im making a car cake and i can't spend to much! can i use box cake mix???

Hello, sure you can use it

Add pudding to the recipe!

Absolutely you can. When I took a carved cake class with Bronwen Weber, she provided the cakes. She made sure to tell us that they are straight box, no additions.

thank you! should i freeze it before i start carving??

I use box mixes and yes, I do freeze them. Usually the cake is out of the freezer about an hour or two before I get to carving it. The colder the better. I also make sure it's not a fresh cake. I made it on Thursday and carved on Saturday.

I always use Pillsbury white mixes and they carve really well. I mix them just like the box, cook at 325 and when they come out, let them cool for about 15 minutes, then cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge or the freezer overnight.

I carved a '57 chevy (in my photos) by stacking 2 cakes with bc between then freezing them. After carving them, I put a thin crumbcoat and put it back in the freezer to harden, took it out smoothed it put another coat on and repeated until it was nice and smooth. I also covered it with fondant while it was frozed too. Makes it much easier

Best of luck !!!!