DIY Cake mix GALORE

Here's what I have rounded up from Budget101.com:
Create your Own Cake Mixes to have on hand in your pantry. These delicious choices offer a a less expensive, healthier alternative to their store bought counterparts.

But first you'll need a quick mix recipe:
From http://heart-hands-home.blogspot.com:

All-Purpose Quick Mix
5 lb. bag flour (20 Cups)
4 C. nonfat dry milk powder or buttermilk powder
3/4 C. baking powder
2 Tbsp. salt
1 Tbsp. cream of tartar
5 C. vegetable shortening
In a large bowl, sift together the dry ingredients.  With Pastry blender (or your hands) cut in shortening until mixture resembles cornmeal in texture.  Store in airtight container.
~Use 1/2 whole wheat flour, if desired.
~Cut recipe in 1/2 for smaller households.

 Use the All Purpose Quick mix in the following recipes: 

1. Apple Coffee Cake Mix 

• 2 cups bisquick mix (or homemade Quick Mix)
• 2/3 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened or melted
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced thinly. 

        Streusel Mix 

• 1/4 cup biscuit like mix
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, firm
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts, if desired

Combine first 8 ingredients. Spread into a greased 9x9 pan, Insert apple      slices evenly through the batter.Combine streusel ingredients with a fork or pastry blender; sprinkle over the batter. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

2. Banana cupcakes-mix

• 2 cup Bisquick or Homemade Quick mix
• 1 Egg
• 1/3 cup Granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup Milk
• 1 Banana -- peel/slice
• 2 tbsp Butter or margarine -- Melted
• 2 tbsp Brown sugar -- packed
• Beat egg, sugar and milk, adding mix gradually. Pour batter into greased muffin tins until 1/2 full. Add slices of banana & sprinkle brown sugar on top of the banana. Add more batter over the banana slices.

Bake at 400F for 15 minutes Measure all into a ziploc bag, seal & shake to combine.
3.  Quick Mix Apple Coffee Cake
Apple Coffee Cake

• 2 cups bis-quick like mix 
• 2/3 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened or melted
• 2 apples, peeled, cored and diced
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup biscuit like mix
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, firm
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup chopped nuts, if desiredCombine first 9 ingredients. Spread in a lightly greased 3 1/2 quart crock pot (or spread in a lightly greased baking dish which fits in a larger sized crock pot). Combine streusel ingredients with a fork or pastry blender; sprinkle over the batter. Cover and cook on high for about 2 1/2 hours, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  
  
  OTHER CAKE MIXES TO MAKE and STORE 

1. Basic Cake Mix                                                                                          
   

   • 8 c. plain flour
   • 6 c. sugar
   • 1/4 c. baking powder
   • 1 1/2 tsp. salt
   • 2 1/2 c. Crisco
   Blend all ingredients until the consistency of corn meal.
   Put in cool place in airtight container. Label. Use in 10-12 weeks. Makes 16 cups 
   Make a label for the container with the following information:
   To make cake:
   3 1/3 cups Mix
   3/4 c. milk
   2 eggs, well beaten
   1 tsp. vanilla
   Beat until smooth. Bake at 350 degrees until done. (9x13 pan approx 30-35 minutes)
   2. Carrot Cake Mix
   
   • 2 cups sugar
   • 2 tsp. powdered vanilla
   • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
   • 3 cups all-purpose flour
   • 2 tsp. baking soda
   • 1 Tbsp. cinnamon
   • 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
   Measure all ingredients into a large ziploc bag or qt size jar. 
   Attach label: Carrot Cake
   Makes 1 13x9-inch cake
   1 package Carrot Cake Mix
   1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
   3 large eggs
   3 cups grated carrots
   1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple
   Preheat oven to 350 F . Blend all ingredients together, Pour into greased 13x9 inch pan
   Bake 40 -50 minutes Cool & Frost with cream cheese frosting
   3.  Chocolate Cake Mix
   
   • 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 
   • 1/3 cup nonfat dry milk
   • 3 teaspoons baking powder
   • 3/4 teaspoon salt
   • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
   • 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon shortening
   • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
   Preheat oven to 350F.

