Cake mix hacks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve used sour cream before, and buttermilk one time. Wouldn’t recommend for kids; it tastes better to adults but many kids think it adds too much tang. Just use the box as written!

I made a cake this weekend with sour cream. You can't taste it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you need a hack for?? The instructions are on the box.

Zhuzh it up? As Sandra Lee did. Lol

[Anonymous]

Just stick an Oreo on top of the cupcake frosting. Kids go nuts for these and you don’t have to use anything but cake mix, canned frosting, and Oreos. For non-chocolate, try vanilla Oreos or a lot of sprinkles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just stick an Oreo on top of the cupcake frosting. Kids go nuts for these and you don’t have to use anything but cake mix, canned frosting, and Oreos. For non-chocolate, try vanilla Oreos or a lot of sprinkles.

Y'all know that you are supposed to whip/beat this, right? Not put it on out of the can? Because I didn't, for a long time lol.

[Anonymous]

I use the Magnolia Bakery frosting recipe and my cupcakes get rave reviews every time:

1 cup unsalted butter, very soft
8 cups confectioners' sugar
1⁄2 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla

[Anonymous]

For kids cupcakes I'd make it as cheap as possible: water and oil.

Making your own frosting is by far the best way to make the cake taste better. A homemade buttercream is SO superior to a canned icing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just stick an Oreo on top of the cupcake frosting. Kids go nuts for these and you don’t have to use anything but cake mix, canned frosting, and Oreos. For non-chocolate, try vanilla Oreos or a lot of sprinkles.

Y'all know that you are supposed to whip/beat this, right? Not put it on out of the can? Because I didn't, for a long time lol.

It tastes like plastic, so I don't think whipping it is going to help anyone.

[Anonymous]

Please don’t use oil. Use melted butter. And explain to parents whose kids you’re feeding you used butter.

- parent who avoids giving my kids seed oils

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you need a hack for?? The instructions are on the box.

Zhuzh it up? As Sandra Lee did. Lol

BUT OP said "I need to make 5 dozen cupcakes. It’s for kids. So nothing fancy."

So...WHY??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please don’t use oil. Use melted butter. And explain to parents whose kids you’re feeding you used butter.

- parent who avoids giving my kids seed oils

Shut up.

[Anonymous]

Buy cupcakes from Giant.

[Anonymous]

It's 2025 and people are still buying boxed cake mix?! Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you hack a cake mix in this situation?

Yeah agree. It’s kids cupcakes. They will not care or notice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's 2025 and people are still buying boxed cake mix?! Ugh.

I have to agree. If I wasn’t up for making 5 dozen, I’d just order them at a bakery. If you are going through the mess and trouble to make them, just make real cupcakes. Or don’t and buy them. But cake mix? No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll post some hack recipes for you. By and large, if you just want it tastier, you can substitute buttermilk (or milk + vinegar) for the water. Or even milk, although it isn't as good as buttermilk. You can also add an extra egg.

1 Box White Cake Mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup room temp milk
1 small box of instant chocolate pudding
3 eggs (room temp)

Mix all the dry ingredients together. Cream butter, add eggs one at a time and mix well, alternate adding dry ingredients with the milk, and mix until the dry ingredients are just combined. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, or until the center of the cake springs back from the pan.

OR

1 Box cake mix (any flavor)
1 cup AP flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream
1 cup water***
3 large eggs
1 Tbsp flavoring of your choice

Sift together dry ingredients (especially important with chocolate cake)

Mix all the wet ingredients together. Mix the dry ingredients in, 1/3 at a time. Bake at 325 until done.

*** Instead of water, you can use milk, buttermilk, juice, thawed frozen concentrate, etc. Depends on what flavors you want.

For a "Birthday cake" flavor, you can use Vanilla with a touch (like 1/2 tsp) of almond extract. Butter vanilla flavor works even better, but most people don't have that lying around.

If you're going to do all of this you may as well make the whole thing from scratch.