The Best Use for Boxed Cake Mix Is Not Cake

Boxed cake mix is a reliable shortcut for home baking. The packages of pre-measured ingredients help even the most novice bakers create some delicious cakes and cupcakes. But really thrifty home cooks know that the best cake mix desserts think outside the box. From a No-Fail Pound Cake or the Easiest Applesauce Cake, you can turn a humble box of cake mix into so many different kinds of cake. But it’s when you really start to ignore the instructions that you find the magic. That’s what you’ll get when you whip up a batch of cookies, an ooey, gooey dump cake, or even banana bread from a box of cake mix.

My friend’s mother makes a fabulous streusel crumb cake, and that’s what inspired by latest cake mix creation. Because, to be honest, I am perfectly happy just plucking the buttery, crunchy topping off of whatever cake or pie sits beneath it.

As the fall season of baking kicks off, I’m constantly thinking of desserts that could be improved by an extra layer of sweet and crunchy flavor in the form of a crumb topping. And what’s more, I figured out that you can make that topping with just two ingredients. This brilliant hack will have everyone asking, “Mmm, how did you make this?”

How to Turn Cake Mix Into Streusel

To make a crispy, crumbly streusel topping, all you need is two ingredients: a box of cake mix and some butter. The ratio that I found works best is one box of cake mix to about 6-8 tablespoons of butter, depending on how big you want your streusel chunks.

Simply melt the butter, add it to the cake mix and combine, then add the streusel to baked goods like muffins, cakes, or loaves before baking. You can also bake the cakey crumbs until crispy and golden brown, then use them to top pies, ice cream, or any dessert that needs a flavor (and texture) boost.

The best part of this “recipe” is getting creative. Just like our other favorite two-ingredient boxed cake mix hack, you can play around with flavors here. The combination of just cake mix and butter concentrates the flavor in the toasted streusel pieces, so the cake mix variety really comes through.

Try a spice cake mix streusel on blueberry muffins or a loaf of pumpkin bread. Top your next chocolate cream pie or icebox cake with some Devil’s food or red velvet cake streusel. What about some Funfetti or vanilla cake crumbs on a hot fudge sundae? Sign me up.

I have also tried a combination of flavors with vanilla and chocolate cake mixes, vanilla with lemon, and chocolate with red velvet. This hack also works with gluten-free boxed cake mixes with delicious results.

My favorite way to use these crispy pieces of streusel is to dress up a store-bought cake for a last-minute addition to the menu. Sprinkle across the top of the cake or simply rim the edge for a decorative touch. It’s my semi-homemade secret to make a cake that looks like it came straight out of a fancy bakery.

How to Make 2-Ingredient Cake Mix Streusel

Ingredients:

• 1 box cake mix of your choice
• 6-8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Instructions:

1. Using your hands, a fork, or a spatula, combine the cake mix and 6 tablespoons of melted butter in a mixing bowl. You can also use a stand mixer equipped with a paddle attachment for this step. Combine until pea-sized crumbs form. If you want larger crumbs or the mixture seems dry, add more melted butter, about a tablespoon at a time, until your desired crumb size forms.  
2. If you’re adding the streusel to a dessert before baking, transfer the mixture to an air-tight container and store in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to use it.
3. If you’re adding the streusel to a dessert after baking, transfer the mixture to a parchment-lined baking sheet and spread out in an even layer. Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 15 to 20 minutes or until the crumbs are lightly browned and smell toasted. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before storing in an air-tight container in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to use.

Note: If you have any leftover streusel, it can be stored in an airtight container freezer for your next baking session.