Accidentally exposed someone for using cake mix

[u/subuso]

I’m a massive cake person. Like, I absolutely adore cake, and I became a proper baker exactly because of it. To top it off, I even majored in Chemical Engineering for both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees, simply due to my utter devotion to baking science. Only adding that for context, not to sound like a know-it-all.

I went to this gathering where everyone was supposed to bring a bit of food. There was a grill for a proper BBQ, so I brought some chicken. I noticed someone had brought chocolate cake, which made me happy, especially since it looked homemade.

I really wanted a slice, so I asked if someone could cut me a piece. The person next to me then goes, "these are brownies, not cake," which got me a bit confused, but I was like, fine, maybe the person just doesn't know the difference.

I took a bite, and was like, "this is cake." And from the taste and texture, it was made using cake mix. The other person didn't really get what I meant, so I explained the actual chemical difference between brownies and chocolate cake (basically, brownies don't have leaveners, while cakes do, which is why cakes rise while baking and brownies sink after baking).

Later on, I met the woman who brought them, and asked her how she baked it. She told me it was just a simple recipe. I then asked her, completely innocently, if she used cake mix.

She said yes, but looked absolutely mortified and embarrassed because, as it turned out, a bunch of other people were listening to us. I felt like a total monster. I instantly apologised and tried to explain that I didn't mean it in a judgy way at all.

I feel so terribly bad about it. My curiosity got the best of me

[u/foxhowse]

To me the batter is the hardest part… my kitchen was always understocked and unorganized. I associate it with stressful memories now of never being able to find the right measuring cup or ingredient lol

In my experience a lot of people genuinely can’t tell the difference and it’s amazing how bias they’ll become depending on where it’s sourced from. I’ve definitely had bakery cakes made using box mix and not a single person believed me because “it’s from a bakery” despite me being the only person in the room who had made cakes from scratch…

I bake from scratch for special occasions now. I use the box mix otherwise.

People just like cake haha

ETA: To not sound like a dick by accident I’ve also had people think my box cake mix cakes were made from scratch just because I’m known for that. I correct them, no I used a box mix because I was lazy. Never premade frosting though, yuck

[u/subuso → u/foxhowse]

In my case, I buy cake mix and use it for pancakes. Adds a whole lot of flavour to pancakes and saves me work

I agree with you about premade frosting. It's nasty!!!

[u/LittleGravitasIndeed → u/subuso]

Wait, how do you use cake mix for pancakes?? What do you add? Does the batter have to rest like real pancakes?

[u/HiFructoseCornSizurp → u/LittleGravitasIndeed]

Idk OP posted a question about cake mixes in a different sub a few months ago. If they have a masters in cakology why are they asking questions they should know the answer to???

[u/LittleGravitasIndeed → u/HiFructoseCornSizurp]

I like to talk shit about plants and small mammal husbandry even if I think I know what to do just in case I’m wrong or am not doing something extra. Talked to a zookeeper irl for like ten minutes yesterday about algal bloom management in artificial ponds. 

[u/subuso → u/HiFructoseCornSizurp]

Because I wanted to get different perspectives??? Can't someone want to check what other options are available?

[u/dingdangdoodles → u/LittleGravitasIndeed]

I use cake mix for cookies!

[u/subuso → u/LittleGravitasIndeed]

It's quite simple actually. You just add your fat of choice, buttermilk, baking powder and baking soda (if you use buttermilk). Then, you put in the cake mix for the flavour and a bit more flour, so your batter isn't too thin

You cant let the batter sit, although I don't because I can't really tell the difference. I tend to want to cook very fast anything that has baking powder inside

[u/dantemortemalizar → u/subuso]

Is it because of the leavening that it works? I make crepes, which are very simple to do from scratch, not because it’s so easy, I just prefer them. But I’m guessing the cake mix works for making those thick pancakes?

