The Perfect Cake

Have you ever had the experience of going to a birthday party, having a great time, and singing happy birthday–anticipating the main course of the night, the cake! Once you’ve been handed your portion, you try it and… you’re underwhelmed. The cake could be dry, or lacking taste, or even stiff from refrigeration. Whether it’s store-bought or made from scratch, you think, “I wouldn’t be able to do any better.” Or maybe you’re a baking expert. Either way, this is a very easy method for baking the perfect cake that isn’t from scratch, but that’ll taste just as homemade.

To be clear, this recipe uses pre-made cake mix. Though it could be replicated from scratch, if you aren’t confident in your baking skills or just want a very quick and easy method, this recipe is perfect for you!

     What you’ll need:

• A box of cake mix (In this instance, I used chocolate)

• 3 eggs

• Vegetable oil

• Water

• Mixing bowl

• Medium-sized baking tray

• Baking spray (or alternatively, butter and all-purpose flour)

• A spatula

• A mixer (I used a handheld one)

• Measuring cup

• A long rod or knife

     Optional ingredients:

• Chocolate chips

• Dulce de leche

• Large knife

     Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

• Crack open and pour the 3 eggs into the bowl

• Mix them completely until you’re left with a light yellow bubbly liquid

• Use the measuring cup to measure ½ cup of vegetable oil, pour it into the egg mix

• Then measure out 1 cup of water and pour that in as well

• Mix until there is a large layer of bubbles on top of the mixture

• Open up the baggie of cake mix and pour in half of the bag

• Mix until no chunks of powder are visible, and pour in the rest of the powder

• Mix until satisfied and prepare your cake tray by spraying it with baking spray, OR spread a thin layer of butter around the entire tray and pour flour into it, and sift it around until it completely coats the butter layer

• Alternatively, you could then add and mix some chocolate chips into your mix (this is optional but recommended)

• Pour your cake mix into the tray and get any excess batter with your spatula

• Place it into the oven

Bake for 20 mins

• Next you have to check on your cake, but this may affect how fluffy the cake ends up, because if you leave the oven open for too long, it allows oxygen into the oven, so the next step has to be done swiftly for the best results

• To check on your cake, grab a long, clean stick or knife and poke a hole deep enough to reach the middle into your cake, and if the stick/knife comes out clean, your cake is ready

• If it comes out with cake batter on it, then let it bake for a few more minutes

• Now your cake is ready to eat!

Optional:

• If you’d like to enhance the flavor even further, you can cut the cake open down the middle with a large knife HORIZONTALLY across

• Put dulce de leche in a bowl with a teaspoon of water and place it into the microwave for 45 seconds and then mix

• Spread your dulce de leche mix across the top of the bottom half of your cake

• Place the top half back onto it and enjoy!

     This recipe is something I came up with in 8th grade and I have stuck by it since. My family constantly asks me to make them a nice, fluffy, moist cake that they deem is the best cake they’ve had! I hope you can share this recipe with friends and family as I have. Have fun baking!