Cake Mixes From Scratch And Variations

Homemade cake mixes are a game-changer! By making your own mix from scratch, you can avoid preservatives, customize flavors, and impress friends and family with your baking skills.

This versatile recipe yields two delicious cakes, perfect for birthday parties, celebrations, or simply satisfying your sweet tooth.

Ready Time

2 hrs

Yields

5 servings

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened, 1 cup whole milk, 2 large eggs, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease two 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Beat in the vanilla extract. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.

Beat just until combined.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and let cool in the pans for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Let the cakes cool completely before serving or decorating as desired.

Notes

For an extra fluffy cake, make sure to sift your flour before measuring to remove any lumps and incorporate air.

Use room temperature eggs for better incorporation and a lighter crumb.

Don’t overmix the batter, especially when adding the flour mixture, to prevent a dense cake.

If you want a moist and tender crumb, don’t overbake – check for doneness at 20 minutes.

For variations, try substituting 1/4 cup of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for added nutrition, or add-ins like nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruit for extra flavor and texture.

Experiment with different extracts like almond or coconut for unique flavors.

These cakes freeze beautifully, so wrap individually and store in an airtight container for up to 2 months.