Adding pudding to cake mix is one of the easiest baking hacks for turning a regular boxed cake into a denser, moister, more flavorful cake that tastes closer to homemade. You don’t make the pudding first. You just add a small box of dry instant pudding mix (usually 3.4 oz) to a standard boxed cake mix (15.25 oz), then make a few changes to the wet ingredients. Below you’ll find exactly what to add, a quick-reference chart, and flavor combinations to try.
Allergens: Contains: eggs, dairy (milk), wheat (cake mix); instant pudding mix often contains milk. Free of: peanuts and tree nuts in the ingredients listed (check both mix labels).
Allergy heads-up: This recipe is not allergy-friendly as written. It contains eggs and milk, and most boxed cake mixes and pudding mixes contain wheat and often soy, and may be made in facilities with nuts. If you’re baking for food allergies, read every box carefully.
Why Add Pudding to Cake Mix?
- Moister cake: The pudding mix helps the cake hold on to moisture.
- Denser, bakery-style crumb: Great for layer cakes and Bundt cakes.
- More flavor: Matching pudding flavors double up on chocolate, vanilla, or lemon.
- Almost no extra work: Just one more box in the bowl.
What to Add to Cake Mix with Pudding
When you add pudding mix, you don’t remove anything from the cake mix. But the extra dry ingredients need a few changes to the box directions:
- Eggs: Use 1 more egg than the box calls for (for example, 4 instead of 3). It helps bind the extra dry ingredients.
- Oil: Use 1/3 cup. The pudding adds richness, so less oil keeps the cake from turning greasy.
- Milk: Use 1 cup of milk instead of the water. Whole milk is richest, and 2% works too.
- Dry pudding mix: Add the whole small box (3.4 oz) of instant pudding powder straight to the cake mix. Don’t prepare it first.
Box sizes and directions vary by brand, so compare these amounts with your box and adjust if yours is very different.
Quick Reference Chart (13×9 Pan)
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Boxed cake mix | 1 box (15.25 oz) |
| Instant pudding mix | 1 small box (3.4 oz), same or complementary flavor |
| Eggs | 4 large |
| Oil | 1/3 cup |
| Milk | 1 cup |
| Vanilla (optional) | 1 teaspoon |
What You’ll Need
- A 13×9-inch baking pan (or two round cake pans, or a Bundt pan)
- A hand mixer or stand mixer
- A wire cooling rack
- An offset spatula for frosting
How to Make Cake Mix with Pudding
1. Whisk the dry mixes together: the cake mix and the instant pudding powder.
2. Add the wet ingredients: eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla. Beat for 2 minutes.
3. Bake at 350°F according to the box time (usually 28 to 33 minutes for a 13×9), until a toothpick comes out clean. The batter is thicker, so check a few minutes past the low end.
4. Cool completely before frosting.
Boxed Cake Mix with Pudding Recipe
Doctored Boxed Cake Mix with Instant Pudding
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 13×9-inch pan as the box directs.
- Whisk the dry cake mix and dry pudding mix together. Don’t prepare the pudding first.
- Add the eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla. Beat 2 minutes.
- Pour into the pan and bake according to the box time, usually 28 to 33 minutes for a 13×9, until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely before frosting.
Notes
Optional Add-Ins for Doctored Cake Mix
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract for deeper flavor.
- 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt for extra moisture and tang.
- Mini chocolate chips or sprinkles, folded in at the end.
Best Cake and Pudding Flavor Combinations
- Chocolate cake + chocolate pudding: Rich, double-chocolate cake.
- Yellow cake + vanilla pudding: Classic birthday cake.
- Lemon cake + lemon pudding: Bright and tangy.
- White cake + white chocolate or vanilla pudding: Soft and sweet.
Frosting Ideas
Need a frosting without butter? Try my 3 vegan frosting recipes. Looking for a no-bake treat for a party, too? My rice krispie treats without butter are always a hit.
Adding Pudding to Cake Mix FAQ
Do you make the pudding before adding it to cake mix?
No. Add the dry instant pudding powder straight into the cake mix.
What does adding pudding to cake mix do?
It makes the cake moister, denser, and more flavorful, with a more bakery-style texture.
Can I use cook-and-serve pudding instead of instant?
This method is written for instant pudding mix.
Do I need an extra egg when adding pudding?
Yes. Use one more egg than the box calls for to bind the extra dry mix.
Can I use water instead of milk?
Milk is what this method uses, and it gives a richer cake.
Does cake with pudding take longer to bake?
It can take a few extra minutes because the batter is thicker. Start checking at the box time and use the toothpick test.
A quick note on photos: I’ve been perfecting these recipes for years, but I never published them because photographing everything takes so much time. As a busy working, homeschooling mom, I decided it was more important to get them out there to help other allergy families. So many of the photos here are AI-generated to show what the dish looks like, but the recipes themselves are real, made in my kitchen and tested on my family.
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Allergy note: This recipe contains egg and milk, and boxed mixes commonly contain wheat and soy. It is not suitable for those allergies as written. Always check labels on every product, every time, for allergens and cross-contamination (“may contain” or shared-facility) warnings, since formulations change. When in doubt, check with your allergist.
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