Hello,
I have been searching for a vanilla cake recipe that holds up well for stacking but that also stays fresh for more than 2 days. I've noticed they tend to get hard or go bad after 2 days and it usually takes me that long to complete a cake from baking time to decorating and delivering it. With cake mixes this isn't an issue because of the preservatives.
I recently saw a website of a famous cake decorator and one of her recipes included cake mix..... I want to know from other professional cake designers what is your take on using cake mixes?!?
Thanks!!!

If you do a search, this topic has been discussed ad nauseum.

Basically, it comes down to different strokes for different folks. Some people can't bake worth a crap and they might go with mixes. Some people might be awesome scratch bakers but they are just lazy and go with mixes. Some people just like baking from scratch. I personally do both scratch and box baking. Most of my cakes are gratis and I don't spend $$$ on cakes I give away, so for those I will use doctored mixes. For family and very close friends I will pull out the stops and make an awesome scratch cake.

There are several people on the forum who really just like the decorating, and the mixes make it easier and faster to get to the "fun part." On the other hand, there is at least one forum member who has built a very successful business on her baking, and her cakes are "dessert" or "home-style" iced. No frills or fancy decorating-just an awesome from scratch cake. There is no right or wrong way. It's however you choose to do things for your business.

At the end of the day, it's all about identifying your target market and standing by your product.

I did run a search but it kept saying there was no matches for "cake mix" .

I personally love scratch baking, I feel like its more of my skill and love into it and for everything else I scratch bake but i need a recipe for the stacked/shaped cakes which take a little longer to decorate.
I would love if anyone had suggestions or maybe a recipe link or advice on how to make the shelf life longer on scratch products.

Scratch, always.

I'd rather stab myself in the eye with a dull and rusty fork than use a mix (or eat a cake made from mix).

I would take your poll, but it would need to have a "both" option. If I do vanilla cake, it's only box, if I do red velvet cake, it will never be box. It all depends on what kind of cake I'm making. So I bake both ways.

https://www.google.com/search?q=scratch+vs+mix+site%3Acakecentral.com

I use the WASC cake recipe from this site. I have had a slice as much as five days later and it is moist and does not go bad! Holds up well to stacking. Have not tried carving it.

Thanks for link Jason!

No it is the first one listed under most saved recipes.

http://cakecentral.com/recipe/white-almond-sour-cream-cake-wasc
Sorry. Left that off on the last post.

Thanks Jan!! Trying that recipe tomorrow!!



I read through a lot of the other threads about cake mixes and came to my own conclusion.
Thanks To everyone for all your comments and votes!

I would love to hear how you like it.

I tried the WASC recipe and thought it was delicious. However, the first time I made it for a customer, I was told that it looked pretty, but the cake was dry. I used the WASC recipe and spritzed it with simple syrup before filling and icing. I tried the cake when I levelled it, so I know it was good. In my opinion, bakers love the WASC recipe, but people used to mixes or Walmart/grocery store cakes (most people, these days) think it's dry and heavy and DON'T love it. I never wasted my time or the ingredients again. DH cake mix all the way, along with my scratch fillings and frostings, and people RAVE every time. The WASC recipe earned me the only negative comment and criticism I've ever received in 3 years.

Well I scratch every other flavor and they are always moist and tender, but the vanilla from scratch is always tricky.
I haven't used this recipe on customers yet but I agree they LOVE the DH mix!
I'm gonna try the WASC again for my daughters birthday party in a couple weeks to see what people reaction is and then decide if I should stick with DH for vanilla! Thanks for your input!!