Cake-over: How to make packet cake mix taste amazing
We’ve all been there. It’s 8pm, you’ve finally sat down to enjoy a cuppa and your favourite TV show when your child emerges from bed to say “oh I just remembered I have to take a cake to school tomorrow.” Next time you hear those words don’t panic. We’ve got a few cheats to get you back on the couch relaxing in no time at all.
The first thing you’re going to need is a packet cake mix – yes, it’s not exactly the heights of culinary excellence but when it’s late and you're tired you just want to get this thing done! We suggest always having at least one in the pantry for emergencies. And don’t worry, cake mix can taste great with these simple ideas below:
For chocolate cake mix
For chocolate cake mix – add the amount of water that the recipe calls for but use hot water instead of cold. The hot water allows the cocoa in the mix to develop its flavour and makes the cake taste more chocolatey. Another idea is to add extra egg yolks as they put more fat content into your cake and give it extra moistness. Add the amount of eggs in the recipe but throw in two extra egg yolks for a bakery-worthy cake.
For white cake mix
For white cake mix – swap the water in the recipe for milk. The milk will add density, fat and extra flavour to your cake. A great tip we love is to only use egg whites in a white cake mix. This will result in a fluffier and whiter cake. You will need to replace the fat from the egg yolks that you’ve removed so add an extra tablespoon of melted butter for each egg yolk you remove and adding in ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract will freshen up the cake mix and provide a delicious flavour.
For all cake mixes
For all cake mixes – use melted butter instead of oil. They’re both fats but butter is better for flavour. Sprinkle your cake with sugar before baking to create a sweet crunchy texture and to stop the cake rising too much while it bakes.
