Dear Neighbor,

“Don’t ask, don’t tell”, is my policy, but I confess, I’ve been making what tastes like “from scratch” cakes from boxed cake mixes, for years.  Making a half homemade cake is quick and inexpensive. You can pick up a cake mix for less than a dollar at most stores. Adding one little extra makes any cake even more even more moist and delicious: dry pudding mix. Add vanilla pudding to vanilla mixes and chocolate to chocolate mixes and you will have the most decadent cakes. Add the pudding mix into the dry cake mix and follow the cake box directions.

Here are a few of my ideas for half homemade cakes.

 

Scarlett’s Citrus Carrot Cake

One vanilla cake mix made per its directions.

vanilla pudding mix

2 cups shredded carrots

1 tablespoon orange rind

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

1 teaspoon cloves

2 bars of cream cheese

1 cup  powdered sugar

2 teaspoon vanilla

 Mix cake per directions. Add pudding mix. Now add orange rind, cinnamon and carrots. Bake as directed in a bundt pan or two layer pans. Cool completely. In a bowl, blend cream cheese, vanilla and powered sugar. 

 

Apple Spice Cake

One vanilla cake mix made per its directions. Add:

Vanilla pudding mix

2 apples, diced in small pieces

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon allspice

Bake per directions in a bundt pan and when turned onto serving plate, sprinkle with powered sugar.

 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

One vanilla cake mix made per its directions

Add :

Vanilla pudding mix

1 bag of semi sweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped nuts

Bake per directions. Frost with chocolate frosting

 

Chocolate Frosting Recipe

1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup cocoa powder, sifted
5 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

3-4 tablespoons milk

Whip butter and cocoa and add remaining ingredients one at a time. Whip until creamy

 

Decadent Chocolate Cakes

All cakes start with one dark chocolate cake mix made per directions with chocolate pudding mix added.  

Double Chocolate Chip– add 1 package of chocolate chips. Frost with chocolate frosting

Almond Joy– add 1 cup of shredded coconut and 1 cup of slivered almonds

Chocolate Reeses– add one cup of finely chopped peanut and  1/2 package of chocolate chips. Frost with Chocolate Frosting and sprinkle chopped hpeanuts on top.

Chocolate Mint– add 1/2 package of chopped Andes Mints chocolates

Chocolate Cherry– add 1 teaspoon almond extract, 1 can cherry pie filling. Frost with Chocolate Frosting.

Chocolate Almond Cake– add 1 teaspoon of almond extract and 1 cup of chocolate chips. Frost with Chocolate Frosting and cover entire top with sliced almonds.

Let me know which are your favorites! Scarlett