This Easy Chocolate Chip Cake Recipe is a doctored cake mix recipe that is easy and delicious! Paired with brown sugar buttercream - it's just like eating a cookie! Take a box of cake mix, add a secret ingredient or two, mix in some mini chocolate chips and it's heaven. This recipe works great as a layer cake or a Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake!
Originally posted August 2018, updated January 2024
As I sat down to share today, I wanted to share from my favorite cake recipes - a cake that is easy and delicious. This cake with chocolate chips seemed perfect 🙂
Chocolate Chip Cake Recipe with Yellow Cake Mix & Vanilla Pudding
I cannot, in words, actually tell you how good this cake is. It's amazingly delicious. And I'm not the only one who thinks so.
For example, recently, I had a wedding cake consultation appointment set up and the couple had chosen three flavors of cake from my menu to taste. I had made a Chocolate Chip Cake for another order so I offered for them to try it as well (it was not one they'd chosen).
Funny thing... they ordered the choc chip cake for both their wedding and groom's cake.
It's that good. These are the cakes:
It also works great for a chocolate chip birthday cake, or any other occasion!
Why Cake Mix?
Because this easy chocolate chip cake starts from a boxed cake mix, you only need a few other staple ingredients to make this cake off-the-charts delicious. Sometimes in the cake decorating world, boxed mix get a bad name. But in my world, cake mixes are everything.
I've baked both from-scratch and doctored cake mix and 99% of the time, my clients prefer the doctored cake mix recipes. Also, I am friends with some elite and well-known cake decorators and they use doctored cake mixes. In fact, a Food Network competitor is who originally shared a doctored cake mix recipe with me. So yeah... there's no shame in my game.
Why You'll Love this Easy Chocolate Chip Cake
It tastes like your favorite cookie! When I think of chocolate chip cookies, I always think of a soft buttery cookie dough. So I took my doctored butter cake recipe and added mini semi-sweet chocolate chips. The moist texture and buttery goodness will have you coming back for more! Because seriously... it tastes like a cookie!
It's easy! You only need a few simple ingredients and a couple of cake pans or a bundt pan. It can be made in just one mixing bowl too so you don't have a sink full of dishes! And it starts with a cake mix making the ingredients list short and sweet.
It's great for dessert or a tiered wedding cake. The wedding and groom's cakes above were both 100% made from this cake. It's a sturdy cake that works for stacking while still being really soft, moist and delicious.
But you can also make this into a Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake Recipe. Bake it in a round pan, a bundt cake pan, or as cupcakes... this cake recipe works for all of the above! I love recipes like this!
Tools needed:
- Measuring Cups & Spoons
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Hand Mixer
- Cake Pans or a Bundt Pan
Ingredients
For this cake, all you need are a few simple ingredients.
- Butter Cake Mix or Yellow Cake Mix, I prefer Pillsbury or Duncan Hines box cake mix
- All-purpose flour
- Instant vanilla pudding mix (not prepared) - do not use cook & serve pudding and do not make the pudding; you're going to pour the dry instant pudding mix powder into the recipe
- Water
- Butter, melted
- Large Eggs
- Sour cream
- Mini semisweet chocolate chips
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Substitutions
Boxed mixes: I much prefer the butter cake mix but a box of yellow cake mix is a perfect substitute and you still get a buttery, vanilla chocolate chip cake. You could (in a pinch) use white cake mix but the flavor will change somewhat.
Pudding mixes: for this cake I always use vanilla but you could also use instant cheesecake pudding mix and add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the recipe.
Sour Cream: plain Greek yogurt works as a great substitution for sour cream.
Mini Chocolate Chips: You can use full-size chocolate chips if that's all you have but they tend to sink in the batter and there will be more at the bottom of each layer of cake versus being dispersed throughout evenly.
How to Make Chocolate Chip Cake
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Spray two 7-inch or 8-inch pans with cake release or line them with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine cake mix, flour and instant vanilla pudding mix. Whisk together the dry ingredients.
- Add in the water, melted butter, eggs, and sour cream. Mix the dry and wet ingredients on medium speed just until thoroughly combined.
- Stir in the mini chocolate chips gently with a large spoon or rubber spatula.
- Divide between two 7-inch or 8-inch prepared pans. Or pour it into a greased bundt pan.
