Do you still buy cakes as well as baking?

[Christine Mlinek]

I agree that the box cake mixes are getting smaller and smaller. I thought I was the only one who noticed this. Good to know I am not alone.

Betty Crocker and Pilsbury shrunk to 15 oz or so about 3 years back. Duncan Hines didn't switch until this past year or so, and it shrunk to 16.5 for the standard flavors. The special flavors are still 18.25, those 2 oz sure make a difference. A lot of recipes were calculated on the higher content of the mix. Now those recipes are shot. Too bad.

And the "reformulation" of Duncan Hines has really gotten a lot of people upset.

 

[Annette]

Yeah I don't like it either. I liked the way they use to be. I wish they would go back to that, then maybe I would be willing to buy a boxed mix, but I doubt it. I have gotten use to baking my own cakes.

 

[Christine Mlinek]

Everything is shrinking. I bought some marscapone cheese and the recipe called for 12 oz. and they only came in 8 oz sizes, so I had to buy two. Bummed me out... that cheese is expensive.

 

[justusforus]

That's unfortunate about the sizes, but it has to be the state of the world and the economy. I still use mixes as well as recipes from scratch, depending on the timing.

 

[MissPotato]

Sometimes - when pressed for time, or when I'm expecting company who are expecting some desserts to be presented on the dinner table, I buy cakes from the store. I try to bake my own as much as possible though!

 

[Annette]

I wish that things didn't cost so much. Then I wouldn't mind having to buy a box cake mix. It's cheaper, but I think it's better to make it yourself. I think homemade tastes way better than box.

 

[Shellyann36]

In the past I have bought the large sheet cakes for my boys birthday parties. I mostly do this because of the decorations and themes. I have purchased a Spider Man cake, Cars cake and a Winnie the Pooh cake for my kiddos over the last two years. I saw a chocolate layer cake that caught my eye a few weeks ago at the local grocery store deli and it looked so good. I was so tempted to buy it until I saw how much they wanted for it. It was a three layer cake and cut in half they wanted $10 for half of it. It looked very good but I could not see paying $10 for it.

 

[Annette]

In the past I have bought the large sheet cakes for my boys birthday parties. I mostly do this because of the decorations and themes. I have purchased a Spider Man cake, Cars cake and a Winnie the Pooh cake for my kiddos over the last two years. I saw a chocolate layer cake that caught my eye a few weeks ago at the local grocery store deli and it looked so good. I was so tempted to buy it until I saw how much they wanted for it. It was a three layer cake and cut in half they wanted $10 for half of it. It looked very good but I could not see paying $10 for it.

I would not want to pay that much for only half of the cake. If it was the whole cake then I may be willing to pay that much for it.

 

[dandeliion]

I honestly don't think I have ever bought a cake from the supermarket. They just look so artificial and the frosting is almost always awful. I'd honestly rather bake a cake from a box than buy one! That's just me, though.

 

[Annette]

The last time I had cake was at work and the frosting was really sweet. Store bought cakes always has too much sugar in the frosting. This time the cake upset my stomach and I was in the bathroom all night. Safe to say I will be limiting the.amount of cake I will eat at work.

 

[MyDigitalpoint]

Betty Crocker and Pilsbury shrunk to 15 oz or so about 3 years back. Duncan Hines didn't switch until this past year or so, and it shrunk to 16.5 for the standard flavors. The special flavors are still 18.25, those 2 oz sure make a difference. A lot of recipes were calculated on the higher content of the mix. Now those recipes are shot. Too bad.

And the "reformulation" of Duncan Hines has really gotten a lot of people upset.

Yes, those cake mixes are not only smaller and reformulated, but more expensive everyday.For the price of any of them you can buy a cake and save time, effort and power, since there is no need to bake it.

I prefer to bake my cakes based on my favorite recipes, but I'm always open to try new ones. I buy cakes very rarely, mostly when I have no time to bake, but i try to get a cake without topping and make my own to add a personal touch at least.

 

[Shellyann36]

I would not want to pay that much for only half of the cake. If it was the whole cake then I may be willing to pay that much for it.

yes the prices are crazy here at the local grocery store bakeries. I cannot afford to pay that much for a cake. I would rather cook one of my own.

 

[Annette]

Yeah I find that it's better to bake your own rather than pay the high price for a store made cake. Sometimes the store bought doesn't taste good either.

 

[Josie]

I can't bring myself to lol. I mean, now that I've changed how we eat, I might have to until I figure out HOW to bake again (so weird being new to baking again), but no.. I always baked everything. The rare times I bought cakes, it was because something came up unexpectedly and I had no time. My grandmother raised a from scratch kinda girl.. I guess I do it for her lol.

 

[Christine Mlinek]

forgot... my grocer out here puts the cake mixes on sale 10 for $10........ I used to stock up for the quick and massive baking projects but not this time. I just cleaned out my pantry and it is still packed. No more room except a few boxes for emergencies.....

 

[galena]

I never buy cakes or any baked goods at the supermarket, I will sometimes buy a muffin from a bakery of a cafe if I'm out and about. I just prefer making my own and knowing what goes into them, I can be more certain about the quality of the ingredients and how much sugar is in there. I find a lot of the supermarket cakes are often far to sweet for my liking!

 

[Annette]

I never buy cakes or any baked goods at the supermarket, I will sometimes buy a muffin from a bakery of a cafe if I'm out and about. I just prefer making my own and knowing what goes into them, I can be more certain about the quality of the ingredients and how much sugar is in there. I find a lot of the supermarket cakes are often far to sweet for my liking!

I have eaten many store bought cakes and I agree that a lot of them are overly sweet. I try to avoid eating store bought cakes now mainly because one made me sick after.eating one piece.

 

[OhioTom76]

I don't have a steady hand, nor the equipment to decorate a cake properly, so if it is a special occasion - I will stick with the grocery store's cake shop for those instances. If it is just for myself or for an informal get together, I will go with the cake mix in a box and some jarred frosting. I almost never keep cake flour at my house, and if I ever did buy it it would probably go to waste, so I stick with the premixed box stuff. Plus it's so dirt cheap - especially if you get them at a dollar store.

I just steer clear of the flavored cake mixes, outside of vanilla or chocolate. I like to add the flavors or spices or food colorings myself.

 

[TheViper]

The only time I actually buy a cake instead of making it. Is when there is a special occasion or I just want something quick. There are some good store brand cakes but I prefer to order from a bakery if I can.

 

[Annette]

Ordering from a bakery is almost as good as baking a cake yourself. I would do that if I didn't have the time to bake, otherwise I would make my own even if the decorating looks sloppy. It's the love that went into the cake that counts.