if those are Southern accents I hear, how cute.
_🎂🙊🧡_
Duncan Hines is supreme. Never fails me. The Devils Food flavor is perfect without adding anything! In fact, as an experiment, I did cake hacks but found they made the cake texture too dense! Did not improve anything. With the Vanilla, I do use butter, but some oil. Add Vanilla, add 2 T. of dry Vanilla pudding mix. Yum.
This was so much fun to watch. Great tips. Thanks for sharing this video. 😀
Interesting! I'm definitely going to jazz up a box cake!
I’ve made both home made and hacked box cakes. I personally like the box better. It’s not as dense, and it lasts much longer. A home made cake is dense and drys out fast. I like a box better. 😂
I totally agree!
One tip if you're baking at high elevation, as I am, and have trouble with cakes (box or homemade) collapsing in the middle during baking. Add 1/2 cup of flour to your box mix or recipe. I got this tip from a local baker and it really works.
Loved this video and how fast your said everything. Others will make you go through 20 minutes to get all the tips
I've never put mayonnaise in a cake mix, but I've made a chocolate cake from scratch with mayo and it's 1 of the most rich delicious chocolate cake recipes I have! And doesn't everybody put a hardy splash of vanilla extract in everything they bake? I sure do! (Forget that 1 teaspoon nonsense) LOL
I use vanilla like Justin Wilson used to measure. Fill the spoon and keep on pouring :)
I love that you say butter instead of oil. I hate oil in my cake.
Wow! This was so awesome to watch! Thank you! I was entertained while learning! lol
Best hack for box cake. Applesauce! Regardless of the flavor of the cake. Applesauce & 4 eggs. Try it. You'll be amazed.
Nice!
What would I be using the applesauce in place of?
@@loveinautumn3978 in place of the oil.
How much applesauce?
Always use ilk, applesauce, separate eggs and whip whites to be folded in after batter is mixed.
I add mayo to my biscuits & roll mix!.. they're great.
Oh wow I learned a lot in this video about homemade vs boxed
I have been doing this for years, frosting too, and everyone thinks I make homemade cakes. They're really good! I have to admit though, I use to make from scratch and there is a big difference in texture and taste and it's much better.
Just found ya Betty! Excellent video!!! Wow REAL people on here finally. I found a spice cake mix that's new on the market making that & I'm going to add bananas and some of your hacks. ♥
WOW! This what you did....came out great. The spice cake I mentioned....it has been out ...
BUT there is a new "signature one" out now ... & it's better.
I used 3 different flavors of cake mix. Then added 3 very ripe bananas...& it's juice from being frozen. (frozen old bananas are kick ass)
I Used 1/2 box of EACH FLAVOR.
MEASURED 1/2 box!!!
Made muffins. Added my mom's coffee cake walnut/cinnamon/brown sugar mixture into...the middle .....of each muffin.
So moist. Refrigerated them with a cream cheese frosting. BEST EVER CAKE/MUFFINS.
I use buttermilk for the water, Kerrygold butter (huge difference) for the oil and an extra egg yolk, (or if I want a lighter colored, not yellow) cake- just all egg whites + an extra one. I use Duncan Hines mixes and always get asked for the recipe.
I'm gonna try your recipe since is easier to make by just substituting some ingredients. Thank u for sharing😊
That was fun & informative!
About the: milk / Butter / extra eggs hack, will I need to change the box's required time of cooking in any way to compensate?
Thank you.
No.
For fluffier cake, I usually beat the eggs with the liquid before adding the mix.
Try Making a German chocolate cake mix adding one extra egg, changing The water to milk, mix As directed. Then fold in the topping that you purchased to go on it. So your icing is inside the cake instead of on top.Takes a little longer to cook than the box recommendsSo depending on your oven it may need an extra 10 minutes. When cool dust with powdered sugar. My family loves it!
Excellent idea, Gail! Thank you for sharing
I use sour cream in place of butter milk whenever it's called for simply because i always have sour cream on hand and I don't use buttermilk. I used to mix a vinegar with milk to sub it but sour cream works just as well if not better, and i actually prefer it.
Thank you!!! Great idea
Thank you, I am going to try all of these.
New sub from Belgium here and I'm just about to "jazz up" a store-bought Betty Crocker cake (French Vanilla Delight) that I brought back from Central America in November (as we can't get Betty Crocker here - maybe in The Netherlands or the UK but I'm not sure).
This was a very enjoyable little video and btw, I love your southern accent!
I use mayo and its AMAZING!! THANKS. 👍
Great to hear!
How much do you use for one box cake?
1 cup Hellmans mayo..
@@lilcowgirlsluvr thank you!
