Shortcut Bailey’s Cake with Bailey’s Chocolate Frosting
Shortcut Bailey’s cake with Bailey’s chocolate frosting dresses up a box of cake mix and turns it into something showstopping. Creamy Bailey’s chocolate frosting slathers this dessert with rich chocolate frosting you’ll adore. Use this easy cake mix hack today to make an out of this world indulgence.
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What working mom has time to bake homemade cake from scratch? Not this Mom- that’s for sure! Once upon a time in life before kids, I used to be a prolific baker. Trays and trays of cookies for Christmas and homemade cakes in between. Mama ain’t got time for that these days. Today I am a prolific baking hacker. Give me a box of cake mix and I’ll hack it to make the yummiest cake mix cake you’ve ever had. Heck I might even turn it into donuts like these pumpkin donuts, these gingerbread donuts, or even these apple cider donuts. But you can bet that I am not following the instructions on the package. I’m a rebel like that.
Box Cake Mix Hacks 101
Seriously, one of my hidden talents, aside from being able to talk exactly like a Munchkin from Wizard of Oz or like Stitch, is hacking the heck out of store bought cake mix and cookie dough. Shortcuts that turn making cake from box mix that tastes like from scratch cake are my love language.
Some of my favorite box cake mix hacks?
- Never use water in the mix if the mix calls for it. Water is an opportunity to add richness or flavor from something like milk, creamer, or liquor.
- Substitute butter for at least part of the oil that the cake mix calls for. Butter will add extra flavor and richness. It will also result in a cake that feels a bit more like a pound cake with a bit of a denser crumb. I prefer this, but you might prefer a lighter crumb. If so, keep the oil or do half oil and half butter so you get the best of both worlds.
- Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to impart that homemade taste. Or almond extract or whatever flavor you are trying to go for.
For this Bailey’s cake, I subbed whole milk for water and butter for oil. And of course I added in a a hefty shot of Bailey’s for flavor.
How to Make Bailey’s Cake
The beauty of hacking a box of cake mix to bake a cake? It’s really easy to get a delicious, tastes just like homemade cake!
To make this Bailey’s cake, start by preheating the oven to 350. In a large bowl using an electric mixer beat, together the eggs, milk, melted butter, and Bailey’s for the cake. When the wet ingredients are combined, slowly pour in the dry ingredients and mix until incorporated. Then, pour the batter into two greased 8 inch round pans. Bake cakes until set for approximately 24-27 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. When cake is done, let cool. Then remove from pan prior to frosting.
How to Make Bailey’s Chocolate Frosting
Don’t forget the icing. A delicious homemade frosting is a crucial part of any cake because the icing is obviously the best part. Let me tell you, I would dip cardboard into and eat it, because it is THAT GOOD.
To make the frosting, sift together the cocoa powder and the confectioners sugar into a large bowl. Don’t skip sifting the cocoa powder. It will break up any lumps and result in a silky smooth icing. Add the butter and mix with an electric mixer until incorporated. Add the boiling water and Bailey’s and beat until smooth. Then frost your first cooled cake with an icing spatula. Stack the second cake right on top of the first one and frost that one as well. Be very liberal with the frosting. Too much of this frosting is never a bad thing!
Other Box Mix Hack Recipes You Might Enjoy
The delicious results of this easy cake recipe will appeal to beginner bakers and anyone looking to save time making a homemade tasting cake. Make this delicious Bailey’s cake the next time you are looking to satisfy your sweet tooth or entertain.
If you are looking for other shortcut recipes, I am the queen of baking hacks. Looking into getting a tiara as such. These are some of my favorite shortcut recipes:
- Boozy Pumpkin Spice Sheet Cake
- Honey Vanilla Cake
- Kahlua Brownies
- Dipped Sugar Cookies
- Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1 box of white cake mix
- 1 stick of butter
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup of Bailey's
- 3/4 cup of milk
For the Frosting
- 2 pounds of powdered sugar
- 1 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup of boiling water
- 1/3 cup of Bailey's
- 2 sticks of room temperature butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. In a large bowl using an electric mixer beat, together the eggs, milk, butter, and Bailey's for the cake. When the wet ingredients are combined, slowly pour in the dry ingredients and mix until incorporated, pouring into two greased 8 inch round pans. Bake cakes until set for approximately 24-27 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. When cake is done, let cool. Then remove from pan prior to frosting.
- To make the frosting, sift together the cocoa powder and the confectioners sugar into a large bowl. Add the butter and mix with an electric mixer until incorporated. Add the boiling water and Bailey's and beat until smooth.
- To assemble the cake, place one layer on a cake dish. Frost the cake by spreading the frosting evenly over the top of the cake and down the sides. Place the second layer on top of the first and frost the top, spreading it down the sides, using frosting to cover any gap between layers. Slice and enjoy.
mmm this looks so good! I love anything chocolate!
Me too!
This looks fantastic! I love using Bailey’s in recipes. One of my favorite cookie recipes calls for Baileys. Great Post!
http://myurbanoven.com/day-3-double-chocolate-mint-irish-cream-cookies/
Thank you!
Yummmmm! This looks so good! Somehow you made chocolate cake even better 😉
Thank you!
I love taking a boxed cake mix and elevating it. Sometimes you need to take shortcuts to keep life a little easier. What a great idea to add the Bailey’s, bookmarking this recipe to try very soon.
Exactly!
Yeah this is so happening in my house..soon:) It looks just so freaking moist, and I love me some Kahlua!
Enjoy!
this looks so good!! perfect for st. patty’s day too!
So good!
Yeess!!! I need!
Lol me too!
Oh I can totally make this for my husbands birthday! LOVE.
So good!
xo
Krista
http://www.hundredblog.com
Enjoy!
This is perfection. Because seriously, who has time to make allllll the party foods by hand when there’s celebrating to do!? So pretty and so tasty and so Irish… an all around winner!
Thank you Karly! And exactly! Ain’t nobody got time for that lol!
This cake sounds amazing! I’m surprised it’s boxed but completely understand not having time to make everything from scratch. Love that you used Bailey’s in the cake AND the frosting. 🙂
Yeah with a little one under foot that likes to help and consequently spends a lot of time with batter in her hair because mommy drops it on her head, I’m all about shortcut baking these days and making box mixes taste like scratch made goodies.
That looks amazing!
Thank you!
Omg omg omg. Give me alllllll the icing. This looks and sounds amazing!
Hahahah I’m with you!
OMG this cake looks so good! Now I’m starving!
Me too. State of life.
OMG this looks amazing!!
Thank you!
This cake is gorgeous and not just because it’s made out of Bailey’s. I wish I would have had this recipe the other day, so I could make it for St. Patrick’s Day. But you know what? I don’t need a special day to make such an awesome cake. 😛
Definitely don’t need a special occasion to make this cake.
I love homemade icing and you’re right it’s always worth it! This looks and sounds fantastic! I LOVE BAILEYS!!!
Me too! So yummy!
holy moly … this looks AMAZING! can you come make it for me? 🙂 I am definitely going to attempt this!
Lol sure! The beauty of this one is you could totally DIY. It’s easy as could be!
Well I just found the cake I will be making for my moms birthday! She loves baileys!
Enjoy!
Oooh this looks amazing!! I seem to be gravitating toward sinfully sweet recipes as of late, thanks to my Lenten sugar fast. I’ll have to come back to this when I’m allowed to eat it!! 😀
Only a few more days, then you can have at it!
Oh my goodness – this looks SO delicious! I can’t wait to try and make this soon!
Thank you!