I remember when adding soda to a cake mix was popular among my mother’s friends who did it all the time for the kids because it was quick. I have never done one… until now. The COVID pantry is expiring and the bake is on. So here is my version for this episode of Mix the Mix.

What to do:

Prepare pan or pans with baking spray or line with parchment. This is a sticky cake so do it.
Set the oven at 350 and preheat.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until tester comes out clean.

Recipe:

• 1 Box Cake Mix – I used Betty Crocker because that is what was on the shelf via COVID pantry pile up, which is why I started the *Mix the Mix* episodes.
• 1 Can Soda 12 oz. – San Pellegrino orange sparkling beverage was the choice dujour because I really didn’t have anything else.
• Zest of an Orange or a couple of Cuties ( I used Cuties because Mrs. Shecky likes to eat them so I had those on hand)
  • Use the juice of the fruit to add to it. The Cuties were a good size to squeeze one in.

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Mix it all up. It will be foamy-like and will take a bit longer to blend. I used a whisk until it was all blended well then added the juice of the fruit and zest. I also added a teaspoon of my Orange extract that I made, but I think you can pass without it since this, to me, is an anything goes recipe.

Using two 8″ pans divide the batter. It doesn’t look like a lot when poured in the pans but it does rise enough for a layer cake. Depending on the pan size keep an eye out on the timing, about 20-25 minutes. In my oven this was done when tested with my cake tester at about 25 minutes.

Cool for about 15 minutes then transfer onto a cooling rack and let it cool completely. I found this cake to be a bit fragile so be sure to cool it completely.

After cooling I added a buttercream frosting with zest and again a little of my extract. This could be any frosting or none at all.

Voila, it is done and ready to devour and throw on those hips.

Babble

Additives: I think depending upon the cake you can add whatever soda to go with it, i.e., cherry soda and chocolate cake with cherries & nuts chopped up in the frosting. Really, I think anything goes here so be creative.

This cake came out moist. It is not dense at all and I am going to give it a green light for those last minute off the shelf moments. I did add the juice of a mandarin (Cutie) so I am assuming that some moisture came from that. But, since it is moist, be careful transferring to the cooling racks.

It is a sweet cake so be prepared for that. If I do this again I will probably freeze one of the layers (which is my normal but I really didn’t think this was going to turn out so I did the whole cake layered).

So there you go for a third Mix The Mix.

I am rating it a thumbs up for that last minute desert because of ease and the fact you can flavor a cake mix just about any way you wish.

Last words: Use that mix before it expires. You bought it, use it.

Eat well and stay healthy,

Mrs. Shecky