Learn how to doctor up a chocolate cake mix! Add some homemade frosting and no one will ever know this yummy cake started with a cake mix! Lots of tips and step-by-step photos teach you how to bake this doctored chocolate cake mix recipe!
When you think of dessert what do you think of? I most often think of cake, even though the cake isn't really my favorite, cake is iconic. I adore my from-scratch chocolate cake recipe, but if you prefer to start with a cake mix then this recipe is for you. It's easy and delicious!
Let's get to the recipe!
For a yellow cake mix, I have a slightly different recipe, check this doctored yellow cake recipe here.
Ingredients
To doctor up a chocolate cake mix you'll need:
- Chocolate Cake Mix. Use your favorite, after testing many my family decided on Duncan Hine's Devil's Food cake mix. You don't need the ingredients called for on the box.
- Box of Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix. You only need the dry pudding mix, none of the ingredients called for on the box. Another recipe I use loving a box of pudding mix for is this pudding banana bread recipe.
- Cocoa Powder. I find that boxed chocolate cake mixes sometimes aren't very chocolatey so I like to add a couple of tablespoons of cocoa powder. I prefer Dutch Cocoa Powder but you can use natural cocoa powder.
- Large Eggs. The eggs should be at room temperature so they can be properly incorporated into the rest of the batter.
- Vegetable Oil. Oil creates an incredibly moist and spongey cake.
- Sour Cream. Sour cream packs fat and moisture for a delicious cake.
- Buttermilk.
- Vanilla. Vanilla pairs beautifully with chocolate!
- Hot Coffee. I love adding coffee to chocolate desserts. It does not make them taste like coffee at all, it makes the chocolate stronger and deeper in flavor.
- Mini Chocolate Chips. Now you don't have to add these mini chocolate chips but I've never heard anyone complain about a little bite of chocolate in their cake!
Frost the cake with your favorite frosting. You could try my chocolate buttercream frosting, vanilla buttercream, or coffee buttercream.
For ingredient quantities please reference the recipe card below. On the recipe card there is a button for US or M (Metric) measurements.
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350F/180C and spray two 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pans with non-stick baking spray, my preferences are Bakers Joy or Pam for Baking. Set the pans aside.
In a large mixing bowl mix together everything except the hot coffee and mini chocolate chips. Mix until fully combined, you want to make sure you mix well enough that there are no traces of egg left behind but you don't want to overmix the batter.
Then mix in the hot coffee, it will thin the batter out then fold in the chocolate chips.
Pour the cake batter evenly between the two prepared pans and bake. For 8-inch cakes I found they baked in the 25-30 minute mark as opposed to the longer times the cake box suggested. Let the cake pans cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before inverting the cake out directly onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Then frost with your favorite frosting.
Here I used the Italian Meringue Buttercream Recipe and filled it with my chocolate whipped cream recipe and added mini chocolate chips on top to be able to tell people that the cake is chocolate without having to tell them.
How to freeze
Cake layers are perfect for freezing. To freeze the cake layers let them cool completely on a wire rack. Once totally cooled wrap an individual cake layer in plastic wrap tightly, then wrap again, and finally wrap in aluminum foil. The three layers prevent freezer burn from happening.
When ready to use the cake layers place the wrapped cake layer on the counter at room temperature for an hour or two to thaw. Depending on how frozen your cake layer is and how warm the room temperature affects how long the cake will take to thaw out.
More recipes start with a cake mix
My better than sex cake starts with a chocolate cake mix too!
This simple cake mix banana bread is delish!
If you love super easy and chocolate then try this chocolate dump cake recipe.
This wine-soaked crack cake is a favorite among my friends!
★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!
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PrintRecipe Card
Doctored Chocolate Cake Mix
Learn how to doctor up a chocolate cake mix! Add some homemade frosting and no one will ever know this yummy cake started with a cake mix! Lots of tips and step-by-step photos teach you how to bake this doctored chocolate cake mix recipe!
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 Slices 1x
Ingredients
- 1 - 15.25oz Box of Chocolate Cake Mix
- 1-3.9oz Box of Dry Chocolate Pudding Mix
- 2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder, I prefer Dutch Cocoa Powder
- 4 Large Eggs, at room temperature
- 6oz (¾ Cup) Vegetable Oil
- 6oz (¾ Cup) Sour Cream
- 4oz (½ Cup) Buttermilk
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
- 4oz (½ Cup) Hot Coffee
- 85 grams (½ Cups) Mini Chocolate Chips, optional
Homemade Frosting
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F/180C and spray two 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pans with non-stick baking spray, my preferences are Bakers Joy or Pam for Baking. Set the pans aside.
