Last updated on February 3rd, 2025
The Best Beer Box Cake recipe! Tried and tested, this fabulous recipe is easy to make and perfect for all of life’s celebrations. Easily serves 30 plus people.
The Beer Box Cake is a South African classic. It doesn’t contain beer but instead gets its name from the beer box used to cook the cake in. The beer box is lined with tinfoil and then wax wrap and the batter is poured straight in and cooked for anything from 40-45 minutes. This recipe was originally published in 2013 but has since been updated to reflect an easier recipe with less sugar and fewer eggs. The result is a perfectly moist vanilla cake!
It is moist and offers a perfect ratio of cake to icing!
The Beer Box cake is used for big celebrations, to take to the office, to school for a birthday ring or any large gathering requiring cake (and in something easy to transport too)! Our best kind of gatherings, naturally.
How Many People Does a Beer Box Cake Serve?
The cake serves 25-30 people easily and probably even more if you cut smaller squares. Perfect for kids school birthday rings or large functions or celebrations. Enjoy 🙂
Can you Make this Recipe into a Chocolate Cake?
Yes, you sure can, simply add 1/2 cup cocoa powder to the recipe and use boiling water instead of cold water (the amount of water stays the same as the vanilla recipe – one and a half cups). The boiling water helps to fully dissolve the cocoa powder and thereby extracting the richest, yummiest chocolate flavour for your cake!
How Do You Make a Beer Box Cake?
Firstly, you need to get a beer box carton. I just asked for one at the bottle store – they have plenty lying around to give you.
Secondly, you need to line your Beer Box with tinfoil and then wax wrap. I used the extra length heavy foil to line mine. I used masking tape (paper tape) to cover up a patch that tore whilst I was lining the box. Then, place wax wrap over the tin foil and fold over the edges. I kept mine in place with steel pegs. You can use wooden pegs too.
Mix all ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sugar until pale and creamy. Then add the rest of the ingredients: flour, oil, water, cornflour, salt, vanilla essence and baking powder. Beat well until combined and consistency is even.
Pour the batter into the beer box and place in the oven.
Cook for 40-45 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit) or until a wooden skewer inserted into the middle of the cake, comes out clean.
Make the Icing and Ice Cake Once Fully Cooled. Place the butter in a mixing bowl and using an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, mix butter until creamy. Add the icing sugar and vanilla essence and mix on high speed until all ingredients are well combined and the consistency is smooth. If the icing seems too dry, add a half a teaspoon milk or water.
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Beer Box Cake
Prep Time: 15 minutes- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
Yield: 28 – 32 slices 1x
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The Best Beer Box Cake recipe! Tried and tested, this fabulous recipe is easy to make and perfect for all of life’s celebrations. Easily serves 30 plus people.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 6 eggs
- 2 1/4 cups sugar
- 3 cups flour
- 3/4 cup oil
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cornflour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 10ml vanilla essence
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
For the Icing / Frosting
- 350g Butter
- 500g Icing Sugar
- 10ml Vanilla Essence
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius or (350 degrees Fahrenheit).
- In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sugar until pale and creamy.
- Add the rest of the ingredients: flour, oil, water, cornflour, salt, vanilla essence and baking powder. Beat well until combined and consistency is even.
- Pour the batter into the beer box and place in the oven. Cook for 40-45 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted into the middle of the cake, comes out clean.
- Once done, remove cake from the oven and allow to cool. Only ice the cake once fully cooled.
- To make the icing, place the butter in a mixing bowl and using an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, mix butter until creamy. Add the icing sugar and vanilla essence and mix on high speed until all ingredients are well combined and the consistency is smooth. If the icing seems too dry, add half a teaspoon of milk or water.
- Ice the cake and then decorate with sweets/candy of your choice and you can even pipe portion sizes onto the cake as seen in the photos of this recipe.
Notes
Optional: if you want to make a chocolate cake, simply add 1/2 cup cocoa powder to the recipe and use boiling water instead of cold water (the amount of water stays the same as the vanilla recipe – one and a half cups). The boiling water helps to fully dissolve the cocoa powder thereby extracting the richest, yummiest chocolate flavour for your cake!
I am definately going to try this one. My mom gave me the recipe for a chocolate one which is simply devine.
BEER BOX CHOCOLATE CAKE
Line a beer box with aluminium foil and grease well. Set oven at 180 deg.
BOIL TOGETHER IN A LARGE POT
250 g margarine
250 ml oil
500 ml water
5 level Tbls cocoa
ADD
4 Cups sifted flour
2 tsp salt
4 cups sugar
4 beaten eggs
2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 cup BUTTERMILK
ICING
Boil together –
2 Tblsp margarine
50 ml liquid fruit orange juice
(I found it better to put my dry ingredients in a big bowl and make a well in the middle and then pour the boiled mixture in and mix them together.) MIX WELL!!
