Baking takes time and patience to master; that is why cake mixes are heaven-sent! They are especially perfect for beginners because they only require staple pantry ingredients. They also come in different kinds. You will definitely find a mix that suits your liking, from the simple yellow cake to red velvet, chocolate, devil's food, and cheesecake.
To help you narrow down your choices, we've curated a list of the ten best cake mixes from brands like Pillsbury, Maya, Betty Crocker, and Duncan Hines. Further down, you can also read our buying guide, fact-checked and reviewed by registered nutritionist-dietitian Samantha Morales, to know which factors you need to consider when looking for a cake mix.
Quick List - Top Cake Mixes
Betty Crocker
Spongy Yellow Cake With a Mellow Taste That Pairs Well With Everything
Maya
Rich and Moist Chocolatey Goodness, Perfect as a Pick-Me-Up
Samantha began her career in clinical nutrition and weight management at a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines. Her practice allowed her to give nutrition counseling and plan modified diets for patients with medical conditions. Presently, she does private practice to focus on true holistic wellness - an approach that believes in aligning one's mind, body, and spiritual well-being.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
For more information, read through our buying guide below.
People love pre-made cake mixes for a reason. They are very convenient and require little effort to make. Their unique selling point is convenience, so a good cake mix should only need a few ingredients that you can easily find or include in your pantry staples like eggs, milk, butter, oil, and water.
Cake mixes that require only a few ingredients are great because this means you can make cakes anytime you want or anytime you're craving them. This also makes the overall cost cheaper since you might already have the ingredients you need in your home.
What is a cake without frosting? In order to decide which cake mix to get, also think about the frosting you intend to make. This is to make sure that the flavors will go well together. Here are some of the most common types of frosting and their best cake matches.
On the other hand, whipped cream by itself is not as stable as buttercream, but when you add powdered sugar, it gives the frosting body stability. As with buttercream, you can also add flavors to your whipped cream frosting to achieve your desired taste. It also pairs well with most cakes.
Cream cheese frosting is a variation of buttercream that adds a savory and tangy taste. When you hear cream cheese frosting, red velvet cake might be what pops into your mind - and there is no denying that they indeed pair exceptionally well together. But cream cheese frosting also pairs well with carrot cake, banana cake, or chocolate cake.
Some people prefer baking a cake from scratch over cake mixes because it is easy to substitute some ingredients that do not adhere to your diet when whipping your own. In addition to that, most cake mixes contain flour, which is a no-no if you're on a keto or gluten-free diet. However, nowadays, cake mixes tend to be inclusive as well.
You can find a gluten-free, sugar-free, whole wheat, or keto-friendly cake mix. For the health buffs and health-conscious, such options are helpful so you can still whip up your own cake without all the trouble of checking the ingredients one by one if they are suitable for you. With these, you will never have to skip dessert!
Last but not the least, you will have to check whether the cake mix can yield the number of servings that you'll need. Thus, you have to take note of how many people will be eating the dessert. Preferably, each person has at least one slice. To check, you can read the packaging's label, as it usually indicates the diameter in inches, the number of slices, and servings the cake mix can produce.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Betty Crocker Super Moist Yellow Cake Mix Butter | ![]() | Spongy Yellow Cake With a Mellow Taste That Pairs Well With Everything | |
2 | Maya Decadence Devil's Food Cake Premium Mix | ![]() | Rich and Moist Chocolatey Goodness, Perfect as a Pick-Me-Up | |
3 | Pillsbury Funfetti Cake Mix | ![]() | Ultra Fluffy and Colorful Cakes That Scream Happy Birthday | |
4 | White King Bibingka Flour Mix | ![]() | The Traditional Pinoy-Style Cake | |
5 | Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix | ![]() | A Gluten-Free Option That Doesn’t Compromise Great Taste | |
6 | Perfect Match Keto Red Velvet Mug Cake Mix | ![]() | Guilt-Free Red Velvet Mug Cake Ideal for Those Practicing the Keto Diet | |
7 | Puratos Tegral Satin Moist Ube Cake | ![]() | Lets You Whip the Pinoy-Favorite Ube Cake With Creamy and Milky Taste | |
8 | Duncan Hines Perfectly Moist Strawberry Supreme Cake Mix | ![]() | A Moist and Fruity Strawberry Cake That Only Requires Minimal Ingredients | |
9 | Maya ThinkHeart Whole Wheat Carrot Cake | ![]() | Carrot Cake With a Hint of Spice Best Paired With Cream Cheese | |
10 | Jell-O No Bake Classic Cheese Cake Mix | ![]() | Enjoy a Quick and Decadent Dessert With This No-Bake Cheesecake Mix |
There are endless options for cake flavors, but you can never go wrong with the classic yellow cake usually made with butter and eggs to give them color. And of course, what better brand to get it from than Betty Crocker? When baked, this cake becomes rich and moist, just like how it should be.
The simplicity of its taste also makes it perfect for almost all frosting and topping you can think of. It can even be paired with hot chocolate, coffee, or tea. You can be sure that this cake will be a showstopper in any gathering and definitely be enjoyed by anyone who tries it.
What if we told you that you could indulge yourself with a chocolate cake even at home? Maya's Devil's Food Cake Mix will allow you to do just that! It is not as sweet as regular chocolate cakes, so it won't overindulge you or make you feel umay. It is a perfect pick-me-up treat whenever you're feeling out of the zone.
