Spice Cake with Yellow Cake Mix
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
Learn how to make the perfect spice cake with yellow cake mix! It’s so easy and comes in handy when all you have is a yellow cake mix!
SAVE THIS RECIPE
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
It’s a great recipe if you are short on time and want to speed up the prep work. No one will even know this isn’t a cake made from scratch. An easy step-by-step guide to teach you how to make the best spice cake recipe you will ever try.
If you love using boxed cake mix as much as I do, check out my banana cake with cake mix, pumpkin cake with cake mix, or doctored chocolate cake recipe. All are fantastic cakes.
Reasons To Try This Spice Cake
- Easy Prep: Less prep work is required for this recipe as you will whip up the cake portion quickly.
- Simple Ingredients: This cake recipe requires simple everyday ingredients. The frosting is optional, but it adds flavor to the cake.
- Great For Parties: This is a fantastic cake recipe that is great for serving up to a crowd.
Ingredients
See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all ingredients and quantities.
- Cake: Reach for a boxed cake mix for the base of this cake.
- Eggs: Room temperature eggs are best as they will cream together best.
- Oil: Vegetable or canola oil works best for making the cake.
- Spices: Since this is a spice cake, you will blend spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, and cloves.
FREE EMAIL BONUS: Treat yourself with these delicious recipes
Substitutions and Variations
- You can use a different flavor of cake mix if you would like. Butter or white cake are both great swaps for this recipe.
- Spices can be adjusted less or more depending on what you would like.
- Feel free to swap out the type of frosting or skip the frosting and topping if you would like. You can dust the cake with powdered sugar for a light topping as a different option.
- Use Cream Cheese Frosting for a sweet and tangy topping or Swiss Meringue Buttercream Frosting for a lightly sweetened topping.
- Instead of a cake, you can make it into cupcakes. Add liners to the muffin tin and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cupcakes are baked through.
NOTE: This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations
How to Make Spice Cake Using Yellow Cake Mix
Step 1: Start by adding your cake mix into a bowl with the water, eggs, and oil. Whisk until mostly incorporated.
Step 2: Wisk in the cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, and cloves until everything is combined.
Step 3: Pour into the prepared pan and bake as directed.
Step 4: Allow the cake to cool completely.
For the frosting, you will cream the butter and brown sugar together for a few minutes to create a super light and fluffy texture.
Slowly work in the powdered sugar. Then add the milk and vanilla and mix to combine.
Once blended, you will frost your cooled cake and dust it with the cinnamon and sugar topping.
Tips for Success
- Make sure not to overmix the cake batter, as it can cause the cake to become dense and heavy.
- It is essential to start with room-temperature butter for the frosting.
- Make sure the cake is thoroughly cooled before you go to frost the cake. Otherwise, the frosting will melt into the cake.
- You need to take the time to whip up the butter with the brown sugar for the frosting, as it will create that perfect buttercream-style frosting to spread on the cake.
- Covering the cake is a must, or it will dry out quickly.
Storing and Freezing
Store the spice cake covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
To freeze the cake, place it in a freezer-safe container or wrapped tightly in 2 layers of plastic wrap and a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil for up to 3 months. Thaw it on the counter for about 2 hours or refrigerate it overnight.
Recipe FAQs
When the cake is done, it will turn a light golden brown, and the edges will pull around the sides. You can take a toothpick and stick it in the cake, and if it comes out clean of wet batter, the cake is done.
Yes, you can use unsalted butter to replace salted butter. Add a pinch of salt to the frosting to help enhance its flavors.
More Warm, Cinnamon Desserts
If you try this recipe, be sure to leave a rating below and also share it on Instagram, and tag me! You can also find me on Facebook and stay up to date on recipe releases by joining the Newsletter!
Spice Cake with Yellow Cake Mix
SAVE THIS RECIPE
We’ll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Ingredients
Cake
- 15.25- ounce box vanilla cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom optional
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Brown Sugar Frosting
- ½ cup salted butter room temperature
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk or heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the vanilla cake mix, eggs, water, and olive oil. Mix using a hand mixer on medium speed until combined.
- Add in the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, and cloves. Mix so the spices are evenly distributed in the batter.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread out evenly.
- Place in the preheated oven and bake for 25-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean or with moist crumbs.
- Allow the cake to cool off completely before frosting.
Frosting
- In a large bowl, add the butter and light brown sugar. Beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until creamed, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add powdered sugar in 1/2 cup increments and mix on low until all of the powdered sugar is worked into the frosting.
- Add the milk and vanilla extract. Beat until combined. If your frosting is too thick, add an additional 1/2 tablespoon of milk at a time and mix in until the desired consistency is reached.
- Once the cake is completely cooled, spread the frosting evenly on top using an offset spatula.
Topping
- In a small bowl, add the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Stir until combined. Set aside.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
(Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.)
