Cake mix - hybrid

Is there an easy way to make a cake from a box better?

Something easy to add, or a great topping?

I often see cake mixes on sale, and they are easy to throw together. But they are pretty bland.
Something for the Easy, Inexpensive, Tastes Great category.

by adding a package of instant vanilla pudding and using coconut milk instead of water. I found large shaved coconut in my local Asian market and topped the 7-minute frosting with coconut that had been slightly toasted. If I'd had coconut flavoring, I would have added a 1/2 tsp. of that to the mix. Made people's eyes roll back in their heads!

There are a few variations, just type it in google.

Here's my favorite:

1 box yellow cake mix
1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple with juice
1 c. sugar
1 c. coconut
1 pkg. instant pudding
1 (8 oz.) Cool Whip
1/2 c. chopped nuts

Bake cake in 9x13 pan according to directions, cool.

Simmer sugar and pineapple until dissolved. When cake is cool, puncture holes with a wooden spoon handle, about every inch. Pour hot pineapple mixture over top and cool. Mix pudding according to directions and pour over top. Mix Cool Whip with coconut and spread over pudding and sprinkle with nuts. Refrigerate.

YUM!!

A while back I bought a few boxes of various brands on sale for a buck a box or so and every one of them tasted horrible. Horrible beyond repair with some nasty chemical aftertaste.

It's not that difficult to bake a scratch cake-- flour, eggs, sugar, fat, baking soda/powder, liquid, pinch of salt and flavorings. Don't even really need cake flour if you're careful mixing.

For instance, I made simple muffins for a meeting Friday night and for church this morning. (Muffins which were devoured and the last ones fought over for who would take them home)

(For roughly 6 Texas muffins)

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar (could be less)
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup peanut oil
1 large egg
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch salt
1 cup or so frozen mixed berries

Mix the wet and dry ingredients separately and well, then pour the dry into the wet and gently fold until uniform. Adding a little milk may be necessary to get it to the "wet concrete" consistancy you want.

Pour batter into well-greased muffin tins and bake at 400 for around 20-25 minutes.

Eat.

I make glorious pineapple coconut bars from a white or yellow cake mix.

Add three eggs and a can of drained crushed pineapple to the cake mix and spred in a greased 11 X 13 pan. Top with a half a bag (or more) of coconut. Pour a can of sweetened condensed milk on top and cook at the directions on the back of your cake box. Usually 350 for 30 min or so.

Here's a link to other things you can do.

http://www.cakemixdoctor.com/recipes/what_kind/brownies_and_bars/

I just add more of that flavor.

If I use a chocolate cake mix, I add cocoa, etc.

It's a recipe from the 60s, and every time I make it people swoon. Even foodie friends who think it is scratch.

1 box yellow cake mix -- pudding kind ok
1 small box instant vanilla pudding mix
2/3 cup cream sherry
2/3 cup vegetable oil
5 or 6 eggs
1 T grated nutmeg

Beat it all up together til smooth and pour into a buttered and floured angel cake pan or bundt pan. Bake at 350 til it barely resists your finger print on top. About 40 min or so.

Cool, remove from pan and dust generously with powdered sugar.

Very fragrant and delicious.