The Best Boxed Cake Mixes, According to Our Taste Test

Boxed cake mix is a pantry classic for a reason: It delivers a crowd-pleasing cake with almost no effort. The basics haven’t changed much since John D. Duff of P. Duff and Sons, a now-shuttered molasses company in Pittsburgh, invented and patented pre-packaged cake mix in the early 1930s. Made with enriched flour, leaveners, flavorings, and starch, the mix needed little more than eggs and oil to make a quick cake. But not all boxed mixes bake (or taste) alike. To find the best for all convenient baking needs, we tried six of the most popular boxed cake mixes side by side. Here’s what we found.

How we selected the cake mixes

Walk down the baking aisle and you’ll find plenty of boxed cake mixes. While there are several delicious flavor options like chocolate, Funfetti, and even pumpkin spice, we chose yellow cake mix for its overall popularity and versatility. Although gluten-free mixes are increasingly available, we tested only regular cake mixes to keep results consistent.

How we tested

We prepared and baked each cake mix according to its package directions. Every mix called for eggs (one brand required one more egg than the others) but the requested fat varied, with some specifying vegetable or neutral oil while others called for softened or melted butter. The liquids also differed: Some mixes required water, others called for milk. When milk was specified, we used whole milk. All the brands included directions for sheet cakes and cupcakes, but we decided the fairest comparison was to bake each one as a single-layer cake in a standard 8-inch round aluminum cake pan. Each cake was baked on the center rack of a standard oven at 350℉ to the earliest recommended bake time and until a toothpick inserted into the center came out clean. We also made sure all the cakes were properly cooled so our editors could sample them plain (no frosting) at room temperature.

Our editors tasted the cakes with the brands concealed, in random order, rating flavor and texture and assigning an overall score on a scale of one to five. We averaged those scores to determine the winners. For flavor, we considered vanilla intensity, balance of sweetness, and just how much we enjoyed the taste. We also screened for off-putting characteristics common in boxed mixes such as waxy, chalky, or chemical notes. Texture came down to crumb size and uniformity and how those traits affected tenderness. Moisture mattered too. We wanted a moist cake, but not so moist that it turned sticky or gummy when eaten.

Food & Wine / General Mills

Best overall: Betty Crocker Favorites Super Moist Yellow Cake Mix

Betty Crocker, a General Mills brand, debuted its yellow cake mix in 1952, and 73 years later its gentle vanilla flavor and stellar texture make it our unanimous test winner. The crumb is delicate and tender; several editors said it melts in your mouth. “So light, fluffy, and nicely moist,” said Creative Director Winslow Taft. For Executive Editor Karen Shimizu, the melt-away texture recalls a Japanese castella cake. While some cakes in the lineup suffer a strong, air freshener–like aftertaste, this cake’s butteriness keeps the floral notes in check.

This cake hit different desires for our editors. For some, it retains the nostalgic flavors of a celebratory birthday party cake. “It tastes like third grade in the best way,” said senior Creative Video Producer Chloe Gebacz. For others, it branches out from that old-school flavor. Managing Editor Caitlin Miller described it as a “sophisticated, lighter cake.” We debated whether this airy treat could stand up to thick, store-bought frosting. But as an unfrosted snacking cake — the way we tasted it — it’s the clear winner.

Food & Wine / Conagra Brands

Best for birthdays: Dolly Parton’s Favorite Yellow Cake Mix

In 2022, the “Queen of Country” partnered with Duncan Hines on a line of boxed cake mixes and frostings. Unlike the Duncan Hines Classic Yellow Cake Mix (which we also tested), Dolly’s Southern-style mix calls for four large eggs instead of three plus 1/2 cup of melted butter. The cake is denser, with a flavor of toasted milk powder — think diner pancakes — that keeps us coming back for more. Some editors noted how they enjoyed the browning on the edges, which had a caramel-like flavor. This cake’s firmer crumb is ideal for birthday cakes because it can stand up to both homemade and store-bought frostings and toppings, such as sprinkles or fresh fruit. We also recommend baking it in a Bundt pan for a cake that tastes just like Grandma’s.

Food & Wine / ALDI

Best budget: Baker’s Corner Extra Moist Classic Yellow Cake Mix

Aldi’s private-label boxed mix didn’t lead the pack, but it still met most of the criteria we were looking for. It was velvety, and though it had an oilier finish, its lush texture was nice to eat. Unlike the other cakes, which had a straightforward vanilla flavor, this one tasted more like sweet cream and cake batter, almost like Funfetti rather than a pure vanilla cake. But at $1.25 a box, it’s a total steal and a good canvas for homemade baking upgrades like a touch of sour cream for tang or a swirl of melted chocolate for richness.

Food & Wine / General Mills

Most nostalgic: Pillsbury Moist Supreme Yellow Cake Mix

Here’s the thing about boxed cake: People crave that ultra-sweet slice that doesn’t taste homemade. Pillsbury hit that craving right on the head. This cake was by far the sweetest of the bunch and had the most prominent vanillin flavor — it tasted artificial, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t taste good. “Tastes like a very classic boxed cake mix. I could easily imagine this one being a hit at a kid’s party,” said Shimizu. The texture was soft and springy, and although not as melt-in-your-mouth as the Betty Crocker mix, it was still moist and fluffy, perfect for dump cakes or cupcakes.