I’ve received a lot of request for cake mixes, so in today’s video, I’ll show you how to create three Make Ahead Cake Mixes for chocolate, yellow, and spice cake. You’ll be able to decide which healthy ingredients you want, and you’ll never have to buy a boxed cake mix again. (And the Make Ahead Mixes make great gifts too!)

Watch the How to Make 3 Healthy Make Ahead Cake Mixes video

Thank you so much for all the wonderful feedback you’ve given me on my Make Ahead series. We’ve covered mixes for pancakes, brownies, cornbread, biscuits, a Bisquick copycat, five types of cookies, hot chocolate, and even a cream of soup mix! Today, I’m glad to show you how to create three Make Ahead Cake Mixes.

Affiliates note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My content may contain affiliate links to products and services. If you click through and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission. It does not affect the price you pay.

Table of Contents

Order YOUR COPY Now!

The Modern Pioneer Cookbook

Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.

Order Now!

Why Healthy Make Ahead Cake Mixes?

When boxed cake mixes are so common—and so inexpensive—why would anyone ever want to make them homemade? Great question! Have you ever read the ingredient list on a box of cake mix? It sounds like a scary science experiment!

Enriched Flour Bleached (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), Sugar, Corn Syrup, Leavening (baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate), Modified Corn Starch, Corn Starch, Palm Oil, Propylene Glycol Mono and Diesters, Salt, Distilled Monoglycerides, Dicalcium Phosphate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Yellows 5&6.

Sampling of the ingredients of your “basic” mix (and I use the term very loosely as you see there is nothing basic about this cake mix).

Since we all pride ourselves on running a Traditional Foods Kitchen, do we really want anything in our pantry that contains the ingredients listed above? I don’t think traditional cultures or even our grandmothers had propylene glycol in their pantries!

How to Keep the Yellow Cake Color

When it comes to healthy make ahead cake mixes, one of the biggest challenges is how to keep a yellow cake…yellow! Whole grain flours are darker in color than all-purpose flour, and when you use these whole grain flours in your mixes, they can create a darker colored cake. Thankfully, white whole wheat flour comes to the rescue.

White whole wheat flour is a whole grain flour. This type of flour is just a different wheat variety than the typical red whole wheat flour that is commonly sold as whole wheat flour. Both are 100% whole grain flours. The only difference is that white whole wheat flour is lighter in color and creates a slightly lighter baked good. This makes it perfect for making a yellow cake mix!

White whole wheat flour is becoming more common, so be sure to look for it at your local grocery store. I have seen it sold under both the King Arthur brand and the Bob’s Red Mill brand. I’ve also added links to my kitchen supplies section to help you find these items online if you are unable to find a local source.

Wheat Grains and Wheat Berries

Often in my videos, I’ll use the terms “wheat grains” and “wheat berries” interchangeably. I do this to help beginners, who may be new to whole grains, understand that the two are alike.

The “wheat berries” term can be confusing if you are beginning your journey from a processed foods kitchen to a traditional foods kitchen. “Berries?” You may ask, “What type of berries are those?” But yes, wheat grains—in their whole form—are known as wheat berries. Mystery solved! 😊

How to Store Your Make Ahead Cake Mixes

I like to pack my shelf-stable Make Ahead Mixes tightly, filled to the rim of the jar. But if you find that you have a bit of air space that may lead to moisture accumulation, you can add a silica gel packet to your jar before sealing it with a regular screw-on lid and storing it in your pantry. Adding the packet will help preserve your mix if you live in a humid climate,

You can also use one of the leak-proof Ball lids that are also airtight. And in a pinch, you can use the canning lid and canning ring with the canning jar you may be using. (However, note that you are not canning these mixes in the traditional sense.)

Learn How to Stock Your Pantry

For more information about stocking your pantry – what I like to call the Four Corners Pantry – be sure to download my free 36-Page Essential Traditional Foods Pantry List. This eBook will help you learn about more shelf-stable pantry items that you can store in your everyday Working Pantry, as well as your Extended Pantry (what we also call a Prepper Pantry).

This pantry list covers not only non-perishable foods, but also foods that you’ll want to store in your fridge and freezer as you build your pantry for your Traditional Foods Kitchen!

