Last week I posted in regards to making WASC cakes with the new smaller size cake mixes. Since then I contacted JM Smucker Co, makers of Pillsbury, and this is what I was told. "The cake mixes make the same amount of cake as before. The only thing that has changed is the bake time. Rest assure it is the same great product with the same great taste". Okay so this doesn't make much sense to me. Why should baking time be less if the cakes are the same size? How could they be the same size if there is less mix in the boxes? I asked if they reformulated or changed their recipe in anyway but that question was ignored.
To those of you who are using the smaller size mixes in your WASC recipes and adding more mix from another box, are you weighing or measuring out the extra 2oz? Thanks

They are lying by twisting words, the only way it can be the same size after it's baked is if it has more air holes to make it rise higher. They don't care about individuals complaining. The customers they lose will be made up for by lowering their costs by using less product and shipping lighter products.

The cake itself is the same size, it just weighs less. But if you aren't satisfied with the answer about reformulating the recipe, I recommend calling back and escalating the issue with a supervisor.

.....mixes make the same amount of cake as before. The only thing that has changed is the bake time. Rest assure it is the same great product with the same great taste"....

Yeah sure! NO WAY!

I bet they put more levening in the mix so it rises higher.
As was said, they are just twisting the truth so you won't scream.

So I haven't been caking the last few months because I've been in the middle of a move but I did make WASC (the same way without knowing they had changed the size of cake mixes for pillsbury) last night and have been leveling it today. After reading this post it has totally explained whey there are very large air holes all over where I have never had that happen before. WTH!!!! SO they must add more leavening.

So I guess the smaller box just hit shelves in our town, I have been using Pillsbury for YEARS! I have a big cake for tomorrow and I am sitting her looking at layers and layers of cake that is not edible! My husband is driving all over town looking for the 18.25 oz box but there are none to be found. I contacted the company and they took my information but I am not sure they really cared! I don't even know where to start at this point from what I can tell the other companies (which I never liked) have done the same thing! The mix is smaller and you still add the same amounts of water, egg and butter, but I cakes came out very thick not light and fluffy! Seems like with more liquid to dry mix it would have been runnier not thicker, they have made some major changes to the mix not just made it smaller!

I dont use Pillsbury... but they went smaller like Betty Crocker?... ugh! When BC switched... i stopped buying.... lord knows I hope Duncan Hines doesn't change as well.....

I've always been a huge fan of Pilsbury mixes. Here recently, like in the last 2-3 weeks, I've noticed when taking my white cakes out and set the pans in cooling racks, I come back about 10 minutes later and the cake has collapsed. I had no idea the mix was changed. Just didn't pay attention I guess, I blamed the falling on the high heat and humidity in my area. Very disappointed!!! I hate to think how much money Pilsbury has made from just me this year!

All i can say is contact to complain... and DEFINITELY contact Duncan Hines & your other favorite brands to compliment and bring to the fact that you DON'T want them to change as well!!!!

DH has already started shrinking cake mix sizes, I believe they are down to 16oz. Store brands will probably be next, in a year or two the smaller size will be the new standard across the board.

CiNoRi, Duncan Hines changed their sizes to the smaller size months ago. When BC first changed theirs I did write DH and complimented them on keeping their size, to no avail, they changed it anyway. Pillsbury was the last to change just recently.

I have no option for store brands in my area, so I am now a scratch baker. I already had recipes for scratch just too lazy to do them, now I will always use scratch, at least that size and recipe formula will always be consistent!

As mentioned in another thread, cake mixes marketed at professional customers are another option. For example, you can be sure that the size and formulation of Pillsbury's Gold Medal 5# cake mixes will never change since so many professional bakeries rely on them.

I just got off the phone with Pillsbury and they told me they have not had any complaints. Then proceed to ask me if my oven was working properly and if I knew how to make cake. I told them I made the new cake mixes which did not turn out right, so I pulled out the 1 box I had left of 18.25oz and made it and everything was fine, same day, same oven, same, eggs etc.

I hope I did not break any rules here but I gave her this website and told her it would be in the companies best interest to read a little of what people are saying about their new cake mix on the internet and I hope it is not to late for them to bring the old stuff back and save themselves from losing customers!

I too contacted DH and their parent company Pinnacle foods. They have reformulated their mix and raised the price! Leave it alone and just charge more. I costs me more in the long run to buy two mixes and use both to make the same cake that it took one to make before. I am tired of freezing the leftover batter!
DH is suppose to have a professional bulk mix, but this must be top top secret. I have been begging for someone to get back with me and they are ignoring my pleas~!!!
I am about fed up with this!

That info is all great for Pillsbury users but if you happen to want Betty Crocker you're SOL. They don't make commercial size mixes...or even sell wholesale. Unless something's changed in the last 3 years.

I posted this earlier in the thread, if your local Bakemark doesn't carry the DH bulk mix they should be able to order it.

Betty Crocker does not have a bulk mix, Pillsbury and Gold Medal cover that product category for General Mills.

I've always heard that the bulk mixes make a much drier cake? Anyone use them and have an opinion on that?

Does Gold Medal cake mix taste and bake similar to Pillsbury?

Wedding cake bakers are not their target market. Their market is the mom who wants to make a cake or cupcakes for her family.

They adjusted their size because they had no choice. It was the right move for their company. They still want that market of the casual family baker and in order for her to put that box mix in her cart, the price needed to be competitive and stay affordable.

With rising food prices, comanies have balanced raising prices with lower volume. This is not going to change.

jason_kraft Bakemark in OH, the closest distributor called and "Jeff" their rep was going to email me details and an application-that was six weeks ago. I called him back a month ago and the phone is no longer in service and their website/fax is not working.
I keep hearing how these are tough economic times, but for the life of me I have four large corporations that I cannot even get to call me back!