Making a homemade chocolate cake from scratch isn't always an option. Whether you're short on time or ingredients, enlisting the help of a box cake mix is a great way to create a delicious dessert easily. In this post, we’ll show you how to make chocolate cake mix better. Here at Bob's Red Mill, we offer both Grain Free Chocolate Cake Mix and Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix for your baking needs. And while these cake mixes taste great when made as-is, there are several ways that you can elevate them to make an addictively good dessert. Continue reading to discover simple ways to level up your next cake mix recipe.
Chocolate Cake Mixes
A cake that's made from a boxed cake mix versus a cake made from scratch is bound to taste a little different. Some even swear that there's a distinct "box cake taste" to most store-bought box cake mix. That being said, you can definitely make box cake better. Cchoosing a quality chocolate cake mix is the best way to recreate the unique flavors of homemade chocolate cake mix made from scratch. At Bob's Red Mill, we pride ourselves on the ingredients we use, and each of our cake mixes is made from natural, wholesome ingredients that will provide a delicious outcome. Learn more about the chocolate cake mixes we offer below.
Grain Free Chocolate Cake Mix
Grain-free baking can still result in rich, delicious, and incredibly satisfying cakes! Our Grain Free Chocolate Cake Mix is a delicious and easy-to-use mix that uses a paleo flour blend to replicate the tasty flavor and aroma of traditional chocolate cake sans grains. When using this cake mix, just a few ingredients are needed in the cake batter to create a great-tasting chocolate cake in under an hour. Try this mix out for yourself and enjoy all you've been missing.
Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix
Gone are the days of rubbery, grainy, greasy, and downright unappealing gluten-free cakes! Gluten-free baking has come a long way since then. The perfect way to celebrate special occasions, our Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix makes it easy to create a flavor-filled chocolate cake. Each package of our cake mix makes one 8-inch cake layer or 12 delicious cupcakes. Plus, it uses quality ingredients like cocoa powder and gluten free flours, making it safe for individuals with celiac disease and gluten allergies to enjoy.
Make Chocolate Cake Mix Even Better
You don't have to settle for what's in the box, you can make a simple boxed cake mix your own with just a few changes, substitutions and additions to pack in more flavor, improve texture and mouthfeel. Whether you're using a quality cake mix like the ones listed above or usinga boxed variety, there are always ways to adjust the flavor to meet your taste preferences. Learn more about how you can upgrade the chocolate cake mix in your pantry by reading the tips below.
Use More Eggs
Boost the flavor of your boxed cake by adding an extra egg yolk or two to the batter. Stirring in extra egg yolks along with the eggs that the recipe already calls for will create an extra-rich chocolate cake with a fudge-y consistency. Just remember that the more egg yolks you add, the more the cake will become dense and spongy instead of light, fluffy, and airy. On the other hand, using only egg whites will produce a lighter, airier cake. If you do choose to use only egg white in your cake recipe, you will want to be sure to replace the fat with 1 tablespoon of butter per yolk removed. Of course, if your cake mix is a vegan chocolate cake mix, you’ll have to substitute the eggs for aquafaba or applesauce.
Replace Water with Milk
Using water in the cake mix will water down the recipe. Instead, we suggest swapping the water out with something with flavor for a tastier approach. Whole milk and non-dairy milk like almond and coconut milk taste great when added to a chocolate cake recipe. Adding these types of milk boosts the taste, and the fat in them will improve the cake's density. Want to deepen the flavor of your chocolate cake? Take things up a notch and swap the milk out for buttermilk. Buttermilk's thick consistency means you'll need to use a few more tablespoons than the recipe calls for, but the taste provided will be well worth the effort.
Incorporate More Fat
Fat has this amazing ability to preserve and bring out flavors. Adding fat to your cake recipe means that you're adding more flavor. When following the instructions on the back of a cake mix, most call for vegetable or canola oil. Though these oils will produce a successful chocolate cake, they're not the most flavorful options. Instead, replace the oil with an equal amount of melted butter to boost the richness. Mayonnaise, sour cream, pudding mix, and full-fat yogurt can also be used to replace vegetable oils and provide a flavor-filled, tangy twist to your chocolate cake mix.
Enrich the Flavor
Amp up the chocolate flavor of the mix you're using by opting for hot water instead of room temperature or cold water. The hot water will help the cocoa flavor blossom and create a cake with more richness and depth. For a deeper cocoa flavor, use black cocoa powder or Dutch processed cocoa powder. The flavor profile of black cocoa powder has lower acid and tastes smoother and richer. Unfortunately, it also tends to bake a little on the dry side because of its lower fat content. You can remedy this by adding a little bit of extra fat when you use black cocoa powder. To take things to a whole new level, substitute half of the white sugar in your recipe with packed brown sugar. Brown sugar adds that dark molasses flavor and makes the texture more chewy. Or, for an even more unique twist, swap the water out for coffee. An award-winning flavor combo, a bit of strong brewed coffee will work to intensify the flavor of your cake mix and leave everyone thinking you made it from scratch. You can also add instant espresso powder to your dry ingredients if you prefer not to add any more liquids to your batter.
