packet mix cake hack

hacked packet coconut bundt cake

I'm not much of a food photographer, and I know packet cake mixes are tres uncool BUT you need to trust me when I tell you that this hacked packet mix is supremely tasty.

Frankly, I'm quite a shonky hostess. While I like to 'appear' to be channelling the love child of Nigella and Martha (the science might be dodgy but it will happen one day) I truthfully cannot be arsed baking cakes from scratch if there's a five minute alternative that tastes just as good, makes half the mess and costs half the price. 

Now this love of the packet mix does not extend to ALL packet mixes but one in particular, The humble Tea Cake, perfect in its simplicity and un-matched in it's endless versatility. Packet Tea Cakes lend themselves to all sorts of hacking possibilities because they are simple, with few ingredients and generally fool proof. I've played with altering the ingredients to make a light orange and poppyseed, a raspberry and coconut and my favourite pear and cinnamon , I've even tried a lemon and lavender variation that was met with much lip smacking and tasty applause.

This coconut hack is simple, make the packet mix as per the instructions, substituting the milk for coconut cream and adding an additional 50 mls (of the coconut milk). I then add a cup of shredded coconut and mix well. Pour the batter into your prepared bundt tin and bake as per the instructions. I let my cake cool fully in the tin before turning it out and decorating with a simple lemon icing and more shredded coconut.

bon appetit!