This Homemade Cake Mix is easily made with items you already have in your pantry! Easy to put together and perfect to give as holiday gifts, this cake mix recipe is perfect for the next time you’re in the mood to bake a cake!
If you’ve been finding yourself with a need to bake over the last few months, I have just the thing – Homemade Cake Mix! This DIY cake mix is simple and easy and is a great recipe for a quick dessert.
One of the most popular posts here at All Things Mamma is my 10 Tricks To Make a Box Cake Mix Taste Homemade – and now I’m sharing just how easy it is to make your own cake mix at home! Because why buy a boxed cake mix when you can make your very own delicious cakes using simple ingredients?
The Easiest Cake Mix To Make At Home
This Homemade Vanilla Cake Mix is so easy to make and will store in your pantry for those days you want to put together a quick, delicious vanilla cake!
Move over Betty Crocker Cake Mix – All Things Mamma is comin’ for ya! I’m about to show you how to make this easy homemade cake mix recipe that results in the best made-from-scratch cake!
While this Homemade Cake Mix is perfect for a 13×9 cake, it can also be used anytime you have a recipe that calls for a recipe with cake mix – cake mix cookies, cake mix peach cobbler dump cake, or even cake mix brownies.
Seriously, it’s one of my favorite homemade mixes.
How to Make Homemade Vanilla Cake Mix
So easy to make, you’ll wonder why you’ve never made cake mix homemade before!
To make a homemade dry vanilla cake mix, you’ll need:
Ingredients:
- all-purpose flour
- sugar
- baking powder
- baking soda
- salt
Then, all you have to do is:
Make cake mix at home with this easy tutorial!
Step 1
In a medium bowl, combine all dry ingredients
Step 2
Store in a jar with a lid or airtight container.
When you’re ready to bake a cake from the homemade cake mix you just made – here’s how!
Additional ingredients needed to bake a cake:
Wet Ingredients
- milk or buttermilk
- oil or butter
- large eggs, room temperature
- vanilla extract
I made the mix… now what?
- Combine cake mix and wet ingredients until well combined
- Pour batter into greased 13×9 pan or divide into cupcake liners
- Bake cake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
- Bake cupcakes at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until the toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
- Cool completely and frost as desired. (so good with homemade frosting!)
I believe the key to an amazing cake is frosting. You can’t go wrong with a delicious buttercream frosting – here’s my favorite buttercream frosting recipe that I’ve won awards for!
Ok, so maybe not actual awards, but I get A LOT of compliments for it!
A great homemade gift idea for the holidays is to make several to keep on hand and give as gifts to the mailman, neighbors, teachers, and friends. You can even include a cute little tag to print out with the ingredients and instructions for baking later!
Tips for the Best Homemade Cake Mix
Following these simple tips will give your cake mix the best flavor and longest shelf life:
- Use the freshest ingredients: Did you know that baking powder and baking soda can lose its effectiveness? It can! Be sure to make your cake mixes with newer ingredients for the best results!
- Sifting dry ingredients together is always a great idea with homemade cake. Nobody likes a lumpy cake.
- Store your cake mix in an airtight container, jar, or Ziploc bag.
- When making your cake, be sure to use room temperature wet ingredients.
Cake Mix Add-Ins Variations:
Take your cake mix to the next level by adding a handful of goodness to your batter right before baking!
- chocolate chips
- nuts – walnuts, pecans, and almonds are good choices!
- m&m’s
- sprinkles
FAQS
How long does homemade cake mix last?
You can make this simple homemade cake mix and keep it stored for up 2 days in an airtight container. For best results, use immediately. (This is for the dry ingredient storage only – once you add in the wet ingredients, it needs to be stored in the fridge at that point)
Can you use this cake mix for other recipes?
You can! You can make a homemade yellow cake mix, homemade chocolate cake mix, or a homemade white cake mix. It’s great for cake and cupcakes in all flavors!
Can I make a layer cake instead of a single layer?
Absolutely. If you want to make a double-layer cake, make and double the recipe.
Can I make this chocolate instead?
It’s so easy to do! You can add in some cocoa powder and turn it into a chocolate cake easily.
What about frosting? AKA the most important part of the cake!
The frosting is where there is so much flavor! Add whatever frosting that you’d like to top your baked cakes or cupcakes!
Try this homemade cake mix the next time you have a recipe that calls for a box of cake mix or make multiple batches to have on hand for gift giving and when you’re in the mood for a delicious homemade cake! Great ready to use this for all your favorite desserts! Perfect for a special occasion and the best white cake mix recipe, ever.
Want more recipes using cake mix? Try these next!
- The Best Easy Cake Recipes
- Chocolate Cupcakes (From a Doctored Cake Mix!)
- 35+ Cake Mix Recipes
- Coconut Cream Cupcakes
- Cake Mix Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Homemade Cake Mix
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup milk or buttermilk
- ½ cup oil vegetable or canola
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
To Make Cake Mix
- In a medium bowl, combine all dry ingredients1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, ¾ cups granulated sugar, 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt
- Store in jar with lid or airtight container
To Make a 13×9 Cake or 24 Cupcakes
- Combine cake mix and wet ingredients until well combined½ cup milk or buttermilk, ½ cup oil, 2 large eggs, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- Pour batter into greased 13×9 pan or divide into cupcake liners
- Bake cake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
- Bake cupcakes at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
- Cool completely and frost as desired
- You can't go wrong with a delicious buttercream frosting – here's my favorite buttercream frosting recipe
Notes
- Use the freshest ingredients: Did you know that baking powder and baking soda can lose its effectiveness? It can! Be sure to make your cake mixes with newer ingredients for the best results!
- Sifting dry ingredients together is always a great idea with homemade cake. Nobody likes a lumpy cake.
- Store your cake mix in an airtight container, jar, or ziploc bag.
- When making your cake, be sure to use room temperature wet ingredients.
I don’t understand the 2 day shelf life. The ingredients separately have a much longer shelf life. If making these for gifts a 2 day shelf life would not be appreciated.
Made it and loved it how do you make it chocolate
Family did not like it. It tastes more like cornbread instead of cake. I don’t understand why. I followed the recipe exactly.
We’re sorry to hear this! That can sometimes happen if you overmix or overbake the cake.
I was pleasantly surprised at how nice this cake came out. I’ve made cakes before with all purpose flour only to find they were on the heavy side. I sifted my dry ingredients as per the notes which I believe helped the texture, it was light and springy. I only had packed brown sugar on hand, but it worked 🙂 I served it with fresh strawberries & whipped cream. Thank for for an easy and delicious recipe. One note, the 1x serving size was perfect in a square 8 x 8 pan (20 minutes was perfect). I would double the recipe for the 13 x 9 size.
Thank you for the feedback, Judy! We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe!