Homemade Yellow Cake Mix

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Yellow Cake Mix Recipe

This year, I’m on a quest to make my own baking mixes. It’s been ages since I’ve used store-bought mixes, (probably at least 12 years), but I’m at a point in life where it would be really handy to have mixes sitting in my pantry ready to go. I developed a buttermilk pancake mix over Christmas break that we’re crazy about. This week I decided to work on a yellow cake mix.

After baking (and tasting) eight different cakes (tough job, I know), I’ve arrived at the winner. This mix makes a yellow cake that’s light, fluffy and flavorful. It smells amazing; and bakes up to the same size as a store-bought cake mix, which means when a recipe calls for a store-bought mix, you can grab this one instead. And major bonus: it doesn’t include any of the aluminum, food coloring or other questionable ingredients that you’ll find listed on the side of that store-bought cake mix.

I also happen to think this mix makes a tastier cake, but try it yourself, and see what you think. Here’s the recipe.

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Homemade Yellow Cake Mix

Homemade Yellow Cake Mix

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This homemade yellow cake mix is cheaper and tastier than store-bought, and free of questionable ingredients.

  • Total Time: 2 minutes
  • Yield: 1 cake mix 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 21/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 11/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Measure ingredients into mixing bowl, and stir well to combine.

Store finished cake mix in a quart jar, or another air-tight container.

Notes

  • Measure out your flour by spooning it into a measuring cup. Just let it pile up into a hill (don’t shake it down). Then, level off the top with a knife. This is the key to a light and fluffy cake. If you scoop the flour out of the bag with the measuring cup, the flour will be more tightly packed in the cup, and you’ll end up with extra flour and a denser cake.
  • This mix fits in a quart-size container.
  • Use in any recipe that calls for a box of yellow cake mix. Just be sure to add a teaspoon or two of vanilla to the recipe. Store-bought mixes contain powdered vanilla, so you don’t want to miss out on this tasty ingredient.

Free Printable Yellow Cake Mix Labels

Printable Labels for Yellow Cake Mix

Here are some free, printable labels that you can use to label your cake mix.

They’re designed to fit full-sheet shipping labels. Use Avery 8165, if you have an inkjet printer or Avery 5265, if you have a laser printer.

Regular canning jars have raised lettering on their sides, and the labels don’t go over those very well. I would recommend using a smooth-sided jar. Ball sells a smooth jar, and it’s available at most craft stores. I’ve also been buying smooth jars when I spot them at thrift stores and yard sales.

If you’re using Google’s Chrome browser, our printables may not print properly. Click here for printing help.

How to Use Your Cake Mix

You can use your homemade cake mix in any recipe that calls for a box of yellow cake mix.

To make your own yellow cake from scratch, just follow these instructions.

Homemade Yellow Cake

Homemade Yellow Cake Recipe

This recipe will make (1) 13×9″ cake or (2) 8×8″ or 9×9″ cakes.
Use my Pan Substitutions Chart to see what other pan sizes will work.

Ingredients:

1 homemade yellow cake mix
3 large eggs
1 stick of butter, softened
1-1/4 cup milk
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

What You Do:

Yellow Cake Mix in Mixing Bowl

Pour your cake mix into a mixing bowl.

Note: I used my mixer to make my cake batter, but there’s no reason you can’t do it by hand.

Cut in the Butter

Cut the butter up into smaller pieces, and add them to your mixing bowl. Work the butter into your flour, until it’s well integrated.

Tip: Pull your butter and eggs out an hour or two before you plan to make your cake, so they have time to come to room temperature. But, don’t sweat it if you forget, or simply don’t have the time for that. You can soften butter in the microwave by microwaving it for 10 seconds at a time, until it’s soft, but not melted. I usually microwave my butter for 10 seconds. Then, flip it onto a different side, and microwave it for another 10 seconds.

Beat the Eggs

Beat the eggs with a whisk or fork. Add the vanilla to your eggs. Then, pour the egg mixture into your flour, and mix to combine.

Yellow Cake BatterSlowly add the milk, and mix just until the batter comes together. To keep the cake light and fluffy, you don’t want to work the batter any more than you have to.

Grease and Flour the Pan

Butter and flour your cake pan(s).

