Basic Cake Mix Recipes

CAKE MIXES FROM SCRATCH AND VARIATIONS

Steps:

• For a Yellow Cake: Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Cut in shortening until fine crumbs are formed. Add eggs, milk, and vanilla. Beat at low speed for 1 minute, then high for 2 minutes, scraping the bowl frequently.
• Pour batter into greased and floured 9x13 inch pan. Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven (175 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes.
• Variation for a White Cake: Prepare as for the basic cake except use 3 egg whites for the 2 whole eggs. Whites may be beaten separately and added for a lighter cake.
• Variation for a Chocolate Cake: Add 1/4 cup cocoa powder to the basic cake mix prior to adding the milk.
• Variation for a Spice Cake: Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice to the basic cake mix.
• Variation for a Pineapple Upside Down Cake: Melt 1/2 cup butter in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Add 2/3 cup brown sugar, stirring into the butter. Arrange pineapple slices in the pan. Top with the basic (yellow cake) mix recipe. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, cool 5 minutes, and invert to serve.

BASIC CAKE MIX BATTER

Steps:

• Beat butter, sugar, baking powder, and vanilla in a large bowl with mixer on high 3 minutes or until fluffy.
• Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each. On low speed, beat in flour in 3 additions alternately with milk in 2 additions, just until blended, scraping sides of bowl as needed.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

MAKE YOUR OWN CAKE MIX

Steps:

• Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt; stir to blend.
• Mix in sugar.
• Cut the shortening into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks crumbly.
• Label and store in a sealed plastic bag at room temperature.
• Makes 1 pakage mix. Each package makes two 8 or 9 inch layers or one 9 x 13 x 2 inch rectangle.
• To Use:.
• Pour 1 package of mix into a mixing bowl;.
• add 3/4 cup milk and 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract.
• Using either an electric or manual rotary beater, beat at slow to medium speed for two minutes (by hand, beat 3 minutes averaging 135 strokes per minute). Scrape the sides of the bowl frequently as you beat.
• Add 2 eggs; beat 1 minute more (2 minutes by hand).
• Grease and dust with flour your choice of pan(s); spread batter evenly in pans.
• Bake round cake pans at 375 degrees F. for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• bake the 9 x 13 x 2 inch pan for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool cake(s) for 10 minutes in their pan(s) before turning out on racks.
• Variations:.
• WHITE CAKE.
• Follow the same directions as for Yellow Cake replacing the 2 eggs with 3 unbeaten egg whites. Use an electric mixer for beating.
• SPICE CAKE.
• Add to the package of Yellow Cake Mix: 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, and a pinch of ground allspice. Follow Yellow Cake directions.
• EXTRACT FLAVORED CAKES.
• Replace the vanilla in either the Yellow or White Cake recipes with 2 to 3 teaspoons of the extract of your choice. You may want to add a few drops of food coloring for the flavors like lemon, orange, or cherry, etc.
• FRESH ORANGE CAKE.
• Pour 1 package of Yellow Cake Mix into a bowl; add 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange peel (1 teaspoon dried). Squeeze the juice from 1 large orange and add to it enough water to measure 1 cup. Add this orange juice to the mix, beat for 2 minutes as directed previously; add 2 eggs; beat and bake as directed.
• CUPCAKES.
• Pour cake batter into greased cupcake tins or tins lined with paper baking cups; fill 1/2 to 2/3 full. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 20 to 25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
• Makes about 2 dozen.
• NOTE: To prevent a cake from sticking to its pan, put the pan on a wet towel to cool as soon as you take it out of the oven.

BASIC CAKE MIX

Steps:

• In a bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture until blended and crumbly. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months. Yield: about 11 cups (enough for three cakes). , To prepare white cake: In a bowl, combine 3-1/2 cups cake mix, egg whites, milk and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting. Yield: 9 servings., To prepare spice cake: In a bowl, combine 3-1/2 cups cake mix, eggs, milk and spices. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.