Take your gluten free cake mix to a whole new level. I am sharing some simple gluten free cake mix hacks that will help your baked desserts taste homemade. If you are looking for an extraordinary cake made with a cake mix, you can improve your cake mix with one of my hacks. I also share my favorite store-bought gluten free cake mixes.
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Gluten free box cake mixes can vary widely depending on the ingredients manufacturers use. Some gluten free mixes have a lot of rice flour because it is a cheap ingredient to use. Often, people find that a cake mix’s texture or taste doesn’t meet their standards, so they look for ways to improve it.
If you want your cake mix to taste better, you can adjust the mix to improve the final result. If you are trying to save time by using a cake mix as a base, you can easily add your own personal touch.
If you are new to gluten free, I have a ton of Gluten Free Resources to help you learn how to cook and bake gluten free. You may also love reading about my Best Kitchen Tools For Baking Cake. The right equipment helps you work more efficiently and can help your cakes turn out perfectly.
Why Gluten Free Cake Mix Often Turns Out Gritty
Gritty texture is the most common complaint I hear about gluten-free box cake mix. This grittiness happens because most gluten-free box mixes rely on rice flour because it is inexpensive, and rice flour hydrates more slowly than wheat flour.
If you bake the cake right away, the rice flour has not had time to soften, and you end up with a sandy texture. I always recommend letting your batter rest in the pan for at least 15 minutes before you put it in the oven. This gives the rice time to soften, which eliminates the grit.
Best Store-Bought Gluten Free Cake Mixes:
Gluten-free cake mix has come a long way since we first went gluten free back in 2013. Here are the brands I actually use and feel comfortable recommending:
You can also easily make a homemade cake mix. I have recipes for a Gluten Free Vanilla Cake Mix and a Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix if you prefer to make your own.
- King Arthur Gluten Free Cake Mix – They have three flavors of gluten free cake mix. Classic Yellow Cake Mix, Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix, and Funfetti Cake Mix. This is one of my favorites and works very well.
- Betty Crocker GF Cake Mix – They make gluten free chocolate, yellow cake, and devil’s food cake mixes. I really like this company’s devil’s food cake mix.
- Bob’s Red Mill – They make gluten free chocolate and vanilla cake mixes, plus they have a grain-free chocolate cake mix. This brand benefits from resting the batter for 15 minutes.
- Simple Mills – They have both gluten free chocolate and vanilla cake mixes. Note that their cake mixes contain almond flour and are unsafe for those with nut allergies.
- Pamela’s Products- They have two flavors of gluten free cake mix. Vanilla and chocolate.
- Pillsbury GF Cake Mix – They have two flavors of gluten free cake mix available: vanilla and funfetti. (I was surprised they don’t offer a chocolate cake mix.)
- Open Nature – This is an in-house brand sold at Safeway and other Albertsons chain grocery stores. These are the least expensive mixes I have found at $2.99 per box. They make both gluten free vanilla and chocolate cake mixes. This brand NEEDS that 15-minute batter rest to soften the rice flour. (This brand only makes one 9-inch cake. If you want to make a layer cake, buy two boxes.)
- Cup4Cup Cake Mix – They make gluten-free chocolate and yellow cake mixes. This was one of my favorites.
Ways To Improve Gluten Free Cake Mix:
There are many ways to doctor cake mix for a more homemade taste and texture. Here are some common ways:
- Add one extra egg: It helps make the cake richer and softer.
- Substitute milk for water: Use milk instead of water in the cake mix. This will make the cake more flavorful and moist. This adds some fat and allows the top of the cake to get a little golden during baking.
- Add sour cream or yogurt: Adding sour cream or yogurt to the cake mix will give it a tangy flavor and moist texture. I added 8 ounces of yogurt to make these Gluten Free Lemon Yogurt Cakes. I added sour cream in my Gluten Free Chocolate Cake recipe, making it moist and richer in flavor.
- Use melted butter instead of oil: It adds rich flavor and creaminess and can make the cake more tender.
- Add applesauce: It helps retain moisture, so your cake stays moist and delicious. Applesauce helps keep this Gluten Free Spice Cake perfectly moist. Applesauce can also be used as an egg replacer, as my readers have used in my Gluten Free Lemon Brownies and these Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies.
- Add vanilla, lemon, orange, mint, or almond extract: A teaspoon of any of these extracts can easily vary the cake’s flavor. I like to add 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract to my Gluten Free Vanilla Cake during the holidays. When I do, I sprinkle crushed candy canes over the frosted top.
- Add pudding mix: Adding a package of instant pudding mix to the cake mix will make the cake tender and more flavorful. I used gluten free pudding mix to make this Gluten Free Raspberry Bundt Cake even better!
- Mix in chocolate chips, nuts, or fruit: Customizing the flavor by adding these to the cake mix can give it a more homemade taste and texture.
- Add spices: Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger can add a warm, comforting flavor.
- Use a different liquid: Instead of water or milk, try liquids like buttermilk, coffee, or soda to add different flavors to the cake. I swapped apple cider for the liquid in this Gluten Free Apple Cider Cake recipe.
