I just shared my homemade boxed cake recipe in response to how disappointed I was with Betty Crocker shrinking their volume from 18 to 13.25 ounces while still expecting it to make the same amount of cake. If you don’t have the recipe already, click the button below : 

My original recipe is for vanilla cake, which can be adapted to yellow cake by just using butter instead of oil, but if you’re looking for more flavors, I thought I would share how you can easily make several other ready-made boxed cake flavors by just adding one more ingredient! 

Chocolate, lemon, spice, and of course Funfetti - all with only one ingredient each. So let me show you how. First, start by making my boxed cake mix recipe (flour, sugar, buttermilk powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and vanilla powder). Now it’s time to make your favorite flavor. 

THE FLAVORS

All you need for a rich chocolate cake is some cocoa powder. That’s it! Mix things well and seal it up, to enjoy on a special day. 

For lemon, I added the zest of two lemons that I dried in the oven. It takes about 30 minutes to an hour at around 175° Fahrenheit. Toss the dry zest in to your cake mix, and seal it away for a bright and sunny cake treat, ready in minutes. 

Spice cake is just as easy. Add a tablespoon of pumpkin spice mix, and seal it away. 

Last is everyone’s favorite - the iconic birthday cake - Funfetti! All you need to add to this one is sprinkles. All set for your next birthday cake emergency. 

STORING AND BAKING

These mixes will keep for months if properly stored, just make sure the containers are airtight. I use these reusable silicone freezer bags, and they’re absolutely perfect for the job. I also label them with the flavor and baking instructions so it’s extra easy when it’s time. 

If you happen to need a label maker that works great for the job, I highly recommend the one I use. It’s retro in all the right ways, and modern where it counts. I posted about it, so if you’re interested, click the button below.

When you’re ready to bake, it’s super simple. Just like the Betty Crocker mixes, it’s 3 eggs, a 1/2 cup oil, and 1 cup water. 

The lemon and birthday cake are just that simple with no variations, so just mix them well and transfer them to a greased baking pan. 

The chocolate and spice are a little special. With chocolate, on top of the regular eggs, oil, and water, you’ll add a a stick of melted butter. 

And the spice cake is extra special. This one uses the same eggs and oil, but reduces the water so we can add apple sauce and a bit of molasses for that rich flavor. 

That’s it! Time to bake. Whether you want cute cupcakes, easy sheet cake, classic layer cake, or a charming Bundt cake, the mix will work perfectly. Just adjust your baking time according to the chart I added to the recipe below. Hope you enjoy, and if you want any other flavors, please let me know. I’m having a blast working on these, and it’s another excuse to eat more cake!