Looking for some opinions here.  I make chocolate lava cupcakes using a boxed cake mix (don't yell at me) with dry pudding added in.  THEY ARE AWESOME.  Anyway, I want to try making these from scratch using the depression/crazy cake recipe that I have perfected.  Here's my question.  Is the pudding added to the boxed mix adding the extra thickness to hold up the ganache on top of the batter before baking or do you think it's just for added taste?  I prepare the boxed cake mix according to the directions on the box, so nothing has changed, except adding the box of pudding ( I think I answered my own question here).  I am just starting out with a side business and to say I made these from scratch would sound better.  Thanks in advance! :)

myself -- I would not make a distinction between  scratch or mix -- why bother -- if you have a great product who cares what you used -- lava things aren't easy to make for mere mortals -- maybe it's your gift -- very cool for you --

question -- is using pudding mix still a scratch cake?

my best white cake for tier cakes is a box mix plus a few ingredients -- I decided to include everything available in my baking arsenal -- and it served me well --

question 2 -- what about the 'scratch' box mixes they have now -- no chemicals -- are those scratch cakes or mix cakes or scraxes or mitches?

question 3 -- who cares

best to you

Well, in my opinion, you did make the cupcakes from scratch.  There were no cupcakes and then, using your preferred ingredients, you baked yummy cupcakes :)

But really, if the end product tastes good then who really cares how they were made?  

Thanks guys! Kind of like the old expression, why fix it if it isn't broken!

Thanks guys! Kind of like the old expression, why fix it if it isn't broken!

good for you-- scratch cakes are cool -- cake mixes are cool -- they both have a place on our shelves -- no need to box ourselves in -- this way we can use the best product for the job at hand --

i'm proud of you

best of the best to you -- happiest baking -- hope dish fairies float in on soap suds to do all your dishes too 

Let's not fool ourselves starting from a cake, cookie etc. mix is not  scratch.  You shouldn't feel guilty if you choose to use a mix.  Just think of how many people walmart and other stores have purchase their baked goods, and so many people like the taste of what they buy. 

that's an interesting comment all in itself -- not all grocery stores use mixes for everything -- most packaged snack foods are made from scratch -- it's a no win discussion

In the end, it comes down to how a product tastes.  If people enjoy the flavor of whatever they are eating it does not matter if it was made from a packaged mix or if the maker raised the chickens for the eggs, pounded the grain into flour, grew their own sugar cane, etc, etc.  If something is good, than it is good.