Make Your Own Chocolate Cake Mix

pattikay in L.A.'s Note:

This is for when you want to make a recipe calling for chocolate cake mix and you don't have one on hand. Found on Recipelink.com, originally from Make Your Own Groceries.

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 1 cake

• 2 cups cake flour
• 2⁄3; cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 2⁄3; cup vegetable shortening

Directions:

1. Mix together flour, cocoa, soda, and salt; stir to blend.
2. Mix in sugar.
3. Cut the shortening into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks crumbly.
4. Label and store in a sealed plastic bag at room temperature. Makes 1 package of mix.
5. Each package makes two 8 or 9 inch layers or one 9 x 13 x 2 inch rectangle.
6. TO USE:
7. Pour 1 package of mix into a mixing bowl.
8. Add 1 1/4 cups milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla or orange extract.
9. Using an electric mixer, beat at a slow to medium speed for 2 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl frequently.
10. Add 2 eggs; beat 1 minute more.
11. Grease and dust with flour your choice of pan(s).
12. Spread batter evenly in pans.
13. Bake round cake pans at 350 degrees F. for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
14. Bake the 9 x 13 inch pan for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
15. Cool cakes in their pans for 10 minutes before turning out onto racks.
16. CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES: Pour cake batter into greased cupcake tins or tins lined with paper baking cups; fill 1/2 to 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Makes about 2 dozen.

Reviews

[Debber]

What a great idea! My only "wish" is that this was for like 5 or 6 cakes (divvied out into individual packets)...time-wise that would be the best option (for me anyway!). I haven't made the actual cake yet, but the mix goes together easily and has a very nice smell and consistency. Next time a recipe calls for a cake mix--I'll be RIGHT ON IT!!! I NEVER buy cake mixes, so this is right up my alley!

[momaphet]

I tried this just as cake, and will give it a go as a replacement for cake mix in another recipe. As cake alone the chocolate flavor was fairly light and I thought it was a little dry, but this may have been due to my reducing the size of the recipe. With quarter recipe I got 5 nice sized cupcakes that baked in 20 minutes.

[Nyteglori]

As good as a store bought cake mix. I am going to try this again using powdered milk and powdered vanilla.