7 Healthiest Cake Mixes on Grocery Store Shelves and 4 to Avoid
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Whether it’s for a birthday party, a last-minute dessert, or just a midweek pick-me-up, store-bought cake mixes can be a convenient solution for your sweet needs. If you indulge in the occasional decadent dessert every now and then, you don’t have to worry about choosing a “healthy” option; However, if you’re looking for a healthier, lower-calorie, lower-sugar cake mix to enjoy regularly, we’ve got you covered with our guide to the healthiest cake mixes at the grocery store.
With the help of registered dietitians, we scoured the dessert aisle to find their favorite healthy cake mixes, as well as which ones to avoid. Our experts agree that it’s important to find cake mixes with moderate total calories and check the label for added sugars. You might consider balancing your cake with a serving of fruit or low-calorie Cool Whip for a boost of fiber and a little extra bulk.
How we choose the best cake mixes
- Total calories: Most cakes are high in calories thanks to added oils and sugar. We’ve worked to find options that are modest in calories or provide at least some balance, in the form of fiber and protein, for the calories you consume.
- Added sugar: The recommended daily intake of added sugar is 24 grams per day for women and 36 grams per day for men. If you eat cake regularly, it’s easy to exceed this added sugar goal. We looked for options that were low in sugar or had alternatives to sugar.
- Fiber: Although it’s hard to find even in some healthy cake mixes, we looked for options with fiber to increase the staying power of these cake mixes.
The 7 Healthiest Cake Mixes on Grocery Store Shelves
Best: Simple Mills Vanilla Cake Mix
Nutrition (Per 1/12 of dry mix): 120 calories, 5 g fat (0.5 g saturated fat), 200 mg sodium, 17 g carbohydrates (2 g fiber, 8 g sugar), 2 g protein
We love the attention to simple ingredients in this cake mix, as well as Simple Mill’s dedication to balanced nutrition. “Made with simple, quality ingredients, this gluten-free, plant-based option is a game-changer for those with dietary restrictions, but something everyone will love. With almond flour as the first ingredient, 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein per serving, it offers a nutrient-rich alternative to traditional cake mixes and satisfies your sweet tooth with its light vanilla flavor,” says Steph Magill, MS, RD, CD, FAND, Owner of Soccer Mom Nutrition.
Best: Miss Jones Organic Vanilla Cake Mix
Nutrition (For 1/18 of dry mix): 90 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 160 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrates (0 g fiber, 12 g sugar), 1 g protein
Miss Jones Cake Mix provides the perfect balance of enhanced nutrition without compromising taste. “Made with organic wheat flour and just 12 grams of added sugar per serving, this cake mix is an ideal treat option that fits into a balanced diet,” says Krista Wale, RD, LDN, registered dietitian and founder of Louisiana Nutrition Associates.
Best: Bob’s Red Mill Vanilla Yellow Cake
Nutrition (Per 1/4 cup dry mix): 180 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 220 mg sodium, 45 g carbohydrates (0 g fiber, 24 g sugar), 0 g protein
If you’re gluten-free, you may have a hard time finding a cake mix that’s both healthy and delicious. “It can be difficult to find a cake mix without questionable preservatives, corn syrup, and artificial flavors that still taste homemade. Bob’s Red Mill Vanilla Yellow Cake Mix has mastered how to make a cake mix in a box the taste of a recipe made from scratch. ! Its sponge cake texture and rich flavor make you believe this cake was purchased from a bakery,” explains Brooke Baird, RDN, LD from Simply Divine Nutrition, LLC.
Best: Pillsbury Sugar-Free Cake Mix
Nutrition (For 1/10 dry mix): 140 calories, 2 g fat (0.5 g saturated fat), 320 mg sodium, 37 g carbohydrates (1 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 2 g protein
If you are reducing your intake of added sugars, this blend is perfect for you. “Pillsbury Zero Sugar Cake Mix is a good option for people who are trying to limit their added sugar intake. With zero grams of added sugar, this mix is a good option for people who want something sweet but don’t want not a lot of added sugar. Be careful, this mixture is not carbohydrate-free”, comments Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, LD, CLECdietitian based in Charleston.
Best: Maja Chocolate Cake and Cupcake Mix
Nutrition (For 1/8 of dry mix): 160 calories, 1.5 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 270 mg sodium, 33 g carbohydrates (2 g fiber, 15 g sugar), 2 g protein
Maja’s high-quality chocolate cake mix contains 2 grams of fiber and is low in fat and sugar for a baking mix. We love their attention to a vegan and gluten-free ingredient list, making this cake mix versatile for almost everyone. Consider making thin mint cupcakes for a new take on chocolate cake.
Best: King Arthur Baking Company Yellow Keto Cake Mix
Nutrition (per 1/2 cup mix): 45 calories, 1 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 270 mg sodium, 27 g carbohydrates (12 g fiber, 2 g sugar), 2 g protein
King Arthur’s Keto Cake Mix tops the list as the lowest calorie option on the market. This low-carb cake mix contains 12 grams of fiber and only 2 grams of added sugar. At 45 calories per serving, it’s hard to find. Made with coconut flour, bakers should be aware that this mixture is much drier than regular flour.
Best: Lakanto Keto Cake Mix
Nutrition (For 1/8 of dry mix): 60 calories, 4.5 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 60 mg sodium, 22 g carbohydrates (13 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 2 g protein
With only 60 calories and 13 grams of fiber per serving, this cake mix is incredibly one of the healthiest on grocery store shelves. That’s because Lakanto uses almond flour, cocoa, calorie-free monk fruit sweetener, and psyllium husk fiber. We love the simple ingredients and attention to a balanced nutrition label here.
The Unhealthiest Cake Mixes on Grocery Store Shelves
Worst: Betty Crocker Pineapple Upside Down Cake Mix
Nutrition (For 1/6 dry mix and topping): 360 calories, 10 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 290 mg sodium, 65 g carbohydrates (<1 g fiber, 44 g sugar), 2 g protein
With 360 calories per serving, it’s one of the unhealthiest cake mixes on grocery store shelves. Considering the small recommended serving size, you could easily rack up almost half of your daily calories and more than double your recommended added sugars.
Worst: King Arthur Chocolate Indulgence Cake Mix
Nutrition (For 1/14 of dry mix): 180 calories, 5 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 140 mg sodium, 31 g carbohydrates (4 g fiber, 28 g sugar), 2 g protein
This rich chocolate blend provides 180 calories per serving and 28 grams of added sugar – more than a day’s worth of sugar for women. However, this blend contains 4 grams of fiber per serving from the rich cocoa, earning it some bonus points.
Worst: Duncan Hines Classic Yellow Cake Mix
Nutrition (For 1/10 dry mix): 170 calories, 3.5 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 320 mg sodium, 34 g carbohydrates (0 g fiber, 19 g sugar), 1 g protein
With 19 grams of added sugar and 320 mg of sodium, this cake mix is high in sugar and salt, and that’s before you top it with frosting. Without much fiber or protein, this treat is mostly empty calories, meaning they don’t have much staying power or nutrition to offer.
Worst: Jiffy Golden Yellow Cake Mix
Nutrition (For 1/5 of dry mix): 210 calories, 4.5 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat), 340 mg sodium, 39 g carbohydrates (1 g fiber, 23 g sugar), 2 g protein
This mix may be a nostalgic staple, but it’s not our favorite choice for a healthy cake mix. With 23 grams of sugar and 340 mg of salt, one serving of this cake mix will almost meet your daily added sugar intake and is the highest in sodium on our list. This is a “sometimes” indulgence, and if you regularly eat a cake mix like this, we suggest swapping it out with a healthier option above.
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