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cake mixes - what do you say? How do your customers react?

post #1 of 25
1/22/11 at 3:19pm
Thread Starter 
Hi I've been considering some cake mixes - most of my cakes are scratch but I recently tried out a red velvet as a trial for cupcakes and loved it. Its a huge bag and I'm sure i'll use it again.

I was wondering for those of you who use box mixes what you tell your customers if they ask if you make your own? What kind of reaction do you normally get from customers/people if you use a mix?

I mentioned the other day to a friend about using a box mix and the reaction I got was "oh my god that's cheating!" I was quite taken aback as i'm professional with the cakes I make and decorate whether scratch baked or not.

Would be interested to hear people's thoughts or experiences
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post #2 of 25
1/22/11 at 3:50pm
you might want to search this, its been beaten to a pulp!


most people say do what best serves you, if you are confident in your product, so will customers.
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post #3 of 25
1/22/11 at 3:50pm
I know that I do both scratch and doctored mix and people LOVE the doctored mix. However those same people would probably be pretty horrified to know they just raved over a doctored box mix. So....I try to avoid it if I can. I'd probably try to focus on the recipes I do from scratch and skim over the box ones if I can. The last time I admitted to someone I used a doctored mix (she chose a mix chocolate over scratch in a tasting!) I never heard back from her!!!! So its going to have to just be my secret.

I guess you could say that everything is "homemade" because it is....
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post #4 of 25
1/22/11 at 4:04pm
"Thank you for your interest but we never discuss our recipes." If they persist "Some start with a commercial base, some don't." Period. End of discussion. icon_biggrin.gif
To find "THE RECIPE LINKS ARE HERE" thread, click on "Forums", then "Recipes" and it's the first sticky. Latest updates are on (the bottom of) page 10 here: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-625803-135.html
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To find "THE RECIPE LINKS ARE HERE" thread, click on "Forums", then "Recipes" and it's the first sticky. Latest updates are on (the bottom of) page 10 here: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-625803-135.html
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post #5 of 25
1/22/11 at 4:08pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you everyone - the reply suggestions are brilliant i will definitely remember them. Great answers!
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post #6 of 25
1/22/11 at 6:36pm
I have often wondered that to. Some Cakes that are large and have Tons of detailing it's hard because it's allot of work. . We all know how much goes into a cake! I'm not sure if allot of people realize how much of an art it is. U think Pay by the hour, and really profit time wise..... isn't always on the cakers side. But there are sometimes on those cake project that really good sales come on. U can get box mix's for under $1 each ... I don't know If I can make that from Scratch for a buck! if u know what I mean.
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post #7 of 25
1/22/11 at 6:42pm
Have your friend ask some of the bakeries in your area the same thing, and you'll find out that many bakeries use cake mixes.

I have been asked this 2 times in the 18 months since I have started doing this. I do both scratch and doctored cake mixes. My basic flavors are doctored mixes. The first customer went ahead with the order, she loved it. Her 14 year old, who is a team mate of my son, came to me as I was waiting for football practice to end and told me that I make the best cakes ever. The other customer asked me because his daughter has reactions to certain chemicals, so I made my scratch carrot cake for him and he loved it. So I have not lost a customer and have had many reviews. If a person asks me, I tell them the truth.
When life gives you lemons, make lemon cake!
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When life gives you lemons, make lemon cake!
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post #8 of 25
1/22/11 at 7:00pm
My cousin (a food broker) told me to not tell people you don't bake from scratch if you use a doctored mix because in a sense you are baking from scratch when you add all the other ingredients (i suppose it depends on the recipe). I'm not sure I completely agree but I think that if anyone ever asks me about my recipes I'll just say "If i tell you I'll have to kill you icon_biggrin.gif " or "its an old secret family recipe."
"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle, I just wish he didn't trust me so much." ~ Mama T
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"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle, I just wish he didn't trust me so much." ~ Mama T
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post #9 of 25
1/23/11 at 11:04am
Thread Starter 
lol good idea, I have to say its true I spoke to a local baker who has asked if I will do some icing of his cakes and he does some scratch as it works out cheaper for him as he can buy ingredients in huge bulk yet a lot of his savoury goods are mixes or bought wholesale and then just baked in the oven by him. Everyone who has had a cake from me so far has said how great they are and I think if people wanted something really really cheap they would go to a supermarket anyway and all their cakes are production line ready mixes icon_smile.gif
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post #10 of 25
1/23/11 at 11:47am
Can I ask what make the Red Velvet was you bought? I'm in the UK too and would just like to try it. Thanks icon_smile.gif
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post #11 of 25
1/23/11 at 12:28pm
I always thought it was cheating too until my Wilton instructor pointed something out to me:

A cake mix is mostly just flour and sugar and stuff that you would have put in the cake anyway. icon_smile.gif

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post #12 of 25
1/23/11 at 12:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cocobongo

Can I ask what make the Red Velvet was you bought? I'm in the UK too and would just like to try it. Thanks icon_smile.gif



Hi there I got the macphie mix it requires eggs oil and water to be added is a good mix very moist too icon_smile.gif
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post #13 of 25
1/23/11 at 12:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sccandwbfan

I always thought it was cheating too until my Wilton instructor pointed something out to me:

A cake mix is mostly just flour and sugar and stuff that you would have put in the cake anyway. icon_smile.gif


That's very true! Just all sorted for you already icon_smile.gif
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post #14 of 25
1/23/11 at 12:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by allaboutcakeuk

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cocobongo

Can I ask what make the Red Velvet was you bought? I'm in the UK too and would just like to try it. Thanks icon_smile.gif



Hi there I got the macphie mix it requires eggs oil and water to be added is a good mix very moist too icon_smile.gif



I've never heard of macphie. Do you get it at the supermarket?
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post #15 of 25
1/23/11 at 1:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cocobongo

Quote:
Originally Posted by allaboutcakeuk

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cocobongo

Can I ask what make the Red Velvet was you bought? I'm in the UK too and would just like to try it. Thanks icon_smile.gif



Hi there I got the macphie mix it requires eggs oil and water to be added is a good mix very moist too icon_smile.gif



I've never heard of macphie. Do you get it at the supermarket?



No sorry it's a bakery mix can buy from wholesalers they have a website. It comes in 12.5 kg bags though hope this helps
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