How to Improve Boxed Cake Mix

Its September already, almost nearing the last quarter of the year and this means two things – holidays and celebrations. Yup, let's start September with labor day where every one is dying to vacation, go on trips or tours or just simply spend time with family at home. Next month, its going to be the favorite time of the year for the kids – trick or treat where children are legally allowed by their moms to eat as many candies and sweets as they want. Of course, after Halloween comes thanksgiving – again a big festivities for families and friends to gather together and just have a good time with each other. And who would forget Christmas – time for gift wrapping and another merriment and joyful celebration with the families. Indeed, thinking of all these holidays can be exciting yet it can also be stressful and tiring at the same time.

Speaking of all these holidays and festivities, we are always on the lookout for recipes and great meals to prepare for our family. Of course, dessert is a great ending to a meal and every table should have one. My suggestion for an easy and simple to prepare dessert is cakes and cupcakes. They are everyone's favorites and you could not get wrong with it as long as you have a plan. Yes, a plan and that is to use the boxed cake mix that you can see in abundance at the baking section of grocery stores.

You might think boxed cake mix taste plain and artificial, every one would know. Well, I suggest you use your imagination and don't limit yourself to just using the cake mix as it is. You can bring it to a whole new level just by making a few improvisations and adding some great flavors to it.

For a plain boxed cake mix, add sour cream or pudding mix to make the cake even fluffier and denser.

Add fruit flavors such as canned pineapples, strawberry preserves ,apricot preserves or frozen berries.

Use buttermilk instead of water or milk, it makes a whole lot of difference taste and quality wise.

Add extra vanilla or cocoa, sounds little but it can actually made a big difference to the over all taste of the cake.

For the crumbs to be finer, beat the egg and fasts first before you add them to the dry ingredients.

Decide on what cake flavor you want and then find an ice cream flavor that will compliment the cake you want .

Melt two cups of that ice cream and add it instead of water. Use 3 eggs and mix on medium speed.

Turn yellow cake into orange by adding orange juice or orange flavor liquer (triple sec or grand marnier) instead of water.

Pump up the flavor even more by adding orange zest into it.

Chocolate cake mix can be greatly improve by substituting water with brewed coffee and adding a handful of chocolate chip mix. Coffee is known to enhance the flavor of chocolate to a whole new level.

For those who do not like their boxed cake mix too sweet, add ¼ teaspoon of salt or 1 teaspoon lemon juice.

Devil's Food cake

1 box Devil's Food cake mix (Pillsbury or Betty Crocker)
1 instant chocolate pudding
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup warm water
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chip

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Combine all the ingredients in one bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat for 3 minutes until thoroughly blended. Fold in the chocolate chips to the mixture. Grease the cake pan with Pam or butter, you can sprinkle flour if desired. Bake for 350 degrees C for 50-55 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes before serving. Glaze it melted chocolate chips or chocolate syrup for added flavor.

Delicious Carrot Cake

• 1 plain cake box mix
• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
• 1/2 cup grated carrots

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the ingredients together and mix until well blended. Grease your baking pan with Pam or butter. Transfer cake mix and bake for 35-40 minutes until cook through. Serve with ready made cream cheese frosting.