Cake mixes

[sieglinde]

Does anyone here still use cake mix? My mum was devoted to them, but I can never see that they save much time, and they always seem pricey. Any recommmendations?

They may save you a tiny bit of time, but they are usually IMO overly sweet. Furthermore, do you know what 'extras' my be in there in terms of preservatives etc?

Well, I totally agree, and I can't see that they do save time, but wondered if there was any such thing as an upmarket cakemix? Was more thinking of dd; I think they are quite good for raising kids' confidence levels.

How old is your dd? My 7 and 9 year old can weigh out the ingredients for a cakes. Most, not sure if all, cake mixes have extras you don't need in a home made cake added.

I buy the own brand ones from Asda, they're cheap, have several good varieties and they do get children interested in baking/cooking. My youngest dd always wants to bake with her friends when they come home after school. The pre-measured amounts mean that I don't get in from work to too much mess

Have a couple in the cupboard - Greens plain sponge ones. Presumably they were on BOGOF or something.... Ought to use them up really, but I'm not exactly a very good baker...

Well JetLi you don't need to be a very good baker when you use the mixes!! have a go

Oh, dd can weigh out the stuff, but she's not really quick enough with anything but melt-n' mix. She needs something she can do from go to whoa, without me standing over her. She's just 11.

How about a melt and mix banana cake

Actually, with the banana cake recipe above, I add the milk and mashed banana to the butter/sugar/egg mixture, and sift the baking soda in with the flour then add wet ingredients to dry (instead of using 4 bowls like the instructions say). If DDs are helping, chocolate chips usually find their way in there too.