I’m all for making a cake from scratch when I have the time, but sometimes a box of cake mix is exactly what I need. The good news is you can make a few really simple changes and end up with a cake that tastes so much better than the basic box directions.

Instead of water, use whole milk. Swap the oil for melted butter, add an extra egg and mix in a little sour cream and vanilla. That’s it! You still get all the convenience of a boxed mix, but the finished cake is richer, softer and tastes much more like something you made from scratch.

This works with just about any flavor of cake mix, too. Use it for birthday cakes, cupcakes or anytime you need an easy dessert without actually starting from scratch. Just frost it with your favorite frosting and I promise nobody is going to complain that you started with a box!

Boxed Cake Mix But Better

Ingredients

1 box cake mix, any flavor
Whole milk, replacing the water called for on the box
Melted butter, replacing the oil called for on the box
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup sour cream

Directions

1. Preheat the oven and prepare your cake pan according to the directions on the cake mix package.
2. Add the cake mix to a large bowl. Replace the amount of water called for on the box with an equal amount of whole milk and replace the oil with an equal amount of melted butter.
3. Add 4 eggs, vanilla extract and sour cream. Mix just until smooth and combined.
4. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake according to the package directions. Start checking the cake toward the end of the suggested baking time so you don’t overbake it.
5. Let the cake cool completely before frosting.

Tip: These swaps work with most standard boxed cake mixes, but since brands can call for slightly different amounts of liquid and oil, use the measurements on your particular box as your guide.