Ever since I learned to make a cake from scratch, I haven’t really touched boxed cake mixes. I’m not above using them, but the ones I typically see on grocery shelves don’t cater to the flavors I’m craving for dessert these days.
While I, of course, love a classic vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, or red velvet cake, I tend to gravitate more toward ube, pandan, Thai tea, or spiced chai, especially on occasions when I’m baking to impress for a potluck or a dinner party. And while some might argue that boxed cake mix is customizable, to me, it defeats the whole point of a quick one-and-done situation.
What You Should Know About Oh So Easy Spiced Yellow Cake Mix
Oh So Easy’s Spiced Yellow Cake is formulated in collaboration with chef, baker, and founder of In Between Cuisine, Fadi Odeh. Inspired by Odeh’s Palestinian roots, this yellow cake mix is infused with a warm, aromatic spice blend of mahlab, mastic, and cardamom. The kit also includes a packet of cardamom simple syrup, to add an extra boost of moisture and flavor.
The package instructions are simple yet thorough, with several alternatives for ingredients and types of bakes. I stirred in 1/4 cup of vegetable oil, 3 large eggs, and 1/2 cup water to the mix to form the batter. Baking times and pans vary based on the type of cake — round, rectangular, or cupcakes — you make. Wanting to go for a two-tiered cake, I dusted off my 9-inch round cake pan and borrowed another from a friend. I baked the cakes at 325°F for 25 minutes and evenly poured the simple syrup onto the cakes after cooling them for 10 minutes as the instructions suggested.
There are “pro-tips” at the bottom of the box, which suggest pairing the cake with either whipped cream, chocolate frosting, or buttercream, and combining with fresh fruit, jams, or citrus curds. So after cooling the cakes completely, I layered and frosted them with an orange vanilla buttercream that I made separately.
My Honest Review of Oh So Easy Spiced Yellow Cake Mix
My initial reaction to the cakes was somewhat reserved. The 9-inch pans didn’t yield as much rise and height as I had hoped. (I was already dubious while pouring the cake batter into the pans.) They looked more like giant, golden pancakes, but once I cut into the finished cake, I was incredibly impressed.
The resulting slice revealed a light and soft, yet smooth and moist crumb. The warm spices came through beautifully, well-balanced and not at all overpowering (even with the cardamom simple syrup!). I brought the cake to a dinner party at a friend’s house, and was glad to see most people go back for seconds. There were certainly no problems polishing off the whole 9-inch tiered cake.
At $28 for a bundle of two, the mix is certainly more expensive compared with most classic yellow cake mixes. Then again, this isn’t your average yellow cake mix. Had I attempted to make the same cake — with the same complex flavors and elements — from scratch, it would’ve taken me three times the amount of time and effort (and money), and I don’t think I would have been as happy with the results.
I’ll definitely be buying Oh So Easy’s Spiced Yellow Cake Mix again, especially for special occasions that call for unique flavors. For next time, though, I might try using an 8-inch pan to get more height. I’d also suggest going for a variety pack of three (or six) to try the different mixes and get more of a bang for your buck.
What’s your favorite boxed cake mix? Tell us about it in the comments below.
