Homemade Spice Cake Mix
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As the weather cools and the leaves turn golden, nothing says "fall" quite like a slice of spice cake. If you love the convenience of boxed spice cake mix but prefer the wholesome goodness of homemade, you're in for a treat! This DIY spice cake mix is a copycat of your favorite boxed version but with cleaner ingredients. It’s easy to whip up, store in your pantry, and bake whenever you're craving those warm, comforting flavors.
This blog post is a recipe for homemade spice cake mix.
What’s Really in Boxed Cake Mixes?
Store-bought cake mixes are often packed with artificial ingredients and preservatives designed to extend shelf life and enhance flavor. While these additives make things convenient, they can also compromise the quality and nutritional value of your food. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll often find in a typical box of spice cake mix:
Common Ingredients in Store-Bought Cake Mixes:
Enriched Bleached Flour (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
Sugar
Vegetable Oil (palm, soybean, or canola oil)
Corn Syrup
Leavening Agents (baking soda, monocalcium phosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate)
Artificial Flavors
Artificial Colors
Partially Hydrogenated Oils (trans fats)
Preservatives (e.g., BHT)
Emulsifiers (e.g., soy lecithin)
Stabilizers and Gums (e.g., xanthan gum)
While these ingredients help keep the cake mix shelf-stable and convenient, many of them place an unnecessary burden on the body. Preservatives like BHT and artificial colors can create added stress on the body’s detoxification systems, potentially impacting long-term health.
Additionally, partially hydrogenated oils introduce trans fats, which are known to be harmful to heart health and difficult for the body to process.
Over time, consuming these artificial additives can contribute to inflammation and other health concerns, making homemade, clean alternatives a better choice for supporting overall well-being.
Ingredients in Homemade Spice Cake Mix:
Now, let’s take a look at the simple, clean ingredients in our homemade version:
Organic Flour (free from pesticides and glyphosate)
Organic Cane Sugar or Coconut Sugar (a less refined sweetener)
Baking Powder (aluminum-free)
Baking Soda
Salt
Organic Pumpkin Pie Spice
There’s no need for additives, artificial flavors, or preservatives when you make your own spice cake mix!
This recipe is made from basic pantry staples that you can feel good about using, and each ingredient is handpicked to be as wholesome as possible. It’s a cake mix you can trust, and the flavor is just as amazing—if not better—than the boxed versions!
Why Choose Organic Ingredients?
When it comes to baking, using high-quality ingredients makes all the difference—not just for flavor, but for your health. Ideally, choosing organic ingredients across the board is the best way to avoid synthetic pesticides and harmful chemicals. However, if you can't go fully organic, making organic flour your top priority is a simple yet impactful switch.
Conventional flour is often made from wheat treated with glyphosate, a common herbicide linked to various health concerns. By choosing organic flour, you significantly reduce your exposure to this chemical and others. Organic flour is produced without synthetic pesticides or genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which means you’re supporting both your health and more sustainable farming practices. This one small change can give you peace of mind, knowing that your baked goods are free from unnecessary toxins.
If going fully organic feels overwhelming, just start with the flour—it’s a great first step in making your kitchen more holistic and health-conscious!
Tips for Success:
Substitute Sweeteners: If you’re looking for a lower-sugar option, try replacing some or all of the sugar with coconut sugar or maple sugar for a richer flavor.
Gluten-Free Version: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Make sure it’s a 1:1 replacement for the best results.
Storage Tip: Store any leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
Perfect for Fall Gatherings
This homemade spice cake mix makes for an easy, stress-free dessert that’s perfect for any fall gathering. Whether it’s a Thanksgiving dinner, a cozy weekend, or even just a regular weeknight, this cake delivers on flavor without the extra preservatives. Plus, you can make a few batches of the dry mix in advance, so you’re always ready to whip up a cake!
Bonus: Spice Cake Variations
Pumpkin Spice Cake: Add 1 cup of pumpkin puree to the batter for an extra moist, flavorful cake.
Apple Spice Cake: Fold in 1 cup of diced apples for a fun twist on this classic.
Maple Spice Cake: Replace some of the sugar with maple syrup for a deeper, autumnal sweetness.
Homemade Spice Cake Mix
Ingredients
Instructions
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg. This will be your spice cake mix base.
- Store for Later: If you’re not using the mix right away, transfer it to an airtight container or jar. You can store this mix in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months.
- Preheat Oven & Prep Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan, or two 8-inch round cake pans.
- Make the Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine your spice cake mix with the milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Beat until well combined and smooth.
- Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool & Frost: Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting. You can use your favorite cream cheese frosting or a simple vanilla glaze for a classic pairing.
Notes
4 cups of mix is equal to one box of cake mix.
Making your own spice cake mix at home is a simple, wholesome way to enjoy a classic dessert while keeping control of the ingredients.
The best part? You can have the mix ready to go, just like your favorite boxed version!
So, give this copycat recipe a try, and let me know how it turns out. If you love it as much as I do, leave a comment below! Hugs!
This post was a copycat spice cake mix recipe!
Updated on: 09/27/2024
