Homemade Vs. Boxed Chocolate Cake

1 00:00:01,939 --> 00:00:05,272 (smooth uptempo melodic jazz music) 2 00:00:06,323 --> 00:00:08,866 - Brenda, what are you doing? 3 00:00:08,866 --> 00:00:11,514 - (laughs maniacally) Oh my god! 4 00:00:11,514 --> 00:00:13,14 - You keep ruining everything! 5 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,630 Hey guys, I'm Von. 6 00:00:23,630 --> 00:00:25,643 I'm a Tasty producer here in New York. 7 00:00:25,643 --> 00:00:26,980 (whispering) It is so cold! 8 00:00:26,980 --> 00:00:28,730 I love chocolate cake. 9 00:00:28,730 --> 00:00:29,40 I'm on my way to the store right now 10 00:00:29,40 --> 00:00:30,330 to buy a chocolate cake 11 00:00:30,330 --> 00:00:31,163 and some boxed cake mix, 12 00:00:31,163 --> 00:00:33,540 and I'm going to see if I can make 13 00:00:33,540 --> 00:00:35,680 a homemade version that rivals it. 14 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:36,580 I'm going to have a taste test 15 00:00:36,580 --> 00:00:37,610 with some people in the office, 16 00:00:37,610 --> 00:00:39,650 and I guess they'll be the judge. 17 00:00:39,650 --> 00:00:40,649 Let's get chocolatey. 18 00:00:40,649 --> 00:00:43,130 You know, there's nothing inherently wrong with boxed cake. 19 00:00:43,130 --> 00:00:44,450 It's great if you're in a pinch, 20 00:00:44,450 --> 00:00:47,960 and it's a lovely starting off point for your cakes. 21 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,530 For the purposes of my taste test, 22 00:00:50,530 --> 00:00:51,930 I'm going to follow the instructions 23 00:00:51,930 --> 00:00:53,0 exactly as they are on the package. 24 00:00:53,0 --> 00:00:55,790 However, there are a lot of really, really 25 00:00:55,790 --> 00:00:57,20 great ways to elevate a boxed cake. 26 00:00:57,20 --> 00:00:59,110 My mama is a fantastic baker, 27 00:00:59,110 --> 00:01:03,660 and my dad, for some reason, loves boxed yellow cake. 28 00:01:03,660 --> 00:01:06,920 So, growing up, she taught me to replace the water with milk 29 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:07,360 and the oil with butter, 30 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:09,800 and that higher fat content 31 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:10,400 really helps the texture of the cake, 32 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:13,550 because boxed cake can be a little bit dry. 33 00:01:14,592 --> 00:01:18,925 (smooth uptempo melodic jazz music) 34 00:01:19,870 --> 00:01:21,610 There's a lot of ways to really elevate your 35 00:01:21,610 --> 00:01:23,53 boxed cake so that it tastes homemade. 36 00:01:23,53 --> 00:01:26,660 It does dome up quite a bit when you bake it, 37 00:01:26,660 --> 00:01:27,320 so I'm going to just cut that off 38 00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:30,70 because I really want all the cakes to look pretty similar 39 00:01:30,70 --> 00:01:31,240 for my cake tasting. 40 00:01:33,620 --> 00:01:35,820 I'm using canned frosting for that ultimate 41 00:01:35,820 --> 00:01:36,880 store-bought experience, 42 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:39,150 but another way to make boxed cake taste even better 43 00:01:39,150 --> 00:01:41,710 is with homemade buttercream, 44 00:01:41,710 --> 00:01:43,360 which is like the easiest thing in the world to make. 45 00:01:45,140 --> 00:01:46,500 In my humble opinion, 46 00:01:46,500 --> 00:01:49,130 the best way to make any cake look really nice 47 00:01:49,130 --> 00:01:50,320 is fresh fruit on top. 48 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:53,420 Go from zero to hero in no time flat. 49 00:01:53,420 --> 00:01:54,495 Not bad boxed cake. 50 00:01:54,495 --> 00:01:57,20 It's like putting lipstick on a pig. 51 00:01:58,880 --> 00:01:59,120 Our culinary team at Tasty, 52 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,30 led by my wonderful friend, Claire, 53 00:02:01,30 --> 00:02:05,770 worked really hard on developing this amazing recipe 54 00:02:05,770 --> 00:02:07,790 for the ultimate chocolate cake. 55 00:02:07,790 --> 00:02:08,70 Um, this is kind of embarrassing, 56 00:02:08,70 --> 00:02:10,367 but I actually cried the first time I tasted it. 57 00:02:10,367 --> 00:02:12,960 I wish I was kidding. 