- Bake at 325° in the preheated oven for about 38-45 minutes (longer, depending on pan size), until the cake springs back when touched or you can test it in the center with a toothpick. It will also be golden brown on top. If baking in a bundt pan or tube pan, you may need to bake longer, up to 50-60 minutes.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- For a layer cake, trim off the tops of the cake to level them. For the bundt cake, flip it out onto a cake plate and enjoy!
- If you will be making a layer cake, I recommend filling and frosting with vanilla buttercream frosting or brown sugar buttercream.
- Place the first layer on a cake plate, top with buttercream then the second layer of cake.
- Frost the outside with the same buttercream, then decorate as much or as little as you like. I have a tutorial here for a lines texture on cake.
Variations
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cake or Double Chocolate Cake Recipe: Instead of butter or yellow cake mix, you can substitute a chocolate cake mix and chocolate pudding mix to make a rich, amazing Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cake! You could even make a chocolate ganache glaze to go on top of the cake and have an amazing gooey chocolate chocolate chip bundt cake.
This cake batter is the perfect amount for two 8" round cakes. I prefer to bake in Magic Line pans and I use my Bosch mixer for all cake batter and frosting making!
You could also bake this cake as a bundt cake or loaf cake.
Serving Suggestions
This delicious cake recipe is perfect for birthday cakes, weddings, and more. It's also an easy dessert recipe for a bake sale, holiday party, potluck, church gathering, or something special like Valentine's Day.
This Chocolate Chip Cake recipe with cake mix would be amazing with Maple Brown Sugar Buttercream, but I also often just use vanilla buttercream - especially when decorating! Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra decadence!
Storage Directions
Refrigerator: Store at room temperature or in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week. It will begin to dry out after the first 2-3 days. You might also wrap it in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to preserve the moist cake for longer.
Freezer: This chocolate chip cake with cake mix freezes beautifully! You can wrap this cake in plastic wrap, then foil and store in the freezer for up to a month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then bring to room temperature for at least one hour before serving.
I'm a bit of a chocolate chip addict, so check out my other recipes below!
Other Easy Recipes
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Filled Cupcakes
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
- Baked Chocolate Chip Oatmeal
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake
- Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Now - if you'd like to bake an easy-peasy chocolate chip cake... check out this recipe! You can also print it below.
PrintRecipe
Easy Chocolate Chip Cake
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 20 1x
Description
This Easy Chocolate Chip Cake Recipe is a doctored cake mix recipe that is easy and delicious! Paired with brown sugar buttercream - it's just like eating a cookie! Take a box of cake mix, add a secret ingredient or two, mix in some mini chocolate chips and it's heaven. This recipe works great as a layer cake or a Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake!
Ingredients
- 1 Butter Cake Mix (I prefer Pillsbury Golden Butter Recipe)
- Optional: Add an extra ½ cup of cake mix or all-purpose flour to make the cake a little more dense.
- 1 box (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix (not prepared)
- ½ cup water
- ⅓ cup real butter, softened
- 3 large eggs
- 8 oz. sour cream
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine cake mix, flour and instant vanilla pudding mix. Whisk together the dry ingredients.
- Add in the water, melted butter, eggs, and sour cream. Mix the dry and wet ingredients on medium speed just until thoroughly combined.
- Stir in the mini chocolate chips gently with a large spoon or rubber spatula.
- Divide between two 7-inch or 8-inch prepared pans. Or pour it into a greased bundt pan.
- Bake at 325° in the preheated oven for about 38-45 minutes (longer, depending on pan size), until the cake springs back when touched or you can test it in the center with a toothpick. It will also be golden brown on top. If baking in a bundt pan or tube pan, you may need to bake longer, up to 50-60 minutes.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- If you will be making a layer cake, I recommend filling and frosting with vanilla buttercream or brown sugar buttercream.
- To do that, place the first layer on a cake plate, top with the buttercream you choose, then the second layer of cake.
- Frost the outside with the same buttercream, then decorate as much or as little as you like. I have a tutorial here for a lines texture on cake.
- For a bundt cake, flip the cooled cake out onto a cake plate and enjoy (unless you want to top it with ganache first 🙂 )
Notes
Substitutions:
- Boxed mixes: I much prefer the butter cake mix but a box of yellow cake mix is a perfect substitute and you still get a buttery, vanilla chocolate chip cake. You could (in a pinch) use white cake mix but the flavor will change somewhat.
