Cake is the best dessert. But when all you eat is box cake, agreeing with this can be difficult, and no amount of frosting will be able to save you from its dry and sandy texture. You can fool the eyes, but you can’t fool your tastebuds.
So, is there a middle ground, a reasonable solution that would combine the ease of use of box cake with the delectable taste of a homemade cake? If you want to take box cake to the next level, read on. We list 3 types of simple additions that will upgrade your cake.
Related article: How to Turn Canned Veggies Into a Chef’s Meal
Most box cake directions pride themselves on requiring only a few basic additions. However, adding just one more egg than the recipe requires, and replacing the water with milk or buttermilk will result in a much richer, tastier cake.
And if you also have a little butter in the fridge, replace the oil in the recipe with equal parts melted butter. No need to buy extra ingredients, just see what dairy you have in the fridge and use that to enrich your cake.
And if you’re making chocolate cake, you can even try replacing the water with brewed coffee. The chocolate notes of the cake will be only highlighted and intensified by the coffee.
You can think of cake as a sandwich - with the batter itself being like a slice of bread, and the cream, the frosting, and the toppings being like mayo, ham, and cheese. And just like the bread in a sandwich, the cake itself doesn’t have to be the main show.
So, open your fridge and pantry, and see what you have for toppings. Instant vanilla pudding mix makes an excellent imitation of creme patisserie, fresh fruit, and melted chocolate will make your cake look fancy and taste delicious, and canned cherries and a few dollops of cream cheese sweetened with sugar will save even the driest cake. Experiment with fillings and toppings, and you’ll never taste a bland and boring cake ever again!
H/T: Mental Floss
12 Clever Solutions to Your Everyday Problems
Here are 12 clever solutions to everyday household problems that make our everyday lives a little calmer and easier!
10 Cooking Tips for an Upgraded & Stress-Free Thanksgiving
These tricks are sure to save you time, make cooking for the holiday easier & upgrade your Thanksgiving dinner without the need to use any new ingredients.
The BEST Way to Thaw Frozen Meat
What's the best way to thaw a frozen steak? This guy tested several common methods, and this is the best one he found.
Why Rare Chicken Is Dangerous But Rare Steak is Fine
Cooking meat can be confusing. For example, is it fine to eat rare steak? What about chicken or fish?
5 Cool Ways to Sharpen a Knife Without a Sharpener
Have a dull knife but no sharpener on hand? No worries, here are not one but FIVE alternative ways to sharpen a knife.
What is the Best and Worst Way to Chop and Peel Garlic?
There are a million and one ways to chop and peel garlic, but which methods are the best?
21 Sizzling Hot Microwave Tips To Improve Your Life
The microwave is something we use every day, but did you know how many different ways you can use it? Here are 21 surprising uses.
4 Simple Ways to Open a Jar Lid That’s Stuck
Opening a jar can be quite tricky and sometimes seemingly impossible, really, but with these tricks, you'll be able to twist it open in no time!
The Best and Worst Canned Foods for Your Pantry
All you need to know about canned foods ever!
Shocking Bathroom Items That SHOULDN'T Be in the Bathroom
Bathrooms get so damp and humid, they are a breeding ground for bacteria. And here are 8 surprising things we need to keep out of the bathroom.
10 Common Plant Diseases and How to Treat Them
Learn to diagnose and deal with 10 widespread plant diseases and how to prevent them from spreading through your outdoor or indoor garden.
Why Pouring Beer Wrong Can Upset Your Stomach
Do you always feel bloated after drinking beer? There's a way to prevent this - all you need is a regular glass and this pouring technique...
This is All You Need to Know About Saving for Retirement!
Having yourself a defined target for your nest egg is an important aspect of a retirement plan. Here are 8 retirement facts that need to be taken seriously.
12 Ways You Might Be Damaging Your TV Without Knowing
These mistakes could ruin your TV—avoid them!
Use These 5 Pressure Points to Control Your Hunger
The following 5 pressure points that you will learn about will help you control your hunger effectively.
These False Money-Saving Tips Will Make You Spend More
There are a lot of very common money management tips that are simply not true. These are 8 myths on saving that should be debunked.
7 Scented Flowers for a Sweet Smelling Home
Opt for these beautifully scented flowers as opposed to air fresheners or candles for a better smelling home.
Americans Say These Are the Worst Companies to Work For
According to the Glassdoor website, these are the 10 worst companies to work for in America.
