Amazing Things You Can Make With A Box Of Cake Mix
Boxed cake mixes don't get the respect they deserve, even though they're incredibly versatile. They're a reliable shortcut, and while you could probably make a better cake without the help of Betty Crocker, making cake from scratch just isn't in everyone's wheelhouse. A boxed cake mix can be handy and multi-talented — especially when you realize it can be used for so much more than cake.
The cake batter flavor can take desserts and even breakfast to another level. With pre-mixed ingredients, it's easy to throw together an impressive treat that tastes just like cake. You can use cake mix to make waffles, cookies, flavored whipped cream, and even dessert dip. It's especially fun and festive if you want to make birthday treats — just don't forget the sprinkles. Anything becomes birthday-worthy when you add cake mix to it, right?
Read on to see how cake mix can help you take tasty shortcuts on more than just cake.
Upgrade your average boxed cake with toppings and fillings
There's no shame in making cake from a box. It's convenient if you're pressed for time or ingredients. Boxed cake has a familiar flavor, and it's easy to prepare a dessert that everyone will probably enjoy. But, there's always room for improvement.
A few easy tweaks can take your boxed cake to the next level. You can add an extra egg, swap in melted butter for oil, or use milk or coffee instead of water, according to some handy boxed cake hacks from Huffington Post. Any or all of these adjustments can give you a more flavorful cake, even if it's mostly from a box.
Boxed cake is just the base. The sky's the limit when it comes to adding toppings or fillings. Chocolate chips can give your confection a luscious crunch, or you can incorporate layers of crushed cookies or jams. You can even add a packet of instant vanilla pudding mix to make this confection more flavorful.
Grab your waffle iron to make cake mix waffles
A waffle iron can be used to make a variety of tasty goodies, including cake mix waffles. Thanks to this Betty Crocker recipe, you'll be turning your cake batter into sweet, ready-to-eat waffles with just a few quick steps.
To make cake mix waffles, all you need to do is prepare the cake batter as you would if you were making a cake. Mix the ingredients as directed on the box, then drop the batter in your waffle iron about 1/2 cup at a time, depending on the size of your waffle maker. Then, you've got yourself a fresh plate of cake mix waffles to enjoy.
Using cake mix makes it easy to upgrade your waffle game. You can make red velvet, chocolate, or even Funfetti waffles. Plus, it's a great way celebrate a birthday for breakfast. Serve the waffles with the toppings of your choice.
Throw together three-ingredient cake mix cookies
If you're looking for an easy-to-make snack that's jam-packed with flavor, you can whip up cookies with just three ingredients –- one of them being cake mix. Cake mix cookies can come together with very little fuss, and Jamielyn Nye of IHeartNaptime.net shows us how it's done.
Mix together a box of cake mix in the flavor of your choosing, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, and two large eggs. Bake for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and you've got a fresh batch of cookies. Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking so it's easier to work with, but you don't have to. These cookies freeze well, too. All you need to do is bake them, allow them to cool, and store them in plastic wrap before you place them in the freezer.
You can keep it interesting with different flavors of cake mix and add mix-ins such as candy pieces, sprinkles, or nuts. For example, you could make chocolate-nut cake batter cookies.
Swap your typical pancake mix out for cake mix
No pancake mix? No problem. If you have cake mix, you're well on your way to preparing a breakfast for the books.
Making cake mix pancakes is as simple as making cake mix waffles, but you'll use a different method to cook them. This Kroger recipe uses yellow cake mix and suggests following the directions on the box. After preparing your mix, drop it 1/4 cup at a time on a buttered skillet or griddle to cook pancakes. Watch for bubbles to start popping on the surface, then briefly flip and serve them up hot.
The cake mix adds extra sweetness to the pancakes, so you might want to hold back on extra sweet toppings such as syrup. This is a great way to make pancakes fast and get some fun flavors on your breakfast table. Spice cake pancakes, lemon pancakes, or red velvet pancakes can add another level to your breakfast or brunch.
Bake and enjoy cake mix donuts for breakfast
Boxed cake isn't the only sweet treat made easy with cake mix. You can use it to simplify donuts, too. Homemade donuts usually call for yeast, rise times, and frying in oil, which may be more effort than you'd like to spend on for your typical weekend breakfast. If you're making cake mix donuts, you can skip those steps and get to the sprinkled good stuff much faster.
Jennifer Meyering of JenniferMeyering.com combines box cake mix, 1 large egg, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, and 1 cup of water to make these tasty confections. The cups in a donut pan should be about half full, then baked at 350 degrees for about 13 minutes. Let them cool, then glaze with a mixture of 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, and 3 tablespoons milk. Top them off with sprinkles, candy, or even cereal.
Cake donuts have a different consistency than yeast donuts. But, you probably won't hear any complaints about having hot, fresh, homemade donuts that no one has to go out and pick up.
Use cake mix instead of brownie mix
Craving brownies but don't have a box of brownie mix? If you have cake mix in your pantry, you don't have to make them from scratch –- you can use a box of chocolate cake mix instead. Cake mix brownies are fudgy and sweet. With the help of boxed cake mix and this recipe from Cookies & Cups, this dessert is quick to pull together. You could have freshly baked brownies in under 30 minutes.
Mix together a box of chocolate cake mix, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1/3 cup milk, an egg, and 10 ounces of chocolate chunks or chips. Spread into a greased 8x8 baking pan and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. If you prefer thinner brownies, you can use a larger pan and adjust the time down a few minutes.
Want to add a little extra to your cake mix brownies? Drizzle chocolate or caramel on top, or add nuts to the batter before baking.
Add cake mix to whipped cream for a sweet treat
If you love the taste of cake batter so much that you want to top other desserts with it, Beyond Frosting's cake batter whipped cream is a must-try. You can add this whipped cream to cakes, cupcakes, strawberries, and more. You'll just need cream, cake mix, and sprinkles if you're feeling festive.
Beat heavy whipping cream on high for two minutes, add 1/3 cup dry vanilla cake mix, and keep beating the mixture on high until stiff peaks form. When you're done, gently mix in the sprinkles and refrigerate until you're ready to use it.
Note: This whipped cream uses raw cake mix that isn't baked before eating, which could contain E. coli and make you sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Be sure to heat treat your cake mix before consuming. According to Today, you can do so by microwaving the dry mix in a bowl for 30 seconds, stirring at each interval. Check the temperature multiple times to make sure it's reached at least 165 degrees.
Sweeten up your milkshake with cake mix
If you're looking for a cake batter milkshake or simply feel like your milkshake could use extra sweetness, cake mix could be the answer. The basic combo of vanilla ice cream and milk gets upgraded into liquid cake by adding some cake mix. Feel free to add sprinkles, too, and your shake is dressed up for a birthday party.
To make this cake batter milkshake, follow the steps from Jaclyn at Cooking Classy. You'll blend two cups of vanilla ice cream, 1 cup of milk, and 1/2 cup vanilla or Funfetti cake mix. You could add other flavors, but know that they'll change the color of the milkshake. You can add sprinkles, too. If you prefer a richer milkshake, replace some of the milk with half and half or cream.
As with any cake batter treat that isn't baked or fully cooked, you should heat treat the dry cake mix by microwaving it for 30 seconds at a time and stirring until it reaches at least 165 degrees.
Add cake batter flavor to frosting
Top your cake with even more cake by adding a little cake mix to your buttercream frosting. Using cake batter buttercream frosting is a great way to take cake flavor over the top — especially for birthday cakes. You may also want to have it around to top cookies or other desserts with the flavor of cake, even if you're not actually eating cake.
Yellow or Funfetti cake mix is preferred if you're planning a light-colored frosting. If you're planning chocolate or red velvet, you could use those flavors of cake mix.
By following this recipe from Two Sisters Crafting, you'll heat treat 1 cup of cake mix by microwaving it for 30 seconds, stirring, and repeating until it reaches 165 degrees throughout. Then, combine the cake mix with 4 cups of powdered sugar. Add 1 cup of softened butter, and mix. Add up to 1/4 of milk, 1 teaspoon at a time until you reach the right consistency. Don't forget to add sprinkles.
Craft DIY Dunkaroos with cake mix
If you're feeling nostalgic for Dunkaroos, you may already have what you need in your kitchen to create and enjoy this treat. While the classic vanilla cookies are tasty, everyone knows the real star of the snack pack is the cake batter-flavored frosting dip with rainbow sprinkles. According to this recipe from Amanda at The Chunky Chef, you can obtain that cake batter with just a few ingredients.
Beat 8 ounces of Cool Whip and 8 ounces of softened cream cheese together until they are silky. Add a box of heat-treated Funfetti cake mix and 1/3 cup milk, and stir to combine. Add up to another 1/3 cup of milk until you reach the consistency you're looking for. Add sprinkles for garnish and serve with dippers.
Animal crackers, graham crackers, or vanilla cookies have a classic taste to pair with this sweet frosting dip. But, you could also mix it up with pretzels or fresh fruit.