Next time you bake a cake, consider an alternative to frosting by making a jello cake. Not only is it colorful, it is delicious. Add your favorite jello, such as grape, lemon, or cherry, when you use a white cake mix, or be bold and use two or three different flavors to create a design or theme.

If a topping is a must, create a special one using whipped topping and fruit, such as sliced pineapple or cherries. Fresh fruit is good anytime, and especially as a garnish for jello cake. Slivered almonds or walnut halves polish the stylish presentation of this dessert. Family and friends will love it. If you take it to a meeting or potluck, expect several requests for a return performance.

Groovy Grape Jello Cake

This recipe is easy because it uses a cake mix. Most food companies agree on what you need to add to the mix to prepare the batter, and those are the quantities listed in the recipe. Read the cake box, though, to be sure the amounts needed for oil, water, and eggs are the same. Things like elevation and humidity can sometimes call for a lesser amount on the cake box instructions.

What You Need:

1 box white cake mix (18 ounces)

1 cup water

3 eggs

1/3 cup oil

1 box grape jello (3 ounces)

Frozen whipped topping, thawed

Sliced strawberries or kiwis for decoration

How To Make It:

Prepare the cake batter in a large mixing bowl, according to instructions. Be certain to completely mix the eggs, oil, and water with the mixture. Pour batter into a glass baking dish.

Bake cake, remove from oven, and let cool thoroughly.

Poke holes in the top of the cake using a toothpick, hitting the bottom of the baking dish. The holes let the jello to travel down through the cake.

Prepare the grape jello according to the package instructions, except do not let it to set. Pour it all over the top of the cake. Do not panic when it turns purple and looks soggy. The gelatin in the mix will firm up as it is chilled and the cake will be fine.

Put the cake in the refrigerator for at least five hours. Overnight is even better. The grape jello will become more solid during that time.

To remove the cake after the jello has set, remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and place it in a larger dish of hot (not boiling) water. Be sure the water is not near the top of the dish, since you do not want to get the cake wet. Remove the baking dish after 1 minute. Dry any water off the dish. Hold the serving platter firmly against the dish and turn the dish over, placing the platter on a table or counter. The cake should slip out of the baking dish, which can now be lifted off.

Using a rubber spatula or table knife spread the thawed whipped topping over the cake. Be as creative with the texture as you want to be. Smooth, swirly, or wavy, the topping is going to look good. Arrange the strawberry or kiwi pieces on the top and sides of your Groovy Grape Jello Cake.

Cover and refrigerate any remaining cake.

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READ MORE - Next time you bake a cake, consider an alternative to frosting by making a jello cake. Not only is it colorful, it is delicious. Add your favorite jello, such as grape, lemon, or cherry, when you use a white cake mix, or be bold and use two or three different flavors to create a design or theme.

When it comes to making and baking homemade dessert cakes I like to use recipes that are easy to prepare, bake up quickly and taste delicious. When you use gelatin in your cake batter recipes it adds a nice flavor and coloring to your dessert cakes. It will make a boxed mix taste like a homemade gourmet cake.

Each of these recipes start out with a boxed mix that you spruce up with a few additional ingredients. When the recipe calls for a box of gelatin it is for the standard (not family-sized) box. You can top these desserts with a glaze, frosting or icing of your choice or see the recipe for suggestions.

Lemon Lime Gelatin Cake

1 box lemon flavored cake mix

1 box lemon gelatin mix

1 box of lime gelatin mix

1/4 cup bottled lemon juice

1 cup confectioners sugar

Add gelatin mix to the dry cake mix. Proceed to making the cake following directions on the package. Pour the batter into a prepared baking pan that has been greased and lighly floured. Bake according to box instructions. Mix lemon juice and confectioners sugar together. When it has finished baking, prick with fork all over while it is still hot and pour lemon/sugar mixture evenly over the top. This will make a nice glaze when cooled. Store in an airtight container until serving time.

Dreamy Gelatin Cake

1 box white cake mix

1 box lime gelatin mix

1 container dream whip

Follow directions on the back of the box to mix and bake the cake. Make gelatin according to directions on the box. After cake is baked, poke holes all over it with a large fork, then pour the gelatin over the cake and into all the poked holes, using all of it. Put dream whip on as the icing. Refrigerate cake two hours and store it in the refrigerator.

