Often the simplest things are just what we need. This 2 layer white cake recipe will win you over with its ease and enjoy the tender moist white cake.
One bite and you’ll be shocked this is made with a box cake mix This may just be the greatest box cake mix hack ever! It does not taste like it has odd ingredients, no processed aftertaste and it’s not so heavy that it seems gummy. It really is the best white cake!
Starting with a box mix ensure the crumb on this cake is super delicate, but not fluffy… think of the great texture of the best homemade baked cake, with the additions you won’t only be able to make it with ease, but you’ll be putting it in the oven before you would have gathered all your typical ingredients for a totally scratch cake.
This cake recipe is simple and delicious and is sure to become your favorite two tier white cake that you’ll make again and again. I’ve made many white cake recipes and this takes the stress away… it all starts with a Dunken Hines White Cake Mix, then you add a few times in, and wow… you get a really great cake.
Now the flavor, keep it simple with vanilla or add in some almond, or lemon what they call Princess Flavor, you might recognize that flavor when you’ve had baker cakes and can’t quite put your finger on the flavor it’s a combination that has plenty of great taste but not one is more overwhelming than another.
Gather the ingredients
- white cake mix (Duncan Hines)
- all purpose flour
- granulated sugar
- pinch salt
- water
- egg whites
- butter
- sour cream
- oil
- almond extract
- vanilla extract
- optional: lemon extract/baking emulsion
Mix up the batter and pour it into your prepared pans for baking.
Be sure your oven is at the proper temperature so that cakes bake evenly and won’t be too dark.
Allow the cakes to cool for 5-10 minutes then turn them out onto a cooling rack to completely cool.
If you like a more dense cake, wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them overnight, the moisture in the cakes will be absorbed into the cake and the cake will then have a tighter crumb. The cake without freezing does have a great texture, I refrigerate the cake as I layer it with the frosting so the cake doesn’t slide and it helps to firm up the cake nicely without a super dense crumb.
How do you make a box cake taste like a bakery cake?
The addition of sour cream with the box mix gives the perfect texture of the cake to replicate a deliciously fresh baked cake from a nice bakery.
How can make white cake mix better?
The additions in this recipe somehow remove the processed flavor that can come with a box mix, it’s simple everyday ingredients and it’s so great to have a simple recipe to use anytime you want an easy white cake.
How can I make a box cake taste homemade?
The addition of sugar, flour, sour cream, and melted butter gives this cake the perfect homemade texture and taste.
The frosting I used is Sour Cream Frosting- recipe added in recipe card under cake recipe card
- this cake will also taste great with just about any of my frosting recipes,
- how about cream cheese frosting,
- chocolate swiss meringue frosting,
- strawberry buttercream,
- or how about chocolate malt frosting!
I decorated this cake with fresh camomile flowers.
You can decide to add 1-2 teaspoons of lemon extract or great tasting lemon baking emulsion-which is my favorite to the cake and the frosting recipe for a really fresh lemon flavor.
Keep it all almond for a nice flavor, add toasted sliced almonds on top or just along the sides of the cake while the frosting is soft so they will stick. Then place it in the fridge to firm up nicely.
Or go with a classic vanilla, use delicious vanilla extract for the best flavor. I like THIS vanilla extract best, and their vanilla bean paste is wonderful too. All vanilla extracts are not created equal, they can actually taste very different, some taste like alcohol more than vanilla, they should smell amazing, it’ll really make a huge difference in your baked items.
- 1 box white cake mix (Duncan Hines) do not follow the directions on the package
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- pinch salt
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 4 egg whites, from large eggs
- 4 oz (½ cup) butter, melted
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons oil (I use avocado oil, vegetable or canola would work as well)
- 1 teaspoon almond extract (or almond baking emulsion)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste)
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract (or lemon baking emulsion)
- Prepare two 8" round cake pans. Use a baking spray or use a thin coating of shortening and flour, then wrap the pans with wet baking strips to ensure evenly baked cakes.
- In a large bowl with a mixer add all the ingredients in the order they are listed. Cake mix, flour, sugar, salt, water, egg whites, butter, sour cream, oil, almond, and vanilla flavors. For a more intense flavor cake you can use more vanilla or lemon, but with almond more is often too much.
- Mix on low speed until the mix starts blending, then turn onto medium speed and mix for 2 minutes, scraping the bowl and under the beater after the first minute to be sure they combine fully, then continue mixing until well blended.
- Pour the cake batter evenly amongst the two pans and tap the pans gently on the counter so the batter is level in the pans.
- Bake at 335° (not 325° and not 350° for a well-risen cake that isn't dark in color). I have the oven rack set just above the center and it bakes evenly.
- I start timing the cakes at 30 minutes, then I test them about every 5 minutes until they are just set and a toothpick comes out clean when tested in the center of the bake.
- Remove the cakes from the oven, and allow them to cool for 10 minutes.
- Then turn the cakes out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Then refrigerate or freeze the cakes so they will stack well and not slide. They don't need to be completely cold or frozen thru, you just want them to be firm so they hold up well when stacked and won't slide.
- Prepare the frosting, I used a batch of my sour cream frosting, added a thin layer of frosting in the middle, and top, and gave it a thin rough coating around the sides. You can
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar (add more for thicker frosting)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- In the bowl of a mixer cream butter until smooth and add in the sour cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla, and whip until fully combined and smooth.
- Use more powdered sugar for a thicker frosting or add a little milk to make it thinner.
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