This is my all time favorite, go to “recipe” for cupcakes. You can use this “trick” to box cake mix taste like “from scratch”
Ingredients
- 1 box mix (any flavor*) – but get the good kind, Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker
- 3 Large Eggs
- 1/2 cup butter, melted (use butter not margarine….trust me on this!)
- 1 cup of water
Instructions
- Melt the butter in the microwave.
- Add cake mix, eggs and water to the butter in large bowl.
- Mix on low for 1 min. Then mix on high for 1 min.
- You will be amazed that your batter is nice and thick and creamy - not thin and runny like it is when you follow the box instructions.
- Fill cupcake papers – tip: use an icecream scooper! – One scoop is just the right amount per cupcake!
- Pop them in the oven on 350 for 20 minutes.
- Let cool.
Notes
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I use this 99% of the time when I make cakes and cupcakes and I always get lots of compliments!
*Because I get so many emails asking…….YES you can use this to make a cake too! Cupcakes are just mini cakes
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Can you do this with the pillsbury mixes that have pudding in them?
The main “trick” is just to use a little less water than the box calls for (so if it say 1-1/4 cup I use a cup, if it say 1 cup I use a scan cup – a little more than 3/4 but not quite a cup) and to use real butter instead of oil.
I made these, with a few tweaks of my own. I made candied bacon ( bacon rubbed with maple syrup, rolled in brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, then baked on a rack in a shallow pan in the oven for about 30 minutes) I reserved 1/4 cup bacon fat, and added 1/4 cup melted butter, and added 3/4ths cup of water, and 1/4 cup maple syrup. For a filling I made a date/craisin filling with chopped candied bacon. I did a vanilla cream cheese frosting with crumbled candied bacon on top!!
Do you use salted or unsalted butter?
I use which ever I have on hand
Would this work for a gluten free mix as well?
This is the recipe on the Betty Crocker Gluten Free cake mix box.
Does the cake box oz amount matter? example I have a 15.25 oz should I get the 18.25 oz box?
Tried this with a Duncan Hines Confetti cake mix. Not really happy with results. Had to add a Tablespoon of Veggie Oil (per the box) to make a difference. After that, I just followed the box directions and had much better results. At least to my taste.
So you made 2 batches? One following my instructions and one following the box?
I’ve been doing this for years and not too long ago followed the box instructions just to see if we could tell a difference, and I didn’t tell my family………they all commented that the cupcakes weren’t as good as they usually were and asked if I did something different.
The box instructions yield a very runner batter – and replacing the oil with butter makes the cake a little more rich.
Hi,
Just wanted to add that I’ve used this recipe several times and always had amazing results — until this Easter when I tried it with the Duncan Hines confetti cake mix. They were flat out of the oven and kinda dry and tasteless…
I wonder if there’s just something about this mix that makes it not work well for this?
I made these tonight and must have done something wrong. I made a double batch. They “puffed up” really big in the oven and seemed to crack apart. Then when I took them out, they all shriveled up. They taste great….but look a bit sad and pathetic. Any ideas what I might have done wrong? I double checked and I used the correct amount of each ingredient. I also doubled the mixing time….doing 2 minutes on low and 2 on high. Could that have been the culprit?
Yes – you over mixed and added too much air to the batter
I was wondering if I could use your recipe to make cake pops using a cake pop maker…..
How long do you bake them for if you make mini cupcakes using this recipe?
I made these cupcakes last night using the melted butter and milk teqnique as Shelly (pastry chef) suggested and they turned out great. I used Duncan Hines Red Velvet box mix and used 4 eggs, 1 cup milk and 2/3 cup melted butter. The batter was thicker and not runny. They came out great! Very moist and delicious!! I will use this trick from now on when using a box mix! Thanks for posting this!
Hi! The perfect cupcake mix calls for butter…salted or unsalted?
Thx!!
OMG!!!! I tried this out today for my sweetheart for valentines and I just want to thank you. I have to admit I was nervous at first cause all I had was one box of cake mix but thank heavens I took the chance! They came out delicious!!!! Thanx so much!
Tried this recipe on Valentine’s day 2013. Best cupcakes ever! Taste like the ones I’ve been paying $5 a piece for at the cupcake store.
I made this yesterday using the Duncan Hines White Cake Mix, they are delicious!! Thanks so much for sharing. Although next time I will bake them for 20mins at 325, I found they were too browned on top.
Thank you! Thank you omg Thank you!!!!!!
I just tried this recipe exactly like you said and it worked so perfect for me. I used Duff Yellow Cake mix and the cupcakes came out soooo good! Everyone at work love them. they were so moist and delicious!
Im so glad I found your recipe!
Hey I tried the recipe exactly how you said and all mine sunk in??? What do I need to do to fix that???
Cakes usually sink when the cake batter is not completely cooked. Everyone’s ovens are different so you need to find the optimum baking time for your oven. Also be sure you are testing your cupcakes for doneness before you take them out, by inserting a tooth pick in the center of one, if it does not come out clean, then bake the cupcakes for a little longer.
Sometimes other things can be the problem:
• Over beating the batter – this causes too much air and can cause cake to collapse.
• Temperature of the oven is too high causing the cake to rise too rapidly. get an oven thermometer (they are under $10) to check the accuracy of your oven temperature.
• Opening the door to check on the cakes before the batter is set can cause the cake to sink.
• Placing the baked cupcakes to cool in a drafty place. (make sure they’re not by an open window or door with a breeze)
But generally most cakes sink or dip in the middle because their outer edges were fully cooked but the center was not
Can’t wait to try these…Making cupcakes for a baby shower. This looks easy Thanks
I’m going to make this tonight and be in heaven.