Bake what you love, use what you like. Personally, I make the cake from scratch only because I make everything from scratch. I try to use as few preserved chemical ingredients as possible. I can't do that 100% of the time, but I do what I can.
I think the biggest "secret" to making a "scratch" cake is beating the heck out of the butter sugar and eggs and barely mixing it (just enough to blend) after adding the flour mixture.
Just say "I bake cakes from a secret recipe" 
You don't have to say that one of the ingredients is cake mix! 
Don't feel guilty!
LOL - darandon (The rest come from my secret family recipe, handed down from generation to generation from my Uncle Duncan and Aunt Betty.) good one!!
I just started cake decorating and have only done betty's. i did a chocolate from scratch and i was disappointed my family didn't like it too much. there was too much chocolate involved for them. Only a few were able to appreciate the taste. My family knows i only do boxes, i only decorate for family. (hope to change that soon!)
I am really curious about everyone's little secrets & ingredients they add to the box mixes. I keep reading you doctor it up. how? I'm only added a pudding box to mine. Besides that i use butter (not oil) & milk (no water) but i think that's pretty common right?!
Kat
I only use box mixes and don't feel guilty at all! I agree with others, they are paying for the pretty decorations and are coming back for repeat orders because it tastes good. Sometimes when I do ABSOLUTELY nothing to my cake mixes (just follow the recipe), people are still saying how it is the best cake they've ever tasted. When I tell my family I didn't do anything to it, they don't believe me. I think things taste a whole lot better when you don't have to do it yourself.
Can you guys tell me what it is that you put extra into your boxed cake mixes to give them that homemade taste? I always thought it was a pudding mix but now I am beginning to wonder. thanks. sunflowerfreak
Sometimes when I do ABSOLUTELY nothing to my cake mixes (just follow the recipe), people are still saying how it is the best cake they've ever tasted.
I think plain cake mix cakes taste much better than most of the grocery store bakery cakes I've had. With a few exceptions, these cakes are not good. If that's what people are used to, a home-baked box mix is going to taste heavenly!
Can you guys tell me what it is that you put extra into your boxed cake mixes to give them that homemade taste? I always thought it was a pudding mix but now I am beginning to wonder. thanks. sunflowerfreak
I use some of the Cake Mix Doctor recipes. I like the Darn Good Chocolate Cake (except I use chocolate fudge or German chocolate mix instead of devil's food). I also use several of the yellow cake recipes from that book.
Check your library for a copy.
I am so glad to hear that I'm not the only one who feels this way! I don't sell a lot of cakes, but I'm always making them for friends and family. I've just always felt guilty on any that I've charged for, like it's not completely legit or something. I've tried a couple scratch cakes, and they just weren't as good. I just really like my Betty Crocker Golden Vanilla mix. I do want to get the cake doctor book and try some of those though!
Haha... this is a funny thread. Only because I was starting to feel guilty too, until I realized that everyone raved about the cakes regaurdless if they were boxed. They would probably hate my scratch cakes anyway. I am definately a decorator, and NOT a baker. (That's my husband. lol)
Oh and to the poster who was talking about milling thier own flour and whatnot, you gave me a great idea! I will tell everyone that my secret ingredient is the fresh eggs from our chickens out back! (for real) 
Kelly
Hi guys:
As many of you, I DON'T FEEL GUILTY AT ALL. I am lucky I can bake the cake mix 
I also adultarate I try doing different things to the cake box. I am very greatful to have all those cake boxes available. Nothing to my is from scratch...not even cooking. I was not born a cook or a baker...I guess I have no concience when it comes to the kitchen.
You guys sure know how to make me feel less of sinner.
Hugs everyone.
cats28(Tina)
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