Baking hacks are all the rage these days as home bakers look for ways to simplify recipes, use up pantry staples in new ways, and transform store-bought mixes into spectacular desserts. One of the most popular mixes to hack is Trader Joe’s blood orange olive oil cake mix. This versatile mix lends itself well to customization and creativity. Read on to discover tips and tricks for hacking Trader Joe’s blood orange cake mix into amazing cakes, cupcakes, loaves, and more.
What makes Trader Joe’s blood orange cake mix so hackable?
There are several characteristics that make Trader Joe’s blood orange olive oil cake mix an ideal base for baking projects and experiments:
- It contains quality ingredients like olive oil, almond flour, and blood orange flavor that provide great texture and flavor.
- The mix is versatile – it can be made into cakes, muffins, breads, and more.
- It’s affordable at just $3.99 per box, making it budget-friendly for testing out recipe ideas.
- The cake is sturdy enough to handle additions of fruits, nuts, chocolate chips, etc.
- The mild blood orange flavor serves as a neutral backdrop that pairs well with other flavors.
- You can customize the amount of mix used for different batch sizes and pan sizes.
With a high-quality convenient base and endless opportunities for creativity, it’s no wonder Trader Joe’s blood orange cake mix is a favorite for baking projects.
What ingredients can you add to the mix?
One of the best parts of hacking a store-bought cake mix is taking it up a notch with extra ingredients. Here are some easy add-ins that take Trader Joe’s blood orange cake to the next level:
- Fruits: Fold in fresh berries like blueberries, raspberries or strawberries. Diced mango, pineapple or apple work great too. For texture, add chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans or almonds.
- Chocolate: For chocolate orange flavor, add chocolate chips or cacao nibs. You can also swirl in chocolate hazelnut spread.
- Citrus: Intensify the citrus flavor with zest from lemons, limes, oranges or grapefruit.
- Spices: Complement the cake with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger or cardamom.
- Extracts: Almond, vanilla, coconut and maple extracts can all add flavor depth.
- Sweet extras: Mix in caramel sauce, dulce de leche, honey, or jam for extra sweetness.
Get creative with the add-ins and let your imagination run wild! The neutral citrus flavor of the cake mix makes it perfect for just about any mix-ins you can think up.
What are some recipe hacks and tricks?
Now for some specific recipe ideas to transform Trader Joe’s blood orange cake mix:
Blood Orange Loaf Cake
For a simple one-bowl loaf cake:
- Use 1 box cake mix
- Add 3 eggs and 1/3 cup olive oil
- Fold in 1 cup blueberries
- Bake in a greased loaf pan at 350F for 50-60 minutes
Blood Orange Cupcakes
To make moist, fluffy cupcakes:
- Use 1 box cake mix
- Add 2 eggs, 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, and 1/3 cup oil
- Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake at 350F for 18-20 minutes
- Frost with a cream cheese or buttercream frosting
Blood Orange Upside-Down Cake
For a show-stopping upside-down cake:
- Spread 1/4 cup butter in a cast iron skillet or cake pan
- Layer sliced peaches or plums in the bottom of the pan
- Make cake batter from 1 box mix, 2 eggs and 1/3 cup oil
- Pour batter over the fruit and bake at 350F for 35-40 minutes
- Let cool before flipping over onto a plate
What are some substitutions or variations?
The versatility of Trader Joe’s blood orange cake mix makes it perfect for substitutions to suit different needs and diets:
- For egg-free: Replace eggs with 1/2 banana or 1/4 cup applesauce per egg
- For dairy-free: Use oil or non-dairy milk instead of yogurt or butter
- For gluten-free: Swap the cake mix for gluten-free flour blend
- For paleo: Use almond flour and coconut oil instead of cake mix
- For low sugar: Reduce amount of mix and add more fruit
- For chocolate: Replace 2 tbsp mix with 2 tbsp cocoa powder
Feel free to get creative and substitute ingredients to achieve whatever dietary needs you may have!
What tools, pans, etc. do you need?
