Betty Crocker's Ultimate Cake Mix Cookbook
by Betty Crocker

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Book Reviews of Betty Crocker's Ultimate Cake Mix Cookbook

Book Review: Added Features Make This A Best of Class Cake Mix Cookbook
Summary: 5 Stars

There is an intriguing introduction where the authors take you on a journey through the mystical world of cake mixes. They begin in 1943 in the Betty Crocker labs and kitchens, and move from there through the trends of the 1960's and into the future of cake mixes in the 21st century. The pictures and magazine ads they reproduce in this book are historical and fun. Before the recipes begin, there is a how-to section on preparing your pans, servings per cake, how to cool and split (torte) a cake, frosting and glazing cakes, and even high-altitude baking. Page 15 features a "Customer Q&A" about the SuperMoist cake mixes.

The recipes are divided into chapters: Bake-and-Take, Wonderfully Indulgent, Special Celebrations, Heavenly Holidays, Come for Brunch, Scrumptious Desserts, Easy Cookies and Bars, and Fabulous frostings and Glazes. The cookbook also adds sections on Helpful Nutrition and Cooking Information, and an alphabetical Index.

The Heavenly Holidays sections features cakes for beginning cake decorators. These cakes require no previous cake decorating experience, and look beautiful. There are chocolate heart cakes for Valentine's Day (no heart pan needed!), an adorable Easter Bunny, a Flag Day cake made with fresh fruit, a Jack O' Lantern cake (no 3-D cake pan needed), and even Rudolph Cupcakes which can be made with children.

My favorite recipe from this cookbook is on page 18, Chocolate Turtle Cake. If you like the combination of nuts with chocolate, this recipe is for you! The recipe has a full-color picture, a tip for serving, and nutritional information. All of the recipes in this cookbook feature nutritional information. The turtle cake recipe calls for a devil's food cake mix, water, oil, eggs, caramels, evaporated milk, pecans, and chocolate chips. The recipe requires a bit of planning as caramels are not a staple item that I keep on hand. The final product, however, is well worth the planning. The cake is moist, gooey, and a favorite for entertaining, especially when served warm.

The Chocolate Graham Streusel Cake on page 20 is a classic recipe from the 1970's. The recipe features an advertisement that was used in the 1970's, a tip for glazing the cake, nutritional information, and a yellow graham variation. The recipe calls for graham cracker crumbs, nuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, devil's food cake mix, water, oil, eggs, and a recipe of glaze (provided on page 242). This recipe was a heavier, denser cake than normal, and as such, it was a little dry. It's a good recipe for a morning brunch or family coffee-style cake.

Even without a picture for every single recipe, this cookbook is an excellent value. The recipes are tried-and-true winners, and are family-friendly. The nutritional information for each recipe and the dietary guidelines in the back are an added bonus, it is a feature that most cake mix cookbooks prefer to gloss over. The full-color printing, alphabetical index, and spiral binding make this cookbook easy to use. A winner!

Summary of Betty Crocker's Ultimate Cake Mix Cookbook

Take your favorite Betty Crocker SuperMoist cake mix flavor, add a drop of this, a dash of that, stir, bake, decorate, and you?ve created dessert magic beyond your sweetest dreams! Here?s your complete guide to baking with cake mix, packed with foolproof recipes from the ultimate cake mix experts?the Betty Crocker Kitchens. All your favorites are here, easy to make, easier to bake and easiest of all to enjoy! So whether you?re a first-time baker in search of tempting treats or an expert ready for a challenge, you?ll find plenty of great ideas in Betty Crocker?s Ultimate Cake Mix Cookbook.

Planning a big birthday bash? Decorate a pretty Ballet Slippers Cake to see any aspiring ballerina twirl in delight.

On the go to a potluck party? Tote along a super-rich Triple-Fudge Cake and all you?ll bring home is the empty pan.

Craving a cookie jar filled to the brim? Bake a batch of Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies for a sure-fire snacking treat.

Hankering for holiday cheer? Create oh-so-cute Rudolph Cupcakes to make any holiday party merry and bright.

Surprising someone special with a splendid celebration? Frost an elegant Chocolate Ganache Cake and watch your guests ooh and aah.

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• Subjects > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Baking > Cakes