Cake mixes have really come a long way since they were first introduced in the 1930s. There are now so many flavors from which to choose, and better yet, there are even more ways to use the mixes besides just baking a cake.
When I first saw a recipe using only an angel food cake mix and a 20-ounce can of crushed pineapple, I didn’t believe it would make a decent cake. But, after beating the two ingredients together for a couple of minutes and baking it for 40 minutes at the usual 350 degrees, I couldn’t believe what a great and relatively low-calorie dessert it made. Served with a couple of dollops of whipped topping, it wasn’t just a fast dessert, but a delicious one as well!
If you’re not in the angel food mood, though, you also can use a devil’s food cake mix to make a quick and tasty dessert that’s a lot like brownies, with a chewy center. This recipe for Four-Ingredient Little Devils calls for twice the number of ingredients as the easy angel food and pineapple cake, but it’s still a breeze to make. And, you probably already have the four ingredients you need in your cupboard, so no special trip to the grocery store is required.
The last time I made this dessert, I only had a German chocolate cake mix, so I tried it and was surprised to find it was just as tasty as ones I’d made before with the devil’s food mix, only a little sweeter.
So, whether you’re feeling like an angel or a little more like a devil, there are at least two ways to use a cake mix and whip up a quick and yummy dessert, and guests will think you spent hours making it.
FOUR-INGREDIENT LITTLE DEVILS
1 (18.25-ounce) package devil’s food cake mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 (7-ounce) jar marshmallow creme
Combine cake mix and butter, stirring well (mixture will be crumbly). Set aside 1 1/2 cups cake mix mixture. Press remaining mixture in bottom of a greased 13-by-9-inch baking pan.
Combine peanut butter and marshmallow creme in a bowl, stirring until blended. Dollop peanut butter mixture evenly over mixture in pan; spread evenly, using back of a spoon. Sprinkle reserved 1 1/2 cups cake mixture over peanut butter mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool completely in a pan or on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Makes about 3 dozen bars.
Note: Any chocolate cake mix will work with this recipe.
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