Glazed Cake Co Makes the Best Cake Mix

Learning to cook is something of an essential skill set, but baking is an entirely different matter. You can probably live a rich and healthy life without ever baking a brownie, much less trying to master a pavlova (or obsessing over every new chocolate chip cookie recipe you see). Baking is different from cooking — it's about ratios, processes, and chemical reactions. You need to start with reliable recipes, measure and follow directions carefully, and this just isn't everyone's cup of tea. Baked goods have, however, become somewhat synonymous with celebrations, and unless you want to bring a lot of business to your local bakery, it is useful to be able to make a simple cake. This is where baking mixes come in.

Baking mixes have been around since about 1930, and they are perfect for someone who's never felt a need to purchase cocoa powder or baking soda, but for those of us who really care about flavour, commercial mixes fall flat. They are overly sweet and taste pretty one-note. The icings sold alongside are even more so.

Enter premium small-batch mixes like those from Glazed Cake Co. This Toronto-based woman-owned company aims to give you seriously good from-scratch quality cakes from a mix, and they truly deliver. You will need to add a few ingredients (eggs and vegetable oil, plus butter for the frosting or glaze), but they are as good, if not better, than many you'd make from scratch. And this isn't just for people who don't bake — there's something incredibly liberating about making a cake that only asks you to measure oil and water and beat in an egg. No creaming butter, no sifting, no wondering if you've over-mixed. Just a plush, delicious cake you'll be proud to serve.

Glazed recently rebranded and launched two new flavours: Vanilla Bean and Lemon Raspberry, joining the original Dark Chocolate and Ginger Spice. All four are worth having on the shelf.

Instructions on the box suggest making 8 or 9" round cakes, or even a loaf, but I love these as a simple square — they bake beautifully in an 8 or 9" square pan. The mixes all include a little something to sprinkle on top, but I also finish them with Sweetopolita sprinkle mixes or Callebaut crispearls, and top them off with Meri Meri candles for any occasion worth marking. 

Wish you could celebrate with someone who's not nearby? Our Celebration Cake Kits-in-a-box might really make their day.

Glaze or frosting?
Each kit includes a topping mix that works as either. I choose the glaze when I want something simple: a cake you'd slice and serve with tea. The frosting feels more festive, better for anything that calls for candles. Full instructions can be found on their website's frosting guide. 

A note on the Lemon Raspberry:
This one has a lemon syrup soak built into the kit. You'll have about 3 tbsp of syrup to work in, so bake the cake a few extra minutes longer than you might otherwise — a slightly firmer crumb absorbs it better.

Glazed Cake Co. Tips:
One mix also makes 12 regular-sized cupcakes. Use about 1/4 cup batter in each well (fill wells halfway). Bake at 350°F for 18-20 min.

Want a 2-layer party cake? You'll need 2 packages of mix. Use one topping mix to make frosting for the middle layer, and use the second to make a glaze that flows down the top and sides of the whole cake (or just also frost the top and keep the sides naked - there won't be enough to frost the whole cake).