The mixture is quite runny.
Pour the whole mixture into the beer box and bake 180 deg for about 59-60 minutes.
Allow to cool in the box.
When cold, ice with the following, or use ordinary butter icing and caramel.
Leave to cool then add 2 cups icing sugar and 2 Tbls cocoa. Spread over the top of the cold cake. The cake freezes well.
Would like to know! Adding in the cocoa will not require more liquid to the mixture please?
Hi Renuka, I don’t think the extra powder would require extra water as it is such a small amount.
What size box for this recipe ? Do I cut the side out of the box?
I tried this recipe yesterday coz I remember these kind of cakes were popular when someone had a birthday at school!
I must say that I was sceptical at 1st but then I was truly amazed at how yummy it came out. I actually took a risk by trying this recipe out in the form of cupcakes for an order!
I think its a great treat for kiddies + anyone with a sweet tooth!
Quick question: would it be wise to half the castor sugar measurements?
Hi there
For the chocolate version I have this recipe (very similar but obviously with the correct quantities for chocolate). It is a divine cake and I use this recipe for any chocolate cake I make.
Chocoalte Mega-Box Cake (done in a 4×6 beer box)
1. Boil together:
500 mls water
150 mls sunflower oil
6 heaped tablespoons cocoa
2 teapsons vanilla essence
Whisk it well to get rid of any lumps. Cool…then strain (if necessary)
2. Beat together until light and creamy
8 eggs
3 cups castor sugar
3. Fold into this mixutre
3 1/2 cups sifted flour
6 teaspoons baking powder
4. Add cooled cocoa mixture and blend in well
5. Pour into foil-lined box
6. Bake at 180°C for 30–35 minutes
7. Cool in box. Mix icing and ice in box. Leave the cake in the box for serving from.
I normally halve the recipe and it makes 2 decent size round cakes.
good day
one question, can this cake be taken out out the box and then iced, or will it fall appart.
Thanks sooo much for the recipe; have made the vanilla and chocolate version both are delicious and so easy to make. Renuka the cocoa makes no differnce no need to add any extra liquid.
Hi I have tried this cake but it sink in the middle. It was perfectly baked on the sides but collapsed in the oven while baking
Please could you give me a recipe for the vanilla icing to put on the cake
Mine did not come out right:( It could be the boiling water.
Hi there
Quick question – is it 3 heaped Tablespoons of baking powder? Is that not too much? Please specify. Most recipes call for just 30ml. 🙂 URGENT! Thank You
Hi There, it is just 3 tablespoons of baking powder – definitely not heaped. Thanks! xx
Hi do u have an eggless vanilla cake recipe plz in a beer box size . Thank u
Hi Natasha, sorry unfortunately not yet! Good idea though to add to the list!
This is great recipe, I have a wonderful sponge cake recipe which is individually laid out for 4 sizes, S, M, L and XL. I was going to add ingredients to now try XXL size cake for my beer box. A first try, was not sure how to line and intended leaving in box to cool as u mention and would ice in box, then a friend checked on the net, saying FOIL and turning out to cool, putting back in box. That was worrying me, – WHAT IF BROKE, so its nice to know I CAN LEAVE IN BOX, besides, its cardboard, breathing so it should be in order.
Not sure if I should try the recipe I already have, been very successful or above recipe. I am ALWAYS interested in new/different. I am in SA, Cape Town, love baking, especially for grandkids birthday parties+school events.
Hi avverille Barry would you please share your large beer box cake recipe with me. I am a hobby baker..bake from home. Based in East london. Thank you kindly.
the beer box cake. how and when does one incorporate the boiling water in the batter. Alternately with the flour or just once. when, during the mixing or at the end. please help
Hi, I need a recipe similiar to the beer box cake recipe but for cupcakes, please assist if possible. Thank you, Niveshny
As a first time baker I followed your instructions and I must say; my cake came out beautifully!
Thank you for the valuable advice!
Happy baker
Hi can I make use of the ready mix cake mixture for a box cake like those of snowflake and golden cloud and how many mixture will I use
I would like to know, how the box doesn’t catch alight in the oven. Is it because it is wrapped in the foil?
Thanks
Such a great question! The ignition point of cardboard is really high meaning that it needs a significant amount of heat to catch alight, well over 220 degrees celsius. I hope that helps!
I used the previous recipe as my go to. Was always a winner. Used this updated recipe and was very disappointed.
Hi Caitlin – oh no! Sorry to hear that! What didn’t you like about it?