Manufacturers have been downsizing their cake mixes for years. Here's why.
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Wait, What?
As ingredients became more expensive, cake mix companies and many other food manufacturers sneakily dropped a couple of ounces from the box. Before you start asking for your money back, cake mix companies still contend that their product creates a standard 13×9 cake. But how does this change affect all the other cake mix recipes we know and love? As we know, baking is a science. Fewer ounces can drastically alter your finished dish. I did a little snooping, and here’s what I found out.How Reduced Cake Mix Affects Your Desserts
Cake
If you’re making a cake like this Peanut Crunch Cake with reduced cake mix, you’ll likely notice the difference. Without the extra filling, the cake will likely not rise as high. In my book, this isn’t a problem. I find that it saves room for extra ice cream! (By the way, you’ve probably been cutting cakes wrong this whole time.)[post_ads_2]
Cupcakes
If you’re making cupcakes, the reduced cake mix means you could end up with 23 treats instead of 24. I find that adding a filling helps. These Picnic Cupcakes are a perfect example of that. With a chocolatey cream cheese center, they don’t even need frosting! (We bet you didn’t know you were making these 12 baking mistakes.)Dessert Bars
If you’re making a bar recipe that uses a cake mix as the base or crust, you’re going to notice a difference. With less cake mix, the crust will be a bit thinner, but it will still work.If you’re concerned with the thinner crust, drop a pan size. For instance, these Easy Lemon Cheese Bars call for a 13×9-inch baking dish. Drop that to a 11×7-inch baking dish and no one will ever know the difference. I find that guests appreciate the thicker filling, and you’ll be happier with the sturdier crust. (Here are some legitimate reasons your should be eating dessert!)
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Dump Cakes
If you’re making a classic dump cake like this Pineapple Cherry Cake or Nutty Peach Crisp, you likely won’t notice the missing ounces at all. These desserts bake up super-easy regardless of how much cake mix goes in. These are our favorite dump desserts.If you’re really concerned about the difference in your older recipes, here’s a trick I use. I keep an extra box of yellow cake mix in a mason jar. When the difference matters, I use a scale and add a couple of ounces to the mix I’m using. The yellow works with any flavor. And my desserts? They turn out as delicious as they always were. (Missing some ingredients? Here’s how you can still bake a box cake.)
