Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to use a cake mix?

90 replies

Nyshift · 19/04/2026 13:55

Would I be unreasonable to make a cake using a cake mix for a party? A relative is visiting the uk and has fond memories of family baking. I thought I was making a fruit cake but someone else is making that, I’ve been asked to make a chocolate cake. I’m not very good at that kind of baking 🤣 so AIBU to use a nice mix and pass it off as home made?

OP posts:
ginasevern · 19/04/2026 15:27

Yep do it. Use the Betty Croker one but make your own butter cream icing (which is really easy) and tart it up with some chocolate curls, which you can also buy. Unless they're literally Mary Berry herself they won't know the difference.

themonkeysnuts · 19/04/2026 15:27

Triple chocolate brownie so good and easy

RampantIvy · 19/04/2026 15:41

Funnywonder · 19/04/2026 15:12

I don’t think there’s a huge amount of extra work in just getting the ingredients together yourself. As pp’s mentioned above, Mary Berry’s all in one cake is fantastic. I make her chocolate fudge cake a few times a year and it’s honestly the easiest thing. I don’t do complicated😆

And the best chocolate cake ever. I'm not even a huge fan of chocolate cake, but this one is excellent.

RampantIvy · 19/04/2026 15:42

BillieWiper · 19/04/2026 15:14

They're a rip off. Just use 250g or sugar, butter, SR flour and 4 eggs.
Cream butter and sugar first and whisk the eggs. Then gradually add eggs and flour to butter mix. That plus a bit of vanilla and a TSP baking powder.
Then add a splash of milk to loosen.

Cook for about 35 mins on gas mark 5. Or until a skewer comes out clear.

Don't bother with the faff of creaming. Just use an all in one recipe.

APatternGrammar · 19/04/2026 15:45

Look up tweaks to box cake mixes if you want to pass it off as your own. There’s one that mixes tinned cherries with chocolate cake mix that comes out very moist and different.

CleanSkin · 19/04/2026 16:02

I’ve just checked some ingredients lists and Betty Crocker has “palm fat” in it. You may wish to avoid as a result I go for something a bit less destructive.

BillieWiper · 19/04/2026 16:22

RampantIvy · 19/04/2026 15:42

Don't bother with the faff of creaming. Just use an all in one recipe.

Show quote history

Yeah I guess so if I'm in a rush. It just makes it a bit fluffier but if there's two layers both buttercream nobody will notice!

Original poster
Nyshift · 19/04/2026 16:40

Thanks all so much for your thoughts!! I might try a practice one of the Mary Berry one and see what we think of it as I’ve got a couple of weeks before the event. I’ve learned so much from this already!!

OP posts:
Thechaseison71 · 19/04/2026 16:41

Why not? Isn't that what cake mix is for ? To make cake?

DaisyDooley · 19/04/2026 17:18

likelysuspect · 19/04/2026 15:09

Chocolate cake tends to be quite dry and tasteless to be honest

Well, it depends on the recipe!

DilemmaDelilah · 19/04/2026 18:05

You would absolutely NOT be unreasonable! I recommend Wright's chocolate cake mix. It's delicious and comes out really well each time!

mumofsevenfluffs · 19/04/2026 18:06

Betty Crocker devils food cake is as good if not better than any cake I can make from scratch

Arlanymor · 19/04/2026 18:09

I have fond memories of buying cake from local bakeries... I would probably continue to maintain those memories!

BogRollBOGOF · 19/04/2026 18:18

200g sr flour/ butter/ sugar & eggs. Cocoa powder, chocolate chips.
When baked cut and fill with chocolate spread. Top with chocolate spread and sprinkles.

The last time someone served me "home made" cakes with a mix, they tasted of oil 🤢 although most cakes from the supermarket are bland and oily too. I don't see how pre-made mixes are much easier than using 4-6 ingredients. DM used to buy pancake mix which was just an over-priced bag of flour with a pinch of salt and still involved adding eggs, milk and the tedious bit of whisking together.

