Duncan Hines Spice Cake Recipes: Easy and Under 1 Hour

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Last Updated on February 4, 2023

We have developed the best Duncan Hines spice cake recipes to warm you up in the chilly autumn months. It’s quick, easy, and versatile!

While everybody else is scouring the internet for the same old boring recipes, ours will hit the ball out of the park. You can even make this cake in advance, freeze it, and simply thaw and decorate it when needed.

Jump to Recipe

What is a Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix Recipe?

Over the last couple of decades, we have seen a massive increase in cake box mixes of all kinds and flavors. One specific flavor that seems to increase in popularity every year is a spice cake flavor.

Traditionally, this flavor profile incorporates hearty autumn spices like cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger. Unfortunately, this naturally means that you will have to buy all of these spices.

So, what is the best solution? Buying the ultimate spiced cake mix that already includes all of them from Duncan Hines. Using a cake mix will save you a ton of time and money.

And, it will also help prevent you from buying spices you will only use once. However, if you like a heavily spiced cake, you can add some more of your choice!

We have also included some applesauce in our Duncan Hines spice cake mix recipe to give it a richer texture and more flavor-packed taste.

Another ingredient we have added that isn’t always traditional is chopped pecan nuts – both inside the batter and as garnish! These will help add some nice crunchy texture to make this cake even more unique.

And finally, we top this cake off with a semi-neutral vanilla cinnamon-flavored frosting. You can easily adjust the consistency to your liking and even make a glaze. And, if you don’t want to use our recipe, just make sure to add some cinnamon to yours.

What You Will Need: Duncan Hines Spice Cake Recipes

Ingredients for the Cake

• 1 package (15.2 ounces) Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Spice Cake Mix
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup pecan nuts, toasted and chopped

Ingredients for the Frosting and Topping

• 1/3 cup salted butter, softened at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
• 1 to 3 tablespoons milk, room temperature
• 1/2 cup pecan nuts, toasted and chopped (optional)

Equipment

• 10-inch cake pan
• Non-stick baking paper
• Non-stick cooking or baking spray
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowls
• Electric hand or stand mixer
• Cooling rack

How Do You Make Our Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix Recipe?

Step 1: Prepare the Cake Batter

To start, preheat your oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Then, line a 10-inch cake pan with non-stick baking paper. You can also spray the sides with non-stick cooking or baking spray.

To make the cake batter, start by adding the cake mix into a large mixing bowl. Then, make a well in the center. Add the large eggs, applesauce, and vegetable oil to the well.

Using an electric hand or stand mixer (or whisk if you must), start mixing the ingredients until they are almost fully combined. Right before you finish the mixing process, add in the chopped nuts and give the mixture its final stir.

Step 2: Bake the Cake

Gently pour the cake batter into your lined baking tray. Bake this Duncan Hines spice cake mix recipe for roughly 35-45 minutes. A toothpick or cake testing needle will come out clean when your cake has been fully baked.

Then, remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool inside its pan for 20 minutes. Next, you can remove the cake from the pan and leave it on a wire cooling rack to completely cool down.

Step 3: Make the Spiced Frosting

While your cake is cooling completely, start making the vanilla-spiced frosting. Place the softened butter into a large mixing bowl. Cream it until it becomes light and fluffy, roughly about 8 minutes.

Then, add the vanilla extract and cinnamon spice. Make sure they are well incorporated into the aerated butter.

Next, you can add the sifted powdered sugar to the butter. Cream all of these ingredients together for 5 minutes. Then, add milk as you need it to adjust the consistency to your liking.

Step 4: Assemble the Cake

To assemble the cake, you can either divide the layer into two or three or use it as is. Then, layer it with your frosting and finish it with some more over the top. Of course, you can create more elaborate decorations with a piping bag and nozzle.

And finally, garnish your cake with more toasted and chopped pecan nuts for an added crunch.

Tips and Tricks

• A regular box of Duncan Hines cake mix calls for water, oil, and eggs. However, our recipe goes above and beyond that. We added applesauce instead of water to give the cake more texture and flavor. But, because the applesauce is very thick and still contains a ton of moisture, we have added less.
• If you don’t want oil in the recipe, you can use melted and cooled butter. However, it will have different effects on the cakes’ texture than vegetable oil does. But, it is your best alternative still.
• If you have an egg allergy or a type of dietary restriction, you can substitute it with mashed bananas. Now, we know many articles say that applesauce is also a great substitute, but if you add any more to this recipe the texture will be completely off. So, using a denser substitute, like a mashed ripe banana, you can still hold the mixture together. You can also look here for some other great egg substitutes.
• You can use any type of nut that you’d like. Make sure to toast them to release their nutty flavors. Other options that will work well with this Duncan Hines spice cake mix recipe are walnuts and almonds.

Spice Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Cookies

You can use a spice cake mix to make chocolate chip cookies. For this recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 1 box of Duncan Hines spice cake mix
• 1 can of pumpkin puree
• 1 bag of chocolate chips

Now all you need to do is:

1. Preheat your oven to 350F. Grab a bowl and add the following ingredients: your Duncan Hines spice cake mix and pumpkin puree. Mix until well combined.
2. Once a dough begins to form, you need to add around a cup of chocolate chips to the dough. Fold them in so they’re evenly distributed.
3. Use an ice cream scoop to add the cookie dough to a lined baking sheet. Leave a few inches between each ball of dough to give them space to spread.
4. Use the remaining chocolate to gently press into the top of each cookie. Place into the center of your preheated oven and bake for around 15-18 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and leave to cool before eating. Serve and enjoy!