It will not disappoint whether you coat this cake with the classic chocolate ganache, orange icing, or something on the sweeter side like meringue. Moreover, it only requires three ingredients to make, and the instructions are clear and very easy to follow. Even first-timers will have no problems making the cake!
If you wish to make a cake that will add a pop of color to celebrations like birthdays, this cake mix by Pillsbury is a great find. It will let you create a vanilla cake base that is made even more fun with the added sprinkles in the batter. Appearance- and taste-wise, it is sure to be enjoyed by kids and kids-at-heart.
This cake is fluffy, light, and moist. On top of that, it also pairs well with most frostings and toppings. If you want to make it look more festive, you can try adding more sprinkles, candies, or even celebratory toppers on the frosting to keep it colorful inside and out!
We can't make a list of the best cake mixes out there without including our very own Filipino-style cake—bibingka! Now, you don't have to wait for the Christmas season to eat this cake anymore because you can just make it anytime in your own home!
This bibingka cake mix can be made even without a conventional oven. The brand even has instructions on the back on how you can make it using an oven toaster. Simply serve the cake with margarine, cheese, salted egg, and grated coconut to make it more like the traditional bibingka we all know and love.
This chocolate cake mix is perfect for people with gluten intolerance since it is gluten-free. The recipe calls for eggs and milk, but you can easily substitute them with vegan or vegetarian alternatives like plant-based milk and chia seeds.
Although this cake is gluten-free, it doesn't mean that it won't be as good as the regular cake mixes out there. In fact, Bob's Red Mill has formulated this cake mix, so you can still taste its chocolatey goodness without compromising your diet.
Since most cakes contain flour, which has carbohydrates, they are usually avoided by people on a keto diet. But what if we tell you that the fan-favorite red velvet cake has a sugar-free, low-carb, and keto- and diabetic-friendly version? In collaboration with keto enthusiasts, Perfect Match has made this dessert guilt-free.
Each 50gram pack is good for one serving of a mug cake. It is quick and convenient to make because you don't need an oven. Just pour the cake mix into a mug, combine it with butter and one egg, pop the mug in the microwave, then wait for about a minute, and voila! You now have a red velvet cake that you can munch on with no guilt!
Ube-flavored food has been all the rave nowadays, and it's no wonder. What makes it stand out is not just its vibrant violet hue but also its creamy and milky taste that no one can resist. This mix by Puratos will let you whip a yummy ube cake at home—you can even top it with macapuno and whipped cream to make it Pinoy-style!
Compared to other cake mixes, this one is also more budget-friendly because, for just less than 300 pesos, you already get a 1-kilogram pack, enough for roughly 16 to 20 people if you use up all the cake mix at once. You can also use it in portions as long as you properly seal the bag.
This cake mix from Duncan Hines will satisfy all those who love anything sweet and fruity! It is infused with juice from real strawberries, so it has natural color and flavoring. Plus, it is versatile, as the cake mix can be used for cupcakes, layer cakes, sheet cakes, and bundt cakes, to name a few.
Moreover, this mix also requires minimal ingredients. Simply stir in water, eggs, and vegetable oil, then it's ready for baking! For more fruity goodness, you can add fresh strawberries in between the layers of the cake and on top. And to make it more delectable, don't forget the frosting!
Being health-conscious shouldn't stop you from enjoying your favorite cake. Thankfully, Maya has a whole wheat carrot cake mix under their ThinkHeart line intended for those who prefer healthier options. It is free from cholesterol and trans fat and has high iron levels.
The cake also has a distinct spice so you won't feel overindulged. You can even add a bit of cinnamon to it for more of the sweet-spicy taste. It requires water, oil, eggs, and freshly shredded carrots. Don't forget to pair it with its perfect-match cream cheese frosting, too!
No oven? No problem! Jell-O has a no-bake cheesecake mix that can be prepared as fast as 15 minutes for those who prefer quick and easy desserts. It is perfect for beginners because you only need to mix the ingredients and assemble the layers. If you like the cheesecake to be chilled, place it inside the refrigerator for about an hour.
Aside from the cake mix itself, also included in a box is the crust mix. The additional ingredients are just staples like milk, butter, and sugar. This cheesecake is plain, so you can feel free to place any topping you like from berries, cookie sandwiches, whipped cream, you name it!
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
If you happened to buy too much cake mix than what you need, you don't need to worry. Cake mixes can be used in portions as long as the ratio of the additional ingredients is adjusted accordingly.
The shelf life of cake mixes is often stated on the box or packaging, which is usually 6 months to 1 year. But you can still use the cake mix for up to 2 years after the indicated best-by date. The cake mix does not expire per se, but do not expect that the cake would still have the best quality, as the flavoring and the leavening capability diminishes over time.
The leavening agent of a cake mix that is near or past its expiration date tends to lose its capability for the cake to rise. Overmixing the batter, incorrect measurements, and wrong oven temperature can also cause the cake mix not to rise. Thus, you should be very careful in handling the batter and mindful of the specific measurements for your cake to be fluffy.
Enjoying a slice (or two) of your freshly baked cake wouldn't be complete without a drink to pair it with. Whether you like a calming cup of green tea, rich hot chocolate, or some energizing coffee, we got you! If you're looking for the best ones out there, check out our other articles that feature our recommendations!
Author: Rie Niijima
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Betty Crocker |Super Moist Yellow Cake Mix Butter
No. 2: Maya|Decadence Devil's Food Cake Premium Mix
No. 3: Pillsbury |Funfetti Cake Mix
No. 4: White King|Bibingka Flour Mix
No. 5: Bob's Red Mill|Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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