58 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:14,500 The star of this cake is obviously the chocolate, 59 00:02:14,500 --> 00:02:17,820 but there are some really important supporting roles 60 00:02:17,820 --> 00:02:18,220 that help that chocolate shine. 61 00:02:18,220 --> 00:02:20,70 The stout and the espresso powder 62 00:02:20,70 --> 00:02:23,740 add so much depth to this cake. 63 00:02:23,740 --> 00:02:25,250 It really gives it such a boost 64 00:02:25,250 --> 00:02:27,210 that's going to make you go like, "Wow, 65 00:02:27,210 --> 00:02:29,650 "what is in this cake?" 66 00:02:29,650 --> 00:02:30,830 Creaming the butter and sugar 67 00:02:30,830 --> 00:02:32,387 is a super important process in any cake 68 00:02:32,387 --> 00:02:33,430 that you're going to make 69 00:02:33,430 --> 00:02:36,600 because when you cream together butter and sugar, 70 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:37,910 you're adding air into the butter 71 00:02:37,910 --> 00:02:38,314 and then the sugar's holding onto that air 72 00:02:38,314 --> 00:02:40,120 and then that's going to give our cake 73 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,560 a really nice structure. 74 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:43,260 Now, I didn't do this for the boxed cake 75 00:02:43,260 --> 00:02:45,800 because it's boxed cake, 76 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:47,340 but I really like to crack my eggs into a separate bowl, 77 00:02:47,340 --> 00:02:48,420 just in case you get a bad egg 78 00:02:48,420 --> 00:02:51,620 and adding them one at a time is important 79 00:02:51,620 --> 00:02:53,780 so that everything gets nice and incorporated. 80 00:02:53,780 --> 00:02:54,170 Okay, don't freak out, 81 00:02:54,170 --> 00:02:56,940 but we're going to add some mayonnaise. 82 00:02:56,940 --> 00:02:57,470 We're only using half a cup. 83 00:02:57,470 --> 00:02:59,840 You're not going to taste it, 84 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:00,40 and it's going to create 85 00:03:00,40 --> 00:03:04,695 the most sinfully, moist cake you've ever had. 86 00:03:04,695 --> 00:03:07,550 I apologize for my casual use of the phrase, 87 00:03:07,550 --> 00:03:09,640 "sinfully moist." 88 00:03:09,640 --> 00:03:09,480 We're going to switch off 89 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,180 adding the dry and the wet ingredients in stages 90 00:03:12,180 --> 00:03:14,120 because mainly, you just don't want to get 91 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:16,810 all the (bleep) all over your kitchen. 92 00:03:16,810 --> 00:03:18,830 Wow, that looks so good. 93 00:03:18,830 --> 00:03:20,220 We're also going to add chocolate chunks to the cake. 94 00:03:20,220 --> 00:03:22,920 This is just another little element of surprise. 95 00:03:22,920 --> 00:03:23,920 When people bite into it, 96 00:03:23,920 --> 00:03:25,330 they're going to get that fudgy, fudgy cake. 97 00:03:25,330 --> 00:03:27,380 They're going to get the nice, light buttercream, 98 00:03:27,380 --> 00:03:29,210 and then they're going to have that snap 99 00:03:29,210 --> 00:03:31,620 from the chocolate. 100 00:03:31,620 --> 00:03:33,790 So we're going to make sure everything is evenly distributed 101 00:03:33,790 --> 00:03:35,343 and it's time to bake. 102 00:03:35,343 --> 00:03:38,10 (smooth uptempo melodic jazz music) 103 00:03:38,10 --> 00:03:40,540 As you can see, they kind of start to dome, 104 00:03:40,540 --> 00:03:41,420 but then flatten out as they bake. 105 00:03:41,420 --> 00:03:43,570 And then you'll know they're done 106 00:03:43,570 --> 00:03:44,220 when a toothpick comes out clean. 107 00:03:46,660 --> 00:03:47,920 Super smooth. 108 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,870 Almost like, dare I say, Buttah. 