These Financial Scams Are Specifically Targeting Older Adults
These financial scams are specifically targeting older adults.
10 Housekeeping Habits That Only Make Your Home DIRTIER
Should you put a cutting board in the dishwasher? Is it better to do laundry in hot water? If you answered ‘yes’, you ought to continue reading this article...
Enrich Your Soil with This Easy-To-Make Compost
Enrich your soil and provide your plants with all the nutrient that they need by making this compost.
Those Stickers On Your Produce Can Tell You an Awful Lot!
The stickers that you find on fruit and vegetables can tell you an awful lot about how the produce was grown. Read on to find out more.
10 Natural Remedies That Actually Work
Not Feeling well? We recommend that you think outside the box, or in this case outside the medicine cabinet with the following 10 effective natural medicines!
How to Maintain Great Skin at Every Decade of Life
From your 20s to your 70s, each decade requires different skincare strategies.
Replace These Popular Drinks With These Healthier Ones!
The most popular cocktails contain alcohol and a lot of calories. Thankfully there are healthier cocktail alternatives. Take a look! The most popular cocktails contain alcohol and a lot of calories.
Are They LIARS? 7 Signs to Look For
A regular person lies to prevent hurting someone's feelings or to protect themselves, but that's not the case when it comes to a compulsive liar...
If You Have Gum on Your Clothes, Here's How to Remove It!
It's extremely annoying when you get a piece of chewing gum stuck to your clothes. Thankfully, there are many ways to remove it easily!
How to Get the Most Out of Your Food Processor - 5 Hacks
Your food processor has so many hidden uses you never knew about!
COLLECTION: Growing Tips for Outdoor and Indoor Plants
Dive into the world of indoor and outdoor plants with these 10 great guides to show you the way.
Did You Know You Shouldn't Store These Foods in the Fridge?
Contrary to popular belief, these 10 foods shouldn't be stored in the refrigerator for a variety of reasons. Read this post to find out more.
I Unclogged My Bathtub Drain In 5 Minutes With This Clip
As disgusting as it may be, we sometimes need to deal with of a clogged drain. Learn how to unclog your bathtub drain in just minutes with this clip.
A Smarter Approach to Measuring Body Mass Index
The body mass index can actually be misleading. Here’s what you should use instead.
Fourteen Fall Plants Perfect for Sprucing Up Your Garden
These 14 perennial flowers can be enjoyed long after summer has ended, and just look at how beautiful they are! How will they look in your garden?
Suffer From Sweaty Armpits? This Is What You Need to Do
If you get sweaty armpits, be sure to follow this deodorant advice.
Here's All You Need to Know about Travel Medical Insurance
Planning a trip abroad? This guide will teach you everything you need to know about travel medical insurance!
These 8 Pressure Points Are Ideal For Self Defense
This list of pressure points can be used to help you escape from any potential aggressors.
9 Subtle Restaurant Tricks That Empty Your Wallet Faster
Restaurants are using these sneaky tricks to make you spend more!
Remove Blackheads From Your Skin Using These Sure Methods
Blackheads make our skin look terrible when it can easily look nice. Here are 6 efficient ways to rid yourself of those black dots right at home!
WATCH: I Had No Idea Coconut Oil Was THIS Useful!
Coconut oil is a substance you need both in your kitchen and in your medicine cabinet, as you're about to see with these 10 unexpected uses.
8 Reasons Why You Should Always Have Shower Caps Handy!
Shower caps are a lot more useful than you could ever imagine. Take a look!
Why These 8 Purchases Shouldn't Be on Installments
Using "Buy Now, Pay Later" services may not such a good idea for these items.
Here's Why You Should Never Wear Shoes Inside Your House
Here are 7 reasons why you should get into the habit of taking your shoes off before you enter your house!
7 Basic Winter Travel Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
These are the missteps you want to avoid when traveling in the winter.
6 Stress-Relieving Cuddly Companions for Your Home
You must have these stress-relieving companions for your home.
Choose the Healthiest Breakfast Cereal With These Tips
Choose the healthiest breakfast cereal with these tips.
WATCH: Grow Your Very Own Tomatoes Using This Method
Watch this video to learn how to grow your very own luscious and juicy tomatoes from the comfort of your own home.
19 Charts about Food and Cooking That Will Come in Handy
These food and cooking charts and guides can come in real handy someday!