What do you add to cake mixes to make them better?

[Imzadi]

Personally, I like to use my cake mixes as cookies. And I don't make them healthy Just add all kinds of different stuff to make them taste yummy I love the pistachio ones!!!

Yes! There is a really great thread on the DIS Cooking Board, (yes we have a Cooking Board!) of different "Cookies from cake mixes! Also: BISCOTTI, BARS, now CUPS & POPS." It even has photos of the cookies once again.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/cookies-from-cake-mixes-also-biscotti-bars-now-cups-pops.681495/


To answer the OP's question, there is a recipe on the thread above for adding a can of pumpkin puree to cake mix to make pumpkin cookies. Pumpkin has over 300% of of the daily RDA of Vitamin A and 500 mg of Potassium.

Here's the recipe for the Pumpkin Spice cookies or Pumpkin Spice Muffins:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/cookies-from-cake-mixes-also-biscotti-bars-now-cups-pops.681495/page-6#post-21633181

Pumpkin Bars:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/c...ars-now-cups-pops.681495/page-8#post-27994103

 

[DLgal]

Why are there so many people clicking on a thread about using cake mixes to say they don't use cake mixes? Weird.

Anyway, I have used applesauce, pumpkin, yogurt, or whatever sometimes in place of some of the oil, water, and eggs. I also like to add almond extract. I actually prefer cake mixes to homemade cake, especially for "plain" cake like white, yellow, or chocolate. I feel the same way about brownie mix.

I also prefer cake mixes. Homemade cakes are always so dense and heavy.

 

[mmouse37]

I love to bake....I prefer baking way over cooking. I usually make everything from scratch but in a pinch I will definitely make a box of cake mix. If it is a yellow cake I will add some vanilla extract or a chocolate cake I will add leftover coffee instead of the water...gives it more of a mocha flavor.

I also have not found a scratch brownie recipe that I like better than a box mix of brownies. To that I will either add melted peanut butter and swirl it around the batter once in the pan or add small caramel pieces to brownie mix or of course different nuts. I have never found I need to frost my brownies though.

I take two boxes of brownie mix and add the amount of eggs and oil for one box but double the water. So less oil overall. Then I bake it less than the recommended time so they are moist and not dry. Let them cool then put in the freezer for about 40 minutes so they are easier to cut (without them getting the knife all goopy).

MJ

 

[Imzadi]

Here are some more recipes from the "Cookies from cake mixes! Also: BISCOTTI, BARS, now CUPS & POPS."

https://www.disboards.com/threads/cookies-from-cake-mixes-also-biscotti-bars-now-cups-pops.681495/

These 5 recipes use cream cheese. I like to think that they are a little healthier with the additional cream cheese in every bite.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/cookies-from-cake-mixes-also-biscotti-bars-now-cups-pops.681495/page-7#post-27667235


This recipe adds 3 chopped & peeled apples to an Oatmeal cookie mix:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/c...ars-now-cups-pops.681495/page-7#post-27766755

This post lists recipes for "Fudge. . . Unpudged." A Recipe modified from Lisa Lillien's book, Hungry Girl: Recipes and Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/c...ars-now-cups-pops.681495/page-8#post-32434499

^^^ In the same post above for the Fudge. . .Unpudged, one of our fellow DISers, OceanAnne, has several recipes archived where she adds different fruits to cake mixes to make her own versions of Quick Dessert Breads.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I'm more inclined to gussy up brownie mix, versus cake mix. With 4 kids, I'm more of a "volume distributor", and cakes don't go into lunches so well.

My additions to brownies are clearly unhealthy--I might melt chocolate chips on top, then spread as a frosting, or mix in chips, or make a small batch of chocolate chip cookie dough and drop that on the brownie batter (I've also done peanut butter cookies and a few other types).

The one sort-of healthy mix in that I do is, when I make oatmeal-cinnamon chip squares, I replace the 2 sticks of butter with applesauce. However, given that the cinnamon chips are just cinnamon-flavored white chocolate, this hardly makes them a healthy snack, but it does provide the illusion of more nutritious.

 

[tcufrog]

I usually make cakes from scratch but I swear by the Ghiradelli brownie mix they sell at Costco.

 

[Klayfish]

I don’t use cake mixes. You can make it from scratch in just a few minutes so why eat chemicals and artificial flavors and ingredients? It’s really simple to make a scratch cake and will be healthie simply because it has real ingredients.

