Cooks.....advice

[hyphenate]

I have a couple of boxes of cake mix that I found deep in the pantry, but I hesitate to use them because their date has expired--at least by more than a year! Last time I made a cake from an expired package, it still tasted good, but it was dense and almost as flat as a pancake.

Would these be any good if I simply added either more baking soda or more baking powder to the mix? Or should I toss them and buy some newer ones?

[LeftyMom]

1. You may be able to salvage them with a bit more baking powder.

Alternately a teaspoon or so of vinegar helps cakes to rise and get fluffy without effecting the taste, but it will only work if theres some omph left in the baking powder.

[miss_american_pie]

2. I wouldn't try to make cake

But several bar cookie recipes use cake mix as the bottom layer, sort of like a graham cracker crust. Those don't need to rise.

[AllegroRondo]

3. Baking powder/soda has a shelf life of only a year

so you may be able to salvage it by adding more.

If its only for yourself, and not for a party or guests, why not go for it?

[hyphenate]

4. Thanks guys

Since it's mainly for me, I will try adding the extra baking soda and experiment with it. As for the bar cookie recipes, thanks! I didn't think of that, but it's an excellent way to use them if the regular baking doesn't work. I'll let you know how it all turns out!

[radwriter0555]

5. Toss them out.

Scratch cakes are easier and far cheaper, but mixes are cheap enough as it is.