Doctored Chocolate Cake Mix
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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.)
Made this a for the first time for my grandsons birthday. Everyone Absolutely enjoyed it. So moist and fudgey. I will be keeping this in my receipe book to make again and again! It’s a keeper thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for coming to share how much everyone loved it, Heather! You made my day!
Hello
This cake is amazing!!
I’d love to make this with 3 full 8” layers. Do you think I would need to double all ingredients, seems like a lot?
Thank you
Kim
So if you doubled the recipe it would make 4 layers of cake. Feel free to reserve some batter and make cupcakes if you don't want that much cake.
Hello
I’ve made this once and it was amazing.
I’m finding most cake mixes are now 13.25oz boxes, will that change the recipe at all or should I buy two?
Thanks
Kim
I would recommend using a single box of cake mix.
This cake is so good! I have made one similar to yours but different. This is by far the best. I will be making this many more times in the future. Thanks for your recipe.
You're welcome! I'm glad you liked it!
This is ABSOLUTELY the best chocolate cake I’ve ever made or eaten!!! Made for daughter’s birthday of nine adult guests and they all raved about the cake. Will be reading your site regularly for more recipes.
Awesome! Can’t ask for anything better!
Totally Delicious ♥️♥️
I don’t understand the last instruction to place the cake on a cake board that has been spread with frosting. Am I supposed to frost he cake board and then the cake? Is this a tip to keep the cake from sliding off the board?
Yes! I usually put a little frosting on the cake board to prevent the cake from slipping as I frost it. It really helps!
My great granddaughter requested a chocolate cake with blue buttercream frosting for her birthday. Wanted to do something different and searched on how to enhance a cake mix and found this recipe. I was a bit skeptical about all those additional ingredients but I made exactly as listed. Well, I got the greatest compliments on this cake! She said it was the BEST chocolate cake I had ever made! Two of her friends "fought" over the last piece because they also thought it was the best chocolate cake they had ever tasted!! I will ALWAYS use this recipe to make chocolate cakes! THANK YOU for sharing!
Whats the baking time & temp for a 13x9 chocolate cake?,
for a 9x13 cake it would be about 40-45 minutes