Move over Betty Crocker, we are making our own cake mixes! Yes you no longer need those over priced boxes from the grocer. Here are the Duncan Hines/Betty Crocker copycat recipes I promised you. There are always a couple of these floating around my pantry – yes, even a pastry chef needs a short cut every once and awhile. They are shelf stable (I always use mine within 6 mos though). Great for those last minute requests. Plus you can honestly say – it’s homemade !

I make these up and write the directions right on the ziplock bag. If you prefer to use all butter in baking, then make up any of the dry mixes and store in your pantry without shortening. Simply Add all your butter when baking. Just Make sure to mark on your bags any new directions to bake so you don’t forget.

Like my other basic pantry mixes – consider these a building block, to greater things. Think Apple cinnamon coffee cakes, or Black Forest desserts, or one of my Christmas favs trifle!

Homemade Yellow cake mix

• 2 c all-purpose flour
• 1 ¹⁄₂c sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ¹⁄₂c non-fat powdered milk
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 Tablespoons veg shortening (golden shortening if avail)
• 1 tsp vanilla

Mix above until no lumps store in tight ziploc or jar with lid.

To make cake : mix 1 recipe Homemade Yellow Cake Mix + 3/4 cup water + 1/4 cup melted butter or veg oil, softened + 3 eggs.

To make the cake : Place Homemade Yellow Cake Mix in a bowl. Add water, butter, and eggs. Combine with an electric mixer then beat two more minutes. Pour into a greased and floured cake pan. Bake at 350- approx bake time below.

Baking Time : 8″ or 9″ cake rounds — 20-25 minutes / 13 x 9 pan — 35-40 minutes / cupcakes — 12-15 minutes / tube/bundt pan — 45-50 minutes

Homemade Chocolate cake mix:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ³⁄₄cups sugar
• ³⁄₄ – 1 cup cocoa
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¹⁄₂teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons vegetable shortening

Mix above and store in ziploc or jar with lid

To make cake : 1 chocolate cake mix recipe plus 1 ¹⁄₃c water ^{+ 1}⁄₂c vegetable oil or melted butter+ 3 large eggs

To make the cake : Place 1 Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix in a bowl. Add water, oil or melted butter, and eggs. Combine with an electric mixer then beat two more minutes. Pour into a greased and floured cake pan. Bake at 350- approx bake time below.

Baking Time : 8″ or 9″ cake rounds — 20-25 minutes / 13 x 9 pan — 35-40 minutes / cupcakes — 12-15 minutes / tube/bundt pan — 45-50 minutes