Food and Recipes Desserts Cakes Layer Cakes Sugar-and-Spice Cake Recipe Make a classic white cake for Christmas or Easter this year. This cake starts with boxed mix, then adds a few key ingredients to make the end result light, fluffy, and totally delicious. By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 14, 2022 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett Prep Time: 1 hrs Bake Time: 22 mins Cool Time: 1 hrs 5 mins Freeze Time: 1 hrs Total Time: 3 hrs 27 mins Yield: 12 servings Ingredients 1 (18.25-oz.) package white cake mix 1 (16-oz.) container sour cream 1/4 cup butter, melted 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons apple pie spice 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional) Vanilla Buttercream Garnishes: sparkling sugar, clear edible glitter, rosemary sprigs, pecan halves, cranberries Directions Preheat oven to 350°. Beat together first 6 ingredients and, if desired, almond extract at low speed with an electric mixer just until dry ingredients are moistened. Increase speed to medium, and beat 2 minutes or until batter is smooth, stopping to scrape down bottom and sides of bowl as needed. Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 8-inch round cake pans. Bake at 350° for 20 to 22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 5 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely (about 1 hour). Wrap in plastic wrap, and freeze 1 hour or up to 1 month. Spread Vanilla Buttercream between layers and on top and sides of cake. Garnish, if desired. Chef's Notes For testing purposes only, we used Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Classic White Cake Premium Cake Mix. Print