Tuneup the Flavors
Box cake mix can get pretty boring after a while, or if your box mix has been sitting in the pantry for a while, its flavors may have dulled over time. Tune up the flavors in your chocolate cake mix by adding a bit of rum, chocolate liqueur, almond or orange extract. Incorporating extract into your cake recipe is an excellent way to ensure it's filled with flavor. For a stronger vanilla flavor, use vanilla paste instead of vanilla extract. Just make sure to use the right measurements because a small amount of vanilla paste goes a long way. It will add a strong vanilla flavor and a thicker consistency. And since it's in a paste form, it doesn't add additional liquid to your batter. You can use the same 1:1 ratio if you plan to substitute 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract with paste. Add-ins like nuts, chocolate chip, peanut butter chips, and dried fruit can also be used for a fun twist on traditional chocolate cake.
Use Fun and Unique Toppings
You are only limited by your imagination, so get creative with your toppings! If you've already baked your chocolate cake mix and notice that it's still missing something, don't give up just yet. You can opt for simple and traditional with a generous dusting of powdered sugar, or maybe a drizzle of melted white and dark chocolate, chocolate fudge, or chocolate ganache. With the help of homemade frosting, you can take your cake up a notch in minutes. If you want an elegant twist but don't exactly have the piping skills, a great way to decorate your cake is with chocolate cigarellos that you can buy pre-made in some bakeries. Just use frosting to attach the individual cigarellos so they go around your cake. Pile on a heap of fresh raspberries on top and a light dusting of powdered sugar to finish your dessert. In addition, unique toppings such as fresh fruit, edible flowers and marshmallows are an excellent way to decorate your chocolate cake and boost its flavor simultaneously. Need more great cake decorating ideas? Head on over to our How to Decorate a Chocolate Cake? post.
Show Love to the Layers
When making your next chocolate cake, don't forget to show a bit of love to the layers. But before you decorate, make sure that you support those layers with cake dowels, straws or cake boards so that the top layer doesn't tilt or collapse into the bottom layer. Cake dowels provide support as well as stabilize your tiers and are an absolute necessity, not an option.
Simple syrup helps your cake stay moist, and jam and marmalade can all be applied to cake layers to enhance the flavor. We recommend a homemade option like this Blueberry Chia Jam.
Poke It
Worried that your cake isn't appetizing enough? Poke some holes in it. Though it may seem counterproductive, poking a hole in your cake is an easy way to make room for more flavor. Once the holes have been made, pour a flavored mixture over the top and let it soak into your chocolate cake. The easiest to make is a simple syrup that’s equal parts water and sugar heated up in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Another fun way is to add liqueurs like coffee liqueur, Kirsch or cherry liqueur, or Irish cream liqueur. They add another depth of flavor or further enhance the chocolate flavor and prevent your cake from drying out.
Chocolate Cake Mix Recipes
Now that you know how to make chocolate cake mixes even better, it's time to look at the many recipes you can create with the two mixes listed above. From an easy chocolate pound cake recipe to peppermint chocolate cake to chocolate Bundt cake to German chocolate cake, there's bound to be a recipe on this list that you'll enjoy. Visit Easy Chocolate Cake Recipes for ideas and more recipes!
Grain Free Peppermint Chocolate Cake
Gingerbread spice, eggnog, cranberry, and peppermint are just a few flavors we often associate with the holidays. Whether you're preparing for the holidays or are craving a peppermint-flavored treat, this Grain Free Peppermint Chocolate Cake is easy, delicious and the perfect blend of chocolate and peppermint flavor. Made with our Grain Free Chocolate Cake Mix, the addition of peppermint adds a zing of flavor that can't be beat. Top this cake with whipped cream or coconut cream and crushed peppermint candies to create a truly impressive dessert to ring in the festive season.
Chocolate Acai Ice Box Cake
Looking for that perfect summer chocolate treat? Look no further! If you're a fan of the fruity flavors of acai, then you're bound to love this Chocolate Acai Ice Box Cake recipe. With its earthy, slightly tart raspberry-like flavor, Acai goes great with chocolate! Rich and subtly sweet, this cake features a chocolate base combined with sweet acai sorbet and creamy macadamia frosting. The perfect treat when you need a tropical vacation.
Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix
The easiest chocolate cake recipe that you'll ever find, our Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix makes it easy to create a great-tasting cake quickly. Made with the finest ingredients, it's simple to prepare and loaded with rich flavor. Using the tips and tricks listed above, you can transform this traditional chocolate cake into a fun and unique treat that will liven up any dessert table.
Grain Free German Chocolate Cake
Contrary to popular belief, this famous cake is not German at all. Its name comes from Sam German, the cake's inventor. It wasn’t until the 1950s that this cake became an American staple. Over the years, the original recipe has been adapted to suit modern tastes.
Rich and luscious, this Grain Free German Chocolate Cake provides an unbeatable flavor and texture that will take your cake-making skills to the next level. Made with our Grain Free Chocolate Cake Mix, it's finished with a chocolate frosting and decadent pecan coconut filling that nearly everyone can enjoy.
Use the tips, tricks and recipes listed above to make your chocolate cake mix taste even better than you could have ever imagined. With just a bit of time, you can create mouthwatering baked goods with minimal effort.
Discover more ways to make your next chocolate cake recipe the best one yet by reading the articles: How to Decorate and Chocolate Cake and Which Frosting Goes Best with Chocolate Cake?
Do you make chocolate cakes often? We'd love to hear about the tricks you've found to make cake mix taste even better than before. Share your secrets with us in the comments below.