Creamsicle cake

1 orange cake mix

1 box of orange gelatin

Bake the cake as directed on the box. Let it cool for 1 hour before proceeding. Mix and dissolve gelatin in 1 cup of hot water, then add 1/2 cup of cold water. Poke holes in top of cooled cake with a fork and pour onto cake making sure that it runs into the poked holes. Put in refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Then mix:

1 box of vanilla instant pudding

1 cup cold milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

8 ounce package Cool Whip

In a medium sized mixing bowl, beat together the vanilla instant pudding, cold milk and vanilla extract. Fold in the package of Cool Whip. Frost the top with the frosting you just prepared after the cake has been completely cooled.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

READ MORE - When it comes to making and baking homemade dessert cakes I like to use recipes that are easy to prepare, bake up quickly and taste delicious. When you use gelatin in your cake batter recipes it adds a nice flavor and coloring to your dessert cakes. It will make a boxed mix taste like a homemade gourmet cake.

Bring some citrus into your baking with this cake recipe that uses orange. The Mandarin Orange Cake with Chocolate Chips is a delicious cake with a wonderful Chocolate Orange Cream Cheese Icing! Yummy! Step outside the box and so something a little different the next time you bake a cake! You'll be glad you did.

MANDARIN ORANGE-CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE WITH ICING

CAKE:

3/4 cup evaporated milk

1 1/2 tbsp vinegar

3 1/4 + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

1 3/4 cups + 2 tbsp sugar

4 large eggs

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp butter flavoring

1 1/2 tbsp chocolate extract

2 tbsp orange extract

1 1/4 cups water

1 1/4 cups mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour 3 9-inch round cake pans; set aside.

In a cup, combine the evaporated milk and vinegar; set aside.

Sift the flour, salt, and baking soda together; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, blend the butter and sugar together until creamy and smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time and beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract, butter flavoring, chocolate extract, and orange extract; beat well. Beat in the milk/vinegar mixture. Alternately add the flour mixture and water, starting and ending with flour. Add the flour 3 times and the water 2 times, beating after each addition.

Fold the chocolate mini chips into the batter and divide batter evenly into the 3 baking pans. Gently tap pans on counter to level. Bake at 350 degrees approximately 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on wire racks before icing.

ICING:

1 block (8-oz) cream cheese, softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp butter flavoring

1 1/2 tsp chocolate extract

2 tsp orange extract

1 lb sifted powdered sugar

dash of salt

1 tbsp water

1 can (8-oz) Mandarin oranges, well drained

Using an electric mixer on low speed, blend the cream cheese with the vanilla extract, butter flavoring, chocolate extract, and orange extract. Add the powdered sugar, salt, and water and beat until smooth and of spreading consistency.

To assemble: Place one layer on cake plate and spread icing over the top, place second layer over the iced layer and top with icing. Place the third layer on top and frost the top. With all three layers stacked, frost the sides of the cake. When cake is fully frosted, arrange the oranges on the top as garnish.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

READ MORE - Bring some citrus into your baking with this cake recipe that uses orange. The Mandarin Orange Cake with Chocolate Chips is a delicious cake with a wonderful Chocolate Orange Cream Cheese Icing! Yummy! Step outside the box and so something a little different the next time you bake a cake! You'll be glad you did.

Here is a simple banana cake recipe using a cake mix that is easy and delicious. It can be baked either in a 913-inch pan or in a bundt pan (my preference).

My husband is having a slice with ice cream and just declared it "one of the best" banana cakes ever; hearty praise from a true cake lover!

The purist in me wishes cakes made from scratch with whole wheat flour and other more wholesome ingredients were met with such excitement, but sadly they're not. The savvy realist within me admits that cake mix recipes often turn out better than from scratch cakes. They are more consistent, with better texture, especially when you know how to "doctor them up." And in the final analysis, life is too short to eat anything less than delicious cake.

Have I mentioned that I am a huge fan of Anne Byrn, The Cake Mix Doctor? Everything I've ever made from her cookbooks has turned out great, but I've been reluctant to admit it, until I learned that Jamie Lee Curtis recently declared The Cake Mix Doctor her favorite cookbook on the Rachel Ray Show!

This recipe is from The Cake Mix Doctor Returns. I made a few changes to the original recipe. I omitted the additional 1/4 cup of sugar, replaced the 1/2 cup sour cream with plain yogurt, and skipped the 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans to keep it friendly for those who have nut allergies. I also added 2 tablespoons of flour which is a trick my mother learned from her Home Ec teacher decades ago to help cake mix cakes be less crumbly.

