Cake mixes are a convenience food that allows us to make cakes very quickly, and even though they are not nearly as good as scratch cakes, they are better than not having cake at all, and the amount of time saved is often a worthwhile trade-off. One of the ways to improve on a basic cake mix is to add a few additional ingredients to vary the flavors.

The following three cakes are made from mixes, and the add-ins not only give these cakes wonderful fall flavors, but they change them so that they will remind you of scratch cakes; no one will guess that these started from a mix. Cream Cheese Frosting is the perfect topping for all three of these cakes.

The instructions call for baking all of these in a bundt pan; you may, however use 3 8-inch layer pans, 2 9-inch layer pans, 1 9-inch x 13-inch cake pan, 1 11-inch x 17-inch jelly roll pan, or they can be made into cupcakes. Just shorten the baking time accordingly.

Shortcut Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Spice Cake

16 Servings

1 Spice Cake Mix, (18.5 ounce)
3 eggs
1/3 cup softened butter
1 cup canned pumpkin, (not pumpkin pie mix)
1/3 cup whipping cream

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon flour

1. Spray a 12 cup bundt pan with Baker's Joy, or grease and flour; set aside.
2. Mix the cake mix, eggs, butter, pumpkin, and whipping cream until smooth.
3. In a small bowl, toss the chocolate chips with the flour; fold into the batter.
4. Pour the batter into the bundt pan and bake 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Place a cooking rack on top of the pan, invert so that the cake falls out, and cool thoroughly.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 269 Calories from Fat 121
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 45% Protein 5% Carb. 50%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 13 g
Saturated Fat 7 g
Cholesterol 57 mg
Sodium 279 mg
Total Carbohydrate 33 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 15 g
Protein 3 g

Vitamin A 73% Vitamin C 1% Calcium 0% Iron 4%

Shortcut Apple Oatmeal Cake

16 Servings

1 yellow cake Mix, (18.5 ounce)
1 20 oz. can apple pie filling
3 eggs
3/4 cup apple juice
2 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup softened butter
2 teaspoons apple pie spice, or mixed spice
1 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Spray a 12 cup bundt pan with Baker's Joy or grease and flour; set aside. Preheat the oven to 350°.
2. Mix all ingredients until smooth; pour into the bundt pan and bake 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
3. Remove from the oven, place a cooling rack on top, and invert so that the cake falls from the pan onto the rack.
4. Cool thoroughly.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 285 Calories from Fat 94
Percent Total Calories From:
Fat 33% Protein 4% Carb. 63%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 10 g
Saturated Fat 5 g
Cholesterol 55 mg
Sodium 278 mg
Total Carbohydrate 45 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 14 g
Protein 3 g

Vitamin A 6% Vitamin C 8% Calcium 0% Iron 5%

Shortcut Gingerbread

16 Servings

1 Spice Cake Mix, (18.25 ounce)
1/2 cup dark molasses
1 tablespoon ginger
1/3 cup butter
3 eggs
1 cup water

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix all ingredients until smooth.
2. Pour the batter into a greased and floured bundt pan and bake in a preheated 350° oven 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
3. Remove the cake from oven, place a cooling rack on top, and invert to allow the cake to fall out of the pan.
4. Cool thoroughly.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 207 Calories from Fat 70
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 34% Protein 5% Carb. 61%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 8 g
Saturated Fat 4 g
Cholesterol 50 mg
Sodium 286 mg
Total Carbohydrate 32 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 15 g
Protein 3 g

Vitamin A 4% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 0% Iron 10%

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