Cake Mix

Cake mix is a wonderful shortcut for any baker, but people often make the mistake of not experimenting with it. The box gives instructions for making a basic cake, but you can alter those instructions or add ingredients to make the cake match your taste. People often make the mistake of limiting themselves to the parameters of the box mix when they can be adding various spices, swapping out the water with more flavorful liquids, or adding extra ingredients like chocolate chips, nuts, fruits or even flavored yogurt. A common mistake people make while using cake mix is overmixing the batter. This develops the gluten in the flour and can result in a denser, tough cake. To ensure a light and tender cake, mix the batter just until the dry and wet ingredients are combined. One of the best tips for getting more out of a cake mix is to add a bit of sour cream. Sour cream can make your cake even more moist, and it adds a slight tang that cuts the sweetness of the frosting. If you don’t like your cakes too sweet, adding a bit of extra salt can help balance out the sweetness as well. You can even make cakes healthier by replacing oil or butter with unsweetened applesauce or even mashed bananas. This healthy swap can still keep your cakes moist, but will significantly lower the calories.