Simple Banana Cake Recipe

Serves 16 to 20 or 12 to 16 as a bundt cake

Vegetable oil spray for coating the pan

Flour for dusting the pan

1 cup mashed bananas (from 2 or 3 very ripe bananas)

1 package (18.25 ounces) plain yellow cake mix

2 tablespoons flour

1/4 cup sugar (optional)

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt

4 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla

1 cup (6 ounces) miniature chocolate chips

3/4 cup finely chopped pecans (optional)

2 teaspoon confectioners' sugar, for dusting on top

Position an a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly mist a 139 inch metal cake pan (or bunt pan) with vegetable oil spray. Dust with flour, shake out the excess flour and set the pan aside.

In a large mixing bowl, place the mashed bananas, cake mix,flour, sugar (if using), oil, sour cream, eggs and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are incorporated, about 30 seconds. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat on medium speed until the mixture lightens and is smooth, about 1 1/2 minutes longer. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again, if necessary. Stir in the chocolate chips.( If you are intending to bake the cake in a bundt pan, stir in the pecans too, if you are using them.)

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Smooth out the top with a rubber spatula. If you are baking the cake in a 913-inch pan, scatter the pecans (if using) evenly over the top and place the pan in the oven.

Bake the cake until is deeply golden brown on top and the top springs back when lightly pressed with your finger, 43 to 48 minutes (50 to 55 minutes for a bundt cake). Remove the cake from the oven and immediately sift the confectioners sugar over the top so that it melts to form a glaze. Let the cake cook for 20 minutes, then slice and serve while still a little warm. (If you are using a bundt pan, allow it to cool for about 10 minutes, then turn it out of the pan and sprinkle with the sugar.)

Storage: Store this cake, covered, at room temperature for up to three days or for up to one week in the refrigerator.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

READ MORE - Here is a simple banana cake recipe using a cake mix that is easy and delicious. It can be baked either in a 913-inch pan or in a bundt pan (my preference).

Kids of all ages love chocolate cakes. If you bake one for the first birthday of your child, you will definitely get the reward for being star mom in the form of lots of hugs and kisses from the children at the birthday party. Here is a simple first birthday cake recipes with delicious chocolate frosting.

Items needed for the chocolate cake recipe and frosting:

Cake:

Cocoa powder - 1 cup

Boiling hot water - 2 cups

Soft and unsalted butter at room temperature - 1 cup

Sugar - 2 cups

Eggs - 4

All-purpose flour - 2 cups

Baking soda - 2 teaspoons

A pinch of salt

Vanilla extract or essence - 1 teaspoons

Frosting:

1 packet of semi sweet chocolate chips

cup of half and half cream (you can use full cream too, but add some milk to it)

cup of unsalted butter at room temperature

2 cups of icing sugar

For decoration:

Mixed fruit jam - 1 cup

Edible silver balls - 1 packet

Colorful chocolate gems - 1 packet

Preparing the cake:

Whisk the eggs and sugar in a deep bowl.

Add the butter and whisk some more to get a fluffy texture.

Add the vanilla extract and mix well.

Dissolve the cocoa powder in boiling hot water and let the mix cool.

Add this mix to the butter-egg mix and whisk some more to get a smooth batter.

Mix the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl.

Now add the dry ingredients to the prepared mix, spoon by spoon, and whisk some more to get the cake batter to dropping consistency.

Grease a 9 inch baking pan and pour the batter in the pan.

Bake in a preheated oven at 350F for 35-40 minutes.

After the baking time, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack.

Preparing the frosting:

On a double boiler, melt the chocolate chips and butter.

Remove from heat and stir in the cream and icing sugar.

Whisk to combine well and your chocolate frosting is ready.

Assembling the cake:

Let the cake cool completely before assembling.

Cut the cake in the middle horizontally.

Place the bottom layer on a serving plate.

Spread a generous amount of frosting over the layer and cover with the top layer.

Spread the rest of the frosting on the cake and cover all the sides.

Put the mixed fruit jam in a piping bag and decorate the top and sides of the cake in any design you like.

Use the silver balls and chocolate gems to cover the top and sides of the cake.

Put the prepared cake in the fridge for 2 hours to let everything set before serving.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

READ MORE - Kids of all ages love chocolate cakes. If you bake one for the first birthday of your child, you will definitely get the reward for being star mom in the form of lots of hugs and kisses from the children at the birthday party. Here is a simple first birthday cake recipes with delicious chocolate frosting.