Has anyone noticed the size difference in the cake mixes??

[Celeste_cc]

Hi Fellows Bakers...
I have a question for ya.? Have you noticed DH reduced the cake mix packaging from 18.25 oz. To 16.5?. Which of course yields less cake. My main question is...If I want to make pound cake the recipe online says cake mix, pudding,eggs,etc... But what they don't specify is the SIZE OF THE BOX??
Is the cake texture or the way it cooks going to come out different with the smaller box? Please let me know if you can shed some light on this for me.? Thank you so much.
Celeste

[Jerryanne]

Hi Celeste-welcome to the forum. I'm Carol from New England.

I sure did notice that DH reduced the cake mix size......from what I've seen it's the cake mixes in their "Classic" line-yes they renamed them too. That would be the yellow and chocolate ones-not sure about the butter recipe mix.

I refuse to buy the smaller size. I'm stubborn like that I guess.

What I am upset about is that now all of these cake mix books I have-like my Cake Mix Doctor books and such-that call for a no pudding included 18.25 oz. mix are unusable unless a fix is found.

I wrote to DH and got this response........

Thank you for your recent contact regarding Duncan Hines Cake Mix.

We have reformulated our Duncan Hines classic cake mix line to offer the same moistness and delicious taste you know and expect from Duncan Hines. As a result of the reformulation we were able to reduce the weight of our classic cake mixes from 18.25 ounces to 16.5 ounces and still deliver the same size cake/cupcakes, allowing us to provide the same great value to you despite rapidly rising raw material costs that would otherwise require us to raise our prices.

You should continue to follow the directions on the box to ensure consistent results.

Duncan Hines shares your concern about rising prices. We are taking every possible step to operate as efficiently as possible. Regrettably, we cannot absorb all increased production costs without increasing prices to our grocery customers. Ultimately, the pricing of all products are set by the retailer. Store management determines pricing based on their operating costs.

We understand the problems of the increased cost of living and will continue to do our best to make quality food products that are the best possible food value. We appreciate customer feedback like yours because it helps us become more aware of consumer concerns and preferences. Thank you for your insight.



Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at 1-800-362-9834 so we can assist you further.


Also got a coupon for a free product-which isn't going to do me much good since their new "reformulated" mix isn't going to do what I need it to do. People have posted here that the mixes aren't cooking up right and the cakes are rubbery. The layers are thinner-they're getting less cupcakes per box when the box states it still makes 24.

Why lie about the downsizing? When you look at the box in the store, it looks like it's the same size as the other brand that still manufactures the 18.25 oz. mixes, albeit with pudding in the mix. If they downsized, WHY NOT state that on the box? Why not announce the mix has been "reformulated"? Nope-instead they're saying nothing and trying to pass this off.......and people are noticing and complaining.....and apparently not being heard.

Also-here's what Anne Byrn-the Cake Mix Doctor recommends to fix the problem with one of her cake recipes-perhaps it will with other recipes too. I have not tried it. I have enough of the 18.25 oz. mixes in my freezer.....unless DH is willing to listen to the consumers who are outraged about this and telling them that? I'll be finding chocolate and yellow from scratch recipes to make.

Here's the link to the Cake Mix Doctor's post on her blog about the smaller cake mixes:

http://www.cakemixdoctor.com/2012/04...se-pound-cake/

As many have said-I would have rather paid a little more and gotten the same product I knew and could trust than to deal with this headache.

It's really sad that it's come to this......

Again, welcome,

Carol

[Ann M]

I have found,it has made a difference,with me so far.It is really a shame,Duncan Hines,reduced the amount in there cake mixes.

[DMF624]

I agree with everything previously said. I called DH and they read me the same statement that was stated in the other email. You could tell the person on the phone was reading it and probably really didn't know what problems this was causing Bakers everywhere. I have used DH for many years and my customers expect the same consistency as before but now I'm not able to do that. I would have been willing to pay an increase if they had kept it the same. I wasn't aware the Devils Food choc had changed and from memory I put in the same amount of liquid etc as the formula called for before. My customer asked what I had done. They thought it was wonderful and so much more moist. I guess I need to experiment with the white. The volume is just not there and when you are doing a wedding cake it sure messes things up along with our nerves.

[DMF624]

The white cake mix doesn't begin to give you 24 cupcakes per box either. Ugh!

[Jerryanne]

Hi DMF624...........frustrating as all get out isn't it? I have so many recipes I can't use now because of this "reformulation" and downsizing of the popular flavors of mixes.

Did the White cake mix downsize too? If not, and you're not getting 24 cupcakes..........

What's up with that?

I think pretty much all of us who relied on Duncan Hines cake mixes to give us a quality product when we didn't have time to bake from scratch would have been happier paying a little more for the SAME PRODUCT-formula AND weight-instead, the price went up AND they took product away. And no, it wasn't the store that raised the price....I've spoken with more than one store manager and they base their cost on what they pay.

I guess what we consumers have to say is falling on deaf ears......it really is a shame.


Carol

[Smokeysmomm]

"I guess what we consumers have to say is falling on deaf ears......it really is a shame."


I agree, but not falling on deaf ears. it very much appears as if they don't care and are trying their best to try and pacify us. if they cut the mix size to save money, then cut the salary of the smart person who came up with the idea since all he/she managed to do was irritate a whole lot of people who USED to use the product, which is NOT the same anymore. if they say it is? their tastebuds must have taken a vacation

[Jerryanne]

Yup-you're right-and that pacifying ain't workin' a lick for me.......

[prettycake51]

Originally Posted by Smokeysmomm

"I guess what we consumers have to say is falling on deaf ears......it really is a shame."


I agree, but not falling on deaf ears. it very much appears as if they don't care and are trying their best to try and pacify us. if they cut the mix size to save money, then cut the salary of the smart person who came up with the idea since all he/she managed to do was irritate a whole lot of people who USED to use the product, which is NOT the same anymore. if they say it is? their tastebuds must have taken a vacation

Deaf ears aka selective hearing... Like I said, horses wearing blinders...
Narrow minds, narrow brains who don't give a ****. Bad and rude me, bad, bad, rude, rude me...

[prettycake51]

It's all our imagination , as they claimed. We the consumers are the ones that have a problem. How dare we accuse them ! shame on us