Vanilla pancake mix cake is the second best thing to make with pancake mix! This easy cake recipe can be made with your everyday pantry staple and made into the moist and delicious easy cake that it is.
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Pancake mix cake. That sounds a bit odd, doesn’t it! But when I was shopping back in March during the toilette paper craziness era, I grabbed pancake mix because I couldn’t find flour in stores.
Yup, many people were hoarding ingredients so I had to do with what I could. Believe it or not, I came up with pretty ingenious ways to use pancake mix. The first thing I used it for and posted was this 7 secrets to make boxed pancakes better + mistakes to avoid + recipe article.
To this day it is one of the most popular articles on the blog, because I’m sure just like me, many others had the same issue back at the beginning of this quarantine.
This is the best pancake mix cake ever.
To be honest, at this point, I am not mad at all that I had to get a few boxes of pancake mix because if that didn’t happen I wouldn’t have discovered this magical cake made out of boxed pancake mix!
To make this vanilla cake I used my trustee Krusteaz pancake mix. Added a few other ingredients to get the perfectly moist cake. I then topped it with chocolate frosting.
You can top it with whatever frosting you like, I just had chocolate frosting on hand so I decided to go for that one!
What’s so special about boxed pancake mix cake?
This cake is the bees knees, it’s seriously awesome, and here is why you need to make it!
- It’s made out of pancake mix! Hello convenience.
- This cake doesn’t require too much hands on work
- It will be ready in 25 minutes!
- perfect for birthdays or any other celebrations.
Ingredients for cake with pancake mix
Here are the ingredients you will need to make your own boxed pancake mix cake recipe:
- Pancake mix- Obviously this cake recipe uses boxed pancake mix so this will be the staple of your cake.
- Sugar– A little sugar to sweeten this cake.
- Milk– The milk will make this cake more moist.
- Sour cream– The sour cream is also used to make this cake extra moist. We use regular sour cream so it contains the regular amount of fat.
- Butter– The butter is another ingredient that adds richness to this pancake mix cake.
- Egg– The egg is the binding agent in this cake.
- Vanilla– This is a vanilla cake, so this recipe requires vanilla extract to get that flavor to come through.
Why does this quick cake recipe not use baking powder?
Since we are using pancake mix we don’t need to use a leavening agent. As you might know pancake mix already has baking powder in the mixture itself so that whenever you add your wet ingredients your pancakes rise and become fluffy.
More cake recipes you will love!
- The best crack cake bundt cake ever! (not too sweet)
- Easy Raspberry Cake With Raspberry Buttercream
- Tea Time Chocolate Loaf Cake With A Coffee Frosting
How to make cake out of pancake mix?
Here is how you can make your own super easy cake made out of our favorite pantry staple ingredient, boxed pancake mix! Make sure to scroll down to the recipe box to get the full detailed recipe.
- Mix the wet ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Add the dry ingredients, aka the pancake mix to the wet ingredients bowl.
- Mix both the wet and the dry ingredients together just until the dry mixture disappears. Make sure not to over mix your cake batter.
- Pour the pancake mix cake batter into your greased pan.
- Bake the cake until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Frost the cake once it’s completely cool.
- Serve your amazing homemade pancake mix cake and enjoy it with friends and family!
Tips to make the best easy cake recipe using your favorite pantry staple
To get the same cake as we did, here are a few tips to follow:
- Don’t over mix it- If you over mix your pancake mix cake batter you will end up with a tougher and more flat cake. So stop mixing as soon as the dry mixture disappears.
- Don’t over bake it- This cake will turn out dry if you over bake it. The cake will be ready when you insert a knife or a wooden skewer in the center comes out clean.
Can I make this cake in a 9×13 inch pan?
Yes! This recipe itself is made in an 8×8 inch pan but you can double the recipe and bake it in a 9×13 inch pan for a larger cake. You will need to bake it for 5-10 minutes longer or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
Topping ideas for your flapjack mix cake
I love having this moist pancake cake on its own because it’s so good, but sometimes I like to elevate it. Especially if I am making it for special occasions. Here are a few ways you can top your cake:
- Chocolate frosting (like I did in this recipe)
- Vanilla frosting
- Lemon glaze
- Chocolate ganache
- Whipped cream and fresh fruit
- cream cheese frosting
Easy Vanilla Pancake Mix Cake
If you tried and enjoyed this recipe, make sure to give it a 5 star rating by clicking on the 5 stars under the description.
Vanilla Pancake Mix Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cup pancake mix
- ½ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup milk at room temperature
- ½ cup sour cream at room temperature
- 1 egg at room temperature
- ¼ cup butter melted
- 1 & ½ teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- First start by preheating the oven to 350F, then line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl mix the sugar, milk, sour cream, egg, melted butter, and vanilla until well incorporated. Add in the pancake mix and gently fold just until the dry mixture disappears.
- Pour in the prepared baking pan, and bake for 20 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. The cake will be lightly golden and that's okay, it will stay very moist.
- Let the cake cool down completely, then decorate with frosting, whipped cream or anything you'd like to top your cake with. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Thank you so much for making it all the way down.
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Sofii Queen
This recipe has to be one of the best… I just my cake today, and it came out bomb!
Chahinez
glad you like it!
