Donna Hay Packet Mix Reviews
Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 10:57AM 
donna hay packet mix macarons
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Donna Hay has a range of cake mixes available in Australia, today we are looking at the chocolate cupcakes mix and the almond macaron mix. One is a nigh on perfect example of a great packet mix, the other.... well, the other is photographed above!!
Bit nervous about making macarons and thought you might give a packet mix a try?? This part of the story is sub titled "Mark makes macarons" because my non-cooking hubbie Mark thought he would in fact give it a try!
Mark Makes Macarons
Donna Hay Macaron mix
We bought a pack of the Donna Hay Almond Macaron Mix for $7.99 at our local Woolworths supermarket.
Inside the box you will find, the almond mixture, an egg mixture and a sachet of dark chocolate pieces. You only need water for the macaron itself and 2 tablespoons of cream for the filling.
Mark was looking confident when he set about pre heating the oven, lining the baking tray and still confident at the whipping the egg white mixture and sifting over the almond mixture; it's at this point it started to go awry with "gently fold through".
The egg mixture after the 4 minutes beating on high is very stiff.
When Mark did "gently fold through" the almond mixture into the egg mixture he ended up with billowy clouds of raw almondy meringue; when Mark "dropped" one tablespoon at a time as per the instructions this is what you end up with...
After baking, Mark turned temperental chef and didn't want to fill his oversized cracked macarons with the chocolate ganache filling (which was set firm by this stage). Instead I warmed the ganache and I drizzled it over the macarons, topped with berries and