Fun Ways To Use Gluten Free Cake Mix:
Cake mix can be used for more than just making a cake! Here are some fun ways to use cake mix:
- Cake batter pancakes and waffles: Use cake mix batter instead of pancake batter to make fluffy, sweet dessert-style pancakes or waffles.
- Cake batter cookies: Mix cake mix with butter, eggs, and vanilla extract to make soft and chewy cookies. Try this Gluten Free Cake Mix Cookie recipe.
- Cake batter donuts: Mix the cake mix in your donut recipe as I did in this Gluten Free Vanilla Donuts recipe.
- Gluten Free Dump Cake: Make a fun cake with cake mix, fruit pie filling, and butter. The Gluten Free Pumpkin Dump Cake recipe below is very popular.
Can I use a gluten-free chocolate cake mix as a base for another flavor, like German chocolate?
Yes, using gluten free chocolate cake mix to make another flavor like a German chocolate cake is a great idea.
Do different gluten-free cake mix brands weigh the same, and does it matter for doctoring recipes?
No, box weights definitely vary quite a bit, ranging from about 11 to 22 ounces depending on the brand’s starch ratio. In my experience, the exact amount doesn’t matter too much when you’re doctoring a mix. I usually add an extra egg or a box of pudding mix regardless of size, and it turns out fine. If you add pudding mix, look at the batter and add a bit more liquid if it seems too thick.
Is pudding mix gluten-free?
When using pudding mix to improve the texture of boxed cake mix, it is very important to read the labels to make sure the pudding mix is gluten free. Jell-O brand is gluten free, but double-check labels for specialty flavors they make. Most pudding flavors are gluten-free, but not all. For instance, Jell-O Instant Cheesecake Pudding & Pie Filling contains barley, which has gluten. It is always important to read the pudding ingredient label for gluten.
Need dairy-free swaps for these cake mix hacks?
I have tested using dairy-free yogurt, Earth Balance butter, and different plant milk options. I personally use either Oatly 4 Ingredient oat milk or almond milk. I have never had any issues swapping these ingredients when altering a cake mix recipe.
More Gluten Free Recipes with Cake Mix:
I truly hope you enjoy this recipe. I have been testing and creating gluten-free recipes for over 15 years. Creating gluten-free recipes that do not taste gluten-free is my goal for every recipe. Sometimes I only have to test a new recipe a couple of times, and others it takes multiple times. I do this so you get reliable, delicious results every time!
I am going to try to make a gluten free German chocolate cake. can I use a gf chocolate cake mix to get started
Hi April, that should be fine.
Thank you so much for these hacks. I love to bake and I recently met a couple about a year or so ago at church and we became best friends and she has a gluten allergy. I wanted to bake her a cake for her birthday and didn’t know what to do because she said she wasn’t to crazy about them, they were dry. She wanted one and doesn’t have family and sent me a recipe for the icing. I think I have the cake licked now. Thank You so much and God Bless You and I look forward to more recipes or hacks and I can invite her for a meal. lol.
You made my day with your kindness towards your friend, Melissa. She is blessed to have a friend like you.
Hi, I’m confused by the different weights of the boxed cake mixes you recommend. All (I think) say they make 2 cake layers, but they vary from 11 to 22 ounces, according to the package images, presumably due to the different flours. Are they interchangeable in the doctored recipes? I have the King Arthur mixes (the heaviest). I don’t want to have to experiment with several trial cakes before making a doctored cake for an upcoming party, so I’m hoping you can tell me what kind of adjustment they take. Thank you!
Hi Joan, You noted something that drives me crazy, and I fully agree. I wish gluten free cake mixes were the same. It is hard to know why they are so different, and I suspect it is partially the starch ratio…but without buying and baking each to see the final sizes, it is hard to know. As for doctoring a recipe, I have found the cake amount doesn’t matter too much. I like to add an extra egg or a box of pudding mix most often, and they turn out fine. Sometimes you do have to add a bit more liquid if you used pudding mix, so it is good to look at the cake batter and adjust if needed.
The Open Nature brand cake mixes only make ONE 8 or 9 inch layer so you need two boxes to make a typical layer cake. That is one reason they are less expensive.
Thank you so much for coming back to answer Joan’s question, Nancy.
Hi Sandy! I was wondering if you could take a GF yellow cake mix and make a kind of pound cake loaf or Bundt?
Thanks!
Hi Susan, you probably would want to do something like this recipe: https://www.fearlessdining.com/super-moist-gluten-free-raspberry-vanilla-pudding-bundt-cake/ I haven’t doctored cake mix to be a bundt cake specifically, but pudding mix would probably help.
Hi Sandi, I’m getting a cookbook together of all your recipes. I came across your Homemade Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix. Instruction #3 says to print out the recipe linked in the post so I can make the cake. Unfortunately I didn’t print it out and can’t find it on your site. Would you be able to send it to me please?
Have a wonderful weekend.
Diane
I do not understand what you mean by you are getting a cookbook of my recipes.
I think she means she’s putting together a cookbook of your recipes, like collating them so she has them all printed out.