How can I make a good/attractive cake from cake mix? HELP?

Question

I can use white or yellow cake mix and I'm looking for ways to "jazz them up" or good filling....suggestions? It has to be able to sit at room temperature for 4 hours, so nothing that has to keep chilled..
I know of the book cake mix magic, but I'm baking tonight. it will be served at lunchtime tomorrow.

HELP?

I've got dragees that I can use if I want to in addition to other things, but I'm looking for ideas...help?

Dragees are shiny pearl-shaped ball sprinkles that are metallic. They come in white, colors, and silver (and gold possibly)? I have silver/colored ones.

Answer 1

try icing the edge of the cake around in a mound make like a pool fill with whatever pie filling you like cherry always goes good... blueberry also........

Answer 2

This is so easy..... make either cake mix, using 2 round pans. Place one layer on a cake place and top with seedless red raspberry jam. Top with second layer. In the meantime, take 2/3 cup of whipping cream, warm it in a sauce pan, and add 1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate bits. Melt together slowly. Let this cool for about 20 minutes or so, and then pour the chocolate (it's called a ganache) over the cake. Decorate with the dragee's and some fresh berries if you can get them. You can also melt some of the chocolate straight in the microwave then put into a ziplock, cut a corner off and make swirls of chocolate over the ganache too.

Answer 3

First you need to buy a cake pan with the design of the cake you want. Or you can take a round eight inch or ten inch cake pan,make two cakes after they are done,let them cool about 20 to 30 minutes.Then slice both of them all the way around so now you have four layers instead of two.Then you can use things like preserves from the jar as a filling then take powder sugar with a little milk to make a icing,you can add blueberry juice,or take strawberries and crush them to get the juice add this to the icing to change the color spread it over the top cake(the last one you put on top of the others. Remember slice cake layer preserves,cake layer,until you get to the last one then frost.

Answer 4

I'm not much of a baker (I'm an eater), so I Googled around. I couldn't find tips on making cakes attractive, but I did find a poll on what guys find attractive. It probably applies to cakes too... well... maybe. So with that in mind, here are some tips on making an attractive cake:

Some guys like blonde hair, some like it brown, some like it short, some like it touching the ground.

Best to not take risks, just make a mix of it. Share a brush in the locker room rush, collecting fuzz up for your crush to eat on buttercreme. You see it's so easy.

Studies show men like these things, so please serve them a plate. It's not disgusting, you're so distrusting. They'll be forking and spooning your cake.

Studies show men like these things, so please, serve them a plate. It's psychoactively attractive. They'll be forking and spooning your cake.

They like their cake shaped curvy like an hourglass, so cut a rounded notch into each half. Shelve the body until it's about the same age as you.

Dash it sugar-sweet, veggie-intelligent, pepper-passionate, and cookie-confident. Design some big eyes of hazel green and blue.

And if it won't attract a guy, at least it'll catch some flies.

I've sung this for you at: http://noise.dillfrog.com/audio/aawwtf/howcanimakeagoodattractivecake.mp3

Answer 5

FRUITY CAKE

1 pkg. "JIFFY" White Cake Mix
3 Tbsp. gelatin dessert (any flavor)
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine, softened
2 egg whites
1/2 cup water
Preheat oven to 350° . Grease and flour well an 8" layer pan.
Mix White Cake Mix and gelatin dessert together.
Add softened butter and mix well.
Blend in egg whites and water.
Beat with an electric mixer on medium high for three minutes.
Pour into prepared pan and bake for 27-30 minutes.
Let cool 5 minutes in pan. Remove pan and place on wire rack until cool.
Frost with desired topping and serve.

Answer 6

One of the best cakes ever:

Make your favorite mix cake and leave in the pan to cool. Punch holes randomly throughout the cake.

Pour 1 can sweetened condensed milk over and through the holes.
Next, do the same thing with Hershey's syrup, followed by caramel sauce (both of which you can get in squeeze form). Frost the whole thing with whipped topping and add mini chocolate chips and heath bar pieces.

:)

Answer 7

Make the cake, and when cold cut it horizontally to make two layers. First layer on a plate, ice it with store bought or home-made icing, then place on top of icing either coconut or a grated white or chocolate chocolate bar. To the grated chocolate you can add whatever type of nuts that you like (walnuts, slivered almonds, or ?) Add second cake layer and ice top of cake and sides (looks better). Then repeat with coconut or grated chocolate bar and grated/slivered nuts. Looks good! ( What is / are dragees?)

