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Stranger Things Waffle Cake is a spiced cake with a twist.  There’s a waffle layer in the middle adding a fun twist to this cake. 

I don’t normally create recipes based on movies or TV shows. But, for some reason, making a waffle cake seemed like a good idea. And a great way to celebrate a show that I thoroughly enjoy. Stranger Things.

What is Stranger Things?

For those who haven’t watched any of the episodes, Stranger Things is set in the 80’s in Indiana. A boy disappears which sparks this whole supernatural event that involves secret experiments. One of those experiments is a little girl named 11. They call her Eleven or El (or is it Elle) for short. She has superpowers that continue to grow as the seasons progress.

I won’t go into detail about the episodes. But I will share the nostalgia I have for the show especially being set in the 80’s. A time that I remember well. And since it’s a group of kids that go to school together and live in the same neighborhood. Like our neighborhood. I remember many a summer playing games until the wee hours of twilight. Because we had to be home by dark.

I didn’t get into Dungeons and Dragons the way they are in the show. I think I tried to play once, but I think I was too young to really understand it. Or the older kids didn’t have the patience to teach me the game. It was a game I thought sounded interesting, but just never learned. My sister did, but as an adult. And now she plays many other games like D&D.

Why a waffle cake?

Well, Eleven was one of those experiments. Sorry for the spoiler. When the kids find her, one of them keeps her at his house and feeds her Eggo waffles. She loves them so much. Eleven had never had food like it and fell in love with them. One of the episodes she steals boxes of them at the store to eat while she hides out in the woods. Yes, there’s a reason she’s hiding in the woods, but I won’t spoil that for you.

No, the whole cake is not made out of waffles. I considered that, but I really wanted to make an actual cake. So, I chose a spice cake. I thought it was the perfect flavor for the season. And the more I taste it, the more I think it has similar spices to my favorite gingerbread spice mix. If you haven’t had gingerbread spice mix, find some! Or wait until I make one and share it with you. It knocks the socks of pumpkin spice. Seriously. After you try gingerbread spice you’ll be like, “Pumpkin spice who?”

How do you elevate a box cake mix?

Yes. I used a boxed cake mix. Me and cakes usually don’t get along when I try to make them from scratch. With the exception of the Hershey’s cake recipe I used to make when I was a kid. I really should resurrect that recipe and make one. It’s been a long time since I’ve had cake. Because, well, we won’t go there. I’ve talked about baked goods in many posts already.

But I wanted to make this spice cake more than just a boxed cake. I wanted to elevate and make it taste better. Almost homemade! And there’s many ways to do that. Here’s a couple of the ways I elevated this cake. And a few other ways to elevate your cake mix even more.

Add more egg. I used the 3 eggs the recipe called for, but I added an additional egg yolk for a richer cake that is moister and more delicious. To make a cake richer, adding more fat is always a good idea. Feel free to add 2 egg yolks for a moister cake. I’m not sure about 3 though. You might want to just stop at two.

Replace the water with milk, cream, juice, coffee or even soda. I split the water with milk. But feel free to use all milk or even cream. Or try buttermilk for an extra rich cake. Buttermilk is very thick. You’ll need a couple more tablespoons than the recipe calls for. Cola, Dr. Pepper, or even ginger would be great, too. They add an element of fun to baking a cake. Tell your kids they’re having soda cake!

How can you add flavor to a boxed cake?

Well, there’s the obvious way. Add some extracts. I added vanilla to the waffle mix. Yes, I know that’s the cake mix. But I felt the spice cake had enough flavor in there. I could have added a little more gingerbread spice to kick up the spice flavor. Or some more cinnamon. Or even some more vanilla extract. But spices and extracts aren’t the only way to go.

Try adding a small box of pudding. It adds more flavor and moisture to a cake. Don’t make the pudding. Just add the mix to the cake when you’re making the batter. This spice cake could be great with a butterscotch pudding. The richness of the butterscotch would be perfect with the spice cake. Or if you’re making a vanilla cake, try a cheesecake pudding or pistachio pudding mix.  I used pistachio pudding mix in Monday’s Wicked Witch Icebox Cake recipe.

Don’t want to add the pudding mix? Try making a poke cake! Make the pudding mix per the box directions. When your cake is cooling, poke it with holes, and then pour the pudding mix over the cake. The cake will soak up the pudding and add more flavor and moisture.

Another way to add moisture is to brush the cakes with a jam or simple syrup before frosting the cake. That will add flavor and moisture to every cake you make. This is great if you slice the cake into 2 halves. More surface area. More flavor. And lots more moisture to your cake!

What does Stranger Things Waffle Cake taste like?

It’s a delicious spice cake that is rich and delicious. It’s super moist with all the elevated ingredients I used in my recipe. Then there’s the sweet, vanilla scented waffle center. It adds a nice texture and flavor to the cake. Finally, the wrapper that brings it all together is a cream cheese frosting. I wanted sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting for this cake. And, for me, cream cheese frosting and spice cake go hand in hand.

With the cream cheese frosting and the waffle center, this cake is not overly sweet. Especially with using a spice cake mix. However, it’s your cake. Pick whatever cake mix you want to use for your cake. You want carrot? Make it carrot. Vanilla? Sure thing! Heck, even chocolate would be great. Just swap out the frosting. I’m not sure cream cheese would go with chocolate cake.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Welcome to 2022’s #HalloweenTreatsWeek event!

#HalloweenTreatsWeek is a yearly Halloween blogging event that is hosted by Angie from Big Bear’s Wife . This event is an online, week-long event that is filled with some amazingly wicked Halloween treats and recipes from some fantastic Halloween loving bloggers!

For this year’s 5th annual #HalloweenTreatsWeek event we have 20 hauntingly talented bloggers that are sharing their favorite Halloween recipes throughout the week! You can follow the hashtag #HalloweenTreatsWeek on social media to collect all of these frightful recipes to use at your own Halloween parties and events!

Make Sure to check out all of the fun Halloween recipes that we’re sharing this week!

Check out all of these great #HalloweenTreatsWeek recipes for today

• Jack and Sally Sugar Cookies from Fresh April Flours
• Halloween M&M Cookies from Best Cookie Recipes
• Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats from Devour Dinner
• Easy Pull Apart Pumpkin Cupcakes from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Stranger Things Waffle Cake from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Halloween Layered Brownies from For the Love of Food
• Bloody Poke Cake from The Spiffy Cookie
• Boo! A Halloween Pancake Board from A Good Life