For my son's very first birthday, I was determined to make his birthday cake. Determined, but … busy. Lacking a full afternoon to devote to baking, as well as the culinary prowess a from-scratch cake ...

There are many easy ways to improve boxed cake mix and make it taste homemade. Replacing the water with milk adds fat, richness, and flavor. Mix-ins, flavor extracts, and spices can take the texture ...