Make Your Box-Mix Better!

Okay, I know I am really early for Valentine’s Day, but I loved these liners and sprinkles and was really craving cupcakes last night. Plus, I have so many liners that I can make different cupcakes (I’m thinking red velvet) closer to the holiday.

My parents gave me the great book Hello, Cupcake for Christmas (buy it on Amazon here), and since I had a box of yellow cake mix sitting around I decided to their recipe for “Perfect Cake-Mix Cupcakes.” I always speak badly of boxed mixes, but this recipe really made them better!

Box-Mix Cupcakes
1 box (18.25 oz) cake mix (vanilla, devil’s food, or yellow)
1 cup buttermilk (in place of water called for on the box)
Vegetable oil (the amount on the box)
4 eggs (in place of the number called for on the box)

Preheat oven to 350F. Line muffin cups with paper liners.

Follow the box instructions, putting all the ingredients in a large bowl and using the buttermilk in place of the water specified on the box, using the amount of vegetable oil that is called for, and adding the eggs. Beet with an electric mixer until moistened, about 30 seconds. Increase the speed to high and beat until thick, 2 minutes longer

Fill paper liners two-thirds full. Bake 12 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool completely before icing.

I used a canned Pillsbury icing. I couldn’t resist the pink colors and the sprinkles that came with it!


I made mini-cucpakes as well!

6 Responses to “Make Your Box-Mix Better!”


  1. 1 Donna 25 January 2009 at 9:15 pm

    Cute, Cute, Cute!! Love them!

  2. 2 Gin 26 January 2009 at 4:24 am

    Those really look good. You really can put that icing on PERFECT!! Thanks for sharing.

  3. 3 Elizabeth 26 January 2009 at 8:53 pm

    Those are so cute, and I am totally with you on the buttermilk!

  4. 4 ingrid 26 January 2009 at 10:53 pm

    Those came out cute! I’ve made their recipe for Christmas cupcakes for my babygirl’s class party. You reminded me I meant to make some for home. I didn’t get to try them so I don’t know how they came out.

  5. 5 Manuel 5 February 2009 at 11:00 pm

    These would be perfect for V day with red velvet cake mix.

  6. 6 Dana 13 February 2009 at 4:56 am

    I just finished frosting my last cupcake and all I can say is WOW!! Those are the best! I will forever use buttermilk in my cupcake recipe! Thanks for the great tip, although mine are not as cute as yours, I am sure my son’s 3rd grade class will think that they are amazing! Happy Valentine’s Day!!!


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