          Grease and flour a 9x13 inch cake pan  
         Attach Label:
        Chocolate Cake: 2 eggs
        1 cup water
        1 teaspoon vanilla extract
        1 Jar Mix
        Combine all in a bowl, mixing well, pour into 9x13 greased pan.
        Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool & Frost as desired.
3. Chocolate Truffle Pound Cake Mix

•   3 c Sugar
• 3 c Flour
• 1 ts Baking soda
• 1/2 c Cocoa

        Mix all ingredients, store in ziploc bag. 
        Attach Folowing:To make Chocolate Truffle Pound cake:
         3/4 c Butter; softened
         5 Eggs
        1 c Milk
        1tsp Vanilla
        1 pk Mix
Preheat oven to 325.
Butter an 8-9 cup Bundt pan. Cream butter until it is smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add milk and vanilla, beat until thoroughly blended. Add mix and beat 3 minutes until smooth.
Pour into prepared pan and bake 1 hour and 5 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool 25 minutes in pan,remove from pan and finish cooling on rack.\
4.  Coca Cola Cake Mix

•  1 1/2 cups Flour
• 1 1/2 cups Sugar
• 2 1/4 tablespoons Cocoa Powder
• 3/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 1/8 cups Miniature Marshmallows

Layer all ingredients in lg canning jar or vacuum seal bag (marshmallows will Shrink if vacuum sealed!) 
Attach a card:
3/4 cup Butter or Margarine
3/4 cup Cola
1/4 + 1/8 cup Milk
2 small Eggs -- beaten
1 teaspoon Vanilla 
To make Cola-Cola Cake
Dump mix into lg bowl, set aside.
Combine Margarine & cola in a medium saucepan over med heat. Bring to a boil. Pour cola mix over cake mix, blending well, add remaining ingredients. Pour into prepared 9x9 pan & bake for 30 minutes at 350 F

