How to Make Cakes Like a Bakery

Bakery cakes are moist, dense cakes that can hold up to heavy decorations and stacking, all while maintaining a delicious flavor, a feat which can be difficult to replicate at home. However, by doctoring a store-bought cake mix with a few simple ingredients, you can easily produce a scrumptious homemade cake that tastes like it was made from scratch or came right out of an upscale bakery's oven.

Things You'll Need

• 1 box white cake mix
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 whole eggs
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons almond extract
• Bowl
• Sifter
• Wire whisk
• Mixer
• 2 8-inch square cake pans
• Cooling rack
• Cake plate
• Filling
• Frosting
• Spreader

Instructions

1. Sift the first three ingredients into a large bowl, and then whisk with a wire whisk to break up any clumps.

2. Add the liquid ingredients, and mix on medium for two minutes. Do not overmix, or the cake will not have the proper texture.

3. Pour into greased cake pans, and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about 40 minutes. The cake is done when the edges pull away slightly from the sides or when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

4. Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes before turning it onto the cooling rack. Once it is completely cooled, place the bottom layer on a cake plate.

5. Spread your choice of filling on the bottom layer, then place the second layer directly on top. You can fill the cake with preserves, pudding, frosting or any type of fruit. Frost the whole cake with your preferred frosting and serve.

Tips & Warnings

• It is very important to sift all of the dry ingredients to prevent lumps and ensure the ideal texture in the finished cake.

• This is just a basic recipe, but you can change it to suit your taste. You can swap the cake mix for any flavor, change the liquid to something else, use yogurt in place of sour cream or select a different extract. For example, switch the cake mix to a chocolate flavor, add orange juice instead of water and use orange extract to taste. You will end up with a delicious citrus chocolate cake.

• This recipe will also make one 9-inch x 13-inch cake, two 6-inch cakes and one 8-inch cake, or one 10-inch round cake.

References

• Recipe Zaar: White Almond Sour Cream Cake Recipe