More Make Ahead Mixes

In case you missed my previous Make Ahead Mixes, you can catch up with the following videos. These mixes are perfect for storing in your Working Pantry or your Extended Pantry.

Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List

For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!

And if you’re looking for a printed book full of my traditional foods recipes that shows you how to create a traditional foods kitchen, be sure to order your copy of my new bestselling book, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook.

Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy

Are you looking for more traditional foods videos? If so, I invite you to join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy. Members of this optional paid YouTube community get access to exclusive videos, live streams, and other members-only perks. Plus, your YouTube comments include a special members-only badge.

JOIN NOW
And become a Traditional Foods Kitchen Pioneer

Kitchen Academy Videos

See all →

Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest

  1. Subscribe to My YouTube Channel for Traditional Foods Videos (Free) - When you subscribe, be sure to click on the notification bell that will let you know each time I upload a new video.
  2. Subscribe to Mary’s Traditional Foods Newsletter (Free) - Get a free 36-page eBook for signing up: How to Stock Your Essential Traditional Foods Four-Corners Pantry.
  3. Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy (Optional Paid) - For more detailed videos and exclusive members-only perks, join my YouTube membership community.
  4. Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook (Optional Paid) - Get a printed book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.

I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!

Healthy Make Ahead Cake Mixes

5 from 1 vote
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
To Prepare Cake and Bake It: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Yield: 1 cake mix per jar
Author: Mary Bryant Shrader
Print Recipe Save Recipe Rate Recipe
Learn to make these three healthy make-ahead cake mixes and never buy a boxed cake mix again!

Equipment

  • 3-Quart size jars with lids
  • Large bowl
  • Funnel

Ingredients

Healthy Make Ahead Chocolate Cake Mix

  • 2 cups Whole Wheat Flour You can use alternative whole grain flours, such as einkorn or spelt, and you can also use sprouted flour.
  • 3/4 cups Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp Baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp Baking soda
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Instant espresso powder of coffee powder, optional You can substitute with decaffeinated coffee powder
  • 2 cups Whole sweetener, such as "sucanat," that has been ground into its powdered form. (See video.) Other options include maple sugar, coconut sugar, or date sugar that has been ground into its powdered form.

Healthy Make Ahead Yellow Cake Mix

  • 2 1/2 cups White whole wheat flour
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp Baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cups Whole sweetener, such as "sucanat," that has been ground into its powdered form. (See video.) Other options include maple sugar, coconut sugar, or date sugar ground into their powdered form.

Healthy Make Ahead Spice Cake Mix

  • 2 1/2 cups Whole wheat flour You can use alternate whole grain flours, such as einkorn or spelt, and you can also use sprouted flour.
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp Baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp Ground allspice
  • 1/2 tsp Ground cloves
  • 1 1/2 cups Whole sweetener, such as "sucanat," that has been ground into its powdered form. (See video.) Other options include maple sugar, coconut sugar, or date sugar ground into their powdered form.

Instructions 

How to Make Make Ahead Mixes

  • For each mix, simply add all the ingredients for each individual mix to a large bowl and whisk together well at least 30-60 seconds until all the ingredients are well incorporated. (See video.) Then transfer the individual mix to a quart-sized jar, seal well, and store in your pantry. Each mix will have a shelf life of approximately six months to one year.

How to Make a Chocolate Cake with the Make Ahead Chocolate Cake Mix

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Empty the entire contents of the jar of the Make Ahead Chocolate Cake Mix into a large bowl. First, add 1 cup of boiling water to the mix and stir well to incorporate. Make sure that the mix has returned to room temperature and now add to the bowl: 1 cup of buttermilk (or a buttermilk substitute such as 1 cup of milk with a bit of lemon juice added to it), 1/2 cup melted butter cooled to room temperature (or 1/2 cup of coconut oil in its liquid state), 2 large room temperature eggs, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. Mix together by hand or with an electric mixer until well combined. Distribute the cake batter evenly between two round cake pans that have been greased well with butter and dusted with flour. Bake for approximately 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow the cakes to cool for approximately 10 minutes. Next, remove the cakes from their pans and transfer to a cooling rack to allow them to cool completely before frosting.

