I got this white velvet cake recipe from a friend who also does cakes. I know it’s from a box, but it is so good. Loads of people have tried this cake, and I have had great response. One reader who commented on Facebook sent me a picture of a wonderful Mickey Mouse cake for her son, and had this to say, “I made my son’s birthday cake with your white velvet cake recipe layered with mocha cake, oh my goodness the white velvet is hands down the best white cake I have ever had! Thanks for the recipe!” You will be glad you tried it too.
I sometimes double the recipe, and the batter half way fills 2 – 8×2″ pans and 2 – 10×2″ pans. That gives me a great 2 tiered cake with enough cake top to level off.
Ingredients:
1 box white cake mix
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/3 cups water
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
Mix the water,eggs, sour cream, and vanilla with paddle attachment then add the other four ingredients. Beat slowly for 30 seconds and then on high for 2 minutes. Makes about 7 1/2 cups batter to fill two full 8″ rounds.
Bake as directed by box instructions. 
Added to Cake Week 2012! can’t wait! Thanks for contributing
Hi Jodi. I was wondering since I don’t have the box, what tempature do you cook it at and for how long? I appreciate it. Thanks. Love your blog
Cook at 350 25-28 minutes cupcakes 15-17 check with a toothpick. Let me know how it turns out. Thanks!
How’d it turn out?
Hi,
I made this cake for my daughter’s birthday on May 15th. It came our great. I baked it in a 9×13 dish with the wet strips and it came out perfectly even. I have never had that happen. No leveling required. My husband loved the cake and even said he could eat it by itself. I plan to use this recipe from now on. Thanks for sharing.
I am so glad you had so much success. It makes me happy to know that things are working for people. Thank you so much for sharing.
So you just mix the wet ingredients – you don’t beat them?
Yup – That’s all you do. It’s a really simple cake.
Let me know how it turns out.
May I ask what size cake box.. as in how many grams of mix? I’m in Australia and I am not sure if it is just the standard? the cake look amazing and I’d love to make it but I don’t usually use cake mix,. I make things from scratch 🙂
I know – I generally make things from scratch too, but I love this cake. So many people have tried it and love it, so I just stick with what works. The cake boxes here are 18.25 oz (1 lb 2.25 oz) or 517 g. I hope that’s helpful. Let me know how it turns out.
Hey Jodi!
I can’t wait to try this recipe, but I have a couple of questions. Is there no butter or oil in this recipe? Also, what kind of flour is used, cake flour, all-purpose…?
Thanks for asking, and I’m so glad you are going to try this recipe. It has not butter or oil. The sour cream provides the fat needed, I guess. I just use all purpose flour. For some of my other cake recipes I use cake flour, but I’ve never needed to try it with this one. I don’t think this cake can disappoint. Let me know how it turns out.
Hi there! Can you say which kind of box mix you use? I’m hoping to find one that doesn’t have any dairy or egg products already in it. I have a really moist white cake recipe I like, but it has a large crumb and I found it’s not as pretty for layer cakes as one with smaller crumbs, which hold a better, crisper shape (mine kind of crumbles a bit and looks sloppy when you cut it–it’s really a cupcake recipe, and is great for that, but is not . Yours looks pretty great, so I’d love to try it!
You know, I just buy whatever is on sale. I really have wanted to have a taste test between the different brands because I’d be curious. It’s seemed to taste great no matter which one I’m using. I hope you enjoy.
Thanks so much for your reply! I think I’ll give it a try this weekend!
Tried your recipe and it turned out great, I don’t usually like cake but this was delicious!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
http://egrausefamily.blogspot.com/2012/08/rainbow-party.html
I’m so glad you tried it and had success. It really is a great recipe. Your daughter’s party looked fabulous. I’m so happy that my posts were helpful, and I really appreciate you linking back. Thanks so much!
Hi i was just wondering how many boxes you used for the rain bow cake?? 🙂
thanks so much 🙂
I used three boxes and 8 inch pans. Each boxade two of the colors. Hope that helps.
I am also wondering how many boxes you used for the rainbow cake and what size pans?
I used 8 inch pans and did 3 boxes. Enjoy!
Hi, would something like the Wilton food gel coloring work or only use the liquid? Thanks!
Oops, I meant to post this on the rainbow cake post, but I just saw you did use the Wilton gel. Sorry! 🙂
Hi, How do you use wet strips to make the cake even? And what are they? Thanks!
Hi! Sorry it took me a few days to write back. I’ve been on vacation. Baking strips are basically a strip you dip in water and pin to the side of your pan. It keeps the edge of the pan cool so that the edge doesn’t cook faster than the inside. It helps the center of the cake to not bubble up as high as the outside cooks faster. Here is a link to some on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000DDXL6/?tag=hyprod-20&hvadid=15468074019&hvpos=1o3&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=960705251874054782&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&ref=asc_df_B0000DDXL6 Hope that helps.
