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There’s something comforting about having a little jar of homemade cake mix tucked away in your pantry. It’s simple, quiet reassurance that dessert is always just a few steps away and made with ingredients you feel good about.

I started making my own cake mix because I care about what goes into the things I bake. It’s not about perfection or doing everything from scratch. It’s about intention. I like knowing the ingredients I’m using are real, good quality, and chosen with love. Even the small things, like a jar of cake mix, can hold a little bit of that care.

In this post, I’m sharing two of my most-used mixes: chocolate and vanilla. They’re easy to make, pantry-friendly, and can be used for everything from birthday cakes and muffins to cookies, brownies, and cozy Sunday desserts.

You can use them in place of any recipe that calls for a boxed cake mix, so you get that same convenience, just with ingredients you trust.

Whether you’re a longtime homemaker or just someone who loves a good cake, I hope these recipes bring a little more joy and ease to your kitchen.

Why Make Your Own Cake Mix?

Making your own cake mix isn’t about making things harder. It’s about making them more thoughtful.
I started doing this because I care about the ingredients I bake with. I wanted simple things I could pronounce, ones I’d actually use if I were making a cake completely from scratch. Once I realized how easy it was to mix up a few jars, I never looked back.
Here’s why I love it:
- Better ingredients. I use organic sugar, real cocoa, and unbleached flour—the kind of things I already have in my pantry.
- It tastes better. Richer chocolate, more tender crumb, no strange aftertastes. Just homemade goodness.
- It saves money. The organic cake mix I used to buy is nearly $10 a box. This version costs a fraction of that and makes more than one cake.
- It’s versatile. Use it for cakes, cupcakes, cookies, muffins, brownies, banana bread, dump cakes, and more.
- It feels good. Even a little jar of cake mix can be an act of care. Something small and simple, but made with intention.

Pantry Staples You’ll Need

These cake mixes come together in minutes with ingredients you probably already have.

For Both Mixes:

All-purpose flour (or your favorite organic brand)
Organic cane sugar
Baking soda & baking powder
Avocado Oil or Butter
Fine sea salt

Extras by Flavor:

For chocolate mix: Dutch-process cocoa powder + cornstarch for softness

Optional: Store in jars for pantry goals or zip bags for freezer-friendly bulk prep. Add cute labels if you’re gifting them!

Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix

Author: Kassandra

Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix

Ingredients

Cake Mix (Dry Ingredients)

1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 ½ cups (300g) organic cane sugar
½ cup (40g) Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp fine sea salt

To Make The Cake

2 large eggs
½ cup (120ml) avocado oil or melted butter
1 cup (240ml) brewed coffee or water
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup (120g) sour cream or plain Greek yogurt

Instructions

Cake Mix

Whisk together and store in a sealed jar or bag for up to 3 months (or freeze for longer).

To Make The Cake

Mix all the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until just combined.
Bake at 350°F for:
9x13 pan: 35–40 mins
Two 8-inch rounds: 30–35 mins
Cupcakes: 18–22 mins
Bundt: 45–55 mins

Please note that the nutritional values provided are estimates based on standard ingredients and calculations. Actual nutrients may vary depending on specific brands and measurement variations used in preparation.

Homemade Vanilla Cake Mix

Author: Kassandra

Homemade Vanilla Cake Mix

Ingredients

Cake Mix (Dry Ingredients)

2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups (300g) organic cane sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp fine sea salt

To Make The Cake

2 large eggs
½ cup (120ml) melted butter or avocado oil
1 cup (240ml) milk or milk alternative
1 tbsp vanilla extract
½ cup (120g) sour cream or plain yogurt

Instructions

Whisk together dry ingredients and store in a sealed jar or bag for up to 3 months (or freeze for longer).

To Make The Cake

Mix all the wet ingredients in the dry until just combined.
Bake at 350°F for:
9x13 pan: 35–40 mins
Two 8-inch rounds: 30–35 mins
Cupcakes: 18–22 mins
Bundt: 45–55 mins

Please note that the nutritional values provided are estimates based on standard ingredients and calculations. Actual nutrients may vary depending on specific brands and measurement variations used in preparation.

♡ PIN IT FOR LATER ♡

How to Use Homemade Cake Mix (Beyond Cake!)

One of the best parts of having homemade cake mix ready is how many ways you can use it. Of course, cake is the classic go to but this mix can do so much more.

You can swap it into just about any recipe that calls for boxed cake mix and use it for:

Cupcakes (fluffy, tender, and bake beautifully every time)
Cake mix cookies (soft, chewy, and super quick)
Cake mix brownies (especially with the chocolate mix—rich and fudgy)
Cake mix banana bread (yes, really)
Muffins (a little less sweet, great for breakfast bakes)
Dump cakes (perfect for holidays and last-minute desserts)
Layer cakes or sheet cakes (hello, birthday-ready)
Red velvet (easily adapted from the chocolate mix)

If you’ve ever skipped a recipe because it called for a boxed mix and you didn’t want to use one, this gives you the freedom to bake it your way.

Want to see it in action? Try my German Chocolate Sheet Cake recipe using the chocolate mix!

Storage & Gifting Tips

These mixes are perfect for making ahead. You can store them in your pantry, freeze them for later, or even gift them to someone who could use a little homemade sweetness.

Here’s how I like to keep them:

Pantry: Store in a jar or sealed bag in a cool, dry spot for up to 3 months.
Freezer: Pop your mix in a freezer bag and it’ll last up to 6 months.
Gift idea: Layer the ingredients in a mason jar, add a handwritten tag with instructions, and tie it with a ribbon. It’s thoughtful, practical, and honestly—so cute.

Don’t forget to label your mix with the flavor and what wet ingredients to add. A little note goes a long way.

There’s something kind of special about having a homemade cake mix ready and waiting in your pantry.

Whether you’re baking a simple birthday cake, a tray of cookies, or just something warm on a slow afternoon, this homemade cake mix gives you that little bit of ease without giving up the goodness. Hugs!