Did you Know – Cake Mix Downsizing
A few years ago, we were fooled when the cake mix companies decreased the size of their boxed cake mixes to save money. Did you notice? Probably not, but for those recipes that always turned out perfect years ago and now they don’t, this may be the reason.
Manufacturers like Pillsbury, Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker made their boxed cake mixes a few ounces lighter. Some cake mixes were 18 oz years ago and then they reduced them to 16 oz. Now, for example, Duncan Hines and Pillsbury cake mixes are mostly all 15.25 oz while Betty Crocker is 13.25 oz.
How can you fix this decrease in size? One idea is to keep a box of yellow cake mix in an airtight container. When you prepare your cake mix, weigh it and add enough of the yellow cake mix to the cake mix you bought to equal the ounces you need. According to Taste of Home, yellow cake mix incorporates well with most any cake mix without noticing it.
If you are making a dump cake, the decrease in cake mix size shouldn’t change it at all. These desserts bake up super easy regardless of how much cake mix goes in them.
If you’re making a bar recipe that uses a cake mix as a crust, you’re going to notice a difference. With less cake mix, the crust will be a bit thinner, but it will still work.
If you’re worried about too thin of crust, change your pan size to the next one smaller. For example, if the recipe calls for a 13” x 9” pan, use a 11” x 7” instead.
If you are making cupcakes, you will only get 23 cupcakes compared to the 24 you used to get. I never knew why I couldn’t get 24 cupcakes and I thought it was because I was overfilling the other 23 cupcakes.
As ingredients became more expensive, cake mix companies and many other food manufacturers sneakily dropped a couple of ounces from the box. Before you start asking for your money back, cake mix companies still contend that their product creates a standard 13×9 cake. I beg to differ as my 13” x 9” cakes used to rise above the pan and no longer do.
Would you like my advice to all of these problems? Ditch the store bought cake mixes and make your own from scratch. You will not believe how easy it is and your baked treat will be the same every time you bake it! Try this delicious cake from scratch Hershey’s Deep Dark Chocolate Cake.
Source: http://www.TasteofHome.com
Thank you to my good blogging friend Linda at http://lindaschaubblog.wordpress.com/ for bringing this decrease in cake mixes to my attention.
http://www.InDianesKitchen.com
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Categories: Cakes, Did You Know
Clever response to crafty companies
Exactly Derrick!
I had no idea
I seriously would rather pay more than to have less product.
Great information. I will share this.!A friend was complaining to me that she baked her specialty cake that didn’t turn out right. She had to trash it! Now we know why!
I bet you that is why it didn’t turn out. Isn’t sad that we have to do this? There was no reason to change the sizes, it affects every baker. Have a great day Georgetta!
I did not know this! So, what I am reading is if I leave a bit in the mixing bowl to enjoy my actions could be even MORE noticeable in the end result. Man, this is not good….
Oh heavens no, don’t stop! We did that before they changed the size so keep on licking Betty! 🤣
Everything seems to be getting smaller, and it often does make a difference.
I agree Dorothy, then you end up buying two and you have some leftover and end up pitching it. Their gain is our loss!
I noticed this potato chips. The bags are the same size, but you seem to be paying more for air. It’s sad but it’s the reality of the cost of living and inflation age we find ourselves in.
Good hack tip to mix the mix!
We had a birthday party here (yes in my new kitchen 😁) this past week and my daughter dropped off food a few days before. One was a small bag of chips to feed 6 people and it was filled 1/3 with chips and the rest was air. I had my husband pick up more at the store. Thank you Ab!
Wow! I had no idea they’d decreased so much! I rarely use a cake mix now, but thank you for telling us how to make up the difference by adding yellow cake mix to make up the difference between the current weights and the old 18-oz. mixes we were accustomed to. Good to know!
You’re very welcome Janet!
Isn’t it amazing that even a 1/2 gallon of ice cream isn’t 1/2 gallon anymore. Everything is downsized these days. Except for the size of our take home pay.
Yes you are right JC! I think the thing that irritates me the most is the 4# bags of sugar! The ounces I may miss seeing but an entire pound of sugar can’t be missed. Yes the ice cream is another one! We stopped buying the reduced containers and buy things like drumsticks that are smaller and single serving. I’m sure they changed novelty ice cream weight too.
Wait. I didn’t say that right. I meant that the price of my labor isn’t going up. I had a senior moment. Too much wine.
I knew what you meant, just one of your wine moments. We don’t admit to senior moments! 🤣
I prefer making my own too. It’s a lot more fun. Besides, I don’t like the chemical aftertaste some of them have.
I agree Josephine, there is nothing better than homemade with no preservatives and whatever else they put in there.
Great information Diane!
Thank you June! 🥰
I am stunned. I have seen it with candies, but I never thought about cake mixes. We’re leaving cake mixes in the dust. Thanks, Diane!
What’s funny is that they did it and we didn’t notice. The box is the same size but not what’s inside! You’re welcome Linda!
Companies pulling a fast one on the consumers and ruining their desserts – good thing you tipped everyone off!
Good thing you tipped me off! I hope you get some hits from me sharing your website!
Thank you Diane – I just went and looked! I’m sorry I didn’t see this because I stopped at making the chocolate cake from scratch. 🙂 Thanks again and yes, I did have a few new likes this week.:)
Well that was a good place to stop, I know I would have too! Lol
Yes, you had me mesmerized at chocolate! Thank you again Diane!
You’re welcome!
It was very interesting to read! I never buy cake mixes and agree with you – it’s much more fun to make your own!
It always amazes me that people pay so much for box mixes of anything since the main ingredients we have to supply anyway. Meat in the dinner boxes, eggs and oil etc in baked goods. Thank you Corna!
I agree with you – bypass them and make it from our own ingredients!
Absolutely and it is so easy to make our own. Thank you Kevin!
Decreases in the size of many food products seems to be an industry wide scandal. But, as you pointed out, it is particularly difficult for the baker.
Right and I wish we could do something about it. Maybe we should boycott their products then they will have to wake up and stop gouging us!
Cake from scratch is better – no down sizing and you know what’s in the batter
It always tastes better for sure Randy!
Who knew? Thanks for the insight, Diane💜
You’re welcome!
I didn’t know this either, thanks for sharing Diane. But you are right, making our own cakes is better anyways !
You’re very welcome Susan!