5, Crazy Cake Mix in a Jar
2 cups flour
2/3 cup Cocoa Powder
3/4 tsp. Salt
1 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 1/3 cups Sugar
(4 cups of ingredients fill the jar)
Combine the sugar and salt and place in a 1 quart canning jar. Add the cocoa powder. Combine the flour and baking powder and add to the jar. It is helpful to tap jar lightlyon a padded surface (towel on counter) as you layer the ingredients to make all ingredients fit neatly. Use scissors to cut a 9" diameter circle from fabric of your choice. Center fabric circle over lid and secure with a rubber band. Tie on a raffia or ribbon bow to cover the rubber band.  
Attach a card with the following directions:
Crazy Cake
This is a crazy cake because you mix the cake all together in the pan that you bake it in.
Pour contents of jar into a 9x13" baking pan, then add the following ingredients:
3/4 cup Vegetable Oil
2 tsp. Vinegar
1 tsp. Vanilla
2 cups Water
Stir cake ingredients together using a wire whisk or fork, making certain that all ingredients are completely mixed together. Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes. Frost as desired or serve sprinkled with powdered sugar, with fresh fruit on the side.
6. Dairy Free Chocolate Cake Mix                                                                                                   Dairy Free Chocolate Cake Mix
2/3 cup cocoa
2 1/4 cup flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp instant coffee
Blend all ingredients until the consistency of corn meal.
Put in cool place in airtight container. . Use in 10-12 weeks.
Label with following: 
Dairy Free Chocolate Cake Mix:
1 Pkg Cake Mix
1 1/2 c. orange juice or water (or a combination)
3 eggs
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup canola oil
Mix well, Bake at 350 degrees until done. (9x13 pan approx 45-50 minutes)
Cool for 20 minutes before removing cake from pan, this recipe freezes well.
7.  Dairy Free Yellow Cake Mix                                                                                                              Dry Mix:
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
Blend all ingredients until the consistency of corn meal.
Put in cool place in airtight container. Use in 10-12 weeks. 
Label with following:                                                                                                                     . Dairy Free Yellow Cake Mix                                                                                                            To Make Cake:
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 cup orange or apple juice
1/2 cup canola oil
Mix well, Bake at 350 degrees until done. (9x13 pan approx 45-50 minutes) Cool for 10 minutes before removing cake from pan, this recipe freezes well.
8. Funnel Cake Mix
 1 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Layer all ingredients in Jar Or vacuumseal bag. 
Attach Tag/ Directions:
Combine the following:
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 cup Mix
Blend well. Pour 1/4-1/3 c. batter into a funnel (pour batter into hot oil from funnel bottom)Fry 1 minute on each side (or until golden brown) Turn only once or they will be greasy.
9. Hummingbird Cake Mix in a Jar
2  cups Flour
1 1/3 cups Sugar
1 teaspoon Baking Sod
3/4 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
2/3 cup Pecans -- chopped
Layer the ingredients in a lg canning jar or vacuum seal bag.
Seal & Attach tag: 
Attach a card:
Hummingbird Cake
1 cup vegetable oil
3 beaten eggs
8 ounce can crushed pineapple (undrained)
2 cups mashed bananas
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 Jar Mix
Preheat to 350 F
Combine all in a lg mixing bowl, do NOT beat. Stir just until moistened. Spread into greased 10x15 pan or Greased Bundt pan if desired.Bake for 55-60 minutes. Cool
10. Lemon Poppy-Seed Cake Mix
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 cups cake flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup poppy seeds
Measure all ingredients into a large ziploc (or vacuum seal) bag or qt size jar. 
Attach label: Lemon-Poppy Seed Cake
3/4 cup butter
6 eggs
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. lemon extract (not lemon juice)Zest of 1 lemon
1 pkg. Lemon Poppy-Seed Cake Mix 
Glaze:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice
Preheat oven to 350 F . Blend all ingredients together, Pour into greased 13x9 inch pan Bake 40 -50 minutes depending on your oven. Cool.
11. Pineapple Upside Down Cake Mix in a Jar
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon shortening
Preheat oven to 350F.
Grease and flour a 9x13 inch cake pan 
Pineapple Upside down Cake:
2 eggs
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Jar Mix
Combine all in a bowl, mixing well
In the bottom of a 9x13 pan, melt butter.
add 1 c. brown sugar, cover the bottom with pineapple slices & maraschino cherries, broken into pieces.
Pour cake mix batter on top
.Bake for 30-35 minutes. Invert onto tinfoil lined pan.
Cool & Serve
12. Spiced Apple Cake Mix
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. powdered vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup golden raisins
Measure all ingredients into a large ziploc (or vacuum seal) bag or qt size jar. 
Attach label: Spiced Apple Cake
1 package Spiced Apple Cake Mix
1 1/2 cups canola oil
3 large eggs
3 cups chopped apples
Preheat oven to 350 F . Blend all ingredients together, Pour into greased Bundt Pan Bake 1hr 10 minutes. Cool
13. Spiced Apple Cake Mix in a Jar
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. powdered vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup golden raisins
Combine all ingredients in Jar Or vacuum seal bag. 
Attach this to the Jar
Spiced Apple Cake
Serves 8 to 10
1package Spiced Apple Cake Mix
1 1/2 cups canola oil
3 large eggs
3 cups chopped apples
Grease a tube or Bundt pan. Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour into the prepared pan and bake at 350F for 1 hour & 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool; remove from the cake pan.
13. Spice Cake Mix
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup nonfat dry milk
3 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon shortening
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
Preheat oven to 350F.
Grease and flour a 9x13 inch cake pan 
Attach following
Spice Cake:
2 eggs
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Jar Mix
Combine all in a bowl, mixing well, pour into 9x13 greased pan.
Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool & Frost as desired
14. White Cake Mix
 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup nonfat dry milk
3 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon shortening 
Attach following Label:
To Make White Cake:
Preheat oven to 350F.
Grease and flour a 9x13 inch cake pan
3 egg whites
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Jar Mix
Combine all in a bowl, mixing well, pour into 9x13 greased pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool & Frost as desired. 
YellowCakeMix                                                                                                                      Yellow Cake Mix Recipe:
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup nonfat dry milk
3 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon shortening 
Attach the Following:                                                                                                                  
To Make the Cake:                                                                                                              
Preheat oven to 350F.
Grease and flour a 9x13 inch cake pan
2 eggs
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Jar Mix
Combine all in a bowl, mixing well, pour into 9x13 greased pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool & Frost as desired.

