Taste of Home
Chocolate cake is a cornerstone of any home baker’s repertoire. Right up there with apple pie and chocolate chip cookies, it’s a perennial favorite. But let’s face it: There’s not always time to bake from scratch. If you’re short on time and need a quick fix, the obvious answer is a boxed cake mix.
Shuddering at the thought of using a mix? We don’t blame you. Like blue jeans and coffee beans, the options seem endless and making the wrong choice invariably leads to disappointment. Some mixes result in dry or bland cakes, while others can pass pretty easily for homemade. Here is how to make box cake taste homemade!
How We Found the Best Chocolate Cake Mix Options
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But don’t you worry: Our Test Kitchen put 10 of the most popular brands to the test. In a blind tasting, our culinary pros sampled 10 chocolate cake mix brands and judged them according to these criteria:
- Flavor:Â How does the cake taste? Does it have a strong cocoa flavor? Is it more of a dark or milk chocolate flavor? How sweet is the cake? Is it a well-balanced recipe?
- Texture:Â Is the cake light and fluffy? Dense and indulgent? Is it moist enough or is it dry and crumbly?
- Appearance:Â How does the cake look? Is it tempting and something you can’t wait to take a bite of?
Learn more about how we test products at Taste of Home.
Our Test Kitchen-Preferred Chocolate Cake Mix Brands
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After eating 10 slices of cake, our Test Kitchen chose four brands they’d be happy to keep in their pantry.
Best Chocolate Cake Mix Overall: Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Cake Mix
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We don’t want to say that Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Cake Mix was better than homemade, but our Test Kitchen thinks it gives scratch-made cakes a run for their money.
This cake hit all the marks: It was moist and tender—exactly the texture you want when you think chocolate cake. It also had the appropriate amount of lift—not too dense, not too airy. When you slice into a birthday cake, this is the type of cake you want to see.
Most crucial in this test (and all of our taste tests) is flavor. Just like with its brownie mix, Ghirardelli delivered on big chocolate flavor. This cake had a great dark chocolate flavor with hints of vanilla. The cake wasn’t too sweet which really let these distinctive flavors shine. This is definitely a mix to keep in your cupboard for chocolate emergencies and last-minute desserts.
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Lightest and Fluffiest Chocolate Cake Mix: Betty Crocker Super Moist Devil’s Food Cake Mix
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If you crave a lighter chocolate cake, you’ll want to go with Betty Crocker Super Moist Devil’s Food Cake Mix.
This cake mix was airy and baked up nice and fluffy—perfect for building tall layer cakes. But don’t let the light texture fool you. This Betty Crocker cake was still pleasantly moist; no sacrificing texture for height here!
The chocolate flavor of this cake verged more on the milk chocolate end of the spectrum instead of bitter dark chocolate. This slightly sweeter taste would likely be a hit among kids, especially when topped with a delicious homemade frosting like this peanut butter buttercream.
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Best Fudgy Cake Mix: King Arthur Baking Company Chocolate Indulgence Cake Mix
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Just like not everyone likes a crunchy cookie (where are our chewy cookie fans?), not everyone is looking for an airy chocolate cake. If you like your cakes a bit on the dense and decadent side, you have to try King Arthur Baking Company Chocolate Indulgence Cake Mix.
This cake definitely lived up to its name: The dark chocolate flavor was incredibly indulgent as was the dense texture. Testers described this cake as being akin to a flourless chocolate torte or even a fudgy brownie. Each bite revealed more complex cocoa flavors—the marker of quality chocolate.
Because this cake is so rich, our Test Kitchen pros suggest foregoing the frosting entirely and instead topping with a dollop of homemade whipped cream and tart raspberries
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Best Gluten-Free Cake Mix: Krusteaz Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix
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Think baking a great gluten-free cake has to be a complicated affair? Think again! You can get a delicious GF cake with minimal effort with Krusteaz Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix.
This cake mix was a standout because of the great chocolate flavor; many testers remarked that it tasted like good Dutch cocoa was stirred into the mix. But this cake also delivered on texture: It was moist, tender and baked up light and fluffy.
It can be hard to get gluten-free bakes right, but Krusteaz delivered here. The rich chocolate taste and airy texture were so good that it even fooled a few members of our staff into thinking it was a traditional cake mix (now, that’s high praise for GF!). Also, find out the best yellow cake mix.
Here are the best gluten-free cake mix brands if you’re looking for more cake mixes.
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What to Bake with Cake Mix
There’s nothing wrong with baking up a cake mix at home for a satisfying dessert, but with just a little effort you can transform a box of your preferred mix into a treat that tastes 100% homemade. With just a few additions, like pudding mix, you can make these basic mixes into even better cakes like our top-rated Chocolate Comfort Cake or Yummy Chocolate Cake.
