Comments on: DIY Cake Month: Boxed Mix or Scratch http://www.diybride.com/diy-projects-tutorials/diy-cake-month-boxed-mix-or-scratch/ Creating Beautiful Weddings, One Project At A Time Fri, 18 May 2012 17:50:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Sarah http://www.diybride.com/diy-projects-tutorials/diy-cake-month-boxed-mix-or-scratch/#comment-917 Sarah Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:00:05 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress.6.48i/?p=1202#comment-917 Good things about boxed mixes (the context of wedding cake or bulk baking): 1. Consistency. If you are making a lot of cake and therefore can not possibly make all the scratch cake in one good, box mix is good for consistency. The bakers I know who use box mixes as a base do it for just that reason (including a company that has it's box mix custom made). It can be really hard to get scratch cakes from different batches to turn out the same. 2. Consistency. Uh, texture, that is. Box mixes tend to have a finer texture than the more crumby typical scratch cake. This is a preference issue. Most people are more familiar with the fine texture of boxed mix cakes. 3. Box mixes can be jazzed up. There are lots of "semi-homemade" recipes out there that start with box cake mix. I can't remember the last time I baked using a box mix. I prefer scratch baking. But, the baker I hired makes the best cake I have tasted in a while and she uses mixes as a base. Good things about boxed mixes (the context of wedding cake or bulk baking):
1. Consistency. If you are making a lot of cake and therefore can not possibly make all the scratch cake in one good, box mix is good for consistency. The bakers I know who use box mixes as a base do it for just that reason (including a company that has it’s box mix custom made). It can be really hard to get scratch cakes from different batches to turn out the same.
2. Consistency. Uh, texture, that is. Box mixes tend to have a finer texture than the more crumby typical scratch cake. This is a preference issue. Most people are more familiar with the fine texture of boxed mix cakes.
3. Box mixes can be jazzed up. There are lots of “semi-homemade” recipes out there that start with box cake mix.

I can’t remember the last time I baked using a box mix. I prefer scratch baking. But, the baker I hired makes the best cake I have tasted in a while and she uses mixes as a base.

]]> By: diybride http://www.diybride.com/diy-projects-tutorials/diy-cake-month-boxed-mix-or-scratch/#comment-918 diybride Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:55:48 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress.6.48i/?p=1202#comment-918 Gah! Did I advise anyone to use any old cake? I honestly hope not and will review the posts just to make sure. That's not my intent, by any means. There's still some posts to go in this series with more info about building/structure so I can clear up that issue if it's lurking in the minds of my readers. Nina, thanks for linking to your post at about.com. [editing to add: I did talk a little bit about cake density/structure and the importance of selecting the right cake for your design in the Tier or Not To Tier post. http://www.diybride.com/2008/05/29/diy-cake-month-to-tier-or-not-to-tier/] Gah! Did I advise anyone to use any old cake? I honestly hope not and will review the posts just to make sure. That’s not my intent, by any means. There’s still some posts to go in this series with more info about building/structure so I can clear up that issue if it’s lurking in the minds of my readers.

Nina, thanks for linking to your post at about.com.

[editing to add: I did talk a little bit about cake density/structure and the importance of selecting the right cake for your design in the Tier or Not To Tier post. http://www.diybride.com/2008/05/29/diy-cake-month-to-tier-or-not-to-tier/

]]> By: tania http://www.diybride.com/diy-projects-tutorials/diy-cake-month-boxed-mix-or-scratch/#comment-919 tania Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:42:27 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress.6.48i/?p=1202#comment-919 I don't see where DIY Bride is advising anyone to use any old cake. I don’t see where DIY Bride is advising anyone to use any old cake.

]]> By: Nina Callaway http://www.diybride.com/diy-projects-tutorials/diy-cake-month-boxed-mix-or-scratch/#comment-920 Nina Callaway Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:58:47 +0000 http://127.0.0.1/wordpress.6.48i/?p=1202#comment-920 Hi - Thanks for linking to my blog about which is faster - box mix or scratch. That was certainly an illuminating experience! But I do worry about the advice that you are giving brides here. Anyone who is planning to make a tiered cake, or who needs to carve it should not be looking at just any old cake recipe or box mix. They'll need a recipe that is able to support the weight, along with straws, cardboard rounds and other supports. On my other website, weddings.about.com, I've got a guide to assembling and decorating a DIY wedding cake. http://weddings.about.com/od/weddingcakesfoodmenus/a/weddingcakedeco.htm Hope that is helpful. Nina Hi – Thanks for linking to my blog about which is faster – box mix or scratch. That was certainly an illuminating experience!

But I do worry about the advice that you are giving brides here. Anyone who is planning to make a tiered cake, or who needs to carve it should not be looking at just any old cake recipe or box mix. They’ll need a recipe that is able to support the weight, along with straws, cardboard rounds and other supports.

On my other website, weddings.about.com, I’ve got a guide to assembling and decorating a DIY wedding cake. http://weddings.about.com/od/weddingcakesfoodmenus/a/weddingcakedeco.htm

Hope that is helpful.
Nina

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