A Fancy Twist On Chocolate Cake Mixes

Today, we all lead very busy lives and don't have hours to spend in our kitchens baking cakes.

When I am pressed for time and need a nice dessert cake, I will reach for a box of chocolate cake mix. I don't bake just plain cakes, I like to add things to them to make them 'extra special'.

Cake Baking Tips:

1. Invest in a cake tester. You can pick up one for less than $6.00 at most kitchen stores.

2. Don't over bake your cakes. I tend to remove my cakes from the oven 3-4 minutes before the recommended time because they will continue baking in the cake pan.

3. Don't grease and flour your baking pans unless the recipe calls for it.

4. Always let your cakes cool before frosting them.

Here are some recipes that you can easily make from a box of cake mix.

Chocolate Surprise Cake

1 chocolate cake mix
3 oz. box of cherry flavored gelatin
1 c. boiling water
1 c. 7-Up soda
1 box instant pudding mix, any flavor
8 oz. tub of cool whip

Prepare chocolate cake according to package directions. When cool, poke holes on top of cake with a fork. Dissolve the cherry gelatin in boiling water and add the 7-up. Pour over cake. Whip together the instant pudding mix and milk. Fold in cool whip and use this to frost the cake.

Triple Chocolate Cake

1 box chocolate cake mix
1 3/4 c. milk
1 box instant chocolate pudding mix
2 eggs
12 oz. chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients, mix by hand until well blended for about 3 minutes. Pour into greased and floured bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes or until cake is done. Do not over bake! Cool and then remove from pan.

German Chocolate Thunder Cake

1 box German Chocolate cake mix
14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
1 jar hot fudge ice cream topping
16 oz. tub of cool whip
2 heath candy bars

Bake cake according to package instructions. Let cool for 35 minutes. Poke holes in cake with a fork. Pour sweetened condensed milk over cake and spread evenly. Wait for 5 minutes. Spread fudge topping over cake. Wait another 5 minutes. Spread cool whip over cake and sprinkle crushed candy bars over the top.

Turtle Chocolate Cake

1 German Chocolate cake mix
3/4 c. margarine
1/2 c. evaporated milk
14 oz. bag of caramels
1 c. chopped pecans
6 oz. chocolate chips

Mix cake according to directions. Pour half of the batter into 9 x 13" pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Melt milk, margarine and caramels together. Pour over hot cake. Add pecans and chocolate chips on top of caramel mixture. Pour rest of batter over cake. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the top layer comes out clean.