Hi Jodi,
I’m in Australia and saw your recipe here and would love to try this recipe to bake a cake for my niece 2nd birthday. For the cake mix we have here generally ask for vegetable oil, do I not need to add any additional ingredients requested on the box but instead just add the additional ingredients you suggested? (In this case, like you mentioned in one of the post, sour cream replaced oil/butter?) Thanks!!
KC
Yup, you have it KC. Just ignore the box recipe completely. I hope you love it.
Thanks! Just wondering if this recipe is suitable for covering with fondant? Many thanks !!
Yup – it works great. I do most of my cakes in fondant, and this is my #1 white cake recipe.
I made this recipe for my daughter’s first birthday. I made six 8″ rounds – one in each color of the rainbow. I also had some left over for cupcakes (taste testing!) and it is delicious. So glad I found the link on Pinterest. Thanks!
What a beautiful cake, I want to make it for my daughter’s fifth birthday party. Could you give me the recipe for your fondant? What a great idea!
I made this for our Easter gathering and the cake was delish! I will be making this again for my daughter’s upcoming birthday!
Yeah! I’m so glad you loved it. We’re doing it for my daughter’s birthday this weekend too.
Have you tried using a box chocolate cake mix instead of the vanilla? curious !
I actually have tried, and it didn’t work as well. It was still edible but just not great. Really good question.
Your recipe says 1 boxed cake mix, the cake mix i have is betty crocker and it’s 16.25oz. I know betty crocker has downsized from 18.25oz. how many ounces does this recipe call for?
So interesting! I just checked the boxes I used, and they are 15.25 oz. I hadn’t paid attention until now. I wonder why there is a discrepancy. My Betty Crocker is 15.25 too. I have both Betty Crocker and Pillsbury. I hope that’s helpful. It’s odd though.
What kind of flour? All purpose or self rising?
Just all purpose. LEt me know what you think!
It turned out well I really like the cake it is fluffy and a good consistency I will be making the rainbow cake for my nephew’s party next weekend so glad I found your recipe it really is great!
I’m so glad you love it. Have fun making the rainbow cake. It’s a crowd pleaser. Thanks so much for commenting!
i’ve used this recipe with a chocolate mix and i added cocoa powder and it worked fine. problem is i can’t remember how much i used. start with 1/4 cup but i wouldn’t go past 1/2 cup. you’d end up with a dry cake.
Ooo – I’m totally going to experiment with that. I tried it once, not thinking to add the cocoa powder. I bet that’s the key. Thanks so much!!
What if all I have is a hand mixer and don’t have a standing one with a paddle attachment?
Hey there. Just use the hand mixer and mix it until it is completely combined. It will be fine with what you have. Let me know what you think! It’s funny, my birthday was last week, and my friend made it for me for my birthday. I said, “Wow, this is really good cake.” She said, “I hope so. It’s you’re recipe.” I hope you like it as much as I do.
Hello there,
Thank you for all your tips. They are brilliant. I am making a cake for my brothers wedding soon (first wedding cake aaagh ). The top tier is 8 inch but my middle tier is 10 inch. How would I change ingredient quantities for this please
Hi! Ooo – a wedding cake. Have fun! I hope it goes really well. I’m actually a pretty bad person to ask about this. I always just double or triple the recipe without adjusting…especially since it is calling for a full box cake in this recipe. Since I freeze cakes and cupcakes, I just freeze the extra for later use. So, for an 8 inch and a 10 inch, I’d triple the recipe. The extra batter I’d throw into cupcake tins or a six inch and freeze. I wish I had better numbers for you so you could be more exact, but I’d just be making it up, and I don’t want to do that – especially since it is a wedding cake. I hope it goes really well. I don’t think you’d be disappointed in this recipe. Thanks!
Apologies for late reply. I only saw it now. Thank you for your advice. I will give it a go and let you know how I get. Thanks again
Hiya;
Iam making this mermaid cake for my daughters 6th birthday and found you! I am in NZ and just curious. Do you just use any old cake mix in a box? I thought it had all the ingredients ready inside you just have to add wet mix. Do you still have to add the flour etc that you stated on the recipe above?
Cheers
Hello, Yes – You use any old white cake mix. You then add all the ingredients in the recipe. I know it seems weird and counter-intuitive, but it’s a great cake I’m sure you will enjoy. Let me know how it goes.
I have been making this recipe since last December, yummy! So easy and fool proof. I am not a baker but this cake has WOW’d my friends and nobody knows it comes from a box lol. I call it semi-homemade cake.
I linked to your blog on a post I made: http://www.craftinginthenight.com/
Thanks so much for linking back. I’m so glad you like this cake. My birthday was in January, and a friend of mine made me a cake. I said, “This is really good cake. I love it.” She said, “Well, you should. It’s your recipe.” Ha! I’m glad you have had so much success.
Hi
I am going to attempt to make the rainbow cake for my daughter’s first birthday and was going to use this recipe. I’ve heard great things about it. However I am confused about the size cake mix needed for the listed ingredients in one comment I see 18.25 and another 15.25 . I bought the 18.25 size are the ingredient amounts listed correct for this cake mix size? Thanks so much I just don’t want to mess it up.