- In a large bowl mix together everything except the hot coffee and mini chocolate chips. Mix until fully combined, you want to make sure you mix well enough that there are no traces of egg left behind but you don't want to overmix the batter. Then mix in the hot coffee, it will thin the batter out then fold in the chocolate chips.
- Pour the cake batter evenly between the two prepared pans and bake. For 8-inch cakes I found they baked in the 25-30 minute mark as opposed to the longer times the cake box suggested. Let the cake pans cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before inverting the cake out directly onto a wire rack to cool completely. Then frost with your favorite frosting.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Desser
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
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Wayne says
This "Doctored" recipe looks and sounds delicious and I'm for sure it will "cure whatever ails me". However, I just don't have the "patients" to make it myself.
Elizabeth Waterson says
LOL
Judi says
Absolutely delicious!!!
Elizabeth Waterson says
Thank you so much for the 5-star review Judi! I really appreciate it!! Take care. XX Liz
Lori says
Can I leave out the pudding mix? I forgot to get chocolate and only have vanilla.
Elizabeth Waterson says
Hi Lori, you can but I really think it adds to the cake. You could use the vanilla pudding mix though and if you had some cocoa powder you could add a tablespoon or two to it. Let me know if you try the recipe! XX Liz
Rita says
This sounds delish!! Can I use a 9x13 or bundt pan instead of layer cake pans?
Elizabeth Waterson says
Yes totally, just adjust the baking time to a bit longer! Goodluck! XX Liz
cheryl says
AWESOME recipe!! We crave this cake and everyone requests it for potlucks and parties
Elizabeth Waterson says
Hi Cheryl, thanks so much for the review, so pleased you enjoyed the recipe! May I ask a huge favor, please? Would you be so kind as to leave a star rating next time you leave a review, it helps me and my other readers so much! Thank you!! XX Liz
CAROL J NASON says
what is a good sub for sour cream?
Elizabeth Waterson says
You could use Greek Yogurt, I would use full-fat!! Please let me know if you try the recipe! XX Liz
MELINDA says
GREAT! They all thought it was homemade. Of course, these are people who think box cake IS homemade.
Elizabeth Waterson says
Thanks for the lovely review Melinda! XX Liz
LTLisa says
This recipe is absolutely delicious! I'm kind of embarrassed that it made a softer and better chocolate cake than I make from scratch. I used vanilla pudding because it was what I had and Betty Crocker supermoist fudge cake mix. Thank you!
Elizabeth Waterson says
Thank you for the lovely 5-star review Lisa, so pleased you enjoyed the cake! Take care. XX Liz
Anonymous says
Denise Moore says
It would have been grate if you had listed how much of each ingredient to use.
Elizabeth Waterson says
Hi Denise, the recipe quantities are listed in the recipe card. I am guessing you didn't scroll down long enough.
Susanne says
I made this recipe using German Chocolate cake mix (Duncan Hines 13.25 oz) with no other modifications and it was delicious! I've also made Doctored Yellow Cake Mix recipe with equally wonderful results. Great recipes!
Elizabeth Waterson says
So glad you like this cake Susanne! Thanks for the 5-star review! XX Liz
Angie says
Sounds delicious! Does this recipe work well with cupcakes? If so how long would you bake them? Thanks!
Elizabeth Waterson says
I personally have not but I think around 15 minutes would work well! Goodluck please report back if you try! XX Liz
Michelle says
Can I use this recipe for cupcakes? I have a daughter asking for a large amount of cake for a large amount of people and i want to make cupcakes.
Elizabeth Waterson says
Hi Michelle, I personally have not but I think around 15 minutes would work well! Goodluck please report back if you try! XX Liz
Mia says
This cake was a huge hit & easy to make! It was really moist and very chocolatey. A lot of people went back for seconds! We didn’t have hot coffee so I just used what was left from our coffee pot that day and it was perfect! I also didn’t have mini chocolate chips but I did add full-size and they were still melty and delicious.