Quick Answer
If you don’t have Swiss chocolate cake mix on hand, there are a few good substitutes you can use instead. The best substitutes are chocolate fudge cake mix or German chocolate cake mix. Both of these contain cocoa powder and will provide the rich chocolate flavor you want in a Swiss chocolate cake. In a pinch, you can also use devil’s food cake mix or dark chocolate cake mix. While the flavor won’t be quite as intense, these mixes can work well too. Avoid using plain chocolate cake mix, as it won’t have the same depth of chocolate taste. With any substitute, you may want to add in a couple tablespoons of cocoa powder to intensify the chocolate flavor.
Substituting Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
Chocolate fudge cake mix makes an excellent substitute for Swiss chocolate cake mix. Here’s why:
- It contains cocoa powder, giving it an ultra chocolatey flavor.
- The texture is dense and fudgy, similar to Swiss chocolate cake.
- It typically uses oil or butter, so the richness will be there.
- The dark color is a close match.
Chocolate fudge cake mix is made specifically to produce a decadent, fudge-like cake. Since Swiss chocolate cake is known for being dense and indulgent, the fudge cake mix mimics these qualities well.
You can use the chocolate fudge cake mix in your exact Swiss chocolate cake recipe, substituting it 1:1 for the Swiss chocolate mix. The ingredients and ratios will be nearly identical. The resulting cake will have the same fudgy texture and deep chocolate taste as the original.
Fudge Cake Mix Brands
Some popular brands of chocolate fudge cake mix include:
- Pillsbury Moist Supreme Premium Chocolate Fudge
- Betty Crocker Super Moist Chocolate Fudge
- Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge
- Ghirardelli Majestic Premium Chocolate Fudge
Any brand of chocolate fudge cake mix will do the trick! Look for one with good reviews and a short ingredient list for best flavor.
Using German Chocolate Cake Mix
German chocolate cake mix can also stand in perfectly for Swiss chocolate cake mix. Here’s a look at why it works so well:
- It contains cocoa powder for rich chocolate taste.
- Coconut flakes add moisture for a tender crumb.
- The texture from the coconut lends itself well to the fudgy Swiss cake style.
- It typically uses oil or butter for proper richness.
- The color is an ideal deep, dark chocolate.
With its sweet chocolate and coconut flavors, German chocolate cake has a similar profile to Swiss chocolate cake. The cocoa powder ensures you get the intense chocolate hit, while the coconut gives moisture and tender texture.
You can swap the German chocolate cake mix in a 1:1 ratio for Swiss chocolate cake mix. Expect a superbly moist cake with chocolate coconut flavor. If you want it more intensely chocolate, stir in 1-2 tbsp extra cocoa powder.
German Chocolate Cake Mix Options
Here are some top-rated German chocolate cake mix options:
- Betty Crocker German Chocolate Cake Mix
- Pillsbury German Sweet Chocolate Premium Cake Mix
- Duncan Hines Classic German Chocolate Cake Mix
- Ghirardelli German Chocolate Cake Mix
Look for a German chocolate cake mix that is well-reviewed for best results. The mix should contain cocoa powder in the ingredients.
Trying Devil’s Food Cake Mix
In a pinch, devil’s food cake mix can be used in place of Swiss chocolate cake mix:
- It provides a deep, dark chocolate flavor.
- The color is nearly identical.
- It uses cocoa powder for chocolate taste.
- The texture is dense and moist.
While devil’s food cake won’t be quite as rich and chocolatey as a true Swiss chocolate cake, it can still make a fine substitute when you’re out of other options.
Be sure to use a devil’s food cake mix that lists cocoa powder in the ingredients, not just “chocolate.” This ensures you get actual chocolate flavor and not just food coloring. You can swap the devil’s food cake mix in a 1:1 ratio for the Swiss cake mix. Adding 1-2 tbsp extra cocoa powder can help intensify the chocolate.
Devil’s Food Cake Mixes to Try
Here are some recommended devil’s food cake mix brands:
- Betty Crocker Devil’s Food Cake Mix
- Pillsbury Moist Supreme Devil’s Food Premium Cake Mix
- Duncan Hines Classic Devil’s Food Cake Mix
- Ghirardelli Devil’s Food Cake Mix
Overall, devil’s food cake mix can work well when you need a last minute substitute for Swiss chocolate cake.
Using Dark Chocolate Cake Mix
In a last case scenario, dark chocolate cake mix can be substituted for Swiss chocolate cake mix:
- It provides a more intense chocolate flavor than regular chocolate cake mix.
- Cocoa powder gives it a deep, dark color.
- It typically uses oil or butter for a moist, tender crumb.
- The texture is dense and fudgy.
While it won’t replicate the full chocolate intensity of Swiss chocolate cake mix, dark chocolate cake mix is a better option than plain chocolate cake mix. Look for a brand that specifically says “dark” rather than just “chocolate.”
You can swap the dark chocolate cake mix in a 1:1 ratio for the Swiss chocolate cake mix. Add in 1-2 tbsp of cocoa powder to bring the chocolate flavor up a notch. This will help it better approximate the real thing.
Dark Chocolate Cake Mix Options
Some quality dark chocolate cake mix picks include:
- Betty Crocker Dark Chocolate Cake Mix
- Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Cake Mix
- Pillsbury Dark Chocolate Fudge Premium Cake Mix
- Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
While not perfect, these dark chocolate cake mixes can work reasonably well when Swiss chocolate cake mix is not available.
Cake Mixes to Avoid
There are some cake mixes you should avoid using as substitutes for Swiss chocolate cake mix:
- Milk chocolate cake mix – Not dark and chocolatey enough
- Hot cocoa cake mix – Doesn’t contain actual cocoa powder
- Plain chocolate cake mix – Won’t have deep enough chocolate flavor
- White cake mix – Obviously won’t provide any chocolate taste
- Funfetti cake mix – Too sweet and colorfully confetti-dotted
Stick to dark, cocoa-powered chocolate cake mixes like fudge, German, devil’s food or dark chocolate. Avoid any mix that seems like it won’t deliver intense chocolate richness.
How to Enhance Chocolate Flavor
Any cake mix substitute won’t be exactly the same as Swiss chocolate cake mix. Here are some tips to enhance the chocolate flavor:
- Add 1-2 tbsp extra cocoa powder to the mix
- Use brewed coffee instead of water for the liquid
- Add in chocolate chips or chunks
- Frost cake with chocolate buttercream or ganache
- Drizzle cake with chocolate syrup
- Dust with powdered cocoa before serving
With a couple tweaks, you can make a subbed chocolate cake mix taste even more decadent.
Conclusion
While Swiss chocolate cake mix has a unique and distinctive flavor, you have some good baking options if you don’t have it on hand. Opt for chocolate fudge or German chocolate cake mix for the closest match. In a pinch, devil’s food or dark chocolate cake mix can work too. Avoid milk chocolate, hot cocoa and plain chocolate mixes. With a little cocoa powder or other chocolate add-ins, you can still achieve a superb chocolate cake even without Swiss chocolate cake mix.