Baking with Trader Joe’s blood orange olive oil cake mix doesn’t require any special tools or equipment. Here are the basic kitchen tools you’ll need:
- Mixing bowls
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Spatula for folding and mixing
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cake pans, muffin tins, or loaf pans
- Parchment paper or cooking spray for prepping pans
- Cooling racks for cooled cakes and cupcakes
- Frosting bag and tips if decorating
- Knife for leveling or cutting layered cakes
Having basic mixing bowls, pans, and kitchen tools on hand is all you need to whip up amazing olive oil cakes with this versatile mix!
What are some decorating ideas?
Turn your doctored-up blood orange olive oil cakes into masterpieces with these decorating ideas:
- Fresh fruit like orange slices, berries, or lemon curd
- Chocolate ganache, caramel, or buttercream frosting
- Toasted coconut, citrus zest, crushed nuts for garnish
- Edible flowers like roses, lavender, or sunflowers
- Chocolate shavings or chocolate drizzle
- Vanilla or citrus whipped cream
- Dust with powdered sugar or cinnamon
- Blood orange glaze made from juice and powdered sugar
Let the colors and flavors of the cake guide your decor. Have fun with different frostings, fruits, blooms and other embellishments!
What are some recipe serving ideas?
From breakfast to dessert, there are endless ways to serve up olive oil cakes made with Trader Joe’s mix. Some delicious ideas include:
- Breakfast or brunch coffee cake
- Pack mini loaf cakes for lunchboxes
- After school snack cupcakes
- Elegant dinner party dessert
- Potluck or picnic cake
- Hostess gift or care package treat
- Holiday morning breakfast cake
- Bridal or baby shower cake
However you choose to serve it, this versatile cake mix makes baking easy for any occasion!
What are some related recipe ideas or flavor variations?
Once you master the basic Trader Joe’s blood orange olive oil cake recipe, have fun dreaming up flavor variations like:
- Lemon blueberry: Add lemon zest and blueberries
- Tropical coconut: Fold in coconut flakes and pineapple
- Carrot spice: Mix in grated carrots, walnuts and spice
- Vanilla almond: Add almond extract and slivered almonds
- Chai spice: Warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, clove
- Tiramisu: Soak cake in espresso and top with mascarpone
- S’mores: Add chocolate and marshmallows, graham cracker crust
You could also turn the mix into olive oil muffins, quick breads, or even cake pops! Let the mix spark your creativity.
What are some troubleshooting tips for common issues?
Even the best bakers may run into trouble sometimes. Here are tips to troubleshoot common olive oil cake issues:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Dry, crumbly cake | Add more oil or non-dairy milk to batter |
| Dense or heavy cake | Avoid overmixing batter to prevent gluten formation |
| Burnt cake | Lower oven temperature 25 degrees and bake for longer |
| Undercooked interior | Use a toothpick to test center before removing from oven |
| Cake sticks to pan | Grease pan well and allow cake to fully cool before removing |
| Uneven rising | Rotate pan midway through baking for even baking |
With some simple adjustments and extra care while baking, you can troubleshoot just about any cake mishap!
What are some top tips for the best hacked cake?
Here is a recap of tips and tricks for hacking Trader Joe’s blood orange olive oil cake mix into baked goods perfection:
- Use room temperature ingredients for ideal texture
- Cream oil and sugar first before adding eggs and mix
- Gently fold in delicate add-ins like berries to avoid crushing
- Grease pans thoroughly for clean release
- Check for doneness early to prevent overbaking
- Let cakes cool completely before frosting or decorating
- Store olive oil cakes tightly wrapped at room temperature
- Enjoy within 3-4 days for optimal freshness
With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready to hack Trader Joe’s olive oil cake mix into masterpieces!
Conclusion
Hacking Trader Joe’s versatile blood orange olive oil cake mix unlocks a world of possibilities for bakers. With some simple ingredient swaps and additions, this affordable mix can be customized into endless baked delights. Use the mix as a base and let your creativity run wild with fruits, nuts, chocolate, spices and more. Whip up loaf cakes, layered cakes, cupcakes, muffins and any treats you can imagine. Trader Joe’s olive oil cake mix makes baking fun, easy and budget-friendly for cooks of all skill levels. Get ready to impress at your next potluck, party or family gathering with your own signature hacked cake creations.