We usually sell cookies, which are made from scratch, but I am not happy with any of my made from scratch cupcakes yet. I do have orders for Easter cupcakes and plan on making them using doctored cake mixes. I'm feeling little guilty that these are not made from scratch. Does anyone actually sell cupakes made from a mix? All of my frostings will be homemade of course, but I haven't found a scratch recipe that I am happy with. They are all too dry and dense. I plan on doctoring up all my orders.

I don't sell Cupcakes, yet... but honestly you're really charging for your time and effort too so don't feel guilty about it at all. No one will know the difference and even if they did I'm sure they'd appreciate that you would rather give them tasty cupcakes over homemade "eh" ones. Don't feel guilty... over time, you'll get your recipes down and you'll be just fine.

I just baked a cupcake order for Easter and always use a doctored cake mix. They will be decorated to look like bunny faces, and I am charging $2 each.....and got it! No shame in using doctored cake mixes!

deb

I've made both, and both have their virtues. Let's face it: mixes give us moist and airy cake. Why should you feel guilty about using a mix? So what! Scratch is wonderful, but mixes are divine. Both are great, lol! You're still going to work your butt off, and your customers are going to love you for it!

I'm so glad others are selling them. I've tried several batches from scratch and my family just doesn't like them. They like the light and airy you do get from a mix.

Next weekend I am doing my first cupcake order. 200 cupcakes with a plain swirl for a wedding-$2 each. I always use a mix. I explain to my customers that I like the consistent, good results from a mix and the time savings!! they understand. Very few even ask and no one yet has cared--they just care about the TASTE

It takes a while to find good scratch recipes, but when you find a great one that works for you, you can't beat it. I get excellent results with Serious_Cake's "yellow cake" recipe from her youtube videos. It is a very light colored cake, so I call it vanilla cake. Its easy to weak, too, and I use that recipe for a bunch of different flavors.
Good luck!