first, homemade cakes tend to be dryer than mix. i have added a teaspoon of instant pudding or applesauce to my homemade ingredients before and it helps. be care ful on using the right measuring cup. there is a liquid type and a dry ingredient type. you may be using too much liquid.you may need to adjust your baking temperature a little lower as every one's oven doesn't cook the same.be sure you put a piece of wax paper or foil over your cake right out of the oven to hold in moisture. once the moisture is gone,IT IS GONE .if you want a good, moist cake get duncan hines.i have added instant pudding to that,also.i hope these hints help you. i am a cake decorator instructor.