There’s nothing quite as satisfying as appearing impressive by doing minimal amounts of work. Thanks to Betty Crocker, we can now all pull off the illustrious “homemade” cake look by stirring a boxed powder and some eggs. Let’s be honest: you already shamelessly reap the compliments of your homemade Funfetti cake without referencing the “just add water” instructions. Use these tips to up your cake mix game even more.
1. Layering
Photo courtesy of @gfreejess on Instagram
This towering four-layer Funfetti cake uses two boxed cake mixes, split among four round pans. Just stack and stack and stack (and add copious amounts of frosting)—the higher the cake, the more impressive it is.
2. Toppings
Photo courtesy of @tylenehendo on Instagram
Get creative with toppings! Adding favorite candies, nuts, cookie crumbles, etc. not only makes your treat visually pleasing but also makes your creation specific to friends. Sprinkles truly make anything better.
3. Fruit
Photo courtesy of @gfreejess on Instagram
Does adding fruit to chocolate cake count as dieting? Fruit provides always-welcome health points as well as an elegant and sophisticated spin to your cake mix cake.
4. Fillings
Photo courtesy of @gfreejess on Instagram
Canned frosting is undeniably addicting — I have been caught countless times three fingers deep in Fluffy White Vanilla. This s’mores cake features a marshmallow fluff (don’t worry — also premade) filling. Try subbing typical frosting with marshmallow, whipped cream, or even jelly.
5. Cookies
Photo courtesy of @gfreejess on Instagram
Cake mix cookies: a well-kept secret. You can make fluffy cookies (or whoopie pies) out of boxed cake mix just by changing the added ingredients. Check out an easy recipe here.
6. Pancakes
Photo courtesy of @gfreejess on Instagram
Funfetti + pancakes = a perfectly acceptable way to get away with having cake for breakfast. Get yo’ breakfast on here.
7. Cake Batter Truffles
Photo by Rae Steinbach
Cake balls facilitate the finger-food dream: eating whole cake goodness in a single bite. If you’re feeling fancy or trendy and want to bake with your hands, try out this cake mix cake pop recipe.
8. Ice Cream Cake
Photo by Phoebe Melnick
What better place for your favorite Ben & Jerry’s pint than smashed between two layers of cake? While ice cream cake may seem intimidating (and definitely seems impressive), it really is as easy as spooning ice cream on your cake mix cake and freezing your creation.
9. Personal Lava Cake
Photo by Katya Simkhovich
Chocolate oozing out of your cake will undoubtedly win you street cred. Using boxed cake mix seriously ups the impressiveness-to-difficulty ratio. Recipe here.
10. Fruit “Food Coloring”
Photo by Jessica Nyquist
Fruit food coloring manages simultaneously to be aesthetically pleasing, all natural, and delicious. To elevate your cake game by blending finely chopped fruit into your vanilla boxed cake batter to add natural color and flavor to your cakes.
So many cake mixes, so many options. Try out these ideas with different cake mix flavors and prepare to be bombarded with compliments on your baking prowess.