My favorite presents are always the ones that feel heartfelt and thoughtful, rather than simply a gift card or randomly chosen trinket. One of the best ways to give unique, personal gifts is DIYing them, whether that means knitting a scarf or making your own card. However, for those who don't have the motivation or artistic talent to make crafted gifts, DIY food and drinks never disappoint. DIY cake mixes are a great homemade option for the sweets-lovers in your life who might want to indulge in a homemade cake when the sweet craving hits. Here are four DIY cake mix recipes for the ultimate homemade gift.
1. Vanilla Cake Mix
Vanilla cake mix is the classic when it comes to a crowd-pleasing cake. Rather than buying a box of cake mix at the store or on Amazon, why not make your own? It'll be healthier, yummier and you'll be able to see all the ingredients you're consuming. The dry ingredients for this homemade vanilla cake mix recipe are all purpose flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
Whenever your recipient feels like making the cake batter and enjoying a vanilla cake, they'll add in milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, large eggs, and hot water to the dry cake mix. This part is super easy, just preheat the oven, mix everything on low speed with a stand mixer or hand mixer, and the cake is ready to go into the oven! It'll go in a 9x13 inch cake pan and will be ready when a toothpick can go in and come out almost clean. The recipe comes with a buttercream frosting recipe, but you can also go with buttermilk frosting or chocolate, it's hard to go wrong! Store in an airtight container like a mason jar for a thoughtful DIY gift, and add a note with instructions for baking.
Get the recipe here.
2. Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix
When it comes to dessert, I always go for the chocolate, so I had to include a chocolate cake mix recipe for DIY cake mixes. This homemade cake mix is ideal for the chocolate lovers in your life, and is super easy to make into a delicious chocolate cake when the occasion calls. It's made by combining sugar, all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and a teaspoon salt in a large bowl.
To make into a cake, it'll need room temperature whole eggs, a cup milk, vegetable oil, water and vanilla extract. This recipe is especially convenient for its versatility- if the chocolate lover in your life wants cupcakes, it can easily be made into those instead, using baking liners for easy cleanup. Give your cake mix away as a thoughtful present, or store your cake mix in your pantry to have it hand whenever you need a chocolate cake.
Get the recipe here.
3. White Cake Mix
White cake mix is another easy option when it comes to cake. This homemade cake mix is made with sugar, cake flour, baking powder, salt, and butter. It's pretty similar to vanilla cake or yellow cake mix, but is a bit more buttery and will have egg white rather than whole eggs added in, for a delectably fluffy texture.
To be transformed into a delectable white cake, this mix will need milk, grapeseed oil, vanilla extract and egg whites. Since the flavor is pretty mild, you can go crazy with your frosting and sprinkles, using chocolate, buttercream, lemon, strawberry, or whatever you think sounds good with a fluffy, vanilla cake. Don't forget the sprinkles!
Get the recipe here.
4. Spice Cake Mix
Recipes made with warm autumn-winter spices taste like the holiday season to me. This spice cake mix is perfect for a warm, comforting cake, made with flour, brown sugar, corn starch, baking powder, salt, ground ginger, and pumpkin spice. To make this easy recipe into a cake, it'll just need whole milk, eggs, vanilla and butter.
This homemade cake mix recipe is convenient for its low prep time and total time- to make the mix, you only need about ten minutes, and you'll only need half an hour to bake it. You can make your gift extra personalized by adding little tags to your mason jars or decorating them with ribbons. Give this DIY spice cake mix to all the home bakers in your life!
