best chocolate cake from a box!

easy chocolate cake using the best box cake mix hack!

Updating this very old, much-loved and swoonworthy chocolate cake from a box!

chocolate cake next to slices of chocolate cake on white plates

this is probably my most-baked cake EVER!

Over the years I’ve had dozens of “cake baking” needs, including (but not limited to):

A “welcome the baby” luncheon.
A friend recovering from surgery.
A friend who had a baby.
A friend who had two babies.
Our school principal’s retirement lunch.
Our high school graduation reception.
A college graduation party.
A Father’s Day barbeque.

If you are a reader here you know how much I love to bake. And I consider myself to be a confident and experienced baker.

But sometimes it comes down to time. As in, I don’t have enough of it.

chocolate cake next to slices of chocolate cake on white plates

Years and years ago I attended a dinner party hosted by my friend Nancy. Nancy is a trained chef who – in addition to making delicious food – has a way of putting together a party that feels relaxed and effortless, yet thoughtful and beautifully executed.

And as I was navigating my way around the dessert buffet, this cake caught my eye.

chocolate cake next to white plates and vintage forks

It was the plainest, simplest looking dessert on the table – yet I was compelled to try a piece. I don’t know why; I never even go for the chocolate dessert.

And it was the perfect slice of chocolate cake.

Moist, yet firm. Not too rich. Delicious. Nancy gave me the recipe, and I was shocked to see that it included boxed cake mix. I pride myself on being able to detect cake mix on the first bite, yet this one had me completely fooled. In a good way.

what’s in this easy chocolate cake?

chocolate cake ingredients in glass bowls

This leveled up cake mix benefits from 4 simple improvements; here are the ingredients you need:

  • devil’s food cake mix
  • instant chocolate pudding
  • eggs
  • water
  • vegetable oil
  • sour cream
  • mini chocolate chips

how do you make it?

You’ll make this cake just like you would a standard box mix; the 4 changes you’ll make are hinted at in the ingredient list:

  1. an entire box of chocolate pudding mix is added to the batter,
  2. you’ll use 4 eggs instead of the usual 3 called for,
  3. a cup of sour cream is mixed in, along with
  4. a bag of mini chocolate chips

Beat all of the ingredients except for the chips, then fold the chips in. Pour into a bundt or tube pan (you’ll need a larger than usual pan thanks to all of the add-ins) and bake!

chocolate cake batter in a glass bowl

This cake is so moist, tender and flavorful that no frosting, glaze or other adornments are needed.

one cake or two – the choice is yours!

I’ll bake the cake as shown here if I’m having a party or hosting a larger dinner. But you can also bake the batter in two standard (9″ x 5″) loaf pans, giving you TWO generously sized cakes for barely any effort.

These cakes freeze beautifully so they are great to have on-hand for literally any need or occasion (see my above list, for starters!).

chocolate cake in a tube pan on a wire rack

And therein lies the beauty of this cake. In 10 minutes, with one bowl, I can knock out two loaf-sized cakes (or one large tube cake). It slices beautifully (perfect for situations where you need to serve finger food). It freezes forever (well, not literally – but for a really, really long time). It needs no decoration or frosting, just a dusting of confectioner’s sugar.

And it is undeniably delicious.

In fact, it’s the favorite cake of many of the people I bake for – including Mike – which I find hilarious, and totally ironic.

Let me know if you try it!

chocolate cake next to slices of chocolate cake on white plates

Best Chocolate Cake From a Box!

sherisilver
Just a few simple tweaks take boxed cake mix next level!
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Servings 16
Calories 436 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box devil’s food cake mix
  • 1 package 4-serving instant chocolate pudding
  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 12 ounces mini chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare one tube pan or two 9" x 5" loaf pans with flour, non-stick cooking spray and parchment paper.
  • Beat all ingredients, except the chocolate chips, on high for 3 minutes.
  • Fold in the chips.
  • Pour the batter in the pan(s) and bake till a toothpick or cake tester tests clean (about 60 minutes for the tube cake, 45 minutes for the loaves).
  • Cool in pans on a wire rack for 25 minutes for the tube cake, 10 for the loaves. Remove from the pan(s) and cool completely on the rack.

Notes

I always double this recipe. If you don't have a heavy duty stand mixer, you'll need to make one batch at a time. Just wipe out the mixer bowl between batches.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 436kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 6gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 345mgPotassium: 163mgFiber: 2gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 263IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 115mgIron: 2mg
Keywords cake, cake mix, chocolate cake
did you make this recipe?tag @sherisilver on instagram!

Please note that this post contains affiliate links. As a Rewards Style influencer I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases – at no additional cost to you.

Posted in ,

26 Comments

  1. Britta on July 8, 2013 at 8:23 am

    Sheri–I am overjoyed that you shared this. I’ve thought of asking you for the recipe, but I was hesitant bc I figured something this good must be a secret. I thought maybe there’s some baker etiquette to not ask, and what was the point anyway bc it probably involves COCOA POWDER or shaving chocolate or other bakerly things I’m afraid of. But I can make it myself! Now I don’t have to have another baby or two. Thank you!

    • sherisilver on July 8, 2013 at 10:19 am

      Oh Britta you NEVER have to hesitate to ask me. And by all means you do NOT have to have more babies to get this cake! xoxo

  2. Drew on July 8, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    This cake looks pretty wonderful for a boxed cake mix, Sheri.