But you can think outside the cake mix box, too. Cake mix is a great starting point for treats like a Chocolate Strawberry Punch Bowl Trifle or Pretzel and Salted Caramel Cookies. These taste delicious and no one will ever know you started with a shortcut!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Poke Cake
When my family is planning a get-together, I can count on three or four people asking if I'm bringing this chocolate peanut butter poke cake. If you don't have a chocolate cake mix, use a white or yellow one and stir in 3 tablespoons of baking cocoa. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas
Go to Recipe
Dutch Oven Chocolate Dump CakeLooking for a quick dessert that will make people think you spent all day in the kitchen? This Dutch oven dump cake will wow your guests. Feel free to use your favorite pie filling in place of cherry. — Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cake Mix BrowniesThese cake mix brownies are a mashup of two of my favorite desserts. A woman I worked with gave me a recipe for chocolate caramel brownies, and I have a recipe for yellow cake mix bars. I wondered what they would taste like together, so I tried it—and I've been making them ever since! —Staci Mergenthal, Verdi, Minnesota
Yummy Chocolate CakeMy husband and I are trying to eat lighter but still crave sweets. This moist, healthy chocolate cake really helps with that. With the rich frosting, it makes a decadent treat! —LaDonna Reed, Ponca City, Oklahoma
Chocolate-Strawberry Celebration CakeAlthough I have some great "from-scratch" recipes, this chocolate strawberry celebration cake uses a boxed mix with plenty of doctoring. It has become a popular groom's cake that gets more attention than the wedding cake. —Nora Fitzgerald, Sevierville, Tennessee
Pretzel and Salted Caramel Chocolate CookiesI love the combination of salty, sweet, and chocolate. These cookies hit all those beautiful notes and come together in a flash! —Grand Forks, North Dakota
Dream Cupcakes My grandchildren absolutely love these cream-filled cupcakes, and I hope the chocolaty treats become a favorite in your home as well. —Dorothy Bahlmann, Clarksville, Iowa
Chocolate-Covered-Cherry Dump CakeMy mother-in-law loves chocolate-covered cherries, and I used to make this chocolate cherry dump cake every year for her birthday. Now we've moved away, but I make this for my kids on her birthday and they still feel near her. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas
Shortcut Coconut-Pecan Chocolate TassiesYou can garnish these cookies with pecan halves or a couple of chocolate chips before baking, or drizzle with a little melted chocolate after taking them out of the oven. —Deb Villenauve, Krakow, Wisconsin
Chocolate Comfort CakeThis moist and delicious chocolate cake is usually the first dessert to go. People even eat the crumbs. It’s always my top choice for holiday dinners. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Giant Buckeye CookieI’m from Ohio, and we love our buckeye candy! Buckeyes are a delicious combination of peanut butter and chocolate, which is exactly what this cookie is. All you need is a box of cake mix, a few common pantry ingredients, and voila—you have a tasty dessert ready for family and friends in under an hour. You can customize it, too, by substituting other mix-ins for the chocolate chips. We serve it warm with ice cream or whipped cream. —Arianna Harding, Cincinnati, Ohio
Butterfinger Cookie BarsMy boys went through a phase where they loved Butterfingers. We made Butterfinger shakes, muffins, cookies and experimented with different bars; this one was voted the best of the bunch. Make sure you have an extra candy bar on hand because it’s hard to resist a nibble or two while you’re chopping. —Barbara Leighty, Simi Valley, California
Toffee Poke CakeThis toffee poke cake recipe is a favorite among my family and friends. I love making it because it is so simple.—Ms. Jeanette Hoffman, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Peanut Butter-Chocolate Cake RollsWho knew something this impressive could start with a cake mix! The mini chocolate chips add a tasty crunch to each slice. —Tammy Rex, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania
Almond Chocolate BiscottiMy neighbors look forward to getting my gifts of these chocolate-covered cookies. I love that this chocolate biscotti recipe is such a cinch to make. —Ginger Chatfield, Muscatine, Iowa
Triple Fudge BrowniesWhen you're in a hurry to make dessert, here's a "mix of mixes" that's so convenient and quick. The result is a big pan of very rich, fudgy brownies. Friends who ask me for the recipe are amazed that it's so easy. —Denise Nebel, Wayland, Iowa
Chocolate Caramel CupcakesYou only need a few baking staples to throw together these gooey delights. Boxed cake mix and a can of frosting make them fast, but caramel, walnuts and chocolate chips tucked inside make them memorable. We like them with ice cream. —Bev Spain, Belleville, Ohio
Chocolate Pudding CakeThis rich, chocolate pudding cake is one of my favorites. I like to serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Whenever I take it to parties, everybody wants the recipe. —Paige Arnette, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Almond Chocolate CakeWhen our son and daughter were teenagers, our house was the hang-out for their whole group of friends. This rich chocolate almond cake was a regular on the menu. —Char Safley, Raleigh, North Carolina
German Chocolate Tres Leches CakeI first tried tres leches cake while in Ecuador several years ago. Since then, I’ve changed it up by adding some of my favorite ingredients, namely chocolate and coconut. This version also has a splash of rum for an adults-only treat. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas
Chocolate Strawberry Punch Bowl TrifleI threw this dessert together when I needed something quick to take to my in-laws’. Because it’s beautiful, everyone thinks it requires a lot of effort. It’s easy. And the recipe makes a lot, making this perfect for potlucks and large gatherings. —Kristi Judkins, Morrison, Tennessee
Warm Rocky Road CakeWhen it's warm, this reminds me of super moist lava cake. And until I made this, I didn't think a slow cooker cake could be so attractive. It's a real winner. —Scarlett Elrod, Newnan, Georgia
Chocolate Cupcake ConesI experimented with these cupcakes when my girls were young. Now, I'm a grandmother of nine, and these are still our favorites. They're a great treat for kids to bring to school.—Betty Anderson, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Chocolate Cannoli Cake RollCreamy ricotta cheese filling with a hint of cinnamon rolls up beautifully in this fluffy chocolate cake. —Tammy Rex, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania
