Homemade Cake Mix Recipe – Vanilla and Chocolate Variations!

This Homemade Cake Mix is so easy to throw together with what is already in your pantry. With vanilla and chocolate variations, you’ll be all set next time you’re in the mood to bake a cake!

Make Cake Mix at Home with this Easy Tutorial!

Ever find you’re in the mood to make a cake, but you never thought to grab a cake mix at the store? Or, you used the last one you had just last weekend to make some super delicious dessert treat? This is me allllll the time! I can not keep cake mix in my house, if I’ve got it, I use it up. 

My cake baking obsession has gotten so bad that I’ve had to train myself on how to make the best DIY version right out of my pantry. And honestly, it comes in handy more often than I’d like to admit. Best of all, it’s super versatile. I can do chocolate or vanilla. Really, anything a cake loving girl could want. 

Not only do I love having this mix handy for myself, I also love gifting it to friends! Pour the mix into a mason jar and tie a cute bow around it or pour the mix into a zip top bag and slap a cute label on it. Either way, you’ve got yourself a simple but sweet gift for a friend. 

Why Make Cake Mix from Scratch?

The two main benefits for me in making my own mix are ease and ingredients. I love anything that makes my life easier – but you already know that. And having a pre-made mix ready to go when I want to bake definitely makes my life easier. 

I also really like that I can control what ingredients go into my cake mix. I can make sure that they are quality and lack any additives or preservatives. 

How to Make Homemade Vanilla Cake Mix

To make a homemade dry vanilla cake mix, you’ll need the following items:

• all-purpose flour
• baking powder
• kosher salt
• granulated sugar
• instant vanilla pudding mix

That’s all! I’ll bet you’ve got most of that in your pantry right now. 

Then, all you have to do is:

1. Sift: Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and pudding mix.
2. Store: Store this dry mixture in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Can I Make this Chocolate Instead?

Yep! And, it’s just sooooo easy. To make this mix chocolate, all you have to do is use chocolate instant pudding instead of vanilla! Then, sift 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder into your mix. Ta-dah! And there you have it – the perfect chocolate cake mix.

Ready to Make a Cake? Here’s How:

Now that you have your homemade mix, it’s so easy to bake an entire cake! 

Here is what you’ll need:

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk (If you don’t have buttermilk, no worries – I’ve got you covered. Try this easy at home recipe for making your own buttermilk.)

Here’s how to make the cake:

1. Preheat: Pre-heat your oven to 350°F. Coat a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.
2. Add: Add the pre-made cake mix into the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
3. Mix: With the mixer on low add in the oil, eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk. Mix for 30 seconds.
4. Mix More: Turn the mixer up to medium speed and mix for 1 minute, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. 
5. Bake: Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the center of the cake is set. 
6. Frost: When the cake is cooled, frost with desired frosting.

Can I Make a Layer Cake Instead of a Single Layer?

Ya sure can! To make this a layer cake, coat 2, 8- inch round pans with nonstick spray. Divide the batter equally between the two pans. Then, bake them for 20 minutes, or until the center of each cake is set. You now have 2 perfectly cooked 8-inch rounds ready to be frosted and layered. 

Can You Use This Cake Mix For Other Recipes?

I have some cake mix recipes here on my site, like Cake Mix Cookies. And you might be wondering if you can sub this in for the boxed mix called for in recipes like that.

The answer, unfortunately, is no. This cake mix has a different weight measurement than the boxed kind at the store, so I can’t guarantee results.

Tips for the Best Homemade Cake Mix

Following these simple tips will give your the best flavor and longest shelf life:

• Be sure your baking powder is as fresh as possible. Using a baking powder that has almost reached its shelf life will minimize the shelf life of your cake mix, too. 
• I always choose to sift my dry ingredients together. Sure, I could use another method of combining these ingredients, but this is the method where I’ve found the most success. 
• Consider some fun add-ins that will up the flavor factor! I’m thinking sprinkles, chocolate chips, or chopped nuts. 
• If you have self rising flour instead of all-purpose flour, you can still use this recipe! You just won’t need to add the baking powder or the salt. 

How Long Will This Cake Mix Last On the Shelf?

You will need to check the expiration date of the ingredients you are using to make the cake, like the pudding mix, baking powder, etc. But if made with fresh ingredients, and stored airtight in a cool, dry place it should be fine for up to 3 months!

Looking for Frostings Perfect For This Cake?

I have tons of easy recipes to share! Here are some of my favorites:

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