RampantIvy · 19/04/2026 18:18

This is the Mary Berry chocolate fudge cake that is always a winner.

https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/very-best-chocolate-fudge-cake/

The keys to successful baking are:

  1. Measuring the ingredients exactly
  2. Cooking at the correct temperature
  3. Using the correct sized baking tins

There are no secrets. If you stick to the above three points your baking will be successful

Mary Berry's Very Best Chocolate Fudge Cake

This very best chocolate fudge cake recipe from Mary Berry has a decadent chocolate and apricot filling and will soon become your go-to chocolate cake recipe.

https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/very-best-chocolate-fudge-cake/

Feralbookworm · 19/04/2026 18:28

LoserWinner · 19/04/2026 15:24

Betty Crocker Devils Food Cake beats any home made recipe I have ever tried. Add chocolate fudge frosting and smarties and you can’t go wrong.

100% I make this one all the time when it’s my girls birthdays. I make homemade cakes regularly but for a chocolate one this is gorgeous!!

latetothefisting · 19/04/2026 18:50

BillieWiper · 19/04/2026 15:14

They're a rip off. Just use 250g or sugar, butter, SR flour and 4 eggs.
Cream butter and sugar first and whisk the eggs. Then gradually add eggs and flour to butter mix. That plus a bit of vanilla and a TSP baking powder.
Then add a splash of milk to loosen.

Cook for about 35 mins on gas mark 5. Or until a skewer comes out clear.

not sure how this will turn into a chocolate cake?

Parker231 · 19/04/2026 18:53

CocoaTea · 19/04/2026 15:10

No one said it was necessary.

However it is usually a bit quicker and a bit less stress free if I cannot any afford to make even the slightest mistake at all, due to time etc.

The Betty Crocker Devil’s Food cake mix IS delicious and also very rich/fudgy.

The Betty Crocker Milk chocolate mix is lighter, fluffier but also very lovely.

Also - FYI you only add eggs, oil and water. So not all the other ingredients you listed.

And I am not saying this because I can’t bake - I am recommending this solution to this specific occasion where @Nyshift is a bit worried about the outcome.

There is no shame in using a cake mix if you feel a bit under pressure.

Edited
Show quote history

The Betty Crocker mix is my go to every time a cake is required. Taste gorgeous, stress free and everyone is happy - job done.

EveryKneeShallBow · 19/04/2026 18:55

RampantIvy · 19/04/2026 14:01

Use a Mary Berry all in one chocolate sponge recipe. It is just as easy and will taste better.

This

EveryKneeShallBow · 19/04/2026 19:03

There’s no way any bought cake mix tastes anything like as good as a home made one.

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 19/04/2026 19:08

My mum used to use Greens sponge cake mix-it was the best ever, light moist fluffy. Better than any other cake ive ever had. Dunno what she did, I tried with less success. Im coeliac now and have used Betty Crocker gf devil food cake which is truly delicious.

popcorn215 · 19/04/2026 19:12

SALaw · 19/04/2026 14:37

You would be very very unreasonable, yes. Whatever you do, do not do it as it will certainly end in trouble.

😂

tealandteal · 19/04/2026 19:12

This is the easiest chocolate cake you will make. When you make it you will think you have done it wrong as the batter is like water but it’s amazing!

For the icing make a ganache (50/50 milk and dark chocolate and 1:1 chocolate to cream) let is cool and then whip it up. Bung a few raspberries on top.

Easy chocolate cake recipe

Easy chocolate cake recipe

Our best chocolate cake recipe is ridiculously easy to bake. It's also moist, dark, and covered in chocolate ganache.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/easy_chocolate_cake_31070

Parker231 · 19/04/2026 19:12

EveryKneeShallBow · 19/04/2026 19:03

There’s no way any bought cake mix tastes anything like as good as a home made one.

Wait until you try the Betty Crocker!

Swipe left for the next trending thread