Updated on Apr. 21, 2023
There's no shame in keeping a box of white cake mix in your cupboard! But our Test Kitchen wants to make sure the brands you're buying are the very best. See what we found in our taste test.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
Everyone likes to have a baking backup plan. Sometimes that’s a frozen pie in the back of the freezer, a tube of cookie dough in the fridge or even just a box of cake mix in the cupboard. These shortcuts can be a huge help when you need dessert in a hurry. But what mixes are you stocking in your pantry? Is that white cake mix going to give you the light yet moist dessert you’re craving?
Wonder no more! Our Test Kitchen team tested the most popular brands of cake mix and found which options are worth buying.
To get the answer to our question what is the best cake mix?, our Test Kitchen staff bought every brand of white cake mix they could find. Each cake was baked up according to the package instructions and sampled in a blind test. No brands attached to the samples, no add-ins, no frosting (that one was hard!). Our team kept these criteria in mind as they sampled:
Forkful after forkful of cake, a few brands stood out to our Test Kitchen sampling crew. These are the brands we recommend adding to your grocery order.
When it comes to vanilla flavor, Duncan Hines Classic White Cake Mix gets it just right. This snowy white cake was delicate and light with just the right amount of vanilla flavor. It was pleasantly present but not overpowering. And it tasted of real vanilla, not the artificial stuff (our Test Kitchen is particular!). This airy cake was moist and a joy to sample—definitely a must-buy if you need a cake in a hurry.
If there’s one thing any baker and sweet tooth loathes it’s a dry cake. With Pillsbury White Premium Cake Mix, you don’t need to worry about baking a dry cake for a second. Pillsbury produced a moist, spongy cake with a slightly denser texture. The color was a gorgeous pure white—a great canvas for colored frostings or even flavorings like in these poke cake recipes.
Baking on a budget? No problem! Great Value White Cake Mix from Walmart costs just 88 cents and is darn tasty. This cake baked up nice and light—it definitely had some great lift! The vanilla flavor, in this case, was subtle but not artificial, and the texture was moist with a stable crumb. You could definitely get away with carving this cake up without much mess, like in this festive Peter Rabbit Cake.
When you’re in a pinch, white cake mix is just what you need to make a quick cake or batch of cupcakes. But you can easily add a little panache to your cake mix with some easy recipes. Grab a box of pistachio pudding mix and a few spices and you can make an easy-peasy pistachio quick bread or a bottle of root beer for a fun root beer float cake. These recipes are just the start. We’ve got plenty more tasty inspiration for you:
1 / 16
Birthday Cake Pancakes
For my kids' birthdays, I like to make these cake mix pancakes. Frosting and more sprinkles seal the deal! —Dina Crowell, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Spumoni TorteI made up this recipe to end a big Italian Christmas Eve dinner. I thought it would be nice and light after a heavy meal. The cake frosts the best when it's been stored in the freezer for a day. —Lynne Ogg, East Bethel, Minnesota 
Strawberry Lemon CupcakesWant a cupcake that tastes like spring in every bite? These strawberry lemon cupcakes are zesty and sweet and have a secret shortcut that makes them effortless!
Pistachio Quick BreadI love making many of these special loaves to give away for the holidays. They also freeze well so it is easy to pull out for unexpected guests. —Judy Fischer, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Pina Colada Tube CakeWe named this a “pina colada” cake because it has coconut, pineapple and rum. It’s a soothing finish at the end of a big spread. —Debra Keil, Owasso, Oklahoma
Root Beer Float CakeI add root beer to both the cake batter and fluffy frosting of this summery dessert to get that great root beer float taste. Serve this moist cake to a bunch of hungry kids and watch it disappear! —Kat Thompson, Prineville, Oregon
Cranberry Layer CakeI adapted a Bundt cake recipe to create this layer cake. Cranberries, walnuts and homemade frosting make it taste so delicious that you'd never guess it starts with a convenient cake mix. —Sandy Burkett, Galena, Ohio
Pear Bundt CakeNext time you make cake from a mix, try my easy and delicious recipe. The pears and syrup add sweet flavor and prevent the cake from drying out. And since there's no oil added to the batter, this tender fall-perfect cake is surprisingly low in fat. —Veronica Ross, Columbia Heights, Minnesota
Pistachio and Coconut CakeThis coconut cake is good any time of the year, but the color is perfect for St. Patrick's Day. The secret is adding instant pistachio pudding mix into the cake mix and the frosting. —Dora May Meredith, Rockford, Illinois
Find even more cake mix recipes made with pudding!
Sweet Potato Cream Cheese BarsIf you're looking for something other than pumpkin, these sweet potato bars are a yummy alternative. Make them ahead—they're even better refrigerated overnight. —Debbie Glasscock, Conway, Arkansas
Cherry Dream CakeI serve this cherry cake for holidays because it's so festive and easy. No one will know your secret is adding a package of cherry gelatin to a boxed cake mix! —Margaret McNeil, Germantown, Tennessee
Coconut Cream CakeHave the urge to splurge? Try Deborah Protzman's moist and mouthwatering cake. "No one who's ever eaten a piece can believe it's lower in fat"—Deborah Protzman, Bloomington, Illinois.
Cookies-and-Cream CakeIf you like cookies-and-cream ice cream, you'll love this cake. Chocolate sandwich cookies are mixed into the batter and pressed into the sweet and creamy frosting for a fun look. —Pat Habiger, Spearville, Kansas
Raspberry CakeJazz up plain cake with raspberry gelatin and frozen berries. Spread with a light, fruity whipped topping, the festive results make a cool and refreshing dessert. —Marion Anderson, Dalton, Minnesota
Rainbow Cake with CloudsSome cakes stand on their own without icing. For this bright Rainbow Cake, use a little whipped cream to make fluffy clouds. —Janet Tigchelaar, Jerseyville, Ontario
Eggnog Tres Leches CakeWhen the holidays roll around, my family eagerly anticipates sampling this cake. Its rich eggnog flavor is delightful. —Jan Valdez, Chicago, Illinois
Note: This blind taste test was performed by our staffers and was not part of a sponsorship. All opinions shared are our own, and have not been influenced by advertisers.
