With a little know how, boxed cakes can be used for different occasions without tasting or looking the same at all. Use it for birthdays, holidays, get-togethers, romantic dinners for two, and so on. Get out the baking utensils and let’s get started.
Cake Making Tips and Tricks
To begin with, making a cake doesn’t need to cause a headache or become stressful. Forget trying to make a cake from scratch and purchase a box cake at the store. There are a couple of tricks you can use to make it taste like it is from scratch, so no one will know it’s from a box. More than likely they will love it so much they will ask for the recipe. Just remember, it’s a secret!
Decide on what flavor of cake you want to bake. The shelves are lined with different flavors. The best ones are the most traditional such as: chocolate, double chocolate fudge, french vanilla, vanilla, orange, strawberry, and so on. Look for cakes that say “pudding in the mix.” These mixes tend to result in a moister cake.
The first trick to making a cake taste like it is from scratch is to add vanilla. No matter what flavor of cake you are making, add 1 teaspoon of vanilla.
The second trick is, once the cake has been removed from the oven, let it cool for approximately 10 minutes in the pan. After cooling, cover the cake and the cake pan with a sheet of wax paper. Next, place a cooling rack on top.
Use pot holders for the next step, as the pan will still be hot. Hold onto the pan and the cooling rack and flip quickly so the cake will release from the pan onto the wax paper and cooling rack. Immediately place the cake, wax paper, and cooling rack into the freezer. This step will help seal in added moisture for a deliciously moist cake.
Cake Icing Recipe and Ideas
It is best to allow the cake to freeze or at least almost freeze before icing the cake. This will help keep the cake crumbs from mixing with the icing. Adding a quick crumb coat of icing to the cake and returning to the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes will also help.
When coloring icing for a cake, keep in mind that some food coloring will alter the taste of the icing, such as black and red. Use these colors sparingly or for small decorations instead of covering the entire cake. If these colors are needed to cover the entire cake, opt for colored fondant instead.
Icing Recipe:
1 and 1/2 cups of heavy cream
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Beat all ingredients with an electric mixer in a large bowl. Continue beating until stiff peaks form. Add coloring, if desired.
Changing the flavor of the icing is a simple step and will enable you to use the same recipe and technique for many occasions. In the baker’s aisle at a local supermarket or a cake decorating store, you will find flavors such as orange, lemon, almond, butter, and so on. Just be sure the icing flavor complements the flavor of the cake. Nuts can also be crushed and added to the icing by folding them in with a spatula.
Following these simple tips and tricks will ensure your box cake will taste homemade, moist and delicious! You may even decide to bake more often and add your own secrets into the mix too. Good luck and happy baking!
