How to make half a cake mix

Whether or not you’re seeking to bake a smaller cake in your toaster oven or simply don’t wish to cope with a number of tempting leftovers, making half a cake combine is a superb possibility. From pan decisions to dividing eggs and substitutions, we’ll stroll you step-by-step by methods to break up a cake combine in half.Want concepts to make use of up the remaining cake combine? Take pleasure in some Small Batch Cake Combine Cookies, Blueberry Espresso Cake, 2-Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins, or deal with your self to a pair of teeny-tiny Cake Combine Mini Muffins For Two!Reading: How to make half a cake mixWhereas we’re huge followers of from-scratch cookies, cupcakes, and muffins generally it’s good to seize a boxed combine and throw collectively a straightforward deal with.The issue is that an ordinary (15.25 oz) cake combine can go away you with a number of leftover cake, particularly for those who’re cooking for only one or two folks.Dividing the combo looks as if a terrific answer however it might result in a number of questions. Like how do you divide an egg, what measurement pan ought to I exploit, does it have to bake for a similar period of time?Under, we’ll reply all of these questions and extra! At over 1,500 phrases, this publish ended up being just a little longer than we anticipated (I blame all of the egg makes an attempt). So we put collectively a desk of contents for you.If you wish to skip forward, click on on the half you’re curious about and also you’ll be taken proper to it.

Desk of Contents

Contents

Splitting The Combine in Half
Divide The Water and Oil In Half
Halving Eggs + Substitutions
Selecting Your Pan
Oven vs. Toaster Oven vs. Convection Temperature
Combine and Bake

STEP 1: Divide The Cake Combine In Half

The substances in your boxed cake combine have been sitting and settling for a bit on that grocery retailer shelf. Earlier than you get began, seize the bag and provides it a fast shake to combine every little thing up.Now, you possibly can attempt to dump half the bag out however dividing the combo into equal parts will yield the most effective outcomes. Listed below are two methods to go about it.Possibility 1: Utilizing a ScaleA regular boxed cake combine (within the US) weighs 15.25 ounces. So half a field of cake combine weighs 7.625 ounces.To measure out half, place a medium bowl in your scale and nil it out. Pour the combo into the bowl till it measures 7.62 ounces.Possibility 2: Utilizing Measuring CupsA cake combine that weighs 15.25 ounces has 3⅓ cups of combine whole. So half a field of normal cake combine is 1⅔ cups.To measure out half, use the spoon-and-sweep methodology. This methodology will maintain you from compacting the combo and taking greater than half.

Place a bit of parchment paper in your counter.

Spoon the combo right into a dry measuring cup and use the again of a knife to degree off the combo.

Repeat till you could have 1⅔ cups of combine measured out.

If in case you have any of the dry combine on the parchment paper, pour it again into the bag with the opposite half of the cake combine.

Did that sound complicated? If it did, take a look at this publish by Sugar Spun Run on How To Correctly Measure Flour.Okay, now that you simply’ve bought your combine divided let’s have a look at the opposite substances.

STEP 2: Divide The Water and Oil In Half

Take the quantity of water referred to as for and divided it in half. So, if the field directions name for 1 cup of water use 1/2 cup.In the case of the oil, some boxed cake mixes (like Betty Crocker and Pillsbury) name for 1/2 cup of oil whereas others (like Duncan Hines) use 1/3 cup.Take regardless of the directions in your field name for and divide it in half.

Half of 1/2 cup = 1/4 cup or 4 tablespoons
Half of 1/3 cup = 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons

I normally make our cake combine with olive oil or avocado oil however you should use any vegetable oil you need.For those who use coconut oil (in a liquid state), simply be certain that the opposite substances are at room temperature (and never chilly). In any other case, the coconut oil will harden into lumps and muck up your batter – it is going to be unhappy.