Spice Cake Mix Banana Bread Cake

You can also use a spice cake mix to make a banana bread cake. For this recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:

For the cake:

• 1 box of Duncan Hines spice cake mix
• 1-3 cups of mashed bananas

For the frosting:

• a small amount of confectioners’ sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons of orange juice
• 125ml of softened cream cheese

Now all you need to do is:

1. Preheat your oven according to the temperature of your boxed cake mix. You’ll also need to mash your bananas before you begin too.
2. Follow the instructions on your boxed cake mix. Once complete, fold in the mashed bananas and mix until smooth.
3. Add the batter to a greased cake pan and bake for the time recommended on your boxed cake mix. Leave to cool.
4. For your frosting, mix the ingredients into a bowl and mix well until it reaches a frosting consistency. Add frosting to your cooled cake. Serve and enjoy!

Spice Cake Mix Carrot Cake

You can also use a spice cake mix to make carrot cake. For this recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 1 box of Duncan Hines spice cake mix
• 1 stick of softened butter
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/4 cup of whole milk
• 2 cups of shredded carrot
• cream cheese frosting

Now all you need to do is:

1. Add the boxed cake mix, butter, eggs, cinnamon, milk, and carrot to a bowl and mix well. Keep mixing until you have a fairly smooth batter. This should take a few minutes.
2. Add the batter to two greased round cake pans and bake in the center of a preheated oven (350F) for around 25 minutes. A toothpick in the center should come out clean. Leave to cool.
3. Once cool, frost your cake. Serve and enjoy!

What Can I Make With Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix?

When it comes to using Duncan Hines spice cake mix, you can make all of the following baked goods, plus many more:

• apple spice cake with cream cheese frosting
• spice cake mix cookies
• pumpkin spice cake
• banana bread cake
• gingerbread cupcakes
• carrot cake
• pumpkin muffins
• pumpkin bread with cake mix
• carrot cake cookies
• pumpkin spice cinnamon rolls

Duncan Hines Spice Cake Add Ins

You can add many add-ins to the Duncan Hines spice cake mix to make it taste even better. Some of my favorites to add to the batter include:

• spices such as pumpkin and ginger
• nuts such as chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds
• chocolate chips

And my favorites to use once the cake is baked are:

• caramel sauce
• vanilla frosting
• cream cheese frosting

Can I Use Milk Instead of Water in Duncan Hines Cake Mix?

Absolutely. You can directly switch out water for milk, with a ratio of 1:1. For example, if your recipe calls for one cup of water, you add one cup of milk instead.

How Many Carbs Are in a Spice Cake Mix?

Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix contains 34 grams of carbs per serving. The number of carbs will vary by what brand of spice cake mix you buy. In addition, the carbs will also vary when making homemade spice cake depending on what recipe you are using. 

Can Spice Cake Mix replace Carrot Cake Mix?

You can use spice cake mix in place of carrot cake mix. Spice cake mix contains the same spices as carrot cake mix so it can easily be replaced with spice cake mix.

To make carrot cake from a spiced cake mix, begin by following the instructions on the box. Then, add in two cups of shredded carrots, one eight-ounce can of crushed pineapple that has been drained, and three-fourths a cup of chopped pecans. Mix until all of your ingredients are combined in your carrot cake batter. 

Pour your batter into your two nine-inch greased cake pans and bake for 25 to 3o minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Allow your carrot cake to fully cool before frosting it with cream cheese frosting and enjoying. 

Is Spice Cake Healthy?

Unfortunately, spice cake is not healthy. One serving of Duncan Hines Spice Cake contains 170 calories, four grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 18 grams of sugar, 34 grams of carbs, and 350 milligrams of sodium when prepared according to the package instructions. This does not consider any frosting that you may add to your spice cake. 

While spice cake is not considered healthy, there is nothing wrong with enjoying it in moderation. It can make a tasty dessert that will fulfill your sweet-tooth cravings. 

What Fruit Goes Well with Spice Cake?

Spice cake is traditionally served as a fall dessert, so it often goes best with fall and winter fruits. Some of the best fruits to pair with spice cake include apples, pears, oranges, and cranberries. It will also taste wonderful with other fruits including blackberries, pineapple, and coconut. 

You can use any of these fruits to garnish your spice cake after decorating. In addition, you can also mix them into your batter and bake them into your spice cake. 

What is the Difference Between Spice Cake and Gingerbread Cake?

The difference between a spice cake and a gingerbread cake is the ingredients used. The key difference between the two cakes is that gingerbread cake uses molasses and spice cake typically does not or only has a small amount of molasses. A typical gingerbread cake will call for one cup of molasses whereas a spice cake will call for no molasses or only one tablespoon.

Gingerbread cake and spice cake contain many of the same spices. Both cakes will often have cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. In addition, spice cake also often contains applesauce in it to give it moisture.

Is Pumpkin Spice Cake the Same as Spice Cake?

Pumpkin spice cake is very similar to spice cake but there are some differences. Pumpkin pie spice contains cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and ginger, which are often found in spice cake as well. However, pumpkin spice cake typically contains pumpkin puree as well. 

Spice cake can be used as a base to make a pumpkin spice cake. For a super easy pumpkin spice cake, you can combine one box of spice cake with two cups of pumpkin puree. Then, bake pumpkin spice cake according to the instructions on the box. 

Who Sells Spice Cake?

Boxed spice cake is typically sold at all grocery stores and superstores such as Target, Walmart, Costco, and Sam’s. You can find it in the baking aisle of your grocery store. In addition, many bakeries will also sell spice cake as well. 

In Conclusion

I hope this post has helped you to become more familiar with Duncan Hines’s spice cake recipes. If you tried this recipe at home, let us know what you think about it in the comments below! And, make sure to go check out some of our other delicious baking recipes on our site. We know you will love them.

Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to Duncan Hines spice cake recipes? If so, let us know.

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