Just a heads up, you're gonna see a LOT of reviews here over the next few weeks. I went through all the baking mixes I've acquired from TJ Maxx, Ross, and Marshall's. I noticed a few of them were creeping up on their expiration date. So I made two of them for wing night, and I'm going to make the other one soon as well. Then last week I was contacted by three separate companies about trying their products in exchange for a review on my blog. The first was POM Wonderful. Ya know, the pomegranate juice guys?? I've been a huge fan of POM for a while now (PS: POM Cherry is the BEST!), so there was no way I'd turn them down! I'm curious to try POM in some baking recipes!The second was Miss Muffet's. They package bakery mixes, and they sent me a mix for Lemon Dream Cupcakes and Caramel Pecan Cake with Maple Glaze. I'm super excited to try them! The third company to contact me was Glass Jar Goodies, and they sent a mix for White Chocolate Razzleberry Cookies (which sound super delicious!). I can't wait to test and review all of these products!But first let's get back to the cupcake mixes from TJ Maxx. Tuesday, I made Dean Jacob's Cappuccino Cupcake Mix & Latte Frosting Mix ($5.99), as well as Red Velvet Cupcake Mix with Cream Cheese Frosting ($7.99). I couldn't find any sort of brand name on the red velvet cupcake mix. Maybe I didn't look hard enough. NOTE TO COMPANY: PUT YOUR BRAND NAME ON YOUR PRODUCT SO THAT I CAN FIND MORE IF I'M INTERESTED!
Okay, let's do things in some sort of organized manner...
In the left corner: Dean Jacobs® Cappuccino Cupcake Mix
In the right corner: "Anonymous" Red Velvet Cupcake Mix
On the bag of Dean Jacob's mix...
Trying to be cute? Or just plain stupid?
The mixes and their respective ingredients...
BATTER!!! The best part!
Ready to bake!
Cooling... the boring part...
In the right corner: "Anonymous" Red Velvet Cupcake Mix
On the bag of Dean Jacob's mix...Trying to be cute? Or just plain stupid?
The mixes and their respective ingredients... BATTER!!! The best part! Ready to bake! Cooling... the boring part... SO WHO WINS??? After careful consideration (and massive taste-testing), here are the results:
Red Velvet
Flavor =5 - The flavor of the red velvet cupcake was OUTSTANDING! It didn't have the harsh chemical aftertaste that most box mixes have. I couldn't stop licking the batter out of the bowl!
Texture =5 - The texture of the red velvet cake was similar to a homemade cake.
Frosting =5 - DELICIOUS! The frosting mix contained only confectioners' sugar and vanilla (I guess powdered vanilla??). I give the credit to the cream cheese and butter that the recipe called for!
Cappuccino
Flavor = 3 - The cappuccino cupcake definitely had a noticeable chemical taste. Like I said, I couldn't stop licking the bowl of red velvet batter, but when I would lick the cappuccino batter I was not pleased.
Texture = 5 - It was exactly like the box mix texture we all know (and some of us love), extremely soft and fluffy.
Frosting = 2 - Gross, gross, gross! And way too sweet! The dried coffee gave it a strong, bitter aftertaste.
RED VELVET IS THE CHAMP! But is it worth $7.99?? Sure, if you REALLY don't feel like getting out your flour and cocoa powder... That's up to YOU!
30 comments:
ROSS and MARSHALLS are two more stores to find these items. They usually have sprinkles and DaVinci flavors too. I picked up a jar of sprinkles that had five different ones. They still had a lot of St. Patrick sprinkles on the shelf.
calicopurr@msn.com
I love baking experiments. I guess it pays to pay a bit more for better taste. I wish we could find out the name of the company that makes the Red Velvet Cake mix. Thanks for posting :)
These posts always make me want to run to T.J.Maxx and buy a random cake mix. I had never thought to even pay attention to those mixes until I read your posts. :)
I bought my daughter a red velvet cake mix kit in a box from Walmart at Christmas time. I don't remember the brand name and I think we threw away the box but they were AWESOME and well worth the money. (I think $5.95) PLUS they came with red and brown sprinkles plus really cute red and brown paper liners. The box had separators in it so you could carry your finished cupcakes for travel. If I can find it again at Walmart, I'll let you know, but I think it was just a holiday thing.
Yay, for free goodies in exchange for an honest opinion!! Can wait to read all about!
Thanks for the heads up on mixes!
~ingrid
Ooh I love red velvet, but like you said, I think I'll just whip out the flour and make them from scratch!
Go figure that the red velvet would be amazing and the box would lack any reference to a brand! Oh well, I'm glad that these were so good!
both cupcakes look nice but I prefer the coffee flavoured ones. pitty they weren t so great afterall
Looks like you have a larger choice of cake mixes then we do over here in Australia. That Being said - I do my best to avoid them! Nothing beats home baking :)
I love TJ Maxx. I go there often for retail therapy! They have a great gourmet foods section. Thanks for the review!
I always enjoy a good review from you Cassie!
SO exciting that you're being hand-picked by companies to review their products in your blog!! WOW! Way to go!
Always enjoy your reviews and posts!
Great post. Glad you liked the red velvet, they are too cute!
Wow beautiful. I have been wanting to make this red cup cake for quiet a while and here you are making them so easy from a pack.
Love both themix, just that we don't get here :-(
i LOVE idea of regular reviews. keep them coming!!!
hmm. those look pretty good for box mix!
http://retail.pelicanbayltd.com/Red-Velvet-Cupcakes-amp-Cream-Cheese-Frosting-Mix_p_388.html
Thanks, Anonymous! Although that was slightly creepy! :P
Looking good!!!!
Great experiment! I love when you do them!
i bought the same red velvet cupcake mix, i loved the taste of it. i'm sad that i didn't get to make the frosting, it was some late night baking & we had no cream chesse. so i'm excited to hear it was actually good, i could use it on some other cupcake. mmmmm....i really want a red velvet cupcake.
(arlene)
Both of those boxes look great but I do adore the red one with the cupcake on. I have been wanting to make the red velvet cake for sometime now.
Hey...do you Twitter?
I love the bite marks in your finished cupcakes! Good to know that there are some options out there for people who dont have time to do it from scratch. 'The RVs look a little too red IMHO, were they really that bright in person??
WOH! those turned out super-red!! they both look good though!
I really appreciate the teeth-marks in the photos.
Just thought you should know.
Also, mmmmmmm Red Velvet.
Hi!
I just gotta say, i LOVE your blog. I check in here every week, and have been doing so for at least a year.
A bit sad that I can't find most of the "ready to bake- stuff" that you sometimes use, here in Sweden. But anyway, this blog is eye-candy FTW!
//A swedish cupcake-maniac =)
I just ordered jacobs cappuccino cupcake mix, and i wish i would have read your reveiw before i orded it! Anyways i am trying to get into the cake and cupcake mail order business and i just wanted to see how its package. I am glad i found your web site by accident, because now i plan to send you my cupcake mix so i can get a review. :) I have no fear, i have been baking since the age of ten, and i am always being told that instead of giving away my cupcakes for free its time for you to get into the business and make money. I will call it Stella's cupcakes you all read it hear for the first time , it will be coming soon on your website.
Wow Stella! That sounds awesome! Congrats on your new business venture! :D :D
My friend baked red velvet cup cakes...they were dellllllllllicous....
Post a Comment