Tyann and Aaron: February 2013

February 4, 2013

I have a confession to make...

...I use box cake mixes!

Gasp!

The horror!

Liar!!! ...Liiaarrrrr!!! "Get back witch." "I'm not a witch I'm your wife!" (10 points for whoever can name that movie.) I hear this in my head every time I think about telling someone that the cake they are eating came from a box! Not all of that, just the liar liar part. But who am I kidding, if you start it you have to finish it. "But after what you just said I'm not even sure I want to be that anymore!" (Seriously, 10 points...)

Anyway...back on topic. Box mixes are where it's at for me. I've tried the homemade from scratch recipes but they never come out right. I follow the directions to a T, but they usually end up dry or really dense. Don't get me wrong, I love a dense cake, but not when it won't even rise up to the edge of the cupcake liners. So I've given up. I'm done, finished, finito! Maybe someday I'll be brave and try it again, but I just hate putting in all that time and work and ingredients into something just to have it fail. Take for example my super dense non rising Triple Salted Caramel Cupcakes.

Horrible I tell you!

So what I do instead is doctor up the box mix a little. I mean if I'm going to make cakes and hope people might want to buy them I can't just use a box mix and call myself legit. Speaking of, I did sell my first cake ever to my co-worker Nicole. See look! I was soooo excited!

It was a vanilla ombre cake with lemon curd and raspberry fillings (alternated).
It got a little lopsided when she was driving it home. :(

Anyway, typically I'll add an extra egg, throw in some sour cream, change out the water (from the box instructions) for milk or buttermilk. Sometimes I'll even add in additional flour and sugar. It's different every time but it changes it to taste more homemade. It's my cheat! :)

To my credit though, I ALWAYS make my own frostings, fillings and fondants, without fail. You will never see me use store bought, from a tub frosting. Not. Gonna. Happen.

So there it is. Laid out on the table for all to judge. Judge away. Gasp away. Call me a liar. But you're going to be smiling when you get to eat one of my delicious, beautiful cakes. You know you will!