Using a boxed cake mix may be controversial among bakers and pastry chefs, but it’s one of those shortcuts that has never left me disappointed in a pinch. Taking the time to bake a cake from scratch is a great idea in theory, but sometimes, busy people just need the quick & reliable option. So, cracking open a boxed cake mix from time to time is totally ok in my book!

But, just because you're using a boxed mix doesn't mean that you can't put your own fancy touch on it!  Adding your favorite mix-ins (like chocolate chips, fruits, nuts or sprinkles) and making your own quick frosting are great ways to make your cake feel scratch made. 

One great example is this funky, fruity Pineapple Mandarin Cake that we made a couple months back. This cake adds juicy mandarin oranges to a boxed yellow cake mix and sweet pineapple chunks to the cool whip frosting. So easy and so delicious!

This time, I'm sprucing up a strawberry cake mix with fresh berries to make my favorite Chantilly Cake. The best thing about this cake is the quick, homemade cream cheese frosting. It comes together in minutes and makes this cake feel extra special. Trust me when I say that skipping the canned, store-bought frosting is a must to make your boxed cake mix stand out from the rest!

For the frosting, I whipped an 8 oz. package of cream cheese in a stand mixer with 1/2 cup powdered sugar. (*If you like a sweeter frosting, you can use anywhere from 3/4 cup to 1½ cups of powdered sugar for more sweetness).

After a couple minutes, the cream cheese will be smooth and spreadable (you may have to stop and scrape out the chunks of cream cheese that get caught in the whisk, along the way). You can start to slowly pour in 1½ cups of cold heavy whipping cream and whisk on a medium/high speed until stiff peaks form. 

Your cake can be in the oven while you make the frosting. After they've cooled down completely, start icing those babies up, loading each layer with tons of fresh berries! Fresh strawberries and blueberries are a favorite around here, but blackberries, raspberries or any of your favorite fruits could work. 

And there you have it! This super simple boxed cake mix was easily elevated to a next level, show stopper of a dessert in no time! Do you have a favorite boxed cake mix hack? We'd love to hear about them! Share your favorites down below in the comments!

Thanks for Chewsing!