How to change cooking time when changing pan size

This will probably be an ongoing post. But I needed to know how to change cooking times for a regular loaf pan to a mini loaf pan and thought a post like this would be useful! So I will add times as I come across them

Mini loaves - cook 1/4 less than regular loaf ( i.e. 45 min for mini if regular loaf is 60 min or 30 min if regular loaf is 40 min.)

Butter and Oil Sustitutes

I have been looking for better choices than butter and oil and after some internet searching, here are some options:

1 cup oil = 3/4 c applesauce, 3/4 c Greek yogurt, 1 cup pumpkin puree, 1 cup shredded zucchini, or 1 cup pureed prunes (1 cup prunes with 1/4 cup water in blender) - prunes work best with dark colored cakes like chocolate or cinnamon

1 c butter = 1/2 Greek yogurt, 1 cup applesauce, 1/2 c (or more) mashed banana with a little butter, 3/4 c pumpkin puree, 3/4 c olive oil (still calorie dense), 1 cup coconut oil, or 1 cup avocado and butter 50:50 mix.

Other high fat, but maybe healthy options : avocado, nut butter, coconut oil, or olive oil.  The above amounts all see rather subjective - maybe add a little extra to increase moisture or a little less the decrease moisture content.

Frosted Butterschotch Zucchini Bars

This is a recipe I tried about a month ago- it was pretty good, but really high calorie. I wanted to save it though so here it is. The original recipe I modified is found here.

•   1/2cup butter, softened
•   1/2cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 2 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 cups shredded zucchini
• 1 cup butterscotch chips

 Beat the butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla. Stir in salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg and zucchini. Add the oats and flour.  Stir in butterscotch chips by hand. Spread the mixture in a greased 9x13 glass baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.  Frost.

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 Tablespoons whole milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups powdered sugar

Cream everything together adding more milk or sugar to make frosting the correct consistency. 

Two Cake Mixes from One

I'm going through recipes today and trying to get rid of the piles of stuff I have. I found this on a scrap of paper and thought I'd add it here:

1 cake mix
2 c flour
1 c sugar
2/3 c oil
2 tsp baking powder
4 eggs
2 and 2/3 c water

Mix and bake as directed on cake mix box. This will make a denser, less crumbly cake. And it makes double the cake too!

How to Make a Cake Mix Better

Several months ago I came across some ways to improve a cake mix. I'm adding them here, so I don't lose them and don't have to find them again.

1 box cake mix
1 box (4 serving size) pudding in same or complimentary flavor
4 eggs
1/2 c water
1/2 c oil
1 c sour cream.


Can use milk instead of water and sour cream instead of oil

Wedding cake (denser cake):
1 box cake mix
1 c sour cream
3 eggs
1/4 c oil
1/4 c water, orange juice, or soda
Extras like 1 Tbsp lemon or orange peel, 2 to 3 tsp extract flavoring, nuts, chocolate chips, 1/2 to 1 tsp spices.


Option 3:

1 cake mix
1 cup of sifted flour
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of sour cream
4 large eggs
1 1/4 cup of liquid
bake at 325 for 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours

1 betty Crocker cake mix
1 small box instant pudding 
4 eggs
1/4 oil 
1 1/2 cups whole milk

Read more at http://www.cakecentral.com/forum/t/716145/adding-pudding-to-box-cake-mix#2lX2ux6WrG7xmXzi.99

Read more at http://www.cakecentral.com/forum/t/591187/sour-cream-in-cake-mix#TYWvuiB2hrVX1dxW.99