[null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.maryquitecontrarybakes.com/2011/10/art-of-faking-it.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HESvUsZb8iw/Tp8-jxUSw7I/AAAAAAAAAWA/smjQpqQSKmQ/s640/IMG_1823.JPG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HESvUsZb8iw/Tp8-jxUSw7I/AAAAAAAAAWA/smjQpqQSKmQ/s640/IMG_1823.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 480, "rendered_height": 640}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.maryquitecontrarybakes.com/2011/10/art-of-faking-it.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJczp3UuJNo/Tp9Aog3m8QI/AAAAAAAAAWI/JUAB9yjh2nQ/s640/IMG_1825.JPG", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJczp3UuJNo/Tp9Aog3m8QI/AAAAAAAAAWI/JUAB9yjh2nQ/s640/IMG_1825.JPG", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 480, "rendered_height": 640}, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.maryquitecontrarybakes.com/2011/10/art-of-faking-it.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JW8aVpLtjnc/Th2-TQiOScI/AAAAAAAAARg/ewjlb51POvI/s1600/me%2Bme%2Bme4.jpg", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JW8aVpLtjnc/Th2-TQiOScI/AAAAAAAAARg/ewjlb51POvI/s1600/me%2Bme%2Bme4.jpg", "formatted_filename": "me Bme Bme", "rendered_width": 200, "rendered_height": 206}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.maryquitecontrarybakes.com/2011/10/art-of-faking-it.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nTbEc8my2S4/Tn6PbxaaAFI/AAAAAAAAAU4/nqf4wPWFkH8/s190/IMG_0881.JPG.jpeg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nTbEc8my2S4/Tn6PbxaaAFI/AAAAAAAAAU4/nqf4wPWFkH8/s190/IMG_0881.JPG.jpeg", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 143, "rendered_height": 190}, {"document_url": "http://www.maryquitecontrarybakes.com/2011/10/art-of-faking-it.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ipKm3WNZ_A/Tn6RPNhVLZI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/vuTRmkkhmiY/s190/IMG_1569.JPG.jpeg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ipKm3WNZ_A/Tn6RPNhVLZI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/vuTRmkkhmiY/s190/IMG_1569.JPG.jpeg", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 143, "rendered_height": 190}, {"document_url": "http://www.maryquitecontrarybakes.com/2011/10/art-of-faking-it.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xra2SRRXCEg/Tn6P3cinOoI/AAAAAAAAAVA/GSa9gGknUzw/s190/IMG_0820.JPG.jpeg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xra2SRRXCEg/Tn6P3cinOoI/AAAAAAAAAVA/GSa9gGknUzw/s190/IMG_0820.JPG.jpeg", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 143, "rendered_height": 190}, {"document_url": "http://www.maryquitecontrarybakes.com/2011/10/art-of-faking-it.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vdbRMLO84MA/Tn6OANbhpUI/AAAAAAAAAUw/jda6xog2rw8/s190/IMG_0460.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vdbRMLO84MA/Tn6OANbhpUI/AAAAAAAAAUw/jda6xog2rw8/s190/IMG_0460.jpg", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "rendered_width": 138, "rendered_height": 190}, null]
With Sweet Dreams and Even Sweeter Days Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Art of Faking It (A Doctored Cake Mix Formula) Sometimes, you're running on just a few hours of sleep.
Sometimes you drink 3 pumpkin spice lattes and 2 diet cokes in a day, just because you're so tired you don't feel like counting.
Sometimes, when that guy in your physics lecture is going on and on about how many girls he picked up that weekend.. or how many pounds he's been dead-lifting at the gym, you smile and nod, but you do not hear a word.
Sometimes you eat the biggest slice of birthday cake on your birthday, even though you're already full.  Because it's your birthday, and everyone deserves to eat a piece of cake on their birthday.
Sometimes, someone asks you to make cupcakes when you're in this state of delirium.. and you have the oomph to get yourself in the kitchen and make something from scratch... and sometimes you don't.
I know there are plenty of bakers out there who are on a strict "no box mix - I would never touch one with a ten foot pole" plan.
Simply put, this isn't me.
While it's true I'm just as much of a proponent of from scratch baked goods as the next person, I'm the first to admit how convienient box mixes can be when you're in a pinch, or tired, or a beginner at baking... or hell just feel like making something super easy.  And when doctored up the right way, box mixes can taste out of this world too.  They can.  Just trust.
I'm a firm believer that if someone is handing me a cupcake, whether they bought it, or made it from a mix, or made it from scratch.... I'm a big fan. Therefore I share with you my formula for doctored cake mixes.
Doesn't matter the flavor, use this no matter what and you will love it, you will swoon.
I love formulas.  They are one of the reasons I fell in love with Chemistry.  I don't have to waste time memorizing fact upon fact upon fact.  Just give me one formula to know that I can use in all situations.  Believe me when I say, it's a beautiful thing.
So the next time, you're running short on time, or new to baking and not sure where to start, or just feel like making cupcakes without all the fuss of from scratch, give this a try.
There are worse things in life to fake it about then cupcakes... and you know what, the truth is there's nothing fake about these cupcakes anyway.
They're honestly delicious, just the way they are.
Doctored Cake Mix Formula
- Cake mix of your choice
- Vegetable Oil
- Nonfat Milk
Preheat oven to temperature listed on the cake mix box for cupcakes or cake.  Line cupcake pans with paper liners.  In a large bowl pour in cake mix.  Measure amount of vegetable oil listed on box and pour in.  Replace amount of water listed on box with nonfat (or 1%) milk and pour in.  However many eggs are called for on the box, add plus one additional egg.  With an electric mix, beat until no lumps remain.  Fill cupcake liners 3/4 way full and bake for time amount specified on box, rotating the pans halfway through (I do mine for 15-18 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean).  Let cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack.  Top or frost as desired.  Enjoy. 


Search Recipes Join the Fun - Subscribe for Updates How This All Started
 
(Click the pictures below to take a closer look)