Yes, my lovely, here it is – the best white cake you will ever put in your mouth, hands down. How to Make Moist and Tender White Cake….From a Box Mix! is the bomb, truly!
This cake is dense and moist, yet tender and delicate; it’s everything you hope for when a slice is set before you. Made from a box mix, I’d put this cake up against a made-from-scratch cake any day – it’s that heavenly.
Moist and Tender White Cake Recipe

This cake recipe was shared with me via my good friend, Karen Willard.
Howdy! Chef Alli Here. Let’s Get You Cookin’….Shall We?? 🙂
I have finally found the cake that’s above all cakes! And guess what? It’s made from a box mix….can you believe it?
My friend, Karen, is the source of this recipe and it took her about 10 seconds to turn me into a huge fan.
Thinking I might like a little variety for my birthday, Karen has offered several times to make a different type of cake. After threatening her life for even thinking such a thought, she relented.
That’s how darn GOOD this Moist and Tender White Layer Cake is. I want it for my birthday…..every. single. year!
What to Love About This Recipe for How to Make Moist and Tender White Cake….from a Box Mix!
- This cake tastes homemade. Like “in the kitchen all day” kind of homemade…..no lie.
- You can make it as a layer cake OR as a 9 x 13 cake – it’s super doable.
- It’s a great gift for anyone you want to make feel special.
How to do I make a box cake taste like homemade cake?
That is the $64,000 question! People have been wondering how to do so for years and years, myself included.
Have no fear. I’m going to share with you all the in and outs of making an irresistible white layer cake. You can do this!
Ingredients Needed to Make this Cake –
- White cake mix, I use a Betty Crocker cake mix since Karen does
- Coconut Milk (found in the Asian aisle, not the cocktail aisle)
- Vegetable or canola oil
- Egg whites
- Vanilla extract
- Almond extract
- Cream Cheese
- Milk
- Whipping cream
- Powdered sugar
- Sweetened flake coconut, toasted until golden brown, if desired
How to Make a Moist and Tender White Layer Cake in 5 Steps
- Preheat the oven. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric or stand mixer, make the cake batter; pour the batter into two 8-inch greased cake pans.
- Bake the cakes until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean; cool both cakes completely.
- Meanwhile, using an electric or stand mixer, make the whipped cream frosting.
- Once the cakes are fully cooled, place one layer cake onto a cake pedestal or platter, flat side up. Frost the bottom cake with about 1/3 of the prepared frosting, making sure you put a nice thick layer on top.
- Add the second layer cake to the first, placing it flat side down on top of the first layer cake. Finish frosting the sides and top of the cake with the remaining frosting. Sprinkle the top with as much coconut as desired, then chill the cake for at least 8 hours before serving.
Helpful Recipe Tips for Making Amazing White Cake
- The recipe suggests using 8-inch cake pans, but if you’ve only got 9-inch cake pans to work with, they will work fine – your cake just won’t be quite as tall since each layer won’t be as thick.
- You can double this recipe to make 4 layer cakes. I do this all the time, freezing the extra two cakes to use at a later time.
- Frozen layer cakes can be assembled and frosted before being thawed – it works great.
- This cake gets better as it rests a bit since it absorbs moisture from the whipped cream frosting. I like to chill it at least 8 hours before serving.
- I usually make this cake as a layer cake, but have also made it as a 9 x 13 cake, as well. Still super delish, just doesn’t have quite the “ooo-la-la” presentation that a layer cake does. (Why does a layer cake always taste 10 times more delicious than any other cake?? 🙂 )
- The coconut milk is a key ingredient in this cake – don’t you dare skip it! You will find coconut milk in the Asian section of your favorite grocer. When you open the can of coconut milk, be sure to stir it well.
More Favorite Cake Recipes to Enjoy –
- White Chocolate Strawberry Poke Cake
- Strawberry Lemon-Lava Angel Cakes
- Cranberry Butter Cake
- Honey Bun Cake
- Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cakes for Two
- Instant Pot Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pound Cake
- Berry Good No-Bake Cake
- Easy Chocolate Football Cake Tutorial
- Tender and Flaky Pie Crust – Step-by-Step
Printable Recipe for Moist and Tender White Cake….From a Box Mix!
Moist and Tender White Cake…..From a Box Mix!
