AIBU to use a cake mix?

[Nyshift]

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?

My cousin made a Betty Crocker chocolate cake which they brought to my birthday party. It was delicious and I thought they had made it from scratch

How are they a rip off?

1-2 eggs, 80ml veg oil, 200-350 ml water or milk and a cake mix for 2.25 to 3.25.

How much is a pack of caster sugar, a pack of flour and a container of baking powder and a block of butter. That is before the 6 eggs.

A fresh cake is a heavier upfront financial outlay. Assuming you are starting from a point of having no “stock”.

Lots of ideas here!! The Guinness cake sounds good, also Betty Crocker getting lots of votes!! I think I’ll make a selection and do a tasting at the party to see who can guess which is which!! Thanks all xx

I’ll take a ganache recipe please!

Could you do celebration brownies instead? A lot more margin for error.

A lot of US recipes use cup measurements instead of exact measurements for some cakes (again the ones that have more margin for error).

My favourite chocolate cake recipe is the BBC good food ultimate chocolate cake... https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/ultimate-chocolate-cake
So delicious- but don't think about the calories!!! It also takes a long time to cook- which keeps it more moist

But if they are the same ingredients in the mix and you'd have to use and measure seperately what's the difference ( not keen on most cakes lol)

@Thechaseison71 bought cake mix isn’t quite the same ingredients, they may have additional thickeners, preservatives, colouring, etc, as well as palm oil as the fat component instead of butter.

They aren’t the same ingredients. I’ve attached an image which might take a while to load. Palm oil; propane-1; 2 diol esters of fatty acids; and more. And you add oil. I’m not eating that crap. I can make a chocolate cake better myself with nothing artificial. No thanks, Betty.

Betty crocker is your friend

M&S has a couple of different not decorated cakes- I’d buy that and do my own decoration and pass it as homemade

Don't do that. If I couldn't make a cake I would own it and be honest about it.

Bought cakes have a different texture from home baking, and if someone tried to pass off a bought cake as home made I would think less of them.

Slightly off-topic I know, but if I was returning home from abroad I would want a Victoria Sponge.

I Use Betty Crocker cake mixes The carrot cake is delicious, when I have visitors I make cakes using mixes and they don’t know the difference
i sometimes make my own icing

Whatever you do, don’t use the Betty Crocker frosting tubs. They taste so fake and of chemicals!

Another vote for Betty Crocker devil's cake mix - I get asked to make it for all birthdays but I haven't told anybody the secret I use.

I box of cake mix + 1 can of sweetened condensed milk + 1/2 can water to wash out the condensed milk can - add together and mix

Alternatively I sometimes use a can of Coca-Cola to the cake mix just the two ingredients and it makes a lighter fluffier cake

I usually make a buttercream icing for the top as I find the Betty crocker icings Very artificial

As someone who does like chocolate cake and I would be miffed at having to make one........Buy one in M&S, crush up a few Flakes and scatter over the top to add that home decorated touch. Take to party/do in cake tin...

Of course you can use a cake mix and pimp it up but honestly it would be a lot better to say you’re a shit baker so you’ve bought a cake.

I mean if I was visiting someone abroad I was close to might well politely ask if they could make their [ace dish they habitually make] but I wouldn’t ask them to make something that wasn’t part of their repertoire.

We don’t all have to be good at everything, I’m crap at loads of stuff but wouldn’t class myself as globally useless. There’s other stuff I’m good at and like most people I’m average at lots of things.

The Nigella Guinness cake is my go-to now. I used it as a base for a Black Forest gateau at Christmas and even my BFG-hating family members loved it.

I absolutely love cooking but baking is often my nemesis. The Nigella cake hasn’t failed me yet though.

You're overcooking it.

Also, add grated courgette if you want it more moist.

Or mashed butternut squash. Or beetroot.

God no! 😱
No beetroot! It makes a chocolate cake taste muddy.

We will have to disagree.

Buy one ready made from a supermarket , add decorations , maybe maltesers and chocolate buttons and put in your own cake box

I don’t bake so not sure why I clicked as no advice. However I now want cake. Failing that can anyone make a thread for people to add photos of their creations (cake mix or not) and link or signpost me if there is one already?
Mmmm cake