FAQS
ARE THE INGREDIENTS ALLERGY FRIENDLY?
Yes and no. ANYTHING could be an allergen. But our Smash Cake and Frosting Mixes were specially formulated to avoid all 8 of the most common allergens, including milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. That said, despite a thorough cleaning between product formulas, this cake mix is prepared in a facility that may process the common allergens. So, cross-contamination - although unlikely - could occur.
DO I REALLY NEED TO ADD VINEGAR OR LEMON TO THE SMASH CAKE MIX?
Yes! An acid is required to activate the baking soda in the mix, which helps the cake rise and give it a light, fluffy texture. Our preference is vinegar (we promise you won't taste it at all), but lemon juice works too.
WHAT IS THE ORIGINAL FLAVOUR, AND DOES THE MIX REALLY TASTE LIKE CAKE?
The original flavour is simply a lightly sweetened (with organic date powder) cake, with no unnecessary additives or flavourings. If you like, you can add vanilla extract for flavour.
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A NOTE FROM THE OWNER: As much as my family (and families all over North America) LOVES this cake, I want to be transparent - this is probably not a cake that's going to WOW adults. It's meant for the taste buds of little ones who haven't sampled the same sugar and butter-laden cakes we've eaten, so it really won't compare to them. And it's not meant to! It's a cake that is full of nutritious ingredients, bridging the gap between a treat and a wholesome snack. When I'm asked what it tastes like, I tell people it's just like a muffin without any of the add-ins like raisins or chocolate chips.
CAN I ADD SOME EXTRA SWEETNESS TO THE CAKE MIX TO APPEAL TO TASTEBUDS BEYOND A YEAR OLD?
Yes! For some extra sweetness that's more cake-like you can add 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup in place of 1/4 cup of the milk or non-dairy milk. So instead of being 1 cup of milk, it'll be 3/4 cup of milk + 1/4 cup maple syrup. You can also add your own dry sweetener to taste - the batter doesn't contain any raw egg so it's perfectly safe to taste-test before baking :)
ONLY FOUR INGREDIENTS IN THE SMASH CAKE MIX? DOESN'T IT NEED PRESERVATIVES OR SOMETHING?
We believe simplicity is king, and that good quality ingredients will shine on their own. Babies and children don't need the extra additives, flavourings, and preservatives in their diets (this coming from a Mom who offers mac and cheese and chicken nuggets on occasion - it's all about balance). So we wanted to provide an alternative with simple, healthful ingredients, that you don't have to google. Plus, dry cake mix is incredibly shelf stable, meaning preservatives other than salt are entirely unnecessary.
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The caveat here is that without preservatives, your cake or muffins will go bad sooner. We like to put them in the freezer and thaw as needed if it'll take us more than 2-3 days to eat them!
WHERE DID THE RECIPE COME FROM?
Initially, Mama Makes owner Emily was just looking for a cake to make for her daughter, Ella, to smash on her first birthday. But everything - online recipes and box mixes alike - was full of ingredients Ella was sensitive to, laden with sugar, or made with mashed bananas (which makes for a dense and difficult-to-smash!) smash cake. Without a trusty box mix to turn to, she created her own recipe, then shared it with friends. It was so popular, she couldn't help but share it with other Mama's and caregivers looking for a similar option for their babies first (or 2nd, or 3rd, or 40th!) birthday cake. And so, Mama Makes was born.
WHAT SHOULD I USE AS FROSTING?
We are pleased to have launched our very own Frosting Mixes! Find them on our SHOP page.​
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DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR BAKING?
1. For the best texture, we recommend not under-cooking the cake. While it's perfectly safe to eat, it can be a bit gummy (like all cakes) if undercooked. We use a toothpick poked into the middle of each cake to test doneness - if it comes out clean, it's ready! If the toothpick comes out with some of the batter still clinging to it, it needs a few more minutes.
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2. It's important to grease your cake pans well before baking so that you're cake doesn't stick after it's finished baking. You can also run a thin knife around the edge of the cake to help loosen it, if you're having trouble.
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3. Be sure to COOL the cake completely before icing! This is especially true when frosting with our Frosting Mixes, as their main ingredient is coconut milk powder which gets much softer when it's warmer than room temperature.
IS THE ORIGINAL SMASH CAKE MIX ORGANIC?
While our Smash Cake Mix is not "certified organic" (yet! We're working on it...), we DO use organic ingredients wherever possible; for example, organic baking soda and salt are ineligible for organic certification, as they're compounds that come from the earth rather than being grown as a crop. See our nutritional labels for more details on our organic ingredients.
IS THE COCONUT FROSTING MIX PURE WHITE?
White? Yes, usually. Pure white? No.
Our photos are true to colour, but the final result of your frosting will depend on a number of factors such as the colour of your butter and colour of your liquid. Additionally, given that we're working with wholesome, organic ingredients, we sometimes get bags of date powder that are darker than usual. We try our best to use these particular bags of date powder in our cakes where the colour won't be noticed, but even when lighter date powder isn't available we can't just halt production - so occasionally some units will be more of an ivory colour.