Tired of Thin Layer Cakes – Here’s a Trick to Fix That! Yellow Layer Cake with Mini Chocolate Chips and English Toffee Bits

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by My Yellow Farmhouse - Cooking with Love!

I don’t know about other parts of the world, but the cake mixes in the States have been getting smaller and smaller – which is so wrong.  I’d rather pay a bit more and have a nice, fat layer cake..  We have no control over what the stupid cake mix companies do, but luckily there’s a few things you can add to be sure your layer cakes come out bigger.  (You may decide it’s just easier to make a cake from scratch – and that works too!)

BREAKING DEVELOPMENT  – –  I broke my ankle last night… Not a bad break, luckily, but still inconvenient.  And – get this – I’m having a party today because one of my twin sons and his family will be visiting from the Philadelphia area.

I’ve been cooking, and cleaning, for the last few days. Yesterday my other son and I put out all the outdoor furniture… and dragged out all the cushions and lanterns etc.  I was so pleased when I finished washing the final table and chairs… But cruel fate intervened… As I stepped down from our deck (to dump out the bucket of water) my foot caught on a huge, thick stepping stone… Over I went, like Jill of Jack & Jill fame, bucket, gloves and sponges flying all over.

And I heard my ankle break.  I crawled to where I thought I’d left my phone…. then remembered I’d brought it to the porch… so I crawled some more.  In any event, my brother-in-law and a neighbor got in me the car… but not until I directed them to find my comb, get my make-up kit and bring me clean clothes.  Being men… they started getting impatient – but I was married for almost 40 years… so I’m used to it!

Luckily, the cake (which is for my granddaughter’s birthday) was baked before I fell – so I got up early this morning so I could frost it and post the recipe.   ; o )

UPDATE — My Granddaughter was very happy with her birthday cake.  And the party was a great success as well !!

small red heart

Directions for a ‘Bigger and Better’ Layer Cake with Mini Chocolate Chips and English Toffee Bits  

Oven at 350F        Bake for 30 – 35 minutes      Two greased 9” round cake pans

Dry Ingredients for ‘Add-In’ Batter

  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar or granulated sugar   ++  I used brown
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 pinches salt

In a medium bowl mix together flour, sugar baking powder and salt with a fork

Liquid Ingredients for ‘Add-In’ Batter

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 1 egg

Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients. Beat with mixer for about 30 seconds until well blended.  Set bowl aside.

  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup English Toffee Bits  ++  I used ‘Heath’ Brand 
  • 1 Tbs. all purpose flour

Mix 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, 1/2 cup English Toffee Bits and 1 Tbs. flour in a small bowl.  Set aside.

  • 1 yellow cake mix, prepared according to package directions    ++  I used Duncan Hines Butter Yellow – ‘Classic’

Once cake mix is prepared, pour in ‘Add-On’ batter.  Beat with mixer for about 30 seconds until well blended.  Gently mix in mini chocolate chips, English Toffee Pieces and flour mixture.

Divide batter equally between two greased 9” round cake pans.  Bake at 350F for 30 – 35 minutes – or until toothpick or sharp knife inserted in center comes out clean.   ++  Because of the ‘Add-In’ batter, your layers may take 3 – 5 minutes more time than usual.  

Cool cakes on wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove cake from pans and cool completely before frosting.

—

Due to my broken ankle – and the fact that I have no crutches because the ER ran out of ‘short people crutches’, I frosted my cake with purchased frosting BUT soon I’ll post my recipe for a really delicious homemade chocolate frosting ‘to die for’.   Enjoy!!

P.S.  My son who lives locally is arriving in a few minutes with some crutches – HURRAH!! And I am not cancelling the party …however, I won’t be the one bringing out trays of food.. not for several weeks.

1 - Morgan's Birthday Cake - My Yellow Farmhouse

Add-In Batter – Ready to Go

2 - Morgan's Birthday Cake - My Yellow Farmhouse
Add-In Batter & Cake Mix Batter Mixed – Chocolate Chips and English Toffee Added
3 = Morgan's Birthday Cake - My Yellow Farmhouse
Divide Batter Equally Between 2 Greased 9″ Pans
Morgan's birthday cake - My Yellow Farmhouse
I Like to Level the Layers Using a Sharp Knife

Tired of Thin Layer Cakes - Here's a Trick to Fix That! Yellow Layer Cake with Mini Chocolate Chips and English Toffee - My Yellow 

 

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My Yellow Farmhouse - Cooking with Love!

Sure, it's necessary to eat to survive - but that's not any fun!! The fun comes from cooking, serving and eating with lots of love, I began this blog to share some of the delicious recipes I've gathered over the years. Thanks for dropping by & sharing the love!

16 thoughts on “Tired of Thin Layer Cakes – Here’s a Trick to Fix That! Yellow Layer Cake with Mini Chocolate Chips and English Toffee Bits”

  1. I’m so sorry that you had to deal with a broken ankle while trying to have your party. I’m very impressed that you got everything done and the cake looks special. I hope you heal quickly as I do know from experience how hard it is to get things done when you have broken bones.

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  2. Dear Cecile:
    Thanks for sharing your wonderful cake! It looks delicious. I think it would make a lovely Mother’s Day gift for someone! Thanks for sharing and linking. I also have a Monday blog party which is really widespread. I think that is the one you remembered and on Sunday I will have the featured posts from the Monday party.

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    1. As I said, you sure are more advanced than I am with ‘all this’!! Please remind me how I can join the Monday blog party – thank you so much. You are just a sweetheart! ; o )

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    1. I don’t like the idea that, slowly, some cake mix manufacturers have been selling smaller cakes mixes. BUT this idea not only fixes that… the cake actually even tastes better!! ; o )

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  6. The cake looks wonderful! I’m saving this in my recipe file to add to cake mixes because I too have noticed they’re getting smaller layers.

    You poor Dear! I can totally relate. I broke my foot last year stepping off our deck onto the step. The step collapsed which caused me to turn my ankle and foot some weird way which broke the foot.
    You’re more active the day after the break than I was!

    I hope the party is a wonderful success, and you’re a speed demon on the crutches in no time! Sending thoughts for a speedy recovery too! xx

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    1. I do a little, then sit down for a bit. I had striped all the beds and washed the blankets… so my son (the one who lives locally) was helping me do that. But now my kitchen is a mess…. I’m gonna rest and then try to clean it up. My other son should be here in about an hour. My twin brother arrives around three with his family and the rest of the crowd’ will arrive after 4:00.
      So sorry to hear that you did such a j.o.b. to your foot – ouch!! And, believe me, I’d probably be resting – and sleeping – if I didn’t have this party….

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  7. Beautiful cakes. I’m not a good cake decorator cause I can’t pipe worth a darn but I might be able to manage this.

    Sorry to hear about the ankle. Hobbling around must be pretty painful so please stay off it as much as you can and let it heal. Get better soon.

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