Shirley
Made this today with Bob’s Red Mill Pancake mix left over. It is delicious!! I made4 some changes based on what I had on hand: used Coconut palm sugar , Trader Joes non fat yogurt for sour cream, applesauce for the egg , and Benecol for the butter. Also added some spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon and cloves. Recipe is so good it allowed for all the additions and changes &came out so moist & delicious gingerbread flavor !! One of best cakes I have every tasted. Doesn’t need a frosting at all.
Chahinez
I absolutely love your resourcefulness and using what you have on hand! I honestly do the same thing all the time haha. So glad you liked the recipe 🙂
Cre Diva
I made the Vanilla Pancake Mix cake and it was delicious. I googled can I make a cake with Pancake mix and your recipe came up. aggghh! Next time I will add some different ingredients. Thank you!
Chahinez
I’m so glad you liked it!
Dee
Can you make this cake with a Krusteaz waffle mix?
Thank you
Chahinez
Sure I don’t see why not!
Donna
Can this be made into cupcakes?
Chahinez
Yes, it definitely can!
Codi Schwiening
Not sure what I did wrong. It did not pour…it was very thick. In the oven now…fingers crossed!
Chahinez
The batter itself is pretty thick since we aren’t making pancakes, but cake instead. Different brands might affect the pancake cake differently as well. I used Krusteaz so I would recommend sticking to that.
MaryAnn Borrelli
great idea…this came together well. Used pumpkin spice pancake mix, Greek non fat yogurt instead of sour cream..topped with homemade cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with chopped pecans
Chahinez
That’s awesome!
Jessie
This was delicious, and super easy to make. I wanted cake but not a huge ordeal and long bake time – this recipe is great and versatile. I used Krusteaz gluten free buttermilk pancake mix, substituted ricotta for the sour cream and also used up the last very ripe banana of the bunci by
Lana
If I wanted to make these as muffins how would I need to adjust the recipe, it’s way too dense to do muffins, extra milk? Less pancake mix?
Thank you in advance
Vero
Can you double the mix for a higher cake?
Chahinez
Yes! Just adjust the baking time
Esmeralda Lester
what can I use instead of sour ream on a vanilla cake
Chahinez
You can use greek yogurt!
Lana
You got a winner!!
How soft and fluffy and moist is it?
You can taste the pancakey flavour and it’s just enough sweetness it doesn’t really need icing in my opinion, would make it too rich, it’s like a tea cake, just perfect.
I did just add blueberries to the batter, it makes it super good
Chahinez
Thank you for the kind words!😁
Erica
Could I use ricotta in place of the sour cream? That’s the one ingredient I’m missing.
Chahinez
I believe ricotta should be fine. You could also use Greek yogurt.
Steve
This thing turned out great. Needed to use up pancake mix. Already had sugar in it so I just added a little honey. Substituted yogurt for the sour cream and doubled the recipe to make a layer cake. Tastes like cake!
Steve
I gave this recipe 5 stars I don’t know what happened. But definitely 5 stars and follow the directions about mixing. Pancake mix has baking powder in it and if you mix too well you’ll use up some of its reaction time.
Chahinez
Thank you!
Chahinez
YAY! Enjoy!
Andrea
what can be used to replace the sour cream if you do not have any? is there an alternative to it? or can it be left out?
Chahinez
Yogurt is a great substitute for sour cream.
Karen
I made the cake recipe, and added some stroop wafel biscuits with caramel, and my friends are now asking me for the recipe, so that they can make it themselves for their family. in other words easy to make !!.
Chahinez
That’s what I like to hear!! So happy to hear they were a hit with your friends!
David
can egg be omitted due to allegies
Chahinez
I would suggest finding an allergy-friendly substitute instead of just removing the component from the recipe altogether.
Khalida Khyabani
Can you sub Greek yogurt instead of the sour cream?
Chahinez
Definitely! I actually swap the two for each other all the time.
Chanda
Super yummy! I ended up using mixer and middle fell…but after some research and coming back here realized a gentle hand should of been used. …..thank you for easy recipe!
Chahinez
a gentle hand is definiltey a must 🙂 You’re so welcome 🙂
Chahinez
Shirleen Napoles
This recipe is awesome!!! I substituted buttermilk for both the milk and sour cream and it was soooooo delicious!!! I also added another twist and threw some sprinkles in the batter for a confetti cake vibe! This recipe has been a go to for me for awhile now! Highly recommend it!
Chahinez
Ooo I love this! Thank you for trying out the recipe 😁
DJ Finn
An excellent alternative to a boxed cake mix.
Chahinez
Glad to hear that!
Chahinez
Anita L Acosta
The ingredients say sour cream but the directions say cream cheese. Which one is it?
Chahinez
Hi Anita,
It should say sour cream.
Chahinez
Michelle Cedotal
Does it taste like a pancake?
Chahinez
IT doesn’t taste like a pancake because of the frosting but it doesn’t taste like a regular cake from scratch either.
I would say it’s somewhere in between.
Chahinez
Katie
mine came out thick and sticky. I followed the directions and it still came out sticky. any help would be appreciated
Chahinez
Did the batter come out thick and sticky or the cake? It might depend on the pancake mix you used. I used Krusteez for this recipe.