Kitchen

[adoreqvc]

This has really irritated many people since we are all paying more for less, and our cakes are so much smaller.

Many cake flour companies have unfairly decreased the size of the cake flour product used, and I have already sent dissatisfied consumer letters to many brands.

I think the way they may finally go back to the original weight they used to originally offer is for consumers to sent them dissatisfaction letters so they are shamed into either reverting back to the original weight of their cake flour products, or loose many loyal customers, and passing this to family and friends helps for them to also send letters to various box cake flour brands.

Paying more for less of the cake mix is just so unfair, causes a smaller cake in cake pans and tube pans, and is definitely not a decent thing for any company to do to its loyal consumers.

In view of that I now make my own cake flours and the end result is absolutely more natural, flavorful, and delicious.

For those who do not wish to make their own cake flour for their cake recipes I have enclosed this link below which discusses how to add to the boxed product to get back the original weight of the past, which gave us fluffy delicious normal sized cakes we became accustomed to.

http://rosebakes.com/smaller-cake-mixes-how-to-adjust-recipe-recipes-fix/

[divine]

Thank you for the link. I just sent an email to Pillsbury. If enough of us email these companies maybe they'll return these mixes to their original size. One can hope.

[adoreqvc]

On 2/3/2015 Divine said:

Thank you for the link. I just sent an email to Pillsbury. If enough of us email these companies maybe they'll return these mixes to their original size. One can hope.

You are very welcome Divine.

Yes I agree.

I hope many people contact all the boxed cake mix manufacturer's and voice their disgust at being taken advantage of by the manufacturer's.

Making us pay more money for less cake flour mix is not a reputable honest tactic, and is highly offensive.

I also informed them if they continue they will loose many more of their loyal customers.

I told them making my own cake mix is so easy, no preservatives, no chemicals, no excessive salt, and home made cake flour is very all naturally delicious and tasty, since the home made cake flour is made fresh for each cake.

[flickerbulb]

I want to lose weight so that my pants will be loose.

[adoreqvc]

Here are some internet web site links to make your own home made cake flour if anyone desires, and there are quite a few links to choose from.

There are more but that holds my interest as well as all the extra tips listed always come in handy.

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Cake-Flour

(This one above has how to step by step video's).

http://www.melskitchencafe.com/kitchen-tip-how-to-easily-make-your-own-cake-flour-two-methods/

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/makeyourowningredients/r/Cake_Flour_Sub.htm

http://baking.about.com/od/bakingingredients/r/howtomakecakeflour.htm

http://www.goodlifeeats.com/2011/09/kitchen-tip-diy-homemade-cake-flour.html

http://addapinch.com/cooking/how-to-make-cake-flour/

I hope your homemade cakes are delicious, and being natural with no preservatives added chemicals and salt is so much more healthy.

[echoscream]

I have two of the Cake Doctor Cookbooks. A year or so ago, I found the answer for making up for the lack of cake mix, now found in cake mixes. You simply add 6 tablespoons of flour.
Just everyday flour - to any boxed mix that is in the 5.25 oz. category.

Because the Cake Doctor replaces some ingredients listed on the back of boxed mixes - adding 6 T. of flour isn't noticed - and the volume output looks the same to me.

I also contacted those cake mix companies and never heard anything back. I just figure, it is a man running that operation. I doubt that a woman would slack up on the amount of cake mix.

Well wishes for healthier baking with natural ingredients! Rosebakes.com had a rather complicated method for overcoming the lack of cake mix. Adding 6 T. of flour (per box) is much simpler.

[Meezerpleezer]

A year ago or so, when the cake mix companies decided to lower the amount of cake mix in each box, I was furious. I almost never make cake as printed on the box, but rather use it as an ingredient in other cake recipes. The change "ruined" all the tried and true dessert recipes that I had been using for years. I called and wrote each company.

One company actually answered the phone and I spoke with a woman. When I told her what their decision to lower the cake mix had done to me, she was unperturbed. She said that there should be no difference with rising and volume since the company had added other ingredients to make the cake rise more (I would suppose that means more baking powder). She said my cakes would be fluffier than ever (meaning more air instead of actual cake).

