Chocolate Cake Mix Review
With so many cake mixes in the grocery stores, I wanted to put them to the test. Yes, the cake should taste delicious, but I also wanted to rate each mix based off texture, durability, baking instructions, and cost. Each category will be given a number between 1-10 with 10 being the best score possible.
Don’t worry, I have also created a vanilla cake mix review post! If you love vanilla like me, you can find my review here.
As I continue to try different brands, this post will be updated and the list will be rearranged to have my top choice listed as number one. All opinions are my own.
1. King Arthur ($5 – $7)
Overview:
King Arthur is a brand my family has used for generations. My grandmother enjoys baking with King Arthur products, so much so, my mom and I took her to their bakery in Vermont one summer. Yes the mixes are more expensive, but for special occasions, when I want a delicious cake, I prefer using King Arthur gluten free cake mixes because I know my cake will turn out delicious. Not to mention, people can never tell I am serving a gluten free cake when I use a King Arthur mix.
Taste: 9/10
Delicious! King Arthur has been in the baking game for a while, so I would be surprised if their gluten free mixes did not taste good. The chocolate flavor is more dark than milk, but just the perfect amount of chocolate to please any taste bud.
Texture: 9/10
My cupcakes had a more open texture compared to the picture on the box. However, it felt like eating a traditional cupcake.
Durability: 7/10
Because this mix is so moist, the cupcakes have a nice crumble that hold frosting well, but breaks apart easier than other cakes.
Baking Instructions: 9/10
Simply whisk the wet ingredients (vegetable oil, water, eggs) and then stir in mix until combined.
Cost: 3/10
King Arthur typically has a higher price when compared to other baking mixes and flours, even when they are not gluten free. That being said, I do believe the cost is justified by the quality of the mix. I have found mixes on sale at both the grocery store, as well as sales on King Arthur’s website.
Extras:
- Non-Dairy
2. Pamela’s Chocolate Cake ($5-7)
Overview:
Pamela’s mixes are pricey, but the chocolate cake was delicious! Due to the price, I don’t usually reach for this brand, but I look forward to trying their other products since I really enjoyed this cake mix. I have spotted Pamela’s mixes at Smith’s, the health food store, as well as on their website.
Taste: 9/10
Soooooo fudgy! These cupcakes were delicious! If cost was no concern I would highly recommend these cupcakes if you love dark chocolate. Due to the fudgy, dark chocolate, it was very rich, which some people love.
Texture: 7/10
Because this cupcake was soooo fudgy, it was a little dense. I was worried I didn’t cook the cupcakes long enough, but the toothpick came out clean.
Durability: 9/10
Pamela knows how to make a cupcake! Frosting and decorating the cupcakes was easy because I had a solid base. The cupcake held up to removing the paper, being torn apart, and was just a wonderful cupcake.
Baking Instructions: 10/10
I found the baking instructions more detailed than most mixes, without being over the top. The mix warns about not over mixing, making adjustments for lighter or denser cakes, makes a note to consumer’s how the mix is gluten free, but anything they add (flavors, frostings, decorations) should also gluten free, as well as a note on how to grease and dust the cake pan.
There is a note for making 14 cupcakes, which is always appreciated to have an option besides baking only a cake. In fact, the package lists several size cakes you can make with the mix: two 8″ rounds, one 9″ square, one 9″ x 13″, and cupcakes.
Cost: 3/10
If you were to buy this mix off their website, you would be paying $6.99, which is an expensive cake. If you can find this brand on sale, try it!
Extras:
- Gluten-Free, Wheat-Free, Non-Dairy.
- Shop mixes and products on their website, Pamela’s, or find their items on sale and your local grocery store.
3. Thrive Market Chocolate Cake ($5.99)
Overview:
I decided to try this cake mix for a friend’s baby shower. She couldn’t have sugar or rice, so when I read this mix used neither, I decided to buy it. Many gluten free cake mixes use a lot of sugar and a blend of flours, including rice. Everyone was surprised how good a cake without refined sugar was! To be honest (which I always am), I would probably pick another cake mix before this one. However, since the ingredient list is rather short, it makes a good option for someone who has a restricted diet.
Taste: 7/10
This cupcake was of the dark chocolate kind. Not to mention, it wasn’t very sweet, but that means adding frosting (or maple whipped cream for my sugar free friend) only improved the cupcake. Frosting is optional, because depending on your preferences you may enjoy the dark chocolate flavor. That being said, the simple ingredient list creates a cupcake with a slightly different flavor and texture than a “normal” cupcake, so people might be suspicious if you’re trying to pass is off as a regular cupcake.
Texture: 5/10
Since Thrive Market uses almond flour as the main flour, the texture is a little gritty. Luckily the chocolate cake is not as gritty as the vanilla cake, nor have the same bran muffin look. The cupcake was soft and moist, and enjoyable to eat.
Durability: 8/10
Frosting these cupcakes was no challenge at all. The cupcakes didn’t crumble when I ate them, and they held up the remaining days while we ate them up or gave them away. All in all, a solid cupcake.
Baking Instructions: 10/10
With simple ingredients, Thrive Market kept the instructions simple too. I like how you only need one bowl, a whisk, and a spatula. The mix comes together quickly, and baking is straight forward. However, the package does not include specific instructions for baking cupcakes, just an 8″ round cake.
There are instruction notes to make the cake vegan.
Cost: 3/10
The price is creeping up on the price scale at $5.99. However, if you need to avoid sugar, or have other diet restrictions, (again, minus the nut allergy) this mix could be a good option. I would choose the chocolate cake mix from Thrive Market over the vanilla cake 100% of the time, which is saying something since I LOVE vanilla.
Extras:
- Non-GMO, Kosher, Paleo, Preservative-Free, Free of Dyes and Color Additives.
- Visit Thrive Market to see their whole line of gluten free products! Although I don’t recommend starting out with this cake mix, they have some other wonderful items and carry a lot of quality brands.
4.Simple Truth Organic ($4 – $5)
Overview: 
This was a new cake mix for me to try, and I’m glad I did! I would NOT recommend, because the cupcakes just fell apart! You could only take one bite before the whole thing broke into a million little crumbs.
Taste: 9/10
Delicious! I loved the taste of these chocolate cupcakes. The cocoa wasn’t too dark, but wasn’t too subtle.
Texture: 8/10
The cupcake was light a fluffy, with a crumb that was just like a traditional chocolate cake.
Durability: 1/10
Just taking this cupcake out of the paper was a risk! One bite and the entire thing falls apart. Perhaps if you were making cake pops this would be a good mix to use so you don’t have to work as hard crumbling the cake.
Baking Instructions: 9/10
Pretty simple instructions and resembles a typically boxed cake mix. However, the instructions do call for two 9″ round pans, no cupcakes.
Cost: 1/10
The price is rather high for a cake mix that isn’t even worth buying. Don’t waste your money!
Extras:
- The package instructs to refrigerate any leftovers, which differs from the yellow cake mix.
Disclaimer: This post contains an affiliate link, which may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Thrive Market is an online health food store that offers a variety of amazing products. Filter products by diet like Gluten Free or Paleo. If you are interested in trying Thrive Market, you can use this link to received 25% off your first order! Their customer service is fantastic and they offer so many Gluten Free products. Let me know if you have any questions, and I’d be happy to help!