Cake Poll: Mixing it Up with the Cake Mix Doctor, and a Giveaway!
Monday, September 28, 2009 
Growing up, there were a few things that were forbidden in our house, for various moral or health reasons: Doritos, the show Full House, and cake mix.
As a result, I grew up harboring a secret and dark love for all of these things. The crackle of a Doritos bag opening thrills me; I can't hear the theme song from Full House without feeling just a little shiver of excitement; and while I've come to appreciate homemade baked goods far more, I still don't have a huge problem with cake mix.
So it would stand that I've always been intrigued by the "Cake Mix Doctor" series, and as a result, when Laura at Workman Publishing contacted me to see if I'd like to check out the new and improved The Cake Mix Doctor Returns
If you're not familiar with the concept, basically what author Anne Byrne does is take a cake mix and "doctor" it up, offering creative alterations and ingredients that will make all sorts of desserts (not just cakes) with the mix which taste far better than simply mixing-and-baked per the box instructions. And by starting with a cake mix, you have the added ease of not having to make sure you have all of your dry ingredients on hand, which can be helpful for infrequent bakers.
So I tried out several of the recipes in the book, and I have to say, I have been very pleasantly surprised with the results. One in particular though, the "Houdini Bars"--a dense bar cookie with a yellow cake crust filled with a custardy cream cheese, nut, and coconut filling, was so delectable that true to their name, they disappeared in hours (I'll share the recipe in a few days!). Of course, Byrne isn't offering a quick fix to everything--while cake mixes are the core of the book, she insists that you make your own frostings, citing wise words indeed: "frosting is the first and last taste you experience when forking into a slice of cake. It should never be an afterthought", adding that "you can get away with a cake from a mix, but you must make your frosting from scratch."
So, overall, I have to say I was pretty impressed with the book. And I'm not just saying this because Workman donated three copies to give away (although they did)--which leads to the next subject...
Sweet Giveaway!
So, I have three copies of The Cake Mix Doctor Returns
Let the games begin! The Cake Poll will close at 12 p.m. PST on Friday, October 2; the winners will be contacted shortly thereafter. If you are leaving an anonymous comment, please be sure to leave an email address so you can be contacted if you win!
Reader Comments (295)
I think it all depends on context :) -- I always feel guilty when I get excessive praise for using mixes + adding a little sumn sumn, so then I'll confess. But if it's around people I don't know too well, and it doesn't do any harm, and seems more like a social nicety more than anything -- no harm done to not give a full confession! Especially if you do homemade frosting (definitely essential!)
No, I don't think it's wrong to hide the fact that it's not completely 'homemade'...as long as you don't completely lie and say it's made from scratch!
m_mags_9@hotmail.com
If you ingredients that alter the cake mix, it is homemade. Anything outside of the realm of throwing in eggs, oil and water in with a cake mix takes more effort...so you should give yourself that credit :O)
Bonny
bonny.devoto@gmail.com
Nothing wrong with a box mix... or hiding it! I typically only use box mixes. And I agree with only homemade icing. It tastes so much better!
Not at all! Some of the best cakes I've ever eaten are ones doctored from a box!
I would divulge the truth if asked. One of my favorite cupcake recipes starts with a box mix, and they turn out so moist every time. If it tastes heavenly, who cares?! jreese4peace {at} gmail {dot} com
I admit it if I make a cake from a mix and you made it at home. Nowadays most people buy their cakes at the grocery store - yeeeeuck.
There's nothing wrong with mentioning you used a cake mix. It's simply a convenient way to gather the basics is all, and in some cases, a way to avoid having to hunt down and purchase exotic ingredients or flavorings (cherry chip, for example).
If you made it at home its "homemade" you just can't say you made it from scratch...
Why, oh why, do we always want those things that were forbidden when we were young? Every single thing my mother forbid me were the things I gorged myself on when I moved away from home!
Anyhoo, I love the Cake Mix Doctor books and in my view, anything one does to doctor up a mix, qualifies it as home made! Never had one soul turn their nose up at anything made from one of the recipes in those books and I would never hide the fact that I'd used a mix :-)
I think everything that comes from your kitchen is homemade. People always compliment me on my great cakes and they ALWAYS come from a box! :)
I think its totally ok, you still put some work into it.
its one thing to just make something out of the box, but if you play around with it, it does become a special treat, thus the genius of the book I guess. These days anything that doesn't come from the store is a bit of a novelty.
I think if someone is over the moon and asks about the recipe, it's even more fun to share if the cake is a box cake! It just means that absolutely anyone can make yummy desserts! What's wrong with sharing the sweetness of easy yummy desserts?
Sara P.
ilovemyhippo@aol.com
You don't have to volunteer it, but if someone asks if you made it, it's a *wee* bit vain to not say "Yes, I used a mix and did *this* and *this* and *this* to it!"
I don't churn my own butter... I'm not going to be ashamed that my flour had some of the other ingredients already incorporated.
Hi there,
Only if they ask LOL
If they think it is from scratch - wahoo
happy cooking
catie
cathycurrie@comcast.net
I still think it's homemade. Since you made it in your home :p
marie72492 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Hide or admit the use of a cake mix, but never, never let them know how much cake batter you "sample" in the process!
Nothing wrong saying that you made it using a mix. You still made it. :)
I love your site! The newsfeeds are a delight. I was just reading about the new Cake Mix Doctor book. Good to hear your favorable review.
Emily
ebenas@ngs.org
I love baking from scratch, and if I use a mix I'd probably tell, why not!
Chef Panda
pinkchefpanda@gmail.com
they're going to figure it out, but there's nothing wrong with that. don't bring it up, if you don't feel like it, but definitely don't deny it if someone actually asks
Nothing wrong with using a cake mix, there's still some work put into it. People are still impressed with the overall cake, so why not tell them it's a cake from a box.
talina@nb.sympatico.ca
Using a box mix isn't considered homemade? uh-oh! I've been passing off box mix cakes for years as "homemade"! ack!
Suzanne Lameraux
suzlameraux@gmail.com
No, I don't think it is wrong. Unless someone asks then I would tell them.
larroyo@hotmail.com