Duncan Hines Vs Pillsbury: Which Brand Has The Best Yellow Cake Mix?

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

With the right boxed cake mix, all it takes is some oil, water, and egg — and a tub of frosting — to create a delicious dessert. The baking aisle is overflowing with options, so our writer took one for the team and tested a dozen yellow cake mixes to find out which one was best. Two of the most recognizable cake mix brands, Duncan Hines and Pillsbury, topped the list, but it was Duncan Hines that took first — and second — place.

What gave Duncan Hines Classic Yellow Cake Mix top billing? Our writer described it as having the scent of vanilla pudding and loved that the flavor was equally present in the cake. They noted that the light and flavorful sponge would be a great pairing for just about any frosting, too. The number-two spot also went to Duncan Hines, this time to Dolly Parton's Favorite Yellow Cake Mix. The mix earned high points for its balanced flavor, as well as the plush texture of the crumb. 

With Duncan Hines taking the top two spots, the next-highest-rated yellow cake mix came from Pillsbury. Our writer found the Pillsbury Moist Supreme Yellow Cake Mix to be the platonic ideal of childhood yellow birthday cakes, noting that this mix is quite sweet — something that prevented it from taking the top spot. "I wouldn't be able to eat a batch of these Pillsbury cupcakes coated in classic vanilla buttercream because of how sweet it would be, but I can handle this mix sans frosting any day," they said.

Ready to pick up a box of cake mix? Shoppers' insights line up with our tester's assessments, so you can bake with confidence. One review shared on the Duncan Hines website said the Classic Yellow Mix "was really easy to make and came out moist, fluffy, and delicious. It has a nice classic vanilla-cake flavor and baked evenly without being too sweet." Follow the suggestions of Walmart shoppers and use this mix to make pineapple upside-down cake.

The Dolly Parton cake mix stands out because, while most cake mixes call for oil and water, this mix instead requests melted butter and milk — a great way to make boxed cake mix taste like it came from a bakery. A Walmart reviewer loved the inclusion of butter in it, saying "the cake was incredibly moist with a rich, buttery flavor that tasted just like homemade. No one guessed it came from a box." Grab this mix (or try the dairy swap!) if you want your yellow cake to have professional-level results.

Pillsbury's place at number three was, according to our tester, all about the plush texture of the crumb (though it wasn't as pillow-soft as the first-place Duncan Hines mix). A Walmart shopper agrees with that assessment. "It's simple to work with, and the texture always comes out soft and moist no matter how I'm cooking it," they said. "I've used it with chocolate frosting, fresh strawberries, and even layered desserts — it handles everything perfectly. A reliable mix that makes homemade baking feel effortless and always tastes amazing."