Boxed Cakes w/ a Little Extra!

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Over the summer my friend told me how to make a boxed cake taste a little better or rich and now I heard Paula Deen say it so it must be a long known trick.

If the box says add water add milk instead & always up the eggs by 1!

Simple stuff but really adds to the flavor and texture!

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

I have always done that. Used milk and added an extra egg. I don't remember where I heard that but I heard it a long time ago. I always add double the amount of Vanilla it calls for.

 

[AlwaysMoving]

Over the summer my friend told me how to make a boxed cake taste a little better or rich and now I heard Paula Deen say it so it must be a long known trick.

If the box says add water add milk instead & always up the eggs by 1!

Simple stuff but really adds to the flavor and texture!

I can't imagine Paula Deen doing any low fat recipe.
But I do agree. The same can be said for making something as simple as cornbread. Use more egg and buttermilk (instead of water).

 

[ChristmasElf]

You can substitute applesauce for the vegetable oil as well.

However, when making cake from scratch, follow the recipe, as measurements are crucial if you want it to turn out right.

 

[pigletgirl]

You can substitute the water for milk? How much richer does it make it?

 

[C.Ann]

Someone made me a birthday cake last week - Pillsbury - chocolate, of course.. I didn't say anything, but it tasted awful!! I've used Pillsbury before and it tasted fine so I'm not sure what the issue was..

I still have most of the cake here and I have to ditch it before the "someone" comes back tonight or it's really going to hurt her feelings..

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

You can substitute the water for milk? How much richer does it make it?

It makes it very tasty and also gives it a more dense & moist cake.

Christmas Elf I have used the applesauce trick in my home for lower calories but I wouldn't bring that to someones home if I didn't have time for a home made cake.

 

[cabanafrau]

It makes it very tasty and also gives it a more dense & moist cake.

Christmas Elf I have used the applesauce trick in my home for lower calories but I wouldn't bring that to someones home if I didn't have time for a home made cake.

There are recipes where I won't use the applesauce substitute because I think it will not work, but I have never had a problem with it when I did use it. I've served plenty of baked goods with applesauce to guests & taken them to different events. Usually I'm left with crumbs & requests for recipes.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I have heard of the milk thing, but never to add an extra egg! I always add a tsp of vanilla to a boxed mix, too. I have about a dozen boxes of cake and brownie mix right now, so anytime I am asked to bring anything lately it is a cake or brownies. I will try it!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It makes it very tasty and also gives it a more dense & moist cake.

Christmas Elf I have used the applesauce trick in my home for lower calories but I wouldn't bring that to someones home if I didn't have time for a home made cake.

If you really want to dense it up do the "Duncan Hines pound cake" recipe. I am sure it does not matter which brand of cake mix you use.

Cake:

• 1 pkg Duncan Hines® Moist Deluxe® Devil's Food Cake Mix
• 1 (3.4 oz) pkg chocolate instant pudding and pie filling
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

http://duncanhines.com/recipes/cakes/dh/devils-food-pound-cake

 

[cabanafrau]

If you really want to dense it up do the "Duncan Hines pound cake" recipe. I am sure it does not matter which brand of cake mix you use.

Cake:

• 1 pkg Duncan Hines® Moist Deluxe® Devil's Food Cake Mix
• 1 (3.4 oz) pkg chocolate instant pudding and pie filling
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

http://duncanhines.com/recipes/cakes/dh/devils-food-pound-cake

Aptly named. This is obviously the work of the devil!

 

[DisMN]

You can also turn any boxed yellow or white cake into banana/banana spice or just spice cake.

Just add a couple of mashed bananas and a tablespoon of pumpkin pie seasonings, heavy on the cloves and you have a delicious cake/bread! LOL

 

[scrapquitler]

My Mom always doctors every cake mix when she uses it. She has a standard recipe (which I can NEVER remember) but i know she always use oil, 3 eggs, a box of pudding mix and water. Her cakes are always delicious and get rave reviews (and she makes a LOT of cakes...like 5 or 6 a week, she sends them to the Elks club for bingo, she takes them to poker night, she donates for bake sales, etc.)

She also has a lot of recipes where she adds fruits, chocolate syrup, nuts, etc (not all at once LOL) to make tons of variations.

 

[Stitchfans]

You can substitute applesauce for the vegetable oil as well.

However, when making cake from scratch, follow the recipe, as measurements are crucial if you want it to turn out right.

I heard about the applesauce too. Never tried it myself, but plan to sometime. Normally when I bake which is not that often I back from scratch.

 

[Imzadi]

I have heard of the milk thing, but never to add an extra egg! I always add a tsp of vanilla to a boxed mix, too. I have about a dozen boxes of cake and brownie mix right now, so anytime I am asked to bring anything lately it is a cake or brownies. I will try it!

You can also make lots of variations of cookies from cake mixes. Here is my thread over on the DIS Cooking board. It has been made a sticky over there.

Cookies from cake mixes! Also: BISCOTTI, COOKIE BARS, now CUPS & POPS

 

[DMRick]

You can find lots of ways to doctor up a box cake at http://www.wilton.com/recipes/
Most all of us, who do occasionally use a box mix prefer Duncan Hines. Just do a search for using box mix.

I love decorating them, I hate making them.

 

[Imzadi]

You can find lots of ways to doctor up a box cake at http://www.wilton.com/recipes/
Most all of us, who do occasionally use a box mix prefer Duncan Hines. Just do a search for using box mix.

I love decorating them, I hate making them.

There are also several books out by the Cake Mix Doctor:

http://www.amazon.com/Anne-Byrn/e/B001IGNG38/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1318619509&sr=8-1


Here is her website with some recipes and a forum:

http://www.cakemixdoctor.com/recipes/


<sigh!> If I wasn't prediabetic, I'd be trying out all the recipes. A lot of them sound really yummy. I've also red where some people who decorate wedding cakes make their cakes from doctored up cake mixes. They swear no one can tell they weren't made from scratch.

 

[wdwmom2]

Okay, now I got an itch to make a "doctored" cake.

I think I will use Devil's Food, with the use milk and not water and add an extra egg. Then I will add some mashed ripe bananas to it. I think I will top it with my homemade peanut butter icing.

BTW, I never heard of the substitute milk in place of water and to add an extra egg. This is new to me.

 

[shortbun]

I've used the applesauce replacement but it was to lower the fat content. That was for a healthier cake. Adding eggs and milk wouldn't do that but it would make a richer cake for sure! I might try it sometime but my cholesterol numbers are creeping up the older I get in spite of a healthy diet and some exersize.

 

[Disneefun]

I love to do a boxed carrot cake and I throw in a large carrot and raisin salad from chik-fil-a. It makes it much more moist and gives it a slightly different flavor.