Some people give themselves a pat on the back just because they can follow the directions on a box of cake mix.
And then we have these Wizards of the Pastry Arts, showing us how the baking game is really played.
But let’s start with the “easy level” of the cake hacking game.
To create this beautiful design, just take a metal spatula and use its edges to make chevron shapes.
It’s pretty simple and anyone can do it.
As for the made-from-scratch vs store-bought debate, you might be interested to know that some professional bakers actually DO use box mixes!
In one infamous Reddit thread, a home-based wedding cake entrepreneur admitted to hauling home $1 boxes of Pillsbury (this is the 2010 pre-inflation price) from Walmart. No one was the wiser!
“I base my prices mostly on the decoration of the cakes and not of the cake itself if that makes sense. I have been doing this for YEARS. If anyone knew my business and reputation would be in the toilet for sure.”
Most experts aren’t clearing the shelves at the grocery store, however.
Instead, they buy their bulk mixes from commercial restaurant sources. It’s the same exact ingredients, but the quality is just better.
Keep in mind though, that the base mix is just that – a starting point to work with. You can make anything taste ten times better by adding some extra flair.
One pro-baker weighed in on the top three brands that regular people stock up on when they go on sale.
Alana Al-Hatlani compared Pillsbury, Duncan Hines, and Betty Crocker, in terms of texture and flavor. Duncan Hines was the winner in terms of chocolatey goodness.
“I might not use cake mixes, but I’ve certainly seen the boxed stuff fool people as homemade time and time again, especially if you play around with doctoring the mixes with add-ins and frosting recipes.”
In the end, though, it’s what you do with the cake after it’s been sitting on the cooling rack that takes the experience to a whole other decadent level.
Try using different shaped molds, and get creative with the frosting, filling, and decoration – these are just some of the ways you can make baked goods even more interesting.
Like, Winnie the Pooh beehive-cake interesting!
However, there’s no box mix on the planet that could ever do this edible masterpiece any justice.
This Faberge-like chocolate egg is pure eye-candy heaven!
#DESSERTGOALS, right?
Some people have a narrow view of the art world and tend to think of them as things that can only be found in the poshest of galleries. But creative geniuses can be found in all walks of life – including the kitchen.
Bakers, confectionaries, and chocolatiers are experts at edible art. They paint with mouth-watering flavors, aromas, and stunning visuals that make us drool.
After all, we eat with our eyes first, and then our stomachs.
The good news is, you don’t need a degree in anything to craft dainty, delectable pieces like this chocolate rose with sugar crystal bling. That’s what YouTube is for. And hey, guess what – the more you practice, the better you get.
Check out the video below for more ideas on how to light your inner pastry chef on fire.
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