Cheaters Never Prosper

So around here, yes most things, especially desserts, are made from scratch.  But sometimes, you just don't have time or your just dying for something sweet, but really don't need all those extra calories.  Well here are a few of my cheater cake ideas for you.  Don't forget, you can always cut calories with replacing oil with unsweetened applesauce (equal conversion, 1 c oil= 1 c applesauce), and greek yogurt works wonders as a base in most recipes.


Cheater Cake

One box cake mix and diet 7 up...yep that's all there is to it; no oil, no eggs, nothing; just cake mix and diet 7 up.  Just stir in enough diet 7 up to get that liquid cake batter consistency you would normally get by adding all the other ingredients, then pour into a greased pan and bake according to the box (usually 350 degrees, ~30 minutes).  Yep that's all.  Of course, since we've cut all those calories, we like to throw in chocolate chips occasionally, or add nuts, and yes even cherry pie filling with our chocolate cake mixes.  If you're feeling really healthy, you can add your choice of fresh fruits, cut down to an appropriate size of course.  Or,  drop in some almond extract ~2 tbsp, or orange extract~2 tbsp to jazz it up.  Yep, so much you can do, so be adventurous.


Cheater Icing

Well, if you're making a cheater cake, might as well make some cheater icing right?  In a pinch or looking to cut calories, take 1 box of instant pudding, whatever flavor you want your icing to be, make according to package.  When firm, gently fold in 2 cups of lite cool whip and top your cooled cake.  Again so many things you can do, so be adventurous.  We've made cheater pistachio cake with cheater pistachio icing, cheater chocolate-chocolate chip cake with chocolate icing, and more.  Next up is cheater chocolate cake with butterscotch chips and cheater butterscotch icing.  Have fun!  Enjoy!