Cake Mix Food

MAKE YOUR OWN CAKE MIX

Steps:

• Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt; stir to blend.
• Mix in sugar.
• Cut the shortening into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks crumbly.
• Label and store in a sealed plastic bag at room temperature.
• Makes 1 pakage mix. Each package makes two 8 or 9 inch layers or one 9 x 13 x 2 inch rectangle.
• To Use:.
• Pour 1 package of mix into a mixing bowl;.
• add 3/4 cup milk and 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract.
• Using either an electric or manual rotary beater, beat at slow to medium speed for two minutes (by hand, beat 3 minutes averaging 135 strokes per minute). Scrape the sides of the bowl frequently as you beat.
• Add 2 eggs; beat 1 minute more (2 minutes by hand).
• Grease and dust with flour your choice of pan(s); spread batter evenly in pans.
• Bake round cake pans at 375 degrees F. for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• bake the 9 x 13 x 2 inch pan for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool cake(s) for 10 minutes in their pan(s) before turning out on racks.
• Variations:.
• WHITE CAKE.
• Follow the same directions as for Yellow Cake replacing the 2 eggs with 3 unbeaten egg whites. Use an electric mixer for beating.
• SPICE CAKE.
• Add to the package of Yellow Cake Mix: 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, and a pinch of ground allspice. Follow Yellow Cake directions.
• EXTRACT FLAVORED CAKES.
• Replace the vanilla in either the Yellow or White Cake recipes with 2 to 3 teaspoons of the extract of your choice. You may want to add a few drops of food coloring for the flavors like lemon, orange, or cherry, etc.
• FRESH ORANGE CAKE.
• Pour 1 package of Yellow Cake Mix into a bowl; add 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange peel (1 teaspoon dried). Squeeze the juice from 1 large orange and add to it enough water to measure 1 cup. Add this orange juice to the mix, beat for 2 minutes as directed previously; add 2 eggs; beat and bake as directed.
• CUPCAKES.
• Pour cake batter into greased cupcake tins or tins lined with paper baking cups; fill 1/2 to 2/3 full. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 20 to 25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
• Makes about 2 dozen.
• NOTE: To prevent a cake from sticking to its pan, put the pan on a wet towel to cool as soon as you take it out of the oven.

CAKE MIX BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, mix the cake mix, butter, milk, salt and eggs until the consistency of a batter.
• In a second bowl, mix the sprinkles, chocolate candies and vanilla morsels. Fold two-thirds of the candy mix into the batter.
• Coat a 9-by-13-inch pan with baking spray. Add the batter to the pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle over the remaining candy mix and bake until golden and set in the middle, 25 to 27 minutes. Allow to cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Cut into 16 bars. Store extras in an airtight container at room temperature.

FLUFFY CHIFFON CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line the bottom of a 10" springform pan with 3" sides with parchment paper cut to fit exactly. Do not grease the sides of the pan.
• Sift together the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Add 1¼ cups of the sugar and the salt and whisk to combine. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, egg yolks, water, vanilla, and lemon zest. Make a well in the flour, add the yolk mixture, and then whisk thoroughly and quickly for about 1 minute until very smooth.
• Place the egg whites in a large mixing bowl. Using a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat on medium speed until frothy. Add the cream of tartar or lemon juice and beat on medium-high speed until the whites hold soft peaks. Slowly add the remaining ¼ cup sugar and beat on medium-high speed until the whites hold firm, shiny peaks. Using a rubber spatula, scoop about one third of the whites onto the yolk mixture and fold in gently to lighten the batter. Gently fold in the remaining whites just until combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with an offset spatula if necessary. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 45-55 minutes. Let cool in the pan (the sides of the pan will help hold the structure of the cake as it cools) on a wire rack. To unmold, run a small, thin knife around the sides of the pan to loosen the cake and then release and lift off the pan sides. Invert the cake, peel off the parchment, and then use as directed in individual recipes. The cake will keep, well wrapped, in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.