How to Make a Yellow Cake with the Make Ahead Yellow Cake Mix

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Empty the entire contents of the jar of the Make Ahead Yellow Cake Mix into a large bowl. To the bowl, add 1 cup of buttermilk (or a buttermilk substitute such as 1 cup of milk with a bit of lemon juice added to it), 2 large room temperature eggs plus 2 additional egg yolks, 1/2 cup melted butter cooled to room temperature (or 1/2 cup of coconut oil in its liquid state), and 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Mix together by hand or with an electric mixer until well combined. Distribute the cake batter evenly between two round cake pans that have been greased well with butter and dusted with flour. Bake for approximately 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow the cakes to cool for approximately 10 minutes. Next, remove the cakes from their pans and transfer to a cooling rack to allow them to cool completely before frosting.

How to Make a Spice Cake with the Make Ahead Spice Cake Mix

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Empty the entire contents of the jar of the Make Ahead Spice Cake Mix into a large bowl. To the bowl, add 1 cup of buttermilk (or a buttermilk substitute such as 1 cup of milk with a bit of lemon juice added to it), 2 large room temperature eggs, 1/2 cup melted butter cooled to room temperature (or 1/2 cup of coconut oil in its liquid state), and 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Mix together by hand or with an electric mixer until well combined. Distribute the cake batter evenly between two round cake pans that have been greased well with butter and dusted with flour. Bake for approximately 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow the cakes to cool for approximately 10 minutes. Next, remove the cakes from their pans and transfer to a cooling rack to allow them to cool completely before frosting.

Video

Notes

Each jar of healthy make-ahead cake mix makes one 2-layer cake.
Once baked, all these cakes are freezer friendly.  Once the cake layers have cooled completely, wrap them well in plastic wrap and then wrap them again, but this time with aluminum foil.  Next, transfer the well-wrapped cake layers to a plastic freezer zipper bag. These cakes can be frozen for up to two months.
When you are ready to serve a cake, thaw two layers, fully wrapped, in the refrigerator overnight.  The next day, remove the two layers from the refrigerator and unwrap each layer and allow them to come to room temperature.  Afterward, frost the cake with your icing of choice.
The recipe directions for each mix are condensed into one paragraph so you can print them out and attach a copy of the directions to the appropriate storage jar for each mixture.  Alternatively, you can post the directions in your pantry where you store these mixes.
Find this recipe and video at https://marysnest.com/how-to-make-3-healthy-make-ahead-cake-mixes/
Copyright © 2020 Mary’s Nest, LLC, All Rights Reserved
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Americana
Keyword: Healthy Chocolate Cake Mix, Healthy Make Ahead Cake Mix, Healthy Spice Cake Mix, Healthy Yellow Cake Mix, Make Ahead Cake Mix
Watch Mary’s Nest on YouTube

Shop for items used in this blog post or video

Favorite Make Ahead Mix Supplies

In addition to ingredients, the following kitchen supplies may help you create and store your make ahead cake mixes.

Amazon Shop and Shopping Guide

  • Visit Mary’s Nest Amazon Shop
  • Visit my Shopping Guide page
    Get up to 15% off for stocking your Traditional Foods Pantry and equipping your Modern Pioneer Kitchen, including discounts from US Wellness Meats, Farmhouse Teas, Lehman's, Masontops, Cultures for Health, Survival Garden Seeds, Redmond Real Salt, Plan to Eat, and More!

Posted in: ,

About the Author

Read More About Me

You may also like:

Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Hi Sweet Mary!😊
    I made these mixes this evening to have on hand for our family Sunday suppers. What do you make to frost them?
    Happy day!!
    Kim

    Reply

    1. Hi Kim, Great question! I usually do something very simple. Maybe some lightly sweetened whipped cream or a butter cream frosting. Love, Mary

      Reply

  2. Hi< Mary,
    I prepared your chocolate cake mix, but I do n0t eat buttermilk, sour cream or any fermented dairy products. Milk, cheese, butter are OK. So, I would like to know what I can use instead. Thank you for all your recipes and great advice.

    Reply

    1. Hi Dora,

      Thanks for your note and kind words. Instead of buttermilk, you can try milk with a tablespoon of lemon juice.

      Thanks for being a subscriber and a sweet friend!

      Love and God bless,
      Mary

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating