The best cupcake mix on the market

For my birthday I received a gift card to one of my favorite stores, Williams-Sonoma. With my pledge to be more fiscally responsible, I couldn't justify buying a new Capresso thermal coffee pot, which I really wanted or a new set of Wustof knives, which I really do need. Therefore, I settled for more practical purchases like: a) tablecloth that was so marked down, they were practically giving it away, b) potlach seasoning mix which is scrumptious on fish and smoked meats and c) two Sprinkles cupcake mixes which one of my friends was raving about.

Since my precious 19 month old son likes to proclaim, "cook" I decided that we would cook some cupcakes as an after dinner treat to celebrate President Obama's inauguration. I thought that the mix might speed up the process and allow him to participate more (I only really let him pour items into the kitchenaid stand mixer and stir occasionally so don't call DHS on me and tell them I let him play with knives).

We decided to whip up the vanilla cupcakes (I bought the dark chocolate and will let you know how those turn out). While purchasing the mix, I read the list of ingredients and was pleasantly surprised to find no HFCS or High Fructose Corn Syrup or any partially hydrogenated anything a.k.a. trans fat.

As we set out the mixer and followed the directions, it dawned on me that there were quite a few steps in the process for preparing something that comes out of a box. When it was all said and done, you actually make your own frosting, which really was to die for good, but takes more time. Also, you use quite a few ingredients of your own unlike most mixes which require two at the most. For example, you have to add the butter, milk and eggs (egg whites and one whole egg).

So would I go to all the trouble again for something out of a box? The answer is yes, but it is a pricey yes. At $14 a box plus all your own ingredients, I may try and emulate the recipe myself. I don't really need that signature dot on as a topper and since I am going to all the trouble to do dishes, mix other things, etc, I should just make them from scratch.

While I might make cupcakes myself, I will still buy this product as a gift and perhaps when I feel like splurging, I will pick up a box for myself. Who knows, the lemon or the dark chocolate varieties may cut out lots of other ingredients and work that makes the box variety more appealing.