I know how many of you feel about mixes, but I just wanted everyone to be forewarned. This wasn't a big deal disaster because I didn't end up serving the cupcakes I made with this mix, and just wanted to warn everyone that this mix is horrible! I used it in a pinch, and the things came out so airy that the tops were falling off as I took them out of the oven. The consistency was just plain bad -- too airy and soft. Actually tasted like a bad version of diet cupcakes. I was just trying to make something quick for my class (I teach high school), and I ended up having to make something completely different (waste of time!). Not even doctoring this mix would help.

Sarah

I haven't tried that flavor. But I only use the BC mixes and doctor some of them. Thanks for the warning on that flavor

I'm sticking to DH when I get lazy and don't want to make scratch cakes.

Oh I tried that mix and it was wonderful. I used milk rather then water, butter rather then oil and four eggs rather then three eggs. Oh yes, I also added vanilla. It turned out great.

I do bang my pans on the counter though to get out air bubbles.

Maybe you had a bad mix? I have used it several times with no problems. Sorry you had so much trouble!

I use this mix quite a bit and I love it--but I don't follow the directions on the box

For one thing, I sift the mix and get rid of the mini chocolate chips (I personally hate "bits" in my cake) and then I make it with buttermilk (rather than water) and decrease the oil (I use half of what's called for on the box). I also add a TBSP of dark cocoa, and 2 tsp of vanilla paste.

It's what I used for the ornament cupcakes in my photos and boy, they were great--moist and they held up to the weight of the half ball cakes on top of them.

Rae

Hmm. . .it looks like the posts that are in favor of the mix outweigh those that aren't. I'll have to try that. . .chocolate chips in the mix? YUM.

My vote is for a bad mix too. That is the only Choc. cake mix I use, but I don't follow directions either

I add a egg and make with whole or choc. milk, and decrease the oil a bit.

Wow, thanks for all the insights everyone! If I ever use it again, I will definitely try some of the ideas listed here. Sounds like some doctoring would do the trick! I use DH, but I tried a BC German Choc and it was great, so I thought this would be okay. Perhaps it was a bad mix... after mixing it, I thought it seemed more like a white cake done with egg whites only -- that was the consistency. Anyway, thanks again! I love this site!

Sarah

That is the mix I always use for my chocolate cakes! I, too, use buttermilk and real butter and people RAVE about this cake. I have never had it fail.

Denise, you have an extra 'so' in your web URL, I thought you'd want to know...

I always try to use this cake. Last week I made a cake with a different chocolate mix and this weekend made one with the BC one. A person who was had both told me there was something different in the cakes and liked the BC one better. (He didn't know what I used).

this is one of my most picked flavors from clients who want a mix, i've never had any problems with it and it is one i like to doctor up also. i'm with the others and maybe you got a bad box, i really hate when that happens.

I'm on the "love it" side. It is by far my favorite chocolate mix. I love the mini chocolate chips, and they are small enough, they mostly just absorb into the cake. I don't doctor it too much whenever I use it, I just add the usual chocolate pudding and extra egg.

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!! And so does everybody else!

That is the mix I use when I make my Ganache cakes! I wouldn't use it for anything else Though(my ganache cakes are just one simple layer) because I just don't like Betty Crocker at all! All BC cakes I have made have all fallen apart if I need to layer.

I love this mix! It is one of my fav chocolate cakes to make, doctoring the mix really is the trick!

katy625, what recipe do you use for ganache?

I use a doctored version of this for all of my chocolate cakes, and they always turn out wonderful. I use CakeMixDoctor's Darn Good Chocolate Cake recipe, and omit the addition of the chocolate chips because the mix already has them in it. Everyone I know said it's one of the best chocolate cake's they've ever tasted.

I'm sorry it didn't work out for you!

Thanks katy625, I think I will try that recipe! I have found so many for ganache and the chocolate to cream ratio seems to be differant for everyone, I wasn't sure which one to try. Does this harden a bit on the cake after a while? Will I be able to put Candy Clay roses on top of it? Thank you so much for your help!

Okay thanks Katy, I was planning on putting it in the fridge overnight and then I guess I can just add the roses in the morning before my husband takes it to work.
Sorry to have gotten so far off the topic here...

Ya know, sometimes weird things just happen. Last night I made Betty Crocker devil's food and I'll be darn..the cake cooked terrible! Cracked at the top and the edges rose before the the rest of the cake causing them to collapse onto the cake itself. I have never had this happen to me. I was baffled??? Maybe my oven was having a bad day!

I use this flavor all the time and have never had any problems.It is one of my most requested flavors....Hmmmm Perhaps you got a bad mix.