I told her that I HATE light and fluffy cakes which is totally true. I told her that the cake mix was an ingredient in a recipe and NOT the final product. She told me that I could buy 2 boxes and upsize to the 18.5 oz.--REALLY? No way!! She was indifferent and I was very irritated.

Like Echoscream, I learned to add 6T to a 15.25 oz package of cake mix and then make my doctored up cake mix recipes. For chocolate cakes, I had always keep a container of flour mixed with powdered chocolate to be used to flour the pans. Now, I just keep more on hand and add 6 T of the chocolate/flour to the cake mix.

I believe that Duncan Hines cake mixes were reduced a little less but cannot remember at the moment--16+ oz, instead of 15.25 oz like Betty Crocker or Pillsbury. I just worked up a formula for that since you don't need 6 T of flour. Now I keep the formula and the amounts that I need to add on an index card in my recipe box so I have it handy.

[PamelaSue72]

I gave up. We didn't use cake mixes that much anyway, only if specifically called for (i.e. Snickerdoodle Cake, Honey Bun Cake, etc.). So I gave them up completely. If I have to add another part of a cake mix to the mix, it's not worth it. If I have to add flour or whatever to a cake mix to get it to work properly, it's not worth it. I can simply make my own cake using my own ingredients and not deal with the cake mix at all.

DH loves a Honey Bun Cake, so I simply make my own vanilla or yellow cake and do what needs to be done to that....add the sour cream and brown sugar....and take it from there. If he really wants a Snickerdoodle Cake, I make my yellow cake and add the extra ingredients to that. If I want a chocolate cake, the best recipe for a really delicious chocolate cake is Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake; IMO, it's better than any cake mix out there. Easy to make, too.

OTOH, the price of baking chocolate has remained the same, while the weight of baking chocolate has been cut in half. I used to buy 8 ounces of baking chocolate in a package. Now it's 4 ounces. So we're paying the price, no matter how you look at it.

[gkelly]

Thank you PamelaSue72 for your opinion about the chocolate cake! I "PINNED' it and won't be long before I give it a try.

I am like you, never have liked the box mixes (unless in a tight squeeze) and have always made my cakes from scratch..so much better! I wouldn't mind the adding 6 T. of flour but that link seems to be very complicated...lol. Just easier for me to do it from scratch, yes it costs a little more but the outcome outweighs the cost!

This "size down" is nothing new,(it has discussed many times on these boards), this has been going on for several years now (and not just with the cake mixes) and anyone that thinks..writing/emailing a company with their displeasure is, IMO, "barking up the wrong tree"! It's the way of the world and nothing is going to change that..it's all about the bottom $$.

[PamelaSue72]

On 2/3/2015 gkelly5744 said:

Thank you PamelaSue72 for your opinion about the chocolate cake! I "PINNED' it and won't be long before I give it a try.

I am like you, never have liked the box mixes (unless in a tight squeeze) and have always made my cakes from scratch..so much better! I wouldn't mind the adding 6 T. of flour but that link seems to be very complicated...lol. Just easier for me to do it from scratch, yes it costs a little more but the outcome outweighs the cost!

This "size down" is nothing new,(it has discussed many times on these boards), this has been going on for several years now (and not just with the cake mixes) and anyone that thinks..writing/emailing a company with their displeasure is, IMO, "barking up the wrong tree"! It's the way of the world and nothing is going to change that..it's all about the bottom $$.

You're very welcome; it's a good cake. The recipe is on the back of the Hershey's cocoa can. There's also a recipe for Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Frosting, but I cannot vouch for that as I always frost a chocolate cake with whipped peanut butter frosting. That chocolate-peanut butter thing gets me every time!

I respectfully disagree with your opinion about writing the manufacturers. I do think that it pays to show them when we're frustrated about anything. Even if they don't respond (and chances are, they won't), at least they know. I realize it's about the money and profit. But consumers need to show their displeasure and their frustration when it's merited. And in this, it's very well merited. I'm not saying anything is going to change. But I still think it's important to let them know we are not happy.

Unfortunately, the only way to get any point across about anything is to stop buying the products. And I'll be the first to admit, that's difficult to do, whether it's a cake mix for other people or baking chocolate for me.