Make Your Own Cake Mix Recipes

Steps:

• Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt; stir to blend.
• Mix in sugar.
• Cut the shortening into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks crumbly.
• Label and store in a sealed plastic bag at room temperature.
• Makes 1 pakage mix. Each package makes two 8 or 9 inch layers or one 9 x 13 x 2 inch rectangle.
• To Use:.
• Pour 1 package of mix into a mixing bowl;.
• add 3/4 cup milk and 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract.
• Using either an electric or manual rotary beater, beat at slow to medium speed for two minutes (by hand, beat 3 minutes averaging 135 strokes per minute). Scrape the sides of the bowl frequently as you beat.
• Add 2 eggs; beat 1 minute more (2 minutes by hand).
• Grease and dust with flour your choice of pan(s); spread batter evenly in pans.
• Bake round cake pans at 375 degrees F. for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• bake the 9 x 13 x 2 inch pan for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool cake(s) for 10 minutes in their pan(s) before turning out on racks.
• Variations:.
• WHITE CAKE.
• Follow the same directions as for Yellow Cake replacing the 2 eggs with 3 unbeaten egg whites. Use an electric mixer for beating.
• SPICE CAKE.
• Add to the package of Yellow Cake Mix: 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, and a pinch of ground allspice. Follow Yellow Cake directions.
• EXTRACT FLAVORED CAKES.
• Replace the vanilla in either the Yellow or White Cake recipes with 2 to 3 teaspoons of the extract of your choice. You may want to add a few drops of food coloring for the flavors like lemon, orange, or cherry, etc.
• FRESH ORANGE CAKE.
• Pour 1 package of Yellow Cake Mix into a bowl; add 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange peel (1 teaspoon dried). Squeeze the juice from 1 large orange and add to it enough water to measure 1 cup. Add this orange juice to the mix, beat for 2 minutes as directed previously; add 2 eggs; beat and bake as directed.
• CUPCAKES.
• Pour cake batter into greased cupcake tins or tins lined with paper baking cups; fill 1/2 to 2/3 full. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 20 to 25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
• Makes about 2 dozen.
• NOTE: To prevent a cake from sticking to its pan, put the pan on a wet towel to cool as soon as you take it out of the oven.

Steps:

• Churn the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a food processor fitted with the metal chopping blade a couple of seconds until well blended. Tap half the mixture onto a large piece of waxed paper and reserve.
• Scatter half the butter evenly over the dry ingredients in the processor and pulse 6 to 8 times. Pulse quickly 3 to 5 times more until the mixture is about the texture of lentils. Empty the mixture into a large mixing bowl.
• Return the reserved dry mixture to the food processor, scatter the remaining butter evenly on top, and cut in as before. Add to the mixture in the bowl.
• Toss the 2 batches together well, then spoon into a large zipper freezer bag, press out the air, and seal. Label, date and store in the freezer. This quick cake mix will last at least 2 months in the freezer, 1 week to 10 days in the refrigerator.
• Scoop out the frozen mix - no need to thaw - and use as individual recipes direct.

Steps:

• Mix together flour, cocoa, soda, and salt; stir to blend.
• Mix in sugar.
• Cut the shortening into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks crumbly.
• Label and store in a sealed plastic bag at room temperature. Makes 1 package of mix.
• Each package makes two 8 or 9 inch layers or one 9 x 13 x 2 inch rectangle.
• TO USE:
• Pour 1 package of mix into a mixing bowl.
• Add 1 1/4 cups milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla or orange extract.
• Using an electric mixer, beat at a slow to medium speed for 2 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl frequently.
• Add 2 eggs; beat 1 minute more.
• Grease and dust with flour your choice of pan(s).
• Spread batter evenly in pans.
• Bake round cake pans at 350 degrees F. for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Bake the 9 x 13 inch pan for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool cakes in their pans for 10 minutes before turning out onto racks.
• CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES: Pour cake batter into greased cupcake tins or tins lined with paper baking cups; fill 1/2 to 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Makes about 2 dozen.

Steps:

• For a Yellow Cake: Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Cut in shortening until fine crumbs are formed. Add eggs, milk, and vanilla. Beat at low speed for 1 minute, then high for 2 minutes, scraping the bowl frequently.
• Pour batter into greased and floured 9x13 inch pan. Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven (175 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes.
• Variation for a White Cake: Prepare as for the basic cake except use 3 egg whites for the 2 whole eggs. Whites may be beaten separately and added for a lighter cake.
• Variation for a Chocolate Cake: Add 1/4 cup cocoa powder to the basic cake mix prior to adding the milk.
• Variation for a Spice Cake: Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice to the basic cake mix.
• Variation for a Pineapple Upside Down Cake: Melt 1/2 cup butter in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Add 2/3 cup brown sugar, stirring into the butter. Arrange pineapple slices in the pan. Top with the basic (yellow cake) mix recipe. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, cool 5 minutes, and invert to serve.