When it comes to cakes, there are several disagreements. One of the most heated discussions is whether a handmade cake is superior than a store-bought cake. In this post, I will examine the controversy between handmade and store-bought cakes. Are handmade cakes better for you?
Homemade cakes are often healthier than store-bought cakes since they do not include added chemicals, stabilizers, or preservatives. In addition, while making a cake at home, you may opt to use less sugar and healthier components.
Do you still need convincing? Here’s why you should start making your own cakes instead of purchasing them from the supermarket. This result, however, is dependent on how you choose to create your cakes and where you choose to acquire your cakes. Continue reading as I go further into this subject.
Contents
- 1 Are homemade cakes healthier?
- 2 Why are homemade cakes better?
- 3 Is It Better To Make A Handmade Cake Than Purchase One?
- 4 Why do store-bought cakes taste so different from homemade cakes?
- 5 Can homemade cakes qualify as processed food?
- 6 Is it OK to eat store-bought cakes?
- 7 What Are the Drawbacks of Home Baking?
- 8 Last Thoughts
Are homemade cakes healthier?
In general, handmade cakes are healthier than store-bought box cakes since they are generally produced fresh and consumed the same day. Handmade cakes are healthier since they do not include preservatives or other chemicals that are used to keep cakes fresh on store shelves.
There are several more reasons why handmade cakes are superior than packaged cakes. They are as follows:
- You know what ingredients are going into your cake
- You can choose to reduce the sugar in a recipe or add healthier ingredients like fruits and nuts
- Homemade cakes often have a denser texture than boxed cakes, which means they will fill you up more quickly and for longer
- Boxed cake mixes usually contain high levels of sodium, while homemade cakes typically don’t
- Boxed cake mixes often have Trans fats, which are unhealthy and can contribute to heart disease
- Homemade cakes are cheaper to make than boxed cake mixes
*Side Note: I recently published an essay regarding whether homemade or store-bought muffins are better and healthier. This article analyzes the two and decides which muffins are worth it! This article may be found here!
Why are homemade cakes better?
Homemade cakes taste better in general since they are produced with fresh, natural ingredients. Homemade cakes, unlike store-bought cakes, do not include chemicals such as preservatives, stabilizers, or artificial sweeteners.
Handmade cakes have a distinct taste from boxed cake mixes because the batter contains real butter rather than vegetable oil or margarine.
They are denser, moister, and have a superior texture than store-bought cookies.
Up to 12 inch 3-layer cakes may be stored in this container. This container was ideal for transporting my enormous cakes. This Cake Storage Jar is available on Amazon! * By the way, I’ve always wanted to be able to properly preserve my cakes, but I’ve never found a nice container that could accommodate my enormous cakes. I did, however, come across an Extra Large Cake Carrier lately.
When you prepare handmade cakes with passion and attention, you know they’ll be excellent. You may also add any additional ingredients you want to give them the precise taste and flavor you desire.
When I make my cakes, I may use less or more sugar, substitute coconut oil or avocado oil for butter, and use whole wheat flour instead of white all-purpose flour. The list goes on and on. As a result, they are healthier and taste better than boxed cakes.
Is It Better To Make A Handmade Cake Than Purchase One?
In general, preparing a handmade cake is preferable than purchasing a store-bought cake since you may save money on materials while making the cake from scratch. Handmade cakes are often less expensive than store-bought ones.
I make cakes often, and sometimes I don’t spend a dime since all of the things I need are frequently laying about the kitchen. Most of the ingredients you’ll need to make a healthy cake at home are inexpensive. And you’ll almost certainly have them in your kitchen.
They are also often healthier than store-bought versions since they lack artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and colors.
They also contain less sugar and calories than boxed cake mixes.
Yet, like with anything in life, there is always a trade-off. Homemade cakes take time to prepare and bake. But, this is not a negative thing since it distinguishes them from store-bought items.
When you create your own cake, you may pick which ingredients to use and how much of each component to use. You also get to spend valuable time with family members while preparing a wonderful meal!
*Side Note: If you want to discover How To Make A Cake Without Vanilla Extract, I just prepared an article on Vanilla Extract Substitutes that you may use, which you can see here!
Why do store-bought cakes taste so different from homemade cakes?
Store-bought cakes taste different from handmade cakes because they contain chemicals. Boxed cake mixes include stabilizers, preservatives, colorings, and artificial flavors to help them survive longer on the shelf and look better over time.
These chemicals also alter the flavor of store-bought cakes, making them taste inferior to handmade ones. Since most boxed cake mixes utilize vegetable oil or margarine instead of butter, the texture is often different.
This causes store-bought cakes to become more thick and dry.
Also, since they are made in big numbers, they may not necessarily have the same freshness as a cake made at home. A homemade cake will always taste better than one made from a commercial mix.
Can homemade cakes qualify as processed food?
Homemade cakes are often considered processed foods since they typically include sugar, salt, and other substances added during the baking process. Since handmade and store-bought cakes include the same fundamental components, they are both classified as processed foods.
But, I do not consider handmade cakes to be processed food since I create all of my cakes with natural ingredients and no preservatives!
The sole difference between handmade and store-bought cakes is the technique of preparation, which may be done at home or in a factory environment utilizing machinery such as mixers to swiftly combine all of the ingredients together before baking them into baked products.
*Side Note: You may also be interested in learning why your cakes might occasionally turn out Crumbly or Moist. I investigated the source of the issue and created an essay on Avoiding and Repairing Crumbly and Moist Cakes, which you can read here!
Is it OK to eat store-bought cakes?
In general, store-bought cakes are called processed food since they go through a lot of chemical alterations before being sold. To help them live longer and taste better, they are combined with preservatives and artificial flavors.
What Are the Drawbacks of Home Baking?
The most significant downside of home baking is the amount of time required. You must collect your ingredients, sometimes go to the shop to get more components if you do not have them on hand, mix everything together, place it in the oven, and then wait for it to be done.
Making a cake from scratch may take an hour or more, which is much longer than baking a boxed cake mix.
Yet, if you’re searching for something unique, this may be worth the effort since it tastes better than store-bought.
Another disadvantage of creating your own cake is that there may not always be enough time to prepare one when the hunger hits, so purchasing boxed cake mixes might assist fulfill such cravings without having to wait hours for them to be ready.
That being said, nothing beats the taste and scent of freshly baked goodies created from scratch as the fresh aroma permeates your house!
*Side Note: I just published an article titled Whether Handmade Cookies Are Healthier Than Store-Bought Cookies. This article compares and contrasts how both of them are manufactured and which is superior. This article may be found here!
Last Thoughts
Handmade cakes are always healthier and hence superior than store-bought cakes. They have no artificial sweeteners, colors, or flavors, and they often contain fewer sugar and calories than boxed cake mixes.