Making Your Own Cake Mix

We all have opened a box of cake mix for easy prep and easier time management and most of us have tried our hands at the art of homemade cake baking as well. Some people can not tell the difference between the two and some people will swear by one or the other. I myself love both. I have a few different places where I am going to need to take a cake over the next few months. I could just purchase a cake mix or look up a recipe but this time I am going to make my own cake mix and then turn it into several different types of cake. Here is what you need to do this....

Homemade Basic Cake Mix

This can mix can be stored for 12 weeks and makes about 16 cups. Use it to create other cakes such as chocolate, spice and so on.

8 cups all purpose flour
6 cups sugar
1/4 cup baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 1/4 cups (1 pound can) vegetable shortening

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir until all the ingredients are well blended.

Add the shortening and using a pastry blender or knives cut the shortening into flour mixture until it resembles very coarse crumbs.

Place the mix in airtight container or bag, date and store in cool, dry place or fridge for 10 to 12 weeks. I am going to use a mixture of cake flour and whole wheat flour that is made for baking. I am also going to use a mixture of splenda and sugar. From looking at the basic recipes you can use 2 eggs, 1 cup milk or water, and 3 1/3 cups of the mixture to make a cake and add what other spices and flavors work for you. You could replace the water with fruit juice (pineapple?) or butter with applesauce? The sky is the limit. Try your hand and see what comes out....I doubt your family will have an issue taste testing your ideas. Happy baking!!!

Now what? Make this chocolate cake.....

3 1/3 cup basic cake mix
9 table spoons cocoa powder
1 cup milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons butter or margarine

Combine cake mix, cocoa, and half the milk and beat. Add rest of milk, eggs, butter and beat some more. Poor into baking sheets (pans) and Bake at 375 until comes out clean about 25 mins.

Don't want chocolate well then how about a spice cake?

5 cups basic cake mix
1 1/4 teas. each of nutmeg, cinnamon
1/2 teas cloves
1 cup water
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sour cream or yogurt
2 eggs

How about adding some apples or carrots to this? The sky is the limit. Don't want water us milk or butter milk. No butter try applesauce.


Let me know how this turns out if you try it.