Doctored Chocolate Cake Mix
Learn how to take a Chocolate Cake Mix and make it taste like it's made from scratch with this easy Doctored Chocolate Cake Mix Recipe. It's moist, fluffy, incredibly fudgy, and only requires a few additional ingredients.
Want to know the secret on how to make box chocolate cake better? Follow this Doctored Chocolate Cake Mix recipe and transform a boxed cake into a bakery style dessert that will wow anyone.
With a few extra ingredients, you will find you can totally transform your cake into a whole new flavor.
Why Make This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients
- Completely Transforms the flavor of a chocolate boxed cake
- Easy to Make
- Decorate with your favorite frosting
As you will find this recipe is crazy simple, and the flavor is incredible. I highly recommend trying out this cake, for birthday parties, a weeknight dessert, summer cookout, or even take to a potluck.
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Ingredients for the Best Doctored Chocolate Cake
Most of the ingredients being listed are actually part of the regular cake mix ingredient list, but there are a few simple additional ingredients that will enhance this cake.
- chocolate cake mix - I used the Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge, but any boxed chocolate cake mix will work.
- unsweetened cocoa powder - This ingredient is what puts the chocolate back into this chocolate cake recipe.
- granulated sugar - This helps sweeten the cake up again after adding the cocoa powder.
- instant chocolate pudding mix - This can be left out, but it really provides moist chocolate cake and keeps the cake soft.
- freshly brewed coffee - Coffee always enhances the chocolate flavor, so you can't go wrong with adding it to a cake. You can substitute it with just water if you don't have coffee on hand.
- vegetable or canola oil - Either oil works great in this recipe. I don't recommend substituting it with butter in this recipe.
- large eggs - I always use large eggs in my recipes.
- full-fat sour cream - Sour Cream makes the cake moist and adds a little tanginess.
- vanilla extract - vanilla extract is just another way to add extra flavor to make the doctored chocolate cake mix taste more homemade.
What Brand of Cake Mix to Use
You can use any brand of cake you would like. For me, I used Betty Crocker, but feel free to buy your favorite brand or what is on sale at the time.
How to use Doctored Cake Mix
- Cupcakes - You can make full-size, or mini cupcakes to then decorate as you would like.
- 8-inch layer cake - If you want to create a layered cake, go for it. Just grab your round cake pans and bake.
- 9x13 Pan - A classic cake is another option. Grab your 9x13 for baking up a delicious cake for birthday parties and more.
- Bundt cake - Just adjust the cooking time to fit the thickness of the cake. It will take a bit longer to bake but will be delicious.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can freeze this chocolate cake. Allow the cake to fully cool, and then place in a freezer container. Freeze the cake whole or opt to freeze the cake sliced if you prefer.
Freeze the cake for 3-4 months. Go right ahead and freeze and then thaw in the fridge overnight. Or do a quick thaw on the counter if you want.
Cake last for around 5 days when stored properly. Cake though will dry out after a few days, so I recommend eating the cake for before day 3. The first few days will give you the best flavor and moist texture.
I didn't notice either my cupcakes or 8-inch cakes doming but any cake can dome. If it happens when you're planning to do a layered cake, just make sure to use a knife or cake leveler to cut off the excess top.
More ways to use boxed cake mix
- Banana Cake with Cake Mix
- Red Velvet Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls
- Chocolate Cake Mix Waffles
- Red Velvet Cheese Ball
- Five Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies One Dough
Doctored Chocolate Cake Mix
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounce box chocolate cake mix I use Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3.4 ounce box instant chocolate pudding
- 1 ¼ cups freshly brewed coffee
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup full-fat sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. If making cupcakes, fill a muffin pan with cupcake papers. If making an 8 inch layer cake, grease two 8 inch pans with nonstick baking spray and place a parchment paper circle in the bottom of each pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, add in the chocolate cake mix, cocoa powder, sugar, and instant pudding. Stir with a spatula until combined.
- Add in coffee, vegetable oil, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla extract, Whisk until the eggs are incorporated and the batter is smooth.
- For cupcakes, fill about ⅔ full with cake batter. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 19 minutes or until done. Insert a toothpick in the center of one of the cupcakes that's in the center cavity of the pan. If it comes out clean or with moist crumbs, they're done.
- For 8 inch cakes, divide the batter into the prepared pans. Spread the batter out evenly. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until done. Place a toothpick in the center of the cakes and if it comes out clean or with moist crumbs, it's done.
- Let the cakes cool in the cake pan for about 20 to 30 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. The top will be sticky and may stick to the wire rack.
- Once cooled, place on a cake board that has about 1 tablespoon of frosting spread on it and frost.
Nutrition
(Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.)
More so a question, I just made this recipe and all I taste is the coffee in the cake? Any way to not have it taste like coffee??
If you do not like the taste of the coffee, replace the brewed coffee in the recipe with hot water. I would also add a teaspoon extra vanilla just to make the cake have a little more flavor! Hope this helps
Hello! I love your doctored chocolate cake recipe! Made it a pile of times now. Do you have a vanilla cake version? Can I just swap out the cake mix and pudding for vanilla and drop the cocoa? Love to hear your thoughts. Thanks, Christina .
You can definitely make these changes to do a vanilla version! Skip the coffee as well as just replace it with hot water when making a vanilla doctored cake.
I have made and recommended this recipe more times now than I can count. Every time it gets the "best chocolate cake they've ever had" badge! Kudos!
Fantastic recipe! I followed the recipe except I used 1/2 C of sour cream because that was what I had. It turned out moist and fluffy and the flavor was perfect! Made this for my son's 18th birthday and he raved about it! Topped it with chocolate ganauch! Perfection! Thank you for sharing your recipe.
This cake is SO GOOD. I’ve made it many times, and it gets so many compliments. It also freezes well! Thanks so much for the amazing recipe 😁
I am making this for my daughter's birthday, but I need to use Black Cocoa Powder for color (dont want to have to use food coloring); do I need to add additional baking soda and even more sugar to assist with leveling and flavor?
You should be able to use black cocoa powder without any issues! No changes needed to the recipe.
In all my 60 yrs of baking I have never found a better doctored chocolate cake like this one. I had to use a dairy-free cake mix and substitute items for non-dairy yet, it was delicious! Habds down best ever! Thank you!
Making again today: First time, they deflated but I was opening the oven door + I think I took them out too early. Have you received any comments and/or what are your thoughts when it comes to the temperature of.. I’ll just say the sour cream and eggs for example: Do you think it make any difference bringing them to room temperature first? Thanks!
Hi Katie- The cake would definitely deflate if you took it out too early. You can always test the center with a toothpick to make sure it comes out cleanly before taking the cake out of the oven. The temperature of the sour cream and eggs does help the ingredients blend into the batter evenly, so I do recommend following those steps. Hopefully this helps!
Husband said this was the best cake I've ever made in our 47 years. Wow!
Will try this ,