Scenario #1:

You’re throwing a party for your work friend and you want to surprise her with a cake that you made (it’s the thought that counts after all) but you’re not the biggest cake baker, in fact the thought of following a recipe, mixing up batter and pouring it in a pan gets your head spinning. You prowl the baking aisle and consider the many boxed mixes lining the shelves. Hmmm white, strawberry supreme, chocolate supreme, yellow …? A pretty good selection of flavors but you stand there with indecision thrumming your brain.

Here’s an idea: check the ingredient list. You’ll probably find that there’s not that much in that box, really. Mostly it’s a mix of cake flour, sugar, baking powder and some powdered flavoring. Many mixes also contain gelatin for added moistness. You will need to add the fresh ingredients yourself … lots of eggs, milk and probably butter, depending on the brand.

If you think about it, it’s a box of ingredients you can’t really be sure about. Where did they source the flour, and what types of chemicals were used to come up with flavoring and color?

You could alternately just buy flour, baking powder, vanilla, ect and come out with the same thing as in the box. The benefit of the scratch method is that you’ll know where your ingredients came from. You can opt for organic flour, and high end vanilla. All you’re missing is an easy to follow recipe.

FYI these are the ingredients for a basic cake:

1 cup white sugar
½ cup unsalted butter
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ¾ teaspoons baking powder
½ cup milk

Here is the argument against boxed cake mixes:

Quality of Ingredients: Cake mixes often contain preservatives and artificial flavors that may compromise the overall quality of the cake. Using fresh, high-quality ingredients can result in a superior taste and texture. For example, when I made the strawberry cake pictured below, I used frozen strawberries. Had I used a boxed mix the flavoring and color would have come from artificial flavors and red food coloring (like Red 40).
Personalization: Baking from scratch allows for greater creativity and customization in the recipe. You can adjust flavors, add ingredients, or modify the texture. You can lower the fat content by using Swedish Yogurt in place of some of the butter, milk and eggs.
Skill Development: Baking a cake from scratch can enhance your cooking skills. It provides an opportunity to learn about ingredient functions, baking techniques, and improves your confidence in the kitchen.
Taste Difference: Many bakers claim that cakes made from scratch have a richer, more complex flavor than those made from a mix. This is often attributed to the absence of artificial additives found in pre-packaged mixes.
Freshness: Homemade cakes can be made fresh to order, resulting in a moist and flavorful outcome. Store-bought mixes may have been sitting on shelves for extended periods, affecting their taste and texture.
Dietary Control: When you bake from scratch, you have complete control over what goes into your cake. This can be especially important for those with dietary restrictions or preferences, such as gluten-free or healthier alternatives.
Culinary Tradition: Baking from scratch can be a way to connect with culinary traditions and family recipes that have been passed down through generations. It adds a personal touch to your baking.
Satisfaction and Accomplishment: Successfully baking a cake from scratch can be a fulfilling experience. The accomplishment of creating something from start to finish can enhance your overall enjoyment of the baking process.
Cost-Effectiveness: While cake mixes can be convenient, buying ingredients in bulk for scratch baking may be more cost-effective in the long run, especially if you bake frequently.
Unique Flavors: Creating your own cake allows for experimentation with unique flavors and textures that might not be available in commercial mixes. You can infuse spices, fruits, and other elements that reflect your personal style.

Scenario #2

You need to make a bunch of cupcakes for your daughter’s bake sale, your time is limited, and you want to focus on decorations and icing - plus you have no time (oh yeah I mentioned that already).

Here is the argument for boxed cake mixes:

Convenience and Simplicity: Cake mixes save time and effort - of course, why else would we use them? They come with pre-measured ingredients, minimizing the need for thinking, and measuring.
Consistency: Cake mixes are designed to produce relatively reliable results every time. You can pretty much expect uniform texture and flavor, eliminating the unpredictability that sometimes comes with baking from scratch.
Less Mess: Baking from a mix typically results in fewer bowls to wash up.
Time-Saving: When time is limited, a cake mix can help you pull it all together pretty quickly.
Stability for Decorations: If your main mission is to focus on decorating and the cake itself is secondary, then a mix is a good choice. Cakes made from mixes can be easier to work with when it comes to decorating. They mostly provide a consistently sturdy base that holds up well under frosting and other embellishments.
No Special Equipment Needed: Most cake mixes can be prepared using a bowl and a spoon.

Obviously the choice is dependent on your situation, and of course, how much you really worship cake (like I do). I recommend trying a scratch recipe or two if you never have before. You’ll be amazed at how easy baking a cake is, especially when you use good, fresh ingredients.

Icing, well icing is another story :-)