I love baking desserts from scratch, but some days I just don’t have the time or energy to gather and measure every single ingredient in a recipe. I’m all about making life easier and there’s no shame in picking up a box mix, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve to make box mixes taste homemade!
Most mixes call for eggs, water, and vegetable oil. Use the eggs as recommended, and then make these three modifications to give the goodies more of a bakery-fresh taste:
- Instead of water, use milk. Whole, skim, almond, soy, oat. Anything is better than boring, bland water! We always have almond milk in our fridge so that’s what I typically choose, but whole milk is my favorite for a nice, soft dessert.
- Instead of vegetable oil, use softened butter. When I bake with vegetable oil, it makes my desserts greasy and leaves a funny aftertaste. Baking with butter gives a richer taste and texture.
- Add a splash of vanilla extract. About a teaspoon will improve the flavor and make it feel more high-quality.
Just follow the rest of the directions on the packaging and you’re done! I’ve tried these hacks on box mixes for muffins, cake, and cookies, and people ask me for the recipes every single time. It’s always fun to let them in on my “secrets” for making such effortless desserts!
Let me know on Instagram if you give these hacks a try!
Do you have any other tips to make box mixes taste homemade?
For more deliciously simple treats, try my recipes for 3-ingredient brownies or mini hand pies!
Talk to you soon!
