Elevate Boxed Cake Mix With A Childhood Favorite Drink

Among the countless underrated ingredients that should be added to box cake mix, milk stands out. You can always keep it simple by swapping in whole milk for water, which is a must for a richer, softer cake. But why not channel your inner child and add chocolate, strawberry, or any other variety of flavored milk that strikes your fancy? So long as you add the same amount of dairy or plant-based milk as you would water, your boxed cake mix is unlikely to disappoint.

While the flavor of the milk itself might not be concentrated enough to have a dramatic impact on the cake's taste, substituting milk for water improves its texture while adding a subtle shift in flavor thanks to the fats and sugars of the milk itself. Milk also tends to turn the dessert slightly denser, making it a sturdier base for decoration or as stacked cake layers. At the same time, the fat in the dairy makes any variety of boxed cake mix richer.

Swapping in all varieties of milk instead of water opens countless doors for creativity with minimal risk; because the flavor of the milk itself won't take center stage in the final cake, this ingredient adds that extra depth that's admittedly sometimes missing from boxed cake mix. Substituting strawberry milk in strawberry cake, for example, might not take the strawberry flavor itself to staggering new heights, but the additional sugar and flavoring will make the dessert sweeter and can gently enhance its fruity character.

Ready for something a little more daring? Consider turning your traditional boxed cake mix into an unforgettable cereal-inspired dessert by swapping water for cereal milk — just be sure to soak your favorite cereal in the milk for at least 30 minutes beforehand so it can absorb the flavor of the cereal. You can also double down on the flavor of the milk by incorporating it into other components of the cake. Ensure the cereal flavor comes through by adding some of the cereal milk to the cake frosting and even topping off the confection with the cereal itself. If you happen to be using Froot Loops, don't stress about clashing flavors, as all pieces are the same flavor.

If you want a little more, you can easily enhance the subtle flavors of a milk swap by adding in complementary extracts or zests. A small handful of orange zest, for example, will bring your boxed chocolate cake mix into elevated territory. Alternatively, drizzle a few drops of pineapple extract into your yellow cake mix (just use a light hand!) and pair this with a coconut milk ingredient swap for a tropical flavor experience. Whether it is a vanilla extract you made at home or freshly grated lemon zest, even small amounts of these ingredients can provide the perfect pop of flavor.