- Pudding mixes: for this cake I always use vanilla but you could also use instant cheesecake pudding mix and add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the recipe.
- Sour Cream: plain Greek yogurt works as a great substitution for sour cream.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: You can use full-size chocolate chips if that's all you have but they tend to sink in the batter and there will be more at the bottom of each layer of cake versus being dispersed throughout evenly.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 45
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
And that's it! Any questions? Leave a comment!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes
Kim
Seriously, Rose, how on earth do you get your buttercream icing so friggin' smooth!?!? I had to read the details to make sure it wasn't fondant. Your work is always the epitome of perfection!
Rose
Ha! Thank you Kim but all I see is flaws 😉 All I can say is practice, practice, practice!
Rose
Oh - and you have no idea how much your sweet encouraging comments mean to me. I truly appreciate you taking the time to visit here so often... it means a lot!! Big hugs!! xx, Rose
Kim
It's all genuinely from the heart.
Big hugs right back!
xoxo
Toni Torres
Do you have any problems with the chips sinking to the bottom?
Rose
Using the mini chips, only a few are on the bottom. If you toss them in dry cake mix before putting them in, that'll also prevent them from sinking.
Kim~madeinaday
Gorgeous cake! Screams Spring! Thanks for linking up at MerryMonday!
Kim
Michele
What a gorgeous cake!
I *adore* birdie things, may have to give this a try very soon!
Thanks for the inspiration! : - )
Rose
Thank you!
Liz W.
What an adorable cake!! The recipe sounds yummy, too! Thanks for linking up with us at Funtastic Friday!
Althea Shuler
Hi rose wanted to make this for my baby’s birthday but wanted to know if it is sturdy enough to carve? Also I i unless the recipe would it fit a 12 x 18 pan?
Thanks
Althea Shuler
Edit: If I double the recipe will it fit a 12 x 18 pan?
Fabiola
Hi Rose!
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe!! I love to see all your beautiful work!
Kim~madeinaday
Looks like a yummy cake Rose! Thanks for the great recipe! Yum! Sharing! Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Hope to see ya next week!
Kim
Karen
What size pans do you use for this yummy chocolate chip cake?
Rose
8 inch!
Ada
Great recipe. My cake came out absolutely delicious
SS
Hi there, Rose,
I fortuitously stumbled across your blog while searching for chocolate chip cake recipes and really dig the one you've graciously posted!
I'm wondering if you could kindly advise on whether your method for the chocolate chip cake could work for something else I have in mind: a chocolate-fig cake, using gluten-free chocolate cake mix. My hope is to be able to add diced dried figs (and maybe mini chocolate chips?) to chocolate cake batter and not have anything go terribly wrong.
Would you have any thoughts? (If you've posted a similar recipe, my apologies for missing it, and feel free to direct me there.)
Thank you so much in advance! I wish you the very best!
Robin Patterson
best cake ever!!!!!. thank you!!!!!
Rose Atwater
Thank YOU!!
Kaleb Hill
I'm a wedding photographer, Kaleb Hill Photography is my business name. To date, I've shot around 350 weddings, and the chocolate chip wedding cake you made for Bailey and Braxton last month was absolutely delicious and one of my all time favorites. Thanks for posting the recipe online! This is a must!
Rose Atwater
Awww, thank you so much! You just made my day! If you have any pro shots of the cake, I'd love to share them and link back to you! You can email me at rose@rosebakes.com! xoxo
Deborah
Good morning Rose! I have been following you for several years now and make several of your recipes when entertaining. I am in the process of remodeling my kitchen and most pans are still in storage however I do have a 9x13 available at the moment. Would love to bake for the construction crew and was wondering if your chocolate chip cake could be made in that pan and if so how long would you suggest baking it for. I kindly thank you in advance for your response and wish you an amazing day.
Rose Atwater
I'd start at 40 minutes and check it after that to see if it needs any more time.
Barbara Stuart
This sounds delicious but I am wanting to make chocolate chip cupcakes. Will this recipe work for that and how long would I bake them for regular size cupcakes?
Rose Atwater
Yes! I bake them for 19 minutes at 325°F.
Esme Slabbert
Perfect and nothing wrong with using box cake when in a rush.
Thanks so much for participating and sharing at SSPS 299. See you again next week!
Tammy
Beautiful cake! I love chocolate chip cake...with all the birthdays coming up this spring, I'll definitely be holding onto this!