Help Needed to Add the Best Ingredients to a Box Cake --Really

I learned the majority of my tricks from the Cake Mix Doctor aka Anne Byrn who specializes in "tweaking" cake mix directions.
http://www.cakemixdoctor.com/

Basically, she increases the eggs from 3 to 4, always using large ones, changes the water to milk and decreases the amount to 1 cup, increases the oil to 1/2 cup, adds a small package of instant pudding mix (I add it even to mixes that have pudding in them, using vanilla for white or yellow mixes, chocolate for devil's food or German chocolate), and adds a teaspoon of vanilla extract (don't use the imitation stuff, bleh) to achieve a homemade taste.

She has an awesome recipe using a devil's food mix, Red Velvet Cupcakes with White Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting I make on Christmas Eve, it bakes up as a cake just fine and everyone loves it:
http://www.cakemixdoctor.com/recipe/red-velvet-cupcakes-w...

BTW, her recipes for Snickerdoodle Cupcakes, Cotton Candy Cupcakes, and Jelly Doughnut Cupcakes are my grandkids faves for their birthdays or other special occasions :)

Add the eggs it says to add but that's it for what the box calls for. Then add one can of cherry pie filling. You need to hand stir it to keep the cherries from breaking into tiny pieces.

Sooooooooooo delicious.

I add a cup of sour cream, a couple of tablespoons of chocolate pudding mix and a cup of chocolate chips to boxed devil's food cake mixes.

Use melted butter instead of oil & add a few extra eggs.

I add a tablespoon of coconut extract. It adds a nice touch that kids usually love.

I know it sounds gross but I add a tablespoon of real Mayo - it is a trick that a person who makes wedding cakes for a living told me about. every time i make a cake this way people rave.
PS I also only use Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe cake mix

If vanilla, I add Mexican vanilla.

For chocolate 2 to 3 egg yolks, sour cream

For Devil's Food Mix, follow directions and add 1 tablespoon light corn syrup (makes it dense and moist) and 1/2 cup chocolate chips. And the frosting makes the cake. Skip the can and make your own. Buy cocoa powder (not the drink mix), add butter and milk (directions are on the box). Easy breezy and makes the cake taste made from scratch.

What a great question! :) Thanks for posting, as I now have some ideas, too!

@Dragonflower: I am SO going to try your suggestion... sounds yummy. :D

First off Duncan Hines is dry n nasty you want phials bury super moist n follow directions to t and do not over cook. It's will be awesome!

here is the absolute best thing to do with a boxed devils food cake

bake it normally in a 9x13 pan. don't do anything other than what the box says.
then....

let it cool about 10 minutes or so after its done baking.
take a wooden spoon, using the handle poke several holes into the cake...about 1 inch apart (so there will be alot of them)

pour one can of sweetened condensed milk over the top of cake, slowly....drizzling into each hole.

pour one jar of caramel/butterscotch ice cream topping over the top of the cake, again...slowly, drizzling into each hole.

refrigerate.

when ready to serve or display.....top with a tub of cool whip, and a package of toffee bits or chocolate covered toffee bits (they sell them by the chocolate chips...heath makes them)

BEST cake you'll ever have...people will rave!

I have added butter in the past instead of oil, I think it is more tender with oil. In chocolate, I usually replace the water with strong old coffee, and increase the oil a 1/2 c more, and add a small dry box of instant choc pudding, and a little almond extract.