Umm…Interesting…I just went and looked at the three box cake mixes I have on hand and they are three different sizes. I had no idea. None of mine are 18.25 oz though. All are smaller. I am not quite sure. I would just go for it. I’ve never really paid attention to the size and have never had problems. If you do try it, will you report back with the results? I really hope it goes well!
Just stir together ingredients? No need to beat for 2 minutes as box says?
Sorry if I didn’t make that clear. Follow the box instructions for beating and baking time. Let me know what you think!
Do I not need to beat for 2 minutes as directions on bos says?
I am going to make this tonight, can’t wait! I’m in Scotland and our box cake mix are 230g, so I am going to try using 2 packs.
Sounds good. Let me know how it turns out!
for a lemon cake can I use box lemon cake mix and instead of vanilla use lemon extract?
I’m not quite sure. I would love to know the results if you tried it. I can say, I tried to do a chocolate box cake with the same additions, and it wasn’t as good. It wasn’t horrible, but I have better chocolate cake recipes. Let me know if you try t and what you think.
FYI- unless Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker ships different size boxes of cake mixes to different areas of the U.S., the amount in Duncan Hines now is 16.25 and Betty Crocker is 15.25. I have had to recalculate all the ingredients in my cake recipes that use a box mix as the base.
Oh no! I switch off depending on what’s on sale. I know I just made a Pillsbury that is 15.25, and it turned out greats. Thanks for the heads up. This is great to know!
How many cupcakes does the box make?
This will make 24-30 cupcakes.
Made this for the first time and frosted it with whipped cream and coconut and the men in our family went completely crazy over it. They thought it was made from scratch 🙂 Thanks for sharing this! can’t wait to make some cupcakes with this recipe.
So much fun to hear your reports. I’m glad you love it as much as we do. My husband was never really a cake guy, but all of that has changed now. Enjoy those cupcakes!
I am planning to make a rainbow cake and wondering how much food coloring did you put in each 8in. pan? Did the colors come out vibrant?
thanks!!!
I used gel food coloring. I’m not sure how much I added. I would definitely just keep adding until it looks vibrant enough for you. I am sorry I don’t have more details than that. I hope it goes well.
Wish I had put the batter in 9 inch pans instead of the recommended 8 inch. The pans were too full and stuck to the rim of the pans. Got them out, but the edges of both layers broke off. Since my cake is for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving and I don’t want to start over, I hope I can camouflage with the frosting. ?
So sorry. I always recommend putting parchment on the bottom circle and then doing a nice coating of Crisco or butter on the sides and rim covered with flour. I’m so sorry about your experience. I still hope it tasted great.
Hi!! I am going to attempt your rainbow cake for my sons birthday and was wondering with the cake mix does it matter if it is a butter cake or vanilla cake? I am in Australia and these are our options. Thank you for sharing how to do this. I hope mine turns out half as good as yours!!
I don’t think it will matter. I would say that the more stable the cake the better. A delicious pound cake like this recipe I have (https://meaningfulmama.com/day-327-perfect-pound-cake.html) will create a more sturdy cake. I hope that helps. Enjoy. Send along pictures if you can!
This cake is so good, I could not not stop eating it..
Yay! It’s always a hit here too. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment so others know the quality of the recipe!
Can you substitute anything for the sour cream?
I’ve never experimented with it. If you figure it out, let me know. Sorry I’m not much help.
Hello! Stumbled across this recipe last eek and decided to use it for my mom’s birthday cake. It’s 3 tiered and a double layer each. I just popped them into the oven. I didn’t even think about seeing how long I can freeze the cakes for? Her irthday is this weekend. Will it be ok until this Friday, when I decorate it?
OH man. I’m so behind on my comment section. I’m sorry! I hope you figured it out, and it was wonderful. You can freeze a cake for a few months, so you were absolutely fine. Never store a cake in a refrigerator though. That will dry it out. I’m sorry. Let me know what you thought!
It was wonderful!!! Thanks so much for the recipe. It came out absolutely perfect and everybody loved it. I used the White velvet cake recipe and the buttercream. I’m not sure if I’m linking this right or not, but here is a picture of it completed 🙂 Thanks again! https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16265958_10206361643040335_6656679532437477052_n.jpg?oh=2dd4c9c7a0ea370233a2541a9c401e77&oe=590BCC67.
Wow! Your cake is absolutely beautiful. Great work. I bet everyone was thrilled. I am so thankful for your review and am so glad that everyone enjoyed the flavor of the cake. It’s definitely my favorite!
So there is no oil or butter in this cake
Correct! The sour cream adds some of that moisture in. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed! I hope you enjoy it!
Hi is the cake white? Just wondering because the recipe calls for whole eggs not egg whites? Thank u
Yes, it is white in color. The eggs don’t seem to impact that. I hope you enjoy it. Sorry it took so long to get back. I’ve been out of town.
i found instead of just adding 1 cup flour use 1 cup cake flour.. oh my what a differnce..
Ooo – I’ll need to try that. Thank so much for that idea.