White Frosting Mix
Make your own fluffy homemade White Frosting Mix for cakes and whoopie pies!
2 cups Confectioners sugar -- sifted
3 tablespoons instant nonfat milk powder
6 tablespoons vegetable shortening
Blend all until well mixed
Attach Label to container:
White Frosting Mix
To Use:
Add 3 T of Ice cold water and Blend well. Add additional water (by tsp) if
needed until desired consistency.

Four Imitation Betty Crocker Cookie Recipes

So I really love the idea of having mixes on hand for convenience, but have you looked at the prices at the store lately??  I am overwhelmed, so I started searching for coupons and ways to cut on the cost. 
This is my awesome end result to the dilemma over the cookie mix recipes...I am delighted that making my own mixes was so easy and so cheap!!!  
****Thanks to http://fakeitfrugal.blogspot.com I can now enjoy the convenience minus the cost!  Hope you are as just as excited as I am....ENJOY!***

Credit

Imitation Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookies:

1 Cup Flour
1/4 Cup White Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
3/4 Cup Chocolate Chips

Mix together and store in a quart size ziplock bag.  Write instructions on the bag to add:  1 Stick Softened Butter, 1 Large Egg, 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract.  Mix & Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes.

Credit

Imitation Betty Crocker Sugar Cookies:

1 1/2 Cups Flour
3/4 Cup White Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt

Mix together and store in a quart size ziplock bag.  Write instructions on the bag to add:  1 Stick Softened Butter, 1 Large Egg, 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract.  Mix & Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes.

Credit

Imitation Betty Crocker Oatmeal Cookies:

1 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup White Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1 1/2 Cup Rolled Oats
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
Optional: 1/2 Cup Raisins and/or Nuts

Mix together and store in a quart size ziplock bag.  Write instructions on the bag to add:  1 Stick Melted Butter, 1 Large Egg, 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract.  Mix, Refrigerate for 30 Minutes & Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes.

Credit

Imitation Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cookies:

1 3/4 Cup Flour
3/4 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
3/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 Tablespoon Ground Ginger
1 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon Ground Cloves

Mix together and store in a quart size ziplock bag.  Write instructions on the bag to add:  1/2 Stick Softened Butter, 1 Large Egg, 1/8 Cup Molasses.  Mix & Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes.

Breakdown of the cost via http://fakeitfrugal.blogspot.com:

• Fake Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes (Pantry Ingredients, Between $0.30-$0.40 each mix)

• Total Fake-It Cost:  $3.20 (possibly less) for Cookie Mixes!!!!! 
• Compare to Real Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes ($2.50+ each (for 8 it would be around $20...Even with coupons you can't beat 3.20 or less!!!)
• Total Fake-It Savings:  $16.80"

I somehow feel a little guilty that I will probably NEVER buy BC cookie mixes again...but not really!

DIY Dish Soap

We have tried different recipes for homemade DIY dish soap and have found the following recipes to be useful. Though the second recipe is far more cheaper than the first, I have noticed that I have run out of dish soap rather quickly and tend to make more, plus I like my soap to suds up, so for a more ideal dish soap I would choose recipe #1 over recipe #2, but both work for getting the dishes done!

We have found two recipes for Dish Soap:

-Thank you to Hillbilly Housewife for the following recipes:

DIY Dish Soap Recipe #1

• 2 cups of Castile soap
• 1 tsp lemon juice or white vinegar
• 1/2 cup of warm water

Pour all ingredients into a cleaned out old dish soap bottle and shake until well combined. Give it another good shake before each use. The lemon juice or vinegar helps cut through the grease on your dishes.

DIY Dish Soap Recipe #2

This version takes a little longer to make, but is even more frugal

• 1/4 cup soap flakes or soap shavings (any bar soap will do)
• 2 cups water
• 1 tsp lemon juice or white vinegar

Get out a sturdy sauce pan. Pour the water and soap fakes in and slowly heat it over medium heat. Stir the mixture and keep heating it until all the soap flakes melt into the water. DO NOT let the mixture come to a boil. Turn down the heat if needed.

Allow the soap mixture to cool a bit, then stir in the lemon juice or vinegar. Keep it sitting in the pot until it is completely cooled, then pour it into an old dish soap bottle.

With either of these two homemade dish soap recipes you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to make them smell better. I find that if I use the lemon juice, I don’t need the essential oil. Bottled lemon juice works just fine.

**Adapted from the website: Hillbilly Housewife