This canned ingredient will dramatically enhance your boxed cake mix.

While homemade cakes are full of flavor, they also require a lot of effort on the part of the baker. And, when you’re short on time, a boxed cake mix may be a better choice.

The good news is that if you use a cake mix, you don’t have to sacrifice flavor. You can easily upgrade boxed cake mix by adding canned pie filling. Not only does your topping of choice add a fruity flavor to the dessert, but it’s also incredibly easy to make. Just add the cake mix, pie filling, and three eggs and you’re good to go. Then, mix it all together and pour it into your greased cake pan. If you like your cake extra moist, you can always add the vegetable oil called for in the recipe on the box, or another fat like sour cream.

Read more: Cake-Making Tips Every Baker Wishes They Knew Sooner

Match fruits to the flavor of your cake

The benefit of adding canned pie filling to your cake mix is ​​that it allows you to play with different flavor combinations. Canned apple pie filling, for example, pairs well with a spiced cake mix. Both ingredients are complemented by cinnamon, nutmeg, and other comforting spices that create a dessert that’s perfect for cooler weather.

Another option is to experiment with chocolate cake combinations. Cherry pie filling adds tart notes that can bring out the cocoa flavor in your baked good, or raspberry and strawberry pair incredibly well with chocolate. For those who want something more neutral, you can always use a simple yellow, white, or vanilla cake mix. This serves as a sweet backdrop for any fruit pie filling you like, whether it’s blueberries, something tart like rhubarb, or stone fruits like apricot or peach.

Another option is to use up leftover pumpkin pie filling by incorporating it into your cake mix. Adding pumpkin puree brings a fall flavor; the pie filling includes spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.

Tips and Tricks for Making Cakes with Pie Filling

When it’s time to put your pie crust in the oven, you can follow the regular baking instructions on the box. Just be sure to check for doneness with a toothpick: if it comes out clean, your dessert is cooked through and ready to serve.

Speaking of presentation, this is another area where you can get creative with your toppings. For example, if you used a strawberry or blueberry pie filling, a light and fluffy whipped cream might be a good choice. Beyond whipped cream, you can also play around with frosting. If you used a lemon meringue pie filling, a simple frosting might be a good choice for your cake. Or, if you opted for a hearty pumpkin pie cake, you could try a cinnamon buttercream. It’s up to you to create delicious flavor combinations that will really make your dessert sing.

Read the original article on The Daily Meal.