Answer 8

Well I have discovered that a heaping tablespoon of mayo in any boxed cake makes it much moister. I have even added mayo, a box of pudding mix, & butter instead of oil all in the same cake. It was really moist like scratch. You could always add extra cocoa to a chocolate cake or lemon zest to a lomon cake. Maybe coconut milk to a coconut cake. You can always add something to pep it up. Then use that buttercream frosting recipe and dress it up. Find some pictures of cakes to go by. Good Luck! Here are tons of photos.

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=beautiful%20cakes&y=Search+the+Web&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-500&x=wrt&fr2=tab-web

Answer 9

Beehive Cake
http://recipes.tasteofhome.com/eRMS/recp.aspx?recid=18720
Cat Cake
http://recipes.tasteofhome.com/eRMS/recp.aspx?recid=22624
Pumpkin Cake
http://recipes.tasteofhome.com/eRMS/recp.aspx?recid=1231
The Great Pumpkin Cake
http://www.duncanhines.com/displayRecipes/displayDH.asp?recipeID=470
Duncan Hines Recipes
http://www.duncanhines.com/DHSearch/default.asp
Betty Crocker Cakes
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/search/search_results.aspx?searchText=cakes&MSCSProfile=3C79F0C7EA3162B2187F42DDB317F0E67CE682874512FB2A614E646358390607B77B666E6AEF06FF84B13F6CFAB7F67CB7D14EF82D696DA404BC52C4458B05C3A84657797305C3E75A34F465F187DC71031BF5E8D12AEE2FFC30BCF99978F5AFF51169F13F92E867859FCD4B30AE5D9753E095FA75FE4863B8AFD5E30D22CB81
Tips and How To's
http://www.cakeworkscentral.com/tips-hints/
Cake Decorating
http://www.baking911.com/decorating/101_intro.htm
http://www.sweettechnology.com/cakes/index.html
Marzipan Fruits
http://www.fabulousfoods.com/school/cstech/marzipanfruit.html
Marzipan Vegetables
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/special/feature/famf48easterbrunch/famf48easterbrunch6.html#marz

Answer 10

ELVIS PRESLEY CAKE

1 pkg. white cake mix
8 oz. can crushed pineapple with juice
2 c. white sugar
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
1/2 c. butter, softened
4 c. confectioners' sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. chopped pecans

Prepare cake according to instructions on package. Bake in a 9x13” pan. Allow to cool. Combine pineapple & sugar in saucepan. Bring to a boil then spoon over cooled cake. In a large bowl, cream butter & cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar & beat until smooth. Add vanilla. Add pecans & mix well. Spread cream cheese frosting over cake. Yields: 24 servings

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Honey Bun Cake
"This cake tastes just like the name suggests - like a honey bun. It has been served to hundreds of people and everyone has said how much they liked it. It is a sweet cake and not for those that are watching their weight. Tastes wonderful if served with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream."

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 cups confectioners' sugar
4 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, oil, eggs and sour cream. Stir by hand approximately 50 strokes, or until most large lumps are gone. Pour half of the batter into an ungreased 9x13 inch glass baking dish. Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle over the batter in the cake pan. Spoon the other half of the batter into the cake pan, covering the brown sugar and cinnamon. Twirl the cake with a butter knife or icing knife until it looks like a honey bun (or whatever design you want to make). Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Frost cake while it is still fairly hot. Serve warm. To Make the frosting: In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioner's sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth. Yields: 24 servings

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Chocolate Dump Cake
"A rich chocolate cake that is very easy to make."

1 (5 ounce) package cook & serve chocolate pudding mix
2 1/3 cups milk
1 (18.25 ounce) package
chocolate cake mix
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9 x 13" baking pan. Combine chocolate pudding & milk in a saucepan & cook over medium heat until thick, stirring frequently. Remove pan from heat & add in dry cake mix. Mix together & pour into the prepared baking pan. Evenly spread the chocolate chips over the top of the cake. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Let cake cool & serve. Yields: 24 servings

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Easy Chocolate Chip Pound Cake
"This cake is very easy, very rich, and very good! You may substitute vanilla pudding for a less chocolaty cake, or substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips for a more intense chocolate flavor.

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1/2 cup white sugar
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1/8 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan. In a medium bowl, stir together the cake mix, instant pudding and sugar. Add the water, oil, eggs, and sour cream, mix until well blended. Finally, fold in the chocolate chips. Pour into the prepared Bundt pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven. Cake is done when a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar before cutting and serving. Yields: 14 servings