When you add instant pudding to a cake mix, what happens is the instant pudding makes the cake moister, richer, denser and more flavorful.
The instant pudding added to the cake mix also creates a softer and velvety crumb to the cake, because of the sugar and cornstarch, which absorb and hold moisture, which transforms the standard boxed cake mix into something more like homemade cake.
Adding instant pudding to cake mix is an easy hack, which adds body, prevents dryness and mimics the texture of pound cake as well, with matching or even complementary pudding flavors also boosting the overall taste of the cake.
The key effects of instant pudding added to cake mix include, added moisture, texture, flavor and body.
The instant pudding added to the cake mix adds density as well as structure, and gives the cake more "oomph".
The instant pudding added to the cake mix also boosts the flavor of the cake, especially if the pudding flavor you add to the cake mix also complements the cake, like vanilla pudding in yellow cake mix for example.
The instant pudding added to the cake mix also creates a tender, soft and velvety crumb, which also makes the cake feel richer and more substantial, which is similar to that of pound cake.
And the instant pudding powdered also absorbs liquid and releases it slowly during the baking process of the cake, which also prevents the cake from drying out.
When using instant pudding in your cake mix, choose a pudding flavor that also matches or enhances your cake, like lemon in yellow cake or chocolate in chocolate cake.
And whisk one 3.5 ounce box of dry instant pudding mix into the dry cake mix before you add the wet ingredients.
Then prepare and bake the cake as directed on the box, but note you may also have slightly more batter.
Also use the dry powder only in the cake mix and not prepared pudding.