You think a traditional cake, homemade or boxed, is healthy? It's still junk food. If you've got a truly healthy cake recipe, please share, DW will be your loyal friend forever...

 

[EveDallas]

Why are there so many people clicking on a thread about using cake mixes to say they don't use cake mixes? Weird.

Anyway, I have used applesauce, pumpkin, yogurt, or whatever sometimes in place of some of the oil, water, and eggs. I also like to add almond extract. I actually prefer cake mixes to homemade cake, especially for "plain" cake like white, yellow, or chocolate. I feel the same way about brownie mix.

Because there are always people who like to pat themselves on the back about being better than the general riff raff.

 

[AnnaS]

I also use applesauce instead of oil/egg.

 

[Buttercup teacup]

No boxed mixes... I bake everything from scratch. Box mixes are for the lazy and they taste terrible.

I’ve never had a non lazy cake that tastes better than funfetti.

 

[Toolulu22]

I usually only use cake mixes if I'm in a pinch (a real cake isn't much more work and just tastes so much better). But, fo example, if I'm making a chocolate cake, I like to melt down some decent chocolate and add it to it.

We started making brownies, pancakes, cookies, cake from scratch. Now, the only time I'll do store bought mixes is if I need big volumes of things, like for school or if there is a good sale on Brownies for examples. It isn't much more effort to mix the ingredients and it tastes so much yummier. If you want to go healthier- it is also your place to do so- substitute applesauce for oil, yogurt for sour cream, Splenda/honey/Agave for sugar etc.

 

[jdb in AZ]

When I made a cake from scratch it turned out great. Second time I tried the same recipe it turned out fine, but it was quite different from the first. I assume it's because of the volume of the flour. I used the same measuring cups and ingredients. For me, it's just simpler to use a mix because the dry ingredients are measured by volume, and consistent.

When I took a cake decorating class the teacher said that when you're using a mix, add milk instead of water, and add a tablespoon of vanilla. Tastes fine to me.

 

[Kellykins1218]

No boxed mixes... I bake everything from scratch. Box mixes are for the lazy and they taste terrible.

Well, then I'm lazy and I love the taste of boxed cake mixes especially yellow cake.

 

[Cubbiecakes]

I’ve never had a non lazy cake that tastes better than funfetti.

Most people eat so much junk/fake food that their taste buds are basically broken. They wouldn't know delicious food if you threw it at them, because they've lost the ability to actually taste things.

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

I’ve often heard to use Duck eggs in place of chicken eggs for cakes.

 

[jo-jo]

For those who use cake mixes, I saw on a tv show if you are making a chocolate cake, add hot water to the mix, not cold. Anyone try this and what did you think?

 

[Buttercup teacup]

Most people eat so much junk/fake food that their taste buds are basically broken. They wouldn't know delicious food if you threw it at them, because they've lost the ability to actually taste things.

Thank you! You speak such kind words. I always thought people were different and had different preferences, but now I know. I’m lazy, eat too much junk food, and have crap taste buds. You have no idea what a relief this is.

 

[luvbwv]

Why are there so many people clicking on a thread about using cake mixes to say they don't use cake mixes? Weird.

I know! I thought the same thing!!!

 

[piglet too]

I add instant pudding mix, along with some vanilla extract. (Check out “The Cake Mix Doctor”, lots of great ideas.)

 

[luvsJack]

I use cake mixes and “gasp” even canned frosting at times! I do like from scratch cakes but not that many are oh so better and not always easier. German chocolate is best homemade but time consuming. And my mom’s coconut cake but also time consuming with the cooked frosting.

As for the question, since German Chocolate is my favorite and, like I said, better homemade, I love this as a way to make a good, easy cake: German chocolate cake mix with the ingredients called for in the directions, add a can of coconut-pecan frosting to the batter. Pour in a bundt pan and bake by box directions. Very good and very moist. You can either leave it plain or add more frosting on top.

This works with most any cake mix and frosting, I just happen to really like it with German Chocolate. A friend of mine likes the same technique with a lemon cake mix and lemon frosting. She makes a lemon glaze on top.

Another way with Lemon cake, is adding some fresh lemon juice and lemon zest to the batter to give it a fresh lemon flavor.

Butter cake mix with butter in place of the oil and an extra egg or two is also good. Can do that with any mix but the extra butter in a butter mix is really good.

I also will use milk instead of water in any of these