STEP 3: Halve The Eggs + Substitutions

If the field calls for two eggs, simply use one egg.However what if it requires 3 eggs?The Fast Reply: Use one entire egg + half a overwhelmed egg.Read more: How long does it take a cake to coolTo measure out the overwhelmed egg, crack an egg right into a small bowl and beat with a fork till the white and yolk are mixed. Measure out half, about 1½ to 2 tablespoons (give or take just a little). For extra suggestions take a look at this How to Measure Half an Egg publish.*You’ll wish to refrigerate the remaining overwhelmed egg and use it inside 24 hours.The cake we made utilizing this methodology turned out nice. It was moist with a pleasant taste and light-weight texture. Simply what you’d count on from a cake combine.BUT…that leftover overwhelmed egg was just a little inconvenient and probably wasteful. So we needed to see if it may very well be averted.We grabbed extra lemon cake combine, divided the bins up and tried out some substitutions.ApplesauceFirst, we changed the entire eggs with 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce. (Spoiler: don’t do that – it’s not a terrific possibility).The Outcomes: The cake barely rose, was missing in taste and once I tried to chop it after cooling, it cracked and fell aside.Would We Do It Once more? Nope.Greek YogurtAn alternative choice is to exchange the entire eggs with 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt, common or Greek selection.The Outcomes: The cake didn’t rise a lot however it did maintain collectively effectively and tasted nice. The crumb was denser however not in a foul means.Would We Use This Substitution Once more? Yep. I believe the pound cake-style texture can be excellent for pairing with whipped cream and berries, particularly for a summer time brunch or Mom’s Day deal with.Egg + Greek YogurtThe final possibility we tried was utilizing one egg plus a tablespoon of yogurt.The Outcomes: This cake was tender, had a pleasant taste and was lighter than the all-yogurt possibility. Whereas it did crumble some, it didn’t crumble just like the applesauce one.Would We Use This Substitution Once more? 100% Sure! Total it had a terrific taste and good texture. Plus it was really easy to seize a spoonful of yogurt and add it in with the 1 egg.New! What about utilizing 1 egg + a part of one other egg?A whole lot of small-batch baking recipes name for a single egg white or a single egg yolk (like our wealthy and fudgy toaster oven chocolate cookies). Leaving you with some a part of an egg to make use of up.To see if an additional egg yolk or an egg white would make addition to half a cake combine we grabbed a field of the identical lemon cake combine from earlier than and bought baking.The primary possibility we tried was one giant egg plus an egg yolk.The Outcomes: Whereas the crumb was just a little heavier it was nonetheless very tender and moist. Due to the added yolk, the cake had a deeper yellow colour and the additional fats did trigger it to brown sooner across the edges and on high.Would We Use This Substitution Once more? Completely! The cake’s lemon taste actually got here by. It was just a little denser than a standard cake combine however not in a foul means.The second possibility we tried was one giant egg plus an egg white.The Outcomes: At first, I used to be just a little involved as a result of the cake had a faint eggy scent whereas it was cooling. However as soon as the cake had cooled fully and we reduce into all of it I might style/scent was a pleasant lemon taste. The feel was very gentle and bouncy.Would We Use This Substitution Once more? Undoubtedly, the cake tasted scrumptious and we each actually loved the lighter texture.Read more: How to use cake pop makerA few week after this marathon baking session we determined to strive two extra choices. Making half a mixture utilizing just one egg and utilizing 2 eggs.The 1-Egg Outcomes: The cake was noticeably drier than the opposite muffins. Whereas it nonetheless had some construction it crumbled simply. Once you took a chew, the cake would form of crumble in your mouth.Would We Use This Substitution Once more? In all probability not. This cake was positively higher than the applesauce possibility, however it wasn’t one thing I loved. Tim did say he would eat it once more.The two-Eggs Outcomes: This cake rose taller than any of the opposite muffins, was tremendous bouncy, and virtually sponge-like. I felt like I might simply carve and frost it with out numerous crumbs.Would We Use This Substitution Once more? Perhaps. Tim actually loved this cake. I assumed it was gentle with a pleasant taste however that it might use extra moisture. I’d strive it once more, swapping the water for milk and including just a little yogurt.For those who’re undecided which egg-option is for you, it’s at all times guess to stay with 1 entire egg + half an egg.Listed below are just a few concepts to make use of up the leftover egg:

These small-batch triple ginger cookies use 1 tablespoon of egg.
Make a batch of chocolate chip pecan oatmeal cookies with 1½ tablespoons egg.
Seize a frying pan, scramble the egg and add it to a sandwich or salad.

STEP 4: Decide Your Pan

An 8 x 8 x 2-inch pan or an 8 or 9-inch spherical pan are good choices for making half a cake combine.For those who don’t have a kind of pans we’ve bought a bunch of concepts for you!

8 1/2 x 4 1/2 Loaf Pan
2 Spherical 6 x 2-inch Cake Pans
2 6-cup Muffin Pans or a 12-cup Muffin Pan
11 x 7-inch Cake Pan
Quarter Sheet Pan
8.5 x 6.5-inch Casserole Pan

*Professional Tip: Use a plastic knife to chop the cake, it received’t scratch your steel pan.When you’ve bought your pan sorted, be certain that to grease it so your cake doesn’t stick.

STEP 5: Preheat The Oven

For those who’re baking with a standard ‘big’ oven, observe the field instructions for the proper temperature setting.For a customary toaster oven, I discover lowering the temperature by 25 levels yields the most effective outcomes.When utilizing the convection possibility on our countertop oven, I scale back the temperature by 50 levels (ensuring to not go beneath 300F). This helps to provide the center sufficient time to cook dinner by with out over-baking the sides.*As all ovens are totally different, it’s possible you’ll have to mess around a bit to search out the proper temperature setting to your particular oven.

STEP 6: Combine and Bake

Now that you simply’ve bought your combine and substances divided, your pan chosen and prepped, and your oven preheating all that’s left to do is combine up the batter and bake it.Observe the instructions in your bundle for combining half of the combo and half of the substances. Then pour the batter into your ready pan and bake based on the instructions.Test On Your Cake EarlyThe kind of combine, pan, substances, and oven used will have an effect on the baking time.

Cupcakes would possibly take the identical period of time (ours took quarter-hour)
As a result of it’s thinner, 1 / 4 sheet pan will bake up fast (about 14 to 16 minutes)
A loaf pan will doubtless take longer (about 22 to 25 minutes)
Two spherical 6 x 2-inch cake pans could have a shorter baking time (about 15 to 18 minutes)