Not all boxed mixes are created equal.
Grant Webster
We put seven boxed yellowcake mixesto the test in the Better Homes & Garden’s Test Kitchen.
Find out which brand was our favorite and why.
Credit:Grant Webster
We evaluated the mixes on flavor, texture, appearance, and aroma.
It had a coarse texture more similar tocorn bread.
One commenter mentioned that it had a more “bread-like” texture and less-sweet flavor than other cakes.
Try making a twist on classic strawberry shortcake by topping a slice with sliced strawberries andhomemade whipped cream.
It scored highest on appearance, with tasters loving the thickness of the finished cake.
It baked up nicely with a golden-brown crust.
This is a good option for layered yellow cakes where you need evenly baked cakes.
Try adding your favoritechocolate frostingfor a classic dessert.
It didn’t taste artificial and was perfectly balanced with the sweetness of the cake.
This one reminded us of the yellow cakes we ate as kids.
While the flavor was great, we did find this cake almost too soft with a slightly gummy texture.
For that reason, it falls to the middle of the pack for us.
Our Verdict: This is a good yellow cake mix, and we would make it again.
It scored top marks for flavor but fell a little flat texture-wise.
Save this one forcupcakesor single-layer cakes rather than layer cakes.
Our local grocery store chain is Hy-Vee.
Nothing blew us away, but it’s a solid rendition of a yellow cake.
This boxed mix earned the most points for its nostalgic artificial vanilla flavor and soft crumb.
Our Verdict: For the price, this was a solid cake mix.
If you’re looking to pinch a few pennies, consider the store brand.
This one won’t disappoint.
Some loved the textural differences while others felt it was a miss.
Overall, this cake mix was very soft and fluffy with a mild vanilla flavor.
Our Verdict: This cake scored best for texture and flavor.
Several of our editors have been buying this cake mix for years and don’t plan to stop.
The fluffy texture and even layers are delicious with a rich chocolate frosting orhomemade buttercream.
The cake baked up nicely with just the right amount of sweetness.
Our tasters were divided on texture.
Some felt it was perfectly soft while others commented it was a bit dry.
Our Verdict: This mix is one many of us will buy again and again.
It had that classic “birthday cake flavor” with the softness you expect from a box.
It’s pretty much foolproof.
If you’re looking for a classic yellow cake, this is the boxed mix to buy.
Rather than water and oil, this mix requires milk and melted butter.
The result is a very rich and flavorful cake with the most homemade flavor of the bunch.
Our tasters loved the buttery flavor, fluffy texture, and real vanilla notes.
Two of our tasters gave this mix perfect scores across the board.
It ranked highest for texture, with flavor and appearance coming in second and third.
The finished cake was nice and even with a soft texture.
This cake scored highest among our tasters and was the first to disappear from the table.