109 00:03:51,927 --> 00:03:52,290 In the past few weeks, 110 00:03:52,290 --> 00:03:54,340 I've consumed more buttercream 111 00:03:54,340 --> 00:03:58,726 than any human being should ever consume ever, 112 00:03:58,726 --> 00:04:01,790 but that is because this frosting is so 113 00:04:01,790 --> 00:04:03,760 light, fluffy, and delicious. 114 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:04,100 The best thing about it is that 115 00:04:04,100 --> 00:04:08,740 it's not overly sweet and it compliments the cake very well. 116 00:04:08,740 --> 00:04:11,832 It's also really smooth, which makes it amazing for 117 00:04:11,832 --> 00:04:14,320 decorating which is everybody's favorite part. 118 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:17,440 Well, you know, besides the whole eating thing. 119 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:19,920 Now it's time to have some fun. 120 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:21,630 I mean, this is the part 121 00:04:21,630 --> 00:04:23,790 where you can get as creative as you want, 122 00:04:23,790 --> 00:04:25,144 you can take it as simplistic as you want. 123 00:04:25,144 --> 00:04:27,100 Just make sure to put enough buttercream 124 00:04:27,100 --> 00:04:29,590 in between all those layers, 125 00:04:29,590 --> 00:04:29,423 that when you cut it, 126 00:04:29,423 --> 00:04:31,180 you got some really nice distinction. 127 00:04:32,22 --> 00:04:35,520 I really want to wow people at this cake tasting, 128 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,514 so I'm using a dough scraper to smooth out the sides. 129 00:04:38,514 --> 00:04:39,74 I'm adding a ganache drip 130 00:04:39,74 --> 00:04:41,820 down the sides of the cake, 131 00:04:41,820 --> 00:04:42,653 and then I'm going to pipe 132 00:04:42,653 --> 00:04:43,220 a little bit of a border at the bottom 133 00:04:43,220 --> 00:04:45,70 and add the fruit on top. 134 00:04:45,70 --> 00:04:47,700 And I guess no cake is complete without 135 00:04:47,700 --> 00:04:49,940 the world's largest strawberry. 136 00:04:54,731 --> 00:04:55,564 I think it looks pretty good, 137 00:04:55,564 --> 00:04:56,330 and I think we're ready to go up against 138 00:04:56,330 --> 00:04:58,180 a store-bought cake and a boxed cake. 139 00:05:00,210 --> 00:05:01,43 Here we go! 140 00:05:07,577 --> 00:05:11,616 (distant chatter) (uptempo melodic jazz music) 141 00:05:11,616 --> 00:05:11,449 - Whoa! 142 00:05:11,449 --> 00:05:13,670 - I would eat this entire cake. 143 00:05:13,670 --> 00:05:15,990 - Why would I waste my time on any other cake? 144 00:05:16,903 --> 00:05:18,710 - That's the one. - That's so good! 145 00:05:18,710 --> 00:05:20,120 - The first one, the first one is totally-- 146 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:22,720 - One is my favorite. - Yay! 147 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:24,300 - It is just the best chocolate cake I've ever had. 148 00:05:24,300 --> 00:05:25,133 - Yes! 149 00:05:25,133 --> 00:05:27,850 - Okay guys, we have our three cakes here, 150 00:05:27,850 --> 00:05:28,280 now let's boogie. 151 00:05:28,280 --> 00:05:30,468 Though the homemade cake took a little bit longer to make, 152 00:05:30,468 --> 00:05:34,930 it definitely was the best experience of all three. 153 00:05:34,930 --> 00:05:35,390 You taste the texture, 154 00:05:35,390 --> 00:05:38,320 far outweighed that of the boxed cake 155 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,570 and the store-bought cake. 156 00:05:40,570 --> 00:05:42,870 You cannot get a better, 157 00:05:42,870 --> 00:05:45,0 more moist, dare I say, cake. 158 00:05:45,0 --> 00:05:47,600 When we're talking about chocolate cake, 159 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:48,0 you gotta use the word moist. 160 00:05:48,0 --> 00:05:49,920 There's nothing else. 161 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:51,774 The world needs cake. 162 00:05:51,774 --> 00:05:54,90 It would just solve all of our problems. 163 00:05:54,90 --> 00:05:56,750 I'm going to the gym now. 164 00:05:56,750 --> 00:05:57,763 Thank you. 165 00:05:57,763 --> 00:05:58,960 Good night.