First Time Making Cake From Scratch

Baking By simplyme4469 Updated 28 Jul 2014 , 5:14am by AZCouture

simplyme4469 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
simplyme4469 Posted 28 Jul 2014 , 2:41am
post #1 of 5

AWhat is the biggest Difference between scratch and box cakes?

I made a cake from scratch for the first time and its super sweet. Though I must say I am most familiar with box mixes and store bought cakes. I don't know... am I just not familiar with what cakes taste like from scratch? Im a hobby decorator and looking to try something new

4 replies
Jesi Winter Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Jesi Winter Posted 28 Jul 2014 , 4:16am
post #2 of 5

AFirst, did you add your salt or use salted butter. that can make a huge difference in terms of sweetness. If so you may just need to tone down your sugar a bit to get the right level. I love scratch baking because you can really mess around with the recipe. Find a basic recipe you like and play around with it and make it your own. It's all about trial and error. And when you finally perfect your vanilla recipe, making alterations for other cake recipes is super simple.

Box cake mix is well box cake mix. It's a lot more moist than scratch and it has a different texture and taste. Scratch to me tastes more natural and I feel like I have more control over the flavor. Although boxed bakers are popping up with doctored boxed recipes.

I've heard many good things about "the cake bible". You can find it on barnes and Noble .com it gives how and WHY of baking. I just ordered mine and am waiting for it to come in. Hope it's as good as it sounds.

simplyme4469 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
simplyme4469 Posted 28 Jul 2014 , 4:46am
post #3 of 5

AI made one cake Saturday. .. it was so sweet and I actually messed up on how much baking powder I used... it seemed "off" so dumped it right in the garbage . I tried a different recipe and it was the same sweetness. I didn't dump that one and figure ill just take it to work and see what they say lol. Definitely not ready to tweek recipes... idk the skill involved lol. Though ill have lots of time since I will be unemployed stating next week. Idk if in should try lots of recipes and find one I like then work up to making it my own. ... or if I should make changes to the recipe I tried. The first recipe was with Crisco.... the second was unsalted butter. Fairly different recipes... but similar in the sugar/flour ratio. Maybe I just don't love cake lol. Perhaps some reading would do me good :) Its one thing to decorate and something completely different to bake. I always tell friends I'm no baker :) I just thought if I found a recipe other people recommended.... It would v work for me too. Ill just have to put in more work :)

AZCouture Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
AZCouture Posted 28 Jul 2014 , 5:12am
post #4 of 5

AA well baked scratch cake just tastes better. No funky chemical smell or taste, the texture is better....all around just better. And once you've baked and consumed enough good scratch cake, and then bake a box mix, you'll immediately notice that smell and taste.

AZCouture Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
AZCouture Posted 28 Jul 2014 , 5:14am
post #5 of 5

AI know that's pretty vague, but the variety of recipes out there, and the taste, textures, etc are so varied, it's hard to describe them all in one definition. Gotta try a lot, see what you like.

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%