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?

@harriethoyle - yes please to the offer of the ganache recipe - thank you!

By all means make a box cake.
But it won't taste like a homemade cake.

Do you still add the other ingredients which the box states? Surely eggs are still needed?

The worst thing that would happen is they find out it’s a packet mix. It’s for a family gathering not the great British bake off.
Unless you are a snob about it no one will care. And I say this as someone who bakes, I’ve made 144 cupcakes in various flavours from scratch this week.

Chocolate ganache icing @SpidersAreShitheads @Keepingthingsinteresting (it's in ounces because from my elderly aunt, sorry!)

3 ounces icing sugar
2 ounces caster sugar
1 ounce cocoa
1.5 ounces butter
2 tbsp hot water

Sieve icing sugar and cocoa together in a mixing bowl.
Melt butter, caster sugar and water gently together until bubbling.
Pour liquid onto cocoa mix and beat like buggery to get the lumps out (my words not Aunties 😂).
Thin with hot water if necessary.

That's it!

They're not the same ingredients at all! I have nothing against using them in principle (i.e. am not horrified by the thought of someone "cheating") but for one thing they use palm oil which I certainly don't use in my cooking and a load of unnecessary additives as preservatives and flavour enhancers. The Betty Crocker ones are also (obviously) geared very much to American tastes.

OP’s not threatening to steal the Crown Jewels.

Adding just the sweetened condensed milk and the measure of the tin of water it gives it a very fudge like texture.

When I want to make a lighter cake, I add the eggs and oil with the cake mix - this helps to lighten it but it's less fudgy.

If I just need a quick cake, I use a can of coke or similar drink, 1 can = 330ml which mixed with one box of cake comes up lovely no other ingredients needed. Can also experiment with other drinks for like ginger ale in coffee cake mix or lemon Fanta in a lemon drizzle cake

The only ones Ive ever cooked have been fantastic. Im not talking about my own!!

I dont actually like chocolate cake myself but I still know a good one when I have it and when Ive done them for others of course they are not dry and tasteless

I make this one as a traybake, and it's glorious! addapinch.com/the-best-chocolate-cake-recipe-ever/

Sounds delicious - thank you!! I’ll give that a go next time I’m baking 😊

I thought ganache was just chocolate and cream.

Not in the 1970's. 😆

I feel like you’ve got the retro vibes @MidnightFanta - was it the measuring in ounces that gave it away?! 🤣🙈

I read that the Waitrose cake mix is just as good as home made and it is pretty good.

Update!!

I made a cake myself in the end, decorated it with strawberries and cream and it looked and tasted amazing!! Everyone loved it and my brother, who it was for, said ‘mum would be proud of you’ yes we’re old school, all over 60, but this made it all worth it!!

Thanks all for your input!!

Oh that’s wonderful! What a great looking cake, super height on each layer and you can’t go wrong with cream, strawbs and chocolate.

Make a Chocolate Guinness cake it's the best chocolate cake ever and every time I make it I get massive compliments. It's a very easy recipe you just have to be brave at the end when it's a little bit wet still compared to a normal sponge.

https://www.nigella.com/recipes/chocolate-guinness-cake

Edit: I missed your update! Your cake looks amazing - well done!!

Thank you!!

Put some pudding mix on it. Do a test run and see how it comes out.

Tht looks great, you did well.