It has been decades since I’ve tried Duncan Hines Cake Mixes, so this is an informational review post only. I cannot give this product line a rating or offer personal notes on the taste, texture, etc. But if you have tried it, please do leave a comment with your own review!
Updated! Duncan Hines Cake Mixes were a standard at many of our childhood celebrations, and continue to be a way for people to produce a spot on, birthday-worthy, cost-effective dessert with little fuss and no muss! Plus, the flavors have been specially formulated (in a lab no less!) to perfectly greet our taste buds, and the leavening is added in just the right ratios to create a nearly foolproof cake.
Though Duncan Hines Cake Mixes don’t make it into my shopping cart these days (please note that they contain many artificial ingredients and hydrogenated oils), they are a go-to for millions of people. These highly accessible boxes have gained quite a following in the dairy-free community, especially when frugality and ease is in order. Yes, most Duncan Hines Cake Mixes are Kosher Parve (OU) and contain no dairy ingredients . But use caution, as some do contain milk. At last check, I found the following varieties to be milk-free by ingredients (always verify for yourself as ingredients and labeling can change!):
- Classic White
- Classic Devil’s Food
- Classic Butter Golden
- Classic Yellow
- Classic Dark Chocolate Fudge
- Classic Butter Recipe Fudge
- Signature Spice
- Signature Swiss Chocolate
- Signature German Chocolate
- Signature Strawberry
- Signature Confetti
- Signature Blue Velvet
- Signature Fudge Marble
- Signature Lemon Supreme
- Signature Pineapple
- Signature Red Velvet
- Signature Angel Food
- Signature Pink Velvet
- Decadent Carrot
- Black and White Cupcake (with frosting)
- Chocolate Lover’s Decadent Cupcake (with frosting)
- Spring Velvets (seasonal)
- Autumn Velvets (seasonal)
- Summer Velvets (seasonal)
- Holiday Velvets (seasonal)
- Caramel Apple Decadent Cupcake (with frosting & seasonal)
- Pumpkin Spice Decadent Cupcake (with frosting & seasonal)
Again, this is just a list to give you ideas for what Duncan Hines Cake Mixes might be accessible for dairy-free needs. Always read the ingredient statement and verify on processes where severe milk allergies are concerned!
Make it Vegan
The dairy-free Duncan Hines Cake Mixes are typically vegan, too (the Angel Food Cake does contain eggs). However, they call for eggs in the instructions. To circumvent this, you can use 1 15-ounce can of pumpkin or 1 12-ounce carbonated beverage (soda water, cola, etc) in place of the eggs, oil, AND liquid called for.
Dairy-Free Duncan Hines Frosting
If you need a convenient topping, some of the Frosting Tubs are dairy-free, too! Please note that like the Duncan Hines Cake Mixes, the Frosting Tubs are made with highly processed ingredients. That said, I found the following flavors were made without milk ingredients.
- Creamy Home-Style Classic Vanilla
- Creamy Home-Style Coconut Pecan
- Creamy Home-Style Butter Cream
- Creamy Home-Style Dark Chocolate Fudge
- Creamy Home-Style Lemon Supreme
- Creamy Home-Style Cream Cheese (not the Whipped!)
- Creamy Maple Spice
- Creamy Salted Caramel
- Creamy Chocolate Mint
- Whipped Vanilla
- Whipped Fluffy White
- Whipped Chocolate
This is for informational purposes only. Always read the label and check with the manufacturer if potential cross-contamination is an issue for you.
The Facts on Duncan Hines Cake Mixes
Certifications: Many of the Duncan Hines Cake Mixes are Certified Kosher Parve.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, these Duncan Hines Cake Mixes are dairy-free / non-dairy, and most are also egg-free, nut-free, peanut-free, vegan / plant-based, and vegetarian. Nonetheless, always read the ingredient statement and check with the company on their manufacturing processes for all varieties if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. Processes and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company / product.
For More Product Information: Visit the Duncan Hines website at www.duncanhines.com.