    My mother-in-law has given me a few cookbooks from the Junior League of Monroe, Louisiana and from her local church. These are the down-home, Southern, no-one-cooks-like-my-mama recipes I’d always heard about. I had no idea though that so many of those recipes rely on prepackaged foods.

    For example, I was looking for a recipe for baked beans so I could make something a little more interesting than that which comes in a can. I found 3 recipes for baked beans in the 1976 printing of “The Extension Homemakers Council of Ouachita Parish presents Our Daily Brad”. All three of them call for at least one can of pork ‘n beans.

    I also have one of Paula Deen’s older books and many of her cake recipes include a boxed cake mix.

    I wonder if I’d be as surprised if I wasn’t into making my own mustard, my own yogurt, my own instant oatmeal.

    I am going to save this easy cake recipe, though. You never know when you’ll need a quick chocolate cake.

    • sherisilver on July 8, 2013 at 3:53 pm

      Drew! If you only knew how much your response to this was weighing on my mind (as in, “what will Drew think?”) – BIG relief over here my friend. And you should totally make this – Nathaniel would love it!

      • Drew on July 8, 2013 at 4:07 pm

        Ha!

        I would only ever think: if SherSilv’s recommending it, you know it’s gonna go in the must-make-this-now section of my recipe collection. (Yeah, I might call you SherSilv when you’re not looking.)

        • sherisilver on July 8, 2013 at 4:12 pm

          I like it! 🙂

  3. Sandra on July 8, 2013 at 11:04 pm

    This is THE perfect recipe for the girl. She loves to cook and bake but it’s not easy finding recipes that are doable by a seven year old AND yummy.

    And she loves chocolate too!

    • sherisilver on July 9, 2013 at 6:25 am

      Love that girl – she is SURE to love this! xo

  4. Sylvia on July 9, 2013 at 3:27 pm

    Don’t mind using processed cake mix approximately 3 x’s a year. This will be a great “go-to” in a pinch.
    Thank you.

    • sherisilver on July 9, 2013 at 4:54 pm

      Yay! You’re welcome! 🙂

  5. Lisa on July 9, 2013 at 11:35 pm

    Usually not a fan of box cakes, but this sounds really good. Perfect for when I am in a hurry. Thanks for posting!

    • sherisilver on July 10, 2013 at 8:37 am

      I’m so glad you said that – it’s exactly how I feel about it. But truth be told, it is the preferred cake (boxed or otherwise) of so many people! 🙂

  6. Lynn on July 11, 2013 at 6:54 pm

    Just wondering if you can use a bundt pan. Sorry if we were an embarrassment on the Internet.

    • sherisilver on July 11, 2013 at 7:16 pm

      Lynn I’m cracking up – you’re an Internet sensation! Yes you can use a bundt pan! 🙂

    • Suzi on March 4, 2024 at 6:06 pm

      5 stars
      I used a Bundt pan that was generously coated with butter and then flour. It turned out spectacularly!! I am so proud when I make this and really appreciate Sheri sharing this delicious recipe!

      • sherisilver on March 4, 2024 at 9:53 pm

        Yay! I’m so glad you loved it – it’s one of my favorite “hacks”!

  7. Christa the BabbyMama on July 17, 2013 at 8:34 pm

    Gurrrrl, at my recent party, I made cake batter Chex mix – key ingredient being cake mix. I don’t typically use cake mix to actually make cakes, but I’m not going to get all snooty-patooty on anyone who does! Whatever makes a good cake, I say!

    • sherisilver on July 18, 2013 at 2:32 pm

      Wait – cake batter Chex Mix???? Details!

  8. Stephanie on August 26, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    This looks yummy!

    Would you use it for cupcakes as well? (Probably a dumb question.)

    • sherisilver on August 26, 2015 at 6:59 pm

      Absolutely! You’ll probably get more than the box says due to the additional ingredients – but, like, that’s not a problem, right?

      • Stephanie on August 28, 2015 at 11:26 am

        Lol! Never a problem! Thanks for your help! Going to bake them today!!! Thanks for the speedy reply! Super helpful!

        • sherisilver on August 28, 2015 at 2:15 pm

          Sure thing – post a picture! 🙂

  9. Teresa on June 25, 2023 at 9:51 pm

    It’s are go to cake. It’s just the two of us, so I cut in half and freeze. Wrap carefully with Saran Wrap.

    • sherisilver on June 26, 2023 at 9:51 am

      Perfect! This cake freezes so so beautifully!

  10. April on March 14, 2024 at 10:40 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely, delicious! Whole family loved it. As described, this cake is so moist, tender and flavorful. Made in a bundt pan, no frosting added. Thank you for sharing this recipe, Looking forward to trying this recipe out with yellow cake mix, vanilla pudding, white baking chips.

    • sherisilver on March 15, 2024 at 8:33 am

      So glad! This is such a good one and it truly never fails! Love your idea of the yellow cake mix; if you try it please let me know how it turns out – I’ll add it to the post! 🙂

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating








sheri silver headshot

Hi! I'm Sheri!

Welcome to my little corner of the web where you’ll find easy, delicious recipes, the best kitchen hacks and simple tips for turning your home into a clean haven that is free of toxins. So glad you’re here!