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 box Betty Crocker white cake mix
- 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 3/4 cup canned coconut milk, not cream of coconut milk as is used for making cocktails
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 egg whites
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- pinch of kosher salt
- Frosting
For the Frosting
- 4 1/2 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 Tbs. milk
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. almond extract
- 3 cups whipping cream
- 2/3 cup sweetened flake coconut
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two round 8-inch cake pans; line the bottom of each one with parchment paper, then spray the parchment with nonstick spray, as well.
- In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer on low, combine the cake mix with the oil, coconut milk, water, egg whites, extracts, and salt. Beat the cake mix on medium-high speed for 2 minutes.
- Divide the cake batter evenly between the two prepared pans, smoothing the batter on top of each one. Using both hands, pick up each pan and gently rap it on the counter a bit so that any bubbles in the batter are released.
- Bake the cakes, uncovered, on the center oven rack for 25-30 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely. (Cakes may be chilled or frozen at this point until you are ready to frost them.)
- Meanwhile, prepare the frosting by placing the cream cheese into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese for a few seconds until it becomes smooth and creamy, beating in the milk, powdered sugar, and extracts.
- Continuing to beat the cream cheese mixture. slowly pour in the whipping cream. Beat the frosting until it's glossy and stiff peaks form. (The frosting should be spreadable, but should be stiff enough to hold its shape.)
- Place a cooled layer cake onto a cake pedestal or platter, rounded-side-down and flat-side-up; top with not quite half of the frosting, spreading it evenly over the top and sides of the cake. Sprinkle half of the coconut over the top of the frosted cake layer.
- Add the second cooled cake, this time placing it flat-side-down and rounded-side-up, on top of the first layer cake. Spread the remaining frosting over the top and the sides of the second layer, smoothing it evenly all over, as needed. Top the cake with the remaining coconut.
- Chill the cake for 6-8 hours before serving. As the cake chills, it will absorb moisture from the frosting, making it even more moist and delicious.
Notes
Helpful Recipe Tips for Making Amazing White Cake
- The recipe suggests using 8-inch cake pans, but if you’ve only got 9-inch cake pans to work with, they will work fine – your cake just won’t be quite as tall since each layer won’t be as thick.
- You can double this recipe to make 4 layer cakes. I do this all the time, freezing the extra two cakes to use at a later time.
- Frozen layer cakes can be assembled and frosted before being thawed – it works great.
- This cake gets better as it rests a bit since it absorbs moisture from the whipped cream frosting. I like to chill it at least 8 hours before serving.
- I usually make this cake as a layer cake, but have also made it as a 9 x 13 cake, as well. Still super delish, just doesn’t have quite the “ooo-la-la” that a layer cake does. (Why does a layer cake always taste 10 times than any other cake?? ? )
- The coconut milk is a key ingredient in this cake – don’t you dare skip it! You will find coconut milk in the Asian section of your favorite grocer. When you open the can of coconut milk, be sure to stir it well.
Nutrition
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Let’s Get You Cookin’,
Chef Alli
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Looking to make strawberry cupcakes for my little grandchildren. With a ribbon of strawberry jam running through them. And fresh strawberry frosting. I wanted both a light and tender outcome. Would this fill the bill? Love the coconut milk addition.
Hi there –
My best answer? I absolutely adore this recipe and my friend, Karen, (the originator of the recipe), makes me one every single year. I am not even kidding that I eat the entire cake by myself. It’s THAT good….especially if it’s get to sit in the fridge overnight to let the cake absorb the moisture from the frosting…yowza.
If you make this with the strawberry, can you let me know the outcome? I’d love to know what you think of it.
Sincerely,
Chef Alli
I made the cake an applied a crumb coat and it’s sitting in the fridge. The icing is not tight. I should have really thought this out better, but it tastes really good. I stuck it in the fridge with the cake, hoping it might thicken a bit. I don’t think I will be piping stars with this icing. Thank god for sprinkles. I did not add the coconut flakes. It tastes delicious and my daughter is going to love it!
Hi there –
I’m so sad to learn that the icing didn’t work for you. I’ve had that happen a time or two and I have never figured out WHY exactly. Typically, it works perfectly! And I agree – thank goodness for sprinkles!!
Sincerely,
Chef Alli