What's up with boxed cake mixes? Well, recently we published a story about their shrinking size and its effect on Grandma Judith's decades-old family recipe for chocolate crinkle cookies. TL;DR: It's not great and she's definitely not the only grandma who's noticed.

Following the recipe on the back of boxed cake mix can be boring. One way to elevate the mix, if you're a fan of fall flavors, is to use maple syrup.

Starting from scratch every time can be a drag when you're in the mood for sweets. See what to watch for when trying to make a vegan cake using a boxed mix.

Boxed cake mix doesn't have to be consistently boring. Instead, simply add a classic of the snack drawer to the treat for elevated flavor and texture.