Yellow Cakes Ready for Oven

Then, pour the batter into the pan(s), and bake at 350 degrees. Figure on around 30 minutes for a 13×9″ cake, and around 28 minutes for two 8×8″ or two 9×9″ cakes. Bake times may vary a bit from oven to oven, so keep an eye on it towards the end of the bake time. Your cake(s) are done when the edges are golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Yellow Cake

Allow your cake(s) to cool for at least 10 minutes before you remove them from the pan. Then, frost, and enjoy!

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Yellow Cake

Homemade Yellow Cake Recipe

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No reviews

Forget the box mix. Here’s how to make a yellow cake from scratch.

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 1 13x9 cake or 2 8x8 or 9x9 cakes 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 homemade yellow cake mix (recipe on MyFrugalHome.com)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 stick of butter, softened
  • 11/4 cup milk
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Pour cake mix into mixing bowl.

Cut butter into smaller pieces, and add to mixing bowl. Work butter into flour, until it’s well integrated.

Beat eggs. Then, add vanilla to eggs. Pour egg mixture into flour, and mix to combine.

Slowly add milk, and mix just until the batter comes together.

Butter and flour your cake pan(s).

Then, pour the batter into the pan(s), and bake at 350 degrees. 30 minutes for a 13×9″ cake; 28 minutes for two 8×8″ or two 9×9″ cakes.

Allow cake(s) to cool for at least 10 minutes before removing from the pan.

Notes

  • This recipe will make (1) 13Ă—9″ cake or (2) 8Ă—8″ or 9Ă—9″ cakes.

Buttercream Frosting

Use my buttercream frosting or my cream cheese frosting to top your cake.

Psst …

You can also use this yellow cake mix to make individual mug cakes. Check it out …

More Mixes to Try

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23 Comments

  1. Yum-O!!! Can’t wait to try it for myself. Thank you. I try to find a “from scratch” recipe for just about everything and I appreciate that you always pass along a great recipe so I don’t have to do all the testing myself…. In this case it’s my waistline that is reaping the benefits ?

    1. Happy to share. I have a big list of recipes that I plan to develop over the next couple months. So stay tuned 🙂

  2. This recipe sounds great and I will definitely try it! I can’t wait for you to post a chocolate cake recipe! Thanks!

    1. Well you’re in luck because that’s the next one I’ll be sharing. I’ll be making my first test cake later today 🙂

    1. You’re Welcome 🙂 And yep, that’s exactly what I would do. I don’t know how much cocoa usually comes in a store-bought marble cake mix, but I would just add it a bit at a time, until you get a color you like.

      1. Thank you!
        And “taste-testing” would work too, I bet!
        Sounds like a tough job, tasting chocolate batter! :o)

  3. Love your recipes and blog. Very useful information and it’s nice to know you have perfected your recipes through trial and error. 🙂 I cannot wait to make the cake mixes and ranch mix.

  4. I’ve seen a recipe for 3 ingredient banana bread. 3 ripe bananas, 2 eggs and a box of yellow cake mix. Hmmmm…

    Also wondering if you’ve thought of doing rice mixes. Mexican rice, yellow rice…anything to avoid the salt in Rice a Roni 🙂

    1. Hi Kelly, That sounds like an easy (and healthy) recipe for banana bread. You could definitely use this homemade yellow cake mix for that recipe. I just may have to try it myself 🙂 I hadn’t thought of doing rice mixes, but it’s a great idea. I’ll add it to my list. I have another dozen or so mixes that I plan to develop.

  5. I tried this recipe for cupcakes today, while I was bored home alone, and it is incredible! I’ve always done the “semi-homemade” method and added eggs and real butter to a store bought cake mix, but I think I’ll keep this one 🙂 thanks so much! I’m having a great Sunday eating cupcakes and watching golf lol

  6. I used this recipe and added a small box of strawberry jell-o to it and strawberry cake mix it is. thanks for the guideline I have lots of ideas for using this recipe

  7. Can This cake mix be used to make a pumpkin dump cake? It says not to use the ingredients on the back of the box just the cake mix.Thanks in advance for a reply. I’m still gonna try this mix for a yellow cake for Halloween.

    1. Hi Brittany,

      I did a time test recently, but I can’t seem to find the paper where I scribbled down the baking times. I’ll look again, and do another time test, if I don’t find it.

  8. Can I make regular cupcakes with this recipe? If so what temperature do I set my oven to and how long do I bake them for? Please let me know

  9. When I prep a cake pan for baking what I do is reserve a small amount of cake mix and flour the pan with that instead of flour.

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