Box Mixes

I have always been asked how I got into baking, to be honest I don’t remember when it started. Another thing I get asked is, how can I get into baking? Well they easiest way to start is to find a box mix you’d like to try out. Even though I can make a cake from scratch, every now and then I try a box mix. I like to try them as they are usually easy to follow, and only need a few extra ingredients.

I do want to point out even if you are making; cakes, cookies, or bread from a mix, it’s still baking. There are some people who think using a mix isn’t baking. It is baking, as you still must prepare the mixture, put it into some a tray or tin and still must cook it. There are a lot of things that can go wrong, from over mixing, to over baking, to burning. Don’t worry you are still baking even if you are making from individual ingredients.

For today’s post I have gotten two different brands box mixes to try out and see how easy it is to make. I chose the Dr Oetker Chocolate & Salted Caramel Traybake Kit, and the Betty Croker Rainbow Chip Party Cake Mix. I chose the Dr Oetker kit as at the time I wanted to try and make a lot of salted caramel baking goods. As for the Rainbow Chip part, was chosen as it was mix, I wanted to try for a while.

Instructions & Ingredients

Dr Oetker kit is a traybake, and for the ease of baking comes with the tray in the box. All you must do is unfold it and the refold it to have your tray ready. This is a great idea as it is easier for people who don’t have the correct tray. While also making sure the bakes are in the right size tray to make the right amount. The Betty Croker, however, gives you the option to make two 9-inch cakes or 24 cupcakes. Unlike the former it doesn’t give you anything for you to bake your cakes in. I decided to make the cupcakes, as it’s a l lot easier to distribute.

Ingredients needed for both are, eggs, butter, and milk. This is nice and easy as most will have at least two of the three ingredients at home. The one thing I didn’t like about it is the amount of eggs you need. Both mixes require you to have three medium eggs, which is quite a lot, as when I usually do my own mixes, I only use two large eggs. I do like that both require about 100g of butter, it’s nice that you don’t need to use large amounts of butter or oil.

Method

For both mixes they use you an all cream method, which means we put all ingredients into one bowl and mix. This isnt one of my favourite methods, but for most it is a nice and easy way to make a mix. I personal prefer to do butter and eggs, then wet and dry alternating. I should add I am mixing the cake with a hand mixer. Both instructions insist you can mix them with a wooden spoon, which is nice if you don’t have a mixer, but you will be working at it for a while.

After you have mixed all your ingredients for about two minutes you should have a nice smooth cake mixture. I found that both came out to a nice smooth consistency, but the Betty Croker mix coming out quite liquefied. Then you put them in the tray and cases and bake for 22 too 25 minutes.

I want to point out this is where I said baking can go wrong. As I was meant to make 24 cupcakes, however I put a little too much mix in a couple cakes, which was due to the mix being more running than I’m used to, so I was three cakes short. I do think if I was to make to 9-inch cakes this wouldn’t be so much of an issue.

There is an additional step to the Dr Oetker mix, and that’s making the salted caramel icing. To make all you need is butter, milk, and the icing packet. Once again it put everything in the bowl and whip it up, and there you are. Again, I used hand mixer, but a spoon will do just as well. Now we just wait for the cake to finish.

Results & Taste

The cakes came out of expected. The tray bake cake out a decent height and cooked through. The cupcakes came out a little worse for ware, as I said some cakes overflowed and they came out in all different sizes, but as they are just made for me, I don’t mind. If I were trying to sell them in a bake sale, I might have tried to get the 24 cakes, but I use these little mishaps as learning moments.

The last thing to do is icing the cakes, as I already make the icing for the tray bake all left is to spread the it on top, and then let it crust over. For the cupcakes is to use Betty Croker Vanilla icing, mixed with hundred and thousands. Which is what I did, by waking the icing (squeezing the tub) then give it a mix. Then you can spread them on the cake if you like, but I chose to put the icing in bag, and piped it on the cakes.

As for taste they’re defiantly something I can say for both. Both cakes came out nice and moist, and fully of flavour. If I were to give them to someone, they wouldn’t know I made them from a box. The chocolate cake with the soft salted caramel icing complements each other very well.

The Betty Croker cake is fine on it is own and I quite like it, but the one thing that lets it down is the icing. I don’t like using prepared icing on my cakes, as they come out to sugary, and stiff. To me it’s the kind of artificial icing that gives cakes that generic taste, which I really don’t like. For me this gives the cake an overall cake a down, which makes me think what a sandwich iced cake would taste like.

Recommendation

Overall, I would recommend both these box mixes. If you are looking to make a tray bake, Dr Oetker Chocolate & Salted Caramel Traybake Kit, this would be a nice simple mix you could use and gives you a decent portion size. While also giving you a baked good flavour that compliments each other.

As for the Betty Croker Rainbow Chip Party Cake Mix, I would highly recommend making the cake, but not using the icing. I know the icing is there to make life easier, and if you need to use it, use it. I, however, would go about making my own icing to cream the cake. As it will have less sugar taste and will have a nicer overall taste with cake and icing.

If you would like to try out any of these mixes please do, I found both mixes at Tesco, and they were about £2 each, so nice and cheap if you want to try your hand at baking. If you try these and like or don’t like them, leave me a comment, and tell me why. Next time I will tell you how I make one my most loved baked goods. Maybe some time in future I might review another box mix.

Remember, when in doubt, eat a cake.

FabEs