@@reesej7279 your welcome. I can give u Great chocolate cake recipe that is BETTER than any bought cake.
I'm so going to use these hacks! Thanks
I can make the box cake taste glorious. The canned frosting is another story...
Canned frosting is a travesty!
vegangelist The chemical-y taste of canned frosting is horrid.
Adding into the frosting cool whip, or cream cheese and whipping it with the mixer about 2 to 3 minutes it will form soft peaks when done, makes it taste much better not nearly as sweet and is nice and light and fluffy! Hope this helps everyone.
It’s just gross. I have whipped it til fluffy, and added some extra flavoring on occasion . It’s helpful, if that’s all you have on hand.
Yeah used that frosting and said never again. It was major yuk for me. But didn't know it was a thing to jazz up boxed cakes, I've been doing it for a while trying to hide cheating when I am short on time.
Great tips! I normally don’t make boxed cake but I have a box I want to jack up!!
I guess they are professionals for a reason. They probably can smell it as well. I would probably think they all taste the same! :) I love cake! I will definitely try your hacks. Even just changing milk for water, adding another egg and a little more vanilla. I like adding almond extract. It seems to make everything better!
professional taste tester were amazing!!! you did a awesome video!!!
But the thing I’ve always loved about from-a-box cakes is that they DO taste like they’re from a box! I don’t enjoy the heaviness of cakes that are strictly from scratch! Also, the box cakes are the only ones that you can actually get away with not adding any oil at all, but just adding a few extra tablespoons of water, instead, to the batter. Then, be sure to frost it with real, homemade buttercream frosting! No one has ever commented or complained!
This may be because there is already shortening or fat in the dry mix as well 🥰
I always add mayonnaise instead of oil to my cake it’s delicious😋 my aunt taught me this.
Roxanna Norman what brand?
Evelyn Pinkley what brand of mayo? Kraft mayo
Yes so good my mother in law showed me so good
How much Mayo do you add?
I did some of your hacks and it turned out GREAT! Thanks for the tips :)
Interesting that the tell was the density 💡💡 I’m not a pro, just a cake lover and baking lover 👍
Can I use it to prepare carrot cake , or three milk cake? Let me know please. I enjoyed this video. The cakes look delicious.
These professional tasters amazes me.
I want a bite of all three!!! I love cake!
I substitute my water for milk, oil for melted butter. Box mix called for 3 eggs. I put 2 whole eggs in the batter and with the other 3 (1 for the original recipe plus 2 more eggs I added), I separated the yolks and whites added the yolks into the batter. With the egg whites separated from those 3 eggs, I beat them until I had stiff peaks and folded the beaten egg whites gently into the finished cake mix baked at the same time.
“Frown your nose”? I think you mean “don’t turn your nose up”. Thanks for all of the great tips...some I know but even after baking all kinds of homemade cakes and using “Dream Cakes” for wedding cakes, I can’t wait to try some of these super tips!
Dag ..I've done all but pudding or mayonnaise. I love the french vanilla cake from DH. plus the other stuff I add to the mix
Thanks for sharing!!
I've done a few of these and it's been so helpful
Cool! Thanks for sharing with us
I’m from Australia , Betty Crocker is the best to be close to homemade .
And being from Australia relates to that how?
I believe it. I use it on my cake orders and my customers come back for more. I think it really is how you bake the cake box mix that will make a big difference. Glad to know I can spice up the plain cake box with other ingredients. Will try it! 😊
I'm watching this while eating my homemade carrot cake with orange/butter glaze.
@Theresa Nardino it is from an OLD junior league cookbook. You can pretty much bank on recipes from junior league and Southern living being good. LOL
The book is called Southern Sideboards. I've seen it at thrift stores more than once.
It also has an amazing blueberry pound cake and a great Apple cake with brown sugar frosting.
And a mincemeat cake that got rave reviews when I made it.
I personally think it may have been more advantageous for you to have gone with a CHOCOLATE CAKE or even maybe a carrot cake, who doesn't like CHOCOLATE 😋
That may have been harder to distinguish the difference's 🙈
I have it in the oven, as I write this... It's 88 degrees today, but Don't care... A C helps.. Genius !!!!! 🎂 🎂 😋
Nice! Thanks for checking us out!
Another hack would be to add applesauce for moisture.
But applesauce makes it go bad faster
Hate wet moist cake and box cake it already to moist wet over sweet. Nothing new here have been these things for over 20 years even add a 1/2 cup of flour to give it some texture.
@@carol8696 and sift the mix and extra flour too
@@cynthiacrawford1573 oh,good to know.
I add 3 TBS of dry instant coffee crystals to my brownies mix! Or, Chocolate cake!!!🤫🤭😂!!!