Hi Mamas,
I'm making a peach upside-down cake to bring to Thanksgiving at our friend's house. Too many allergies nixed the pumpkin pie. sigh. My husband picked up a Trader Joe's yellow cake mix, something I am rather unfamiliar with. I rarely eat cake and haven't done cake from a box in over 15 years.
So, because TJ's is so hit-or-miss, I'm wondering, is anyone familiar with this product? Is it equal to, worse than, or better than the more familiar Betty Crocker/Duncan Hines boxed yellow cake mixes? I'd like to know so I can buy a replacement in time if need be.
Thanks for taking the time to read and respond to this non-hot-topic question!;)
H.
Thanks for everyone's insights. So what's happened so far: decided to try a yellow cake from scratch. My recipe wants cake flour, my grocery store has none, I've decide to try a Dr. Oetker's vanilla cake and maybe just rely on the yolks. Good heavens, who knew making a cake was going to be this complicated?
I once knew someone who baked and decorated wedding cakes as her profession for many years. She never make the cakes from scratch and the only cake mix she ever bought was Duncan Hines. She would stock up on them whenever there was a good sale. Hope this helps.
I have had it. I think it's really good. But, I love pretty much everything at trader joes
I haven't made the yellow cake but I have used the cranberry bread and pumpkin bread mix, and I found them both better than the kinds you find in other stores. (i.e. Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines)
If you are talking the bourbon vanilla cake, I think it is really good, and a cut above the normal box. I used it to make my cupcakes for my daughter's second b-day (homemade icing), and everyone raved.
I can't speak to the cake mix.
But I have used the Truffle Brownie mix, the pancake mix, the coffee cake mix, the cornbread mix, the various sweet bread mixes...and the refrigerated rolls (cinnamon and crescent).
All get 2 thumbs up from me. And clearly I know my sweets. ;)
I would imagine it is as good as if not better than the major branded ones.
GL! Happy Baking!
Lol. Forgot the vanilla bean cake! I use that one all the time!
It is the best!
Now I have to try it based on what Carrie said. Lol.
Don't use it!!! We used that T. J. mix for my son's 6th birthday and it tastes super corn mealy. It was the oddest tasting yellow cake. I just make my cake from scratch now - it is super easy. The yellow cake is yellow due to egg yolks. Just google a recipe and you will see how easy it is. (And I LOVE Trader Joes)
I wouldn't use it. It is drier, more crumbly and does taste more like cornbread than yellow cake. I love Trader Joe's, but skip this one!
I have tried yellow cake mix and brownies. I liked both, but they are no SO different from the much less expensive supermarket mixes.
What I REALLY liked was the frosting mix though. Much better than the stuff from a tub.
Oh almost forgot, their cornbread mix is GREAT as well.
I haven't had their yellow cake but I have made muffins and brownies from Trader Joe's and they turned out well. Most of their stuff I like though sometimes they are not to my taste.
I have had very good luck with Trader Joes cake and brownie mixes, they have always been really good (better than regular store bought I think). My absolute favorite is the Pumpkin Bread mix, it is wonderful!! I use it to make muffins, bread and cookies.
I'm sure it's all about the ingredients in the box and not the name. Just compare it to Betty Crocker, what's different?