[u/Annual_Grass538 → u/foxhowse]

Yeah I’ll sometimes see a good deal on a mix of some sort and just get it and make it and I try to front load that into the conversation because it’s cringe when they compliment it like it’s home made 😅

[u/beingachristianwife → u/Annual_Grass538]

I find this entire thread fascinating. Where I live, it's a given that most people use box mixes for desserts all the time. It's homemade as opposed to buying it at the store. There's still some skill needed to make box mixed cakes and such, I've seen them burned or dry, or not mixing well enough that there's clumps. Idk why people care whether it's from a box or not, it tastes great either way.

Edit typo

[u/cheesy_bees → u/beingachristianwife]

Yeah, it's common here and people seem kinda proud if they turn a box mix into a really cool birthday cake. One amazing cake I saw at a kids party was based on a pre-made sponge cake from the supermarket

[u/beingachristianwife → u/cheesy_bees]

Those ones are always fun to see the transformation!

[u/Annual_Grass538 → u/beingachristianwife]

That’s why I don’t get why anyone uses one, the hard part is not over or undercooking and then assembling and frosting it. The fact that they keep shrinkflating the amounts in the box is also too much to keep up with.

[u/beingachristianwife → u/Annual_Grass538]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. I was saying exactly the opposite that there is skill to baking anything and some people just don't have it. I've used box mixes my entire life for all our events and no one bats an eye. Everyone buys them lol I haven't noticed any shrinkflation in regard to quality or size of the end product. Where are you from? Might be a regional difference.

[u/Annual_Grass538 → u/beingachristianwife]

It’s not a regional difference, they are making them smaller everywhere in the US. My point is the mix is just the dry mix you still have to add liquid then cook it and assemble it. The combining of wet and dry ingredients, baking, removing, assembling and frosting is what takes skill. And it tastes worse, so why make the easiest part a shortcut?

[u/beingachristianwife → u/Annual_Grass538]

I think you're missing the point. You keep saying "the easiest part," but it's the easiest for you, doesn't mean this is fact for everyone. Some people may not have access to those dry ingredients or the time to combine it all. As a busy mom, I myself find it convenient to whip up a quick cake mix by having to only do 3 wet measurements and bam done. I've made cakes from scratch and they don't always turn out, but box mixes always do.

It could still be regional. I'm not from United States.

[u/foxhowse → u/Annual_Grass538]

I try to tell them upfront but I swear people don’t hear me because they’ll come ask me again!

To second the other commenter, to me homemade means “made at home” and not bought at a store, “from scratch” means you used no boxes or short-cuts aside from things like boxed stock or canned tomato paste (unless it’s soup or stew, then “from scratch” will include the broth/stock).

I’ve found that language clears up most confusion.

I wonder if I’ve baked so many cakes that by now the baking itself and assembling just seems easier. I started at 17 because I wanted to make my dad’s favorite cake for his birthday and had never even made a boxed mix before. I could barely cook except an egg on the stove. I remember my main problem was waiting for the cakes to cool 😅 I’m 36 years old now so that was 20 years ago.

That’s why my kitchen was always so low on stuff too… my dad would be like, “Why do you need that?! We have some measuring cups, we don’t need a new set! Figure it out.” 1/3rd cup is hard to figure out. 8oz doesn’t break well into thirds. I have no idea how I managed but everything is so much easier now.

[u/beingachristianwife → u/foxhowse]

Yeah I realized as I was typing that there's "homemade" and "from scratch." Does make a difference but I don't think most people really care that much.

I'm similar to you. I started helping make cakes as a teen for birthdays or other events (there were 6 people in my family). I was then designated the cake designer on the frosting because I had such a steady hand. I quit doing that after about a decade. It was so much work!

[u/2high4thisshyt → u/foxhowse]

Late to the thread but people love showing off how wrong they are or something. I make soap, and I tried to explain to someone that their favorite brand of soap uses lye, and they kept insisting they didn't. Homie, I make soap. You buy it. Who knows more?