I consider myself a baker—which to me means, I bake at least once a week, if not more. And more often than not, I'd rather go the extra mile and make things from scratch than use a mix, a refrigerated dough, or a pre-made batter. I just feel like mixing a few ingredients makes a huge difference in the taste and really doesn't take that much longer.
That said, there are few things in the world that are greater than box cake mix. The opportunities for creativity are absolutely endless: Turn it into a poke cake (like our boston creme, our red velvet, or our Samoa version), a dump cake (like our Funfetti dump cake), or even a giant donut. And, as any busy mom will tell you, when it's 11pm the night before a bake sale or a school function you completely forgot about, nothing comes to the rescue faster than cake mix.
But I can't seem to leave well-enough alone, so our food editor taught me an insider trick that makes any box cake mix taste like a mixed-from-scratch version. Instead of following the directions and ingredients on the box, she replaces the oil with NEARLY the exact same amount of melted butter.
I sense your skepticism. But trust me when I say that not only does the flavor increase exponentially, but the texture becomes light and heavenly. (I hear from my food-nerd friends that it has something to do with the way butter bonds with the sugar crystals to trap air.) In addition, butter also has more water in it, so your cake turns out more moist (ugh, that word ... I know) than using oil alone. Bonus: Butter actually has fewer calories than oil per tablespoon ... but we're talking about cake here, so let's not be ridiculous.
If you're planning to swap, here is a rough measurement exchange:
1/4 cup oil = 1/3 cup melted butter
1/2 cup oil = 2/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cup oil = 1 cup melted butter
1 cup oil = 1 1/4 cup melted butter
Consider this our holiday gift to you—a way to make baking mixes merry, and your baking season bright.
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Expertise: Food, Culture, and more!
Education: Degree in Journalism (at TK?)
About Me: As the Editorial Director, Joanna launched Delish in 2015 to create a space for people who didn't want to stress over perfection but wanted to get into the kitchen and eat something great. Today, she oversees the teams that create content and packaging across all platforms, whether culinary or features, and whether it's in video, in print, or on social, with the hopes of bringing more fun (and a little chaos!) to the food world. She is a regular expert on Good Morning America, Today Show, and The History Channel’s Food That Built America. She was formerly Executive Editor at Food Network Magazine, overseeing all features and culture content (including celebrity and food news). Before that, she was Executive Editor at Seventeen, leading features and lifestyle content and editing all fashion, beauty, and celebrity stories. She started her career in the bridal world, working for the wedding website The Knot and the magazine Modern Bride, creating content around fashion, beauty, and event/wedding planning. She is always looking for the next memorable Delish thing, whether a quirky menu item, an insane TikTok trend, a crazy offering at Costco, or a weird cocktail glass; she’s constantly looking at things through a food lens. When She’s not at work, she’s hacking baking recipes with my daughter Everett (who has a gluten allergy) or planning my next restaurant visit with my husband Scott and sons Spencer and Teddy.
Follow her on tiktok @joannasaltz
