Box or Scratch??? - Page 2

Carflea, I'm so glad you posted this topic. I was very curious as to how many people actually make cakes from scratch. I have made a few cakes from scratch that have turned out nicely, but by the time I spend the extra money on cake flours and all the ingredients I have to up my prices. I live in a small town where people just usually go to walmart to buy a $27 sheetcake, so I can't charge too awful much if I want to get any business. Therefore, I stick to box mixes. I have found the Duncan Hines white cake mix is wonderful...it calls for three egg whites and I add that plus one yolk and some vanilla extract..and sometimes vanilla bean if I have it on hand...and it is always moist and delicious..I still haven't found my favorite chocolate cake mix. I like Duncan Hines but sometimes its not as moist as I like so I'm experimenting this weekend testing all the mixes, and even mixing them. I may try the pudding idea as well. Let me know if you have a favorite chocolate!

If a customer really wanted something specific and from scratch I would definitely deliver, but I would make sure they are willing to pay extra for both the time and the ingredients. Everything else I make is completely from scratch so I don't feel as bad and I don't think I lack talents because I use box mixes. Why do the extra work when you can buy a product for less than a $1 that tastes just as good? That is how I feel anyway! And most of my customers have tasted my cakes and like the way they taste more so than want a really nice decorated cake...I"m still trying to perfect that area..but the taste is always great!!

VERY well said carflea!! AND they taste great to boot!

And the debate goes on!!!! LOL!!!!!!

There are many on this site who have commented on this subject. Either they are box mixers or from scratchers!!!!

I am currently doing box mixes with additions. I have found my perfect white scratch cake. I now am working on Italian meringue buttercream. I'm not to sure about the Swiss Buttercream. I am one who uses Crisco in my buttercream...currently...but that is only until I get my IMBC perfected. Then I will move on to Chocolate. In my area, there are very few decorators who cater to those with scratch perferences. So I am going to work at that.

I think I just depends on what your liking is. We all love to decorate...and that is why we are here....to help and to be inspired!!!!

Just my two cents!!! P.S. My husband will only eat my box mix cakes.

hahaha...my husband is the same way....every time I tell him I'm going to try a cake from scratch he groans really loud!! This is from a man who will eat anything. I made a cake the other night & it must have been a bad recipe or maybe I didn't do something right, but my dh actually asked me if he had to eat it!

i've tried many different cake recipes, some of my favorite are from the cake bible, great book. i've also come up with a few of my own, mostly just tweaked from other recipes.

there is no shame in using a box, i've used them many times for my customers. however, i wouldn't exactly call a person who strictly uses mixes a "baker", that doesn't mean you're not a great decorator, though.

So....what would you call someone who measures and adds their ingredients into a bowl and then bakes them in their oven??? I think anyone who spends valuable time to mix and bake and then decorate their own creations is indeed a BAKER/DECORATOR. Because a mix is used does NOT make them any less of a baker. It is not right that some people try to make others feel inferior because they choose to use a mix. (just my opinion)

I can always tell if a cake is a box cake. That weird sweet undertone, yes I find cake mixes overly sweet, and that crumb that just sort of dissolves is disturbing. The chocolate ones I will not even touch. They are the reason I only like sachertortes and flourless chocolate cakes today, which is actually a good thing, lol. Chocolate mixes contain that horrible brown taste and chalky on the palate. I think so many people have been raised on these mixes and consider them standard, a reference to compare from one's childhood, so they become "good" tasting to some.

There is nothing natural in a cake mix, mostly chemicals and preservatives. Yes, they rise consistently, easy to make and cheap. Are they good? Taste is a personal thing.

Personally, I like knowing what is in my cakes, and as long as you find a good scratch recipe and stick with it, you should have no problem. Scratch cakes are fresher and better tasting, plus you get to control the sweetness factor and ingredients.

Doctored-cakes? Why not just add two more ingredients and try a scratch recipe instead? I have never understood these, sort of like the hybrid between cake mixes and scratch.

In the end, if I am paying for a good cake, I don't want to taste a cake mix. If I am going to spend so much time in decorating one, I don't want to cheat the product, myself or the customer and sacrifice taste.

Very well said! Personally I don't do box mixes. All my cakes are from scratch. But that doesn't mean that the person who does use a box mix is any less of a baker We are all equal and try equally as hard.

Lazy_Susan

I'm scratch--mostly...I have used box mixes (especially with time constraints), but for a paying customer at $2.50+ a serving, I love to make wonderful scratch butter cakes with the freshest ingredients I can find, and it feels like they're getting their money's worth. And yes, I have had to re-bake to get them sometimes to turn out just right...

I also find the box mixes sometimes seem too fragile to hold up under the weight of fondant and decorations.

OTOH, I DO get lots of compliments either way--which makes me wonder if most folks really CAN tell the difference...they seem to rave about scratch OR box...

I think it's totally whatever you're comfortable using...

This topic is getting old.. I'm sorry, I just cringe everytime someone asks this question. It's the same responses.... Scratch cakes are too inconsistent and box mixes taste like chemicals...Yadda, yadda, yadda, yadda... People start taking it personally and everyone gets upset... I've learned my lesson not to read these posts anymore...

But yet, here you are. lol.

You have a point, topics like these are subjective and there really is no right or wrong answer. It can be compared to talking about politics or religion.

This topic has been discussed a great number of times in the past. Sometimes the discussions are light-hearted and helpful and other times, comments are made that can be upsetting to those on both sides of the debate.

A baker is someone who bakes.

If you don't like the taste of cake mix, do scratch.

If you don't like the results of scratch cakes, use a mix.

Using a mix does not make a cake sub-par or the decorator any less of a baker.

Baking cakes from scratch or a mix does not make your cakes better than anyone else's, it makes them better to you.

As was said in a previous post, there is no right or wrong on this issue only what's right for you .

I love to bake from scratch. I can't even stand having box mixes in my pantry. I just love to bake and cook from scratch. I have 2 daughters and they love to help measure and pour. Call me crazy, but I just prefer scratch. I think it comes from the fact that my mom always used box mixes. I actually was living on my own when bought my first recipe book and discovered that you could actually make cookies, cakes and brownies from flour, sugar and eggs etc... I had no idea. I thought you had to make these things from boxes. I just was schocked you could actually mix ingredients to bake things. Now I always try to bake from scratch and I have taught both my daughters to cook from scratch.

There is no right or wrong just whatever works for you. We all decorate great cakes.

I think most people find box/mix cakes reliable but you can find wonderful scratch recipes and they too are also reliable if you make it the same every time.

For me personally I always had a dose of the guilts when someone asked if I made the cake and it was box/mix and also worried about not being able to tell them the exact ingredients... (I am in no way suggesting anyone should feel guilty.... that was just ME)

I use scratch now.. but only have about 6 great recipes.

A cake is best judged by taste, cost and time, not how it started