from Tracey G. 

Pumpkin Pecan Baking Box from King Arthur Flour

Since we don’t have the KAF Bakealong anymore, we’re picking and choosing how to fill in its spot in the rotation until the end of the year, where in the new year we have some plans in the works to fill the spot that could be rather interesting! So that means branching out a bit and finding something rather interesting. And for this month, we decided to try one of the new Baking Boxes from KAF.

Kris and I noticed that King Arthur Flour was getting in on the “box thing”, in the form of their Baking Boxes. Currently, there are only four, and they seem to be morphing as KAF decides how they want to do them, price them etc. For example, when I first saw them come out, they were more along the $35-39 range, but now they seem to be running about $25. They are not a subscription box, and they don’t come with a recipe, so if you want to make them again, yep – you buy another box.

They do provide you with pretty much everything you need to make the treat, you just provide fresh items and liquids. The instructions are fairly thorough, and easy to follow.

For this particular box they provide:

• bakeable paper cups
• pastry bag (for piping on the frosting)
• sugar and pumpkin mix for cake batter
• cake mix
• pecans
• pecan sauce mix
• frosting mix

You provide:

• butter
• eggs
• cream cheese
• milk
• water

For the Cakes:

You first mix the butter and packet 1, then add in the eggs one at a time. Next, add in packet 2 and the milk alternately as stated. Beat until fluffy, and you’re then instructed to fill the papers 2/3 full with a “heaping” 1/3 cup of batter. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, when done, cool on pan for 5 minutes, then finish cooling completely on rack.

For the Pecan Sauce:

Bring water and butter to a simmer and add packet 3, will thicken a bit. Open packet 4, remove 2 tbsp of the pecans and reserve for garnish and add the rest to the sauce, stirring to coat. Remove from heat and allow to sit about 30 min.

For the Frosting:

Add cream cheese, butter and packet 5 to a large bowl or bowl of stand mixer. Mix on low to combine, then turn up the speed to medium-high until it lightens in color.

To Build Cakes:

Spoon about a tbsp of pecan sauce on cake, pipe a mound of frosting on top of that, then garnish with reserved pecans.

So, since we each made this, we decided to just list our pros and cons in regards to making, mixing or whatever we think of as such!

Pros:

• Easy!
• They look much more “fussy” to make than they are.
• Very yummy, delicious flavor combination
• Pretty presentation, and easy to make it look like their picture!
• Would be a great gift for someone who likes to bake, but doesn’t stock a lot of ingredients.
• A great inter-generational project for children and their parents or grandparents.
• Would be the perfect item if you had to “bring a dish” to a gathering – it would be easy to have all parts made and ready to go (for instance the frosting can be stored in the uncut pastry bag with the open end secured), then when you get to your destination you can build them. And they’d be a pretty presentation!
• What you see is what you get.
• Our guys liked them!

Cons:

• Kind of pricey considering you must provide some of the more expensive ingredients.
• No recipe included; so, to make again, you must buy another box
• Really high in calories, lol.
• Tastes a lot like carrot cake – not necessarily a “con” but it’s supposed to be a pumpkin cake.
• There is barely enough batter to fill the ten cups.  You must measure exactly to have 10 full and even cups.  Use a level 1/3 – not heaping!
• The kit makes way too much frosting.  I used only half of what was made and even then there was more frosting on each cake than I would normally use.
• if the box is given as a gift, There is no non-consumable keepsake – other than perhaps a few extra pounds!?

We are looking forward to seeing how King Arthur Flour further develops and grows their Baking Box line.