Better than homemade boxed cake

Yeah I know all of my food related posts have been about healthy eating etc.  Well this is not all that healthy, lol, BUT my excuse is my sons birthday!  His actual birthday was yesterday (he turned 9, holy cow!) but today was his "party".  By his choice we took two friends to jump street (an indoor trampoline park), then home for Taco Bell and movies, with one friend staying the night.  For his cake he requested chocolate cake and he wanted a sprinkles bar so everyone could decorate their own slice.

So I decided that the boxed mix that he picked out just wouldn't cut it, I am after all one of those moms who does go a bit overboard and baking is my thing!  I love to do homemade cakes for birthdays... For my daughters last birthday I made Chocolate bacon cupcakes with maple frosting and Hummingbird cupcakes with coconut frosting, yum!  So I hopped on Pinterest to find a link on how to make boxed cake taste homemade.  I actually found several different recipes although most had a few similarities.

First you need a boxed cake mix, this is what my son picked out-

Now, I still followed the general directions on the back of the box, but with a few modifications.  First, I added an extra egg, this helps add to the density of the cake so it's not overly light.  Next, I replaced the oil with an equal amount of melted butter, this simply improves the flavor and makes a richer but fluffier cake.  Finally, I replaced the water, half with coffee and half with coconut milk (the yummy dense fatty kind froma can, not the dairy fridge).  Why?  Coffee actually brings out the flavor of chocolate, so if you're not making a chocolate cake go for straight coconut milk.  The coconut milk is rich in healthy fats and makes for a super moist, rich cake.

Three of the five kids in the house ate two large slices each... And my husband ate two slices, that might not be surprising to most people, so let me explain.  My husband HATES cake, in general he refuses to eat it.  Yes, when I make some new kind he will taste it and then brush it off as just fine.  For his birthday he always wants pecan pie, pie is his thing.  He actually ate two slices!!  It's just that good!  See how yummy it looks?  Now I can get my chocolate and sugar fix it before my surgery!

With three days left before my surgery I'm feeling a bit flustered...so much to do!  I have to buy groceries, clean the house, get my mom from the airport, exercise, get the kids to and from school, etc... And of course just plain try not to freak out!