30 Comments
I am entertaining Kosher only folk and am trying to find “parve” desserts. Duncan Hines Angel Food cake mix does not list dairy but the package is not marked as “parve” Is it?
Kay Marcus
If it isn’t parve, then I couldn’t confirm it as such.
Hi Alisa, our daughter is lactose I tolerant and has decided to follow the vegan diet. One of the egg substitutes we have used is a tbls of white vinegar and a tsp of baking soda per egg. Would adding a teaspoon of two of baking soda to the mix along with the cola help with the issue of cakes/cupcakes not rising as much?
You can try it, but in that case, I would just follow the directions on the package using your egg substitute. No need for the shortcut then since you are adding some of the original ingredients anyway.
I tried to contact Duncan Hines but didn’t get a specific answer and wondering if you knew. The Red 40 that is in the frostings are typically tested on animals. Do you know if the Red 40 they use is not tested on animals?
Hi Gianna, I’m sorry but I wouldn’t have any idea. You might want to stick with certified vegan brands instead.
Pingback: today i learned: (most) cake mixes are vegan – wake me when you feed me
Do you know if there is barley in the white cake mix?
Sorry, I couldn’t tell you. You’d need to check the ingredients.
Will adding the 12 oz of soda work with the gluten free cake mix?
If the cake mix calls for eggs, this might be a tricky swap. Gluten-free cake mixes are usually more dependent on eggs for binding and soda wouldn’t provide any.
I have made vegan cupcakes with the recipe adding just cola and they did not rise like regular cupcakes am I missing something ?
Hi Donna, so you used a recipe not a boxed cake mix? This works with boxed cake mixes like Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker (they do come out a little more moist), but I can’t vouch that it will work as a swap in a full recipe.
Sorry I used Duncan Hines box. Devils cake and added soda but the cupcakes did not rise like regular cupcakes. I checked them put toothpicks in and they still had moist cake on them so I left them in for another 5 mins.
They do come out a little moister and don’t rise quite as much, but should still fully rise to frosting level 🙂 I think the chocolate cakes tend to be a little heavier. I’ve only trialed with a white cake in the past. Did they cook through for you?
when adding the soda, do you use same amount of oil and water as directed in the box directions?
Hi Rosemary, as written, you use “1 12-ounce carbonated beverage (soda water, cola, etc) in place of the eggs, oil, AND liquid called for.”
I’m definitely going to bookmark this for future reference. I’ve searched high and low for how to make my cupcakes dairy free and since I love red velvet I’d much rather make them vegan than for expensive cupcakes I can make at home. Also, I’d like to have things I can bring to family functions that they wont know are vegan and will get consumed before I can mention they’ve “accidentally” went vegan lol. Thanks and blessings.
I used the spice cake mix and they came out amazing!!
Do you know if this soda hack can be used in baking recipes? I don’t like consuming hydrogenated oil so that’s why I’d rather make it from scratch and not a box mix.
these were SO delicious though!
Glad it worked well Heidi! The mixes have a host of additives that help things happen with ease. This may be trickier with a from-scratch recipe. I haven’t tried it but let me know if you do!
When you use soda, do still follow the same bake time and temperature?
In general, yes. Same baking temperature. Keep an eye on it as it cooks, as the baking time could vary slightly. It should appear set and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean when it is done.
I noticed that the Signiture French Vanilla is not on the list. Is it not dairy free??
According to their website, it contains milk. I would always check the packaging to ensure Katie.
Use salt or unsalted butter in the Yellow Butter Cake Mix?
For dairy-free, there aren’t any unsalted buttery spreads / sticks, all are salted.
I’m transitioning my family into eating dairy free foods, for health reasons as well as improving our diet. I really appreciate the tips, they are very helpful.
So happy to be able to help you and your family Temperance!
The white cakes do have dairy even in the boxes not marked. Believe me, I was super sick.
Did you report this to the company? There shouldn’t be any dairy in the cake ingredients (as shown on the box and website), but as noted, if you are sensitive to traces, then always contact companies before consumption. There are no hard and fast rules on disclosure of cross-contamination potential or allergen protocols.