Boxed Vanilla Cake Mixes Ranked Worst To Best

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If you love baking, there's nothing better than baking a cake from scratch. It's the whole process that can be delightful, including gathering the ingredients, getting out your mixer, and measuring everything to perfection. However, some people just don't have that kind of time. Other people simply don't have the willpower. And for those folks, boxed cake mixes exist. Hey, you may even love to bake, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you want to have to whip out all your baking tools every time you want something sweet straight from the oven.

You've seen our reviews for boxed chocolate cake mix, so you have an idea of the kind of standards we set when it comes to good boxed cake. The good stuff? It may even be better than what you could whip up from scratch, especially if you're a novice baker. But the bad stuff? Well, it's definitely not worth making it into your cart, even if at a steep discount. Now, we're ranking boxed vanilla cake mixes.

If you're like us, you don't want to spend money on a cake mix that's going to leave you feeling disappointed and dissatisfied. And even though it may come together quicker than a cake made from scratch, that's time you could still spend picking up a cake from a local bakery rather than baking a sup-par sweet. That's why you should take a good look at which cake mixes are worth your time and which you should leave behind.

Unfortunately, some people can't have gluten, and that may leave them at a loss for what kind of boxed cake mix to get. That's because, until the last few years, there just haven't been that many gluten-free options on store shelves. Now, though, you can find quite a few options that will help you stave off that sweet tooth a little bit longer. That doesn't mean that every gluten-free option is worth your time though, and that's especially the case with Simple Mills' Vanilla Cake Almond Flour Mix.

One reviewer on Amazon wrote about why she wasn't a fan of this cake: "Man! Normally I make my own gluten-free cake from scratch but decided to give this a try. I made this with their frosting for my birthday today, and it baked beautifully! Cutting into it, it's so moist and has a lovely texture. I took a bite and ack! Loaded with salt! What the heck?!"

The last thing we want is to bite into a salty cake. And since there are a wealth of gluten-free options out there, it just makes sense to try something else and leave this one at the grocery store.

You already know that we're not a big fan of the Simple Mills gluten-free cake mix, so you might not expect much from the next gluten-free mix on our list. And you'd be right. We do think that the King Arthur Baking Company Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix is much better than Simple Mills' gluten-free option, but that's not really saying much considering how we felt about that cake. The flavor of this cake is better, though it's not particularly flavorful on its own if you don't add any frosting on top.

However, it still has that gluten-free consistency you'd expect. The cake is almost a bit tough and hard to chew, which doesn't give you that light, buttery cake experience you're probably on the lookout for. If you're left with no other gluten-free box cake mixes at your local grocery store, then you may have to settle for this one. But we urge you to do some searching before you decide to put this box in your basket.

When you first take a bite out of Miss Jones Organic Cake Mix, you're probably going to think it's great. It tastes good and overall seems like a solid vanilla cake. Of course, it still tastes like it came out of a box, but considering that it actually does, we can't really hold that against it. But it's not the first bite that's the problem. It's just about every bite that comes after it.

The thing about this cake mix is that it's kind of bland. Since the flavor isn't too strong, it feels like you're not eating anything after a while. Expect that "not anything" still contains plenty of calories and other ingredients that may not be the best for you. Wouldn't you rather enjoy every last bite?

With this cake's mild flavor, we definitely can't put it at the top of our list. However, if you're looking for a cake for a child's birthday, or you want to work with a really flavorful frosting, then you may have some kind of dessert to salvage here.

For those who prefer to eat organic, it can be difficult to find packaged products that really meet your needs. After all, not everything that claims to be healthier actually tastes good, and the last thing you want to do is slice into a freshly baked cake and find yourself disappointed. But when you choose Krusteaz Organic Yellow Cake, you won't have that experience. Is it our favorite vanilla cake in the world? Not exactly. But it is a solid choice, and it's one that you can find at most grocery stores, which makes it one of the most accessible options on this list.

One thing that cake bakers love about this cake mix? Not only does it taste good, but it's also pretty affordable. Isabella K. of Amherst, Massachusetts, said, "The cake was moist and it comes at a very affordable price!" At Mashed, we love a good deal just as much as we love a good cake, so that makes this a solid vanilla boxed cake option in our books.

Betty Crocker is one of those iconic brands that you see everywhere on store shelves. In fact, you may have a Betty Crocker product or two in your kitchen right now. And while it may not be known as a gourmet product, that doesn't take away from the fact that it tastes really good — especially when you pick up the Betty Crocker Super Moist Favorites Butter Recipe Yellow Cake Mix. First of all, let us just say that "super moist" is not a lie. It may not sound delicious, or even appetizing, but it certainly is an accurate descriptor.

But what really makes this boxed cake mix one of our favorites is the butter recipe factor. It's true that this cake really does have a buttery flavor, and it's one that you won't be able to get enough of. There may be more appealing brands at your local grocery store, but that doesn't mean you should write this boxed vanilla cake mix off just yet.

Judging by how we feel about the other gluten-free box cake mixes on this list, you may assume that we just hate all gluten-free foods. But that's not the case. We just think that you should be picky when picking out gluten-free foods so you can truly enjoy what you buy. That's why, if you're looking for a gluten-free cake mix, we have to recommend Arrowhead Mills Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake Mix. While it may not match up to the top "normal" brand, we have to admit that this gluten-free option is out of this world.

Influenster commenters seem to agree with us. One said, "Although I was skeptical on the taste since it was gluten free, I was very surprised at how yummy it was! Will deff have to try again!" Another shared a similar sentiment, saying, "LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE these. I am gluten free and these are a great option for a quick and easy way to bake a cake, especially for a birthday cake." We couldn't have said it better ourselves.