The Popular Ingredient You Should Add To Boxed Cake Mix For A Better Texture

Cake is a treat that's graced our birthdays, anniversaries, and other celebrations for generations. As good as cake is, though, the results from a boxed mix rarely live up to something that you've crafted ingredient by ingredient. That's not to say you have to abandon this convenient mix, however. If you want to improve the texture of your boxed cake mix, all you may need is one underrated ingredient: ricotta cheese.

Ricotta is a cheese made using the whey, the liquid left when milk is separated into curds. The whey is heated, usually with some other ingredients like additional milk or vinegar, until the remaining curd solidifies. When the whey is separated out a second time, the curd that's left behind is ricotta. The result is a light, soft, and fluffy cheese with plenty of moisture, which makes it perfect for adding extra liquid to foods that so desperately need it, like boxed cake.

When added to cake mix, ricotta can turn the final result into a moist and tender confection that you would swear came straight from a fancy bakery. Your boxed cake mix can taste homemade and fresh even days after baking. This trick works with just about any type of cake, from vanilla to red velvet, and it's incredibly easy to implement. Once you try it, you may never go back.

To use ricotta in your boxed cake mix, all you have to do is add half a cup of full-fat ricotta to your mix while you're adding the other wet ingredients, like milk, oil, and eggs. Whisk everything together as normal and bake your cake in the oven (or, heck, even bake it in the air fryer). Congratulations! You now have a delicious treat for any occasion or even just a midday craving.

If you're a big ricotta fan, then you'll be delighted to know that there are also dedicated cake recipes devoted to showcasing this creamy cheese. Lemon ricotta cake is an easy-to-make Italian classic that's fluffy, moist, and so delicious you'll make your nonna smile and nod in approval. You can either make it from scratch or, in keeping with this hack, adapt some lemon cake mix. All you really need to swap it over from a typical lemon cake is the ricotta and powdered sugar in place of frosting.

On the other hand, if you can't have ricotta for dietary reasons or just aren't a fan, there are other ingredients you can substitute to improve your boxed cake. For one, sweetened condensed milk makes boxed cake mix taste homemade with a great texture and additional sweetness. You can also swap the water for buttermilk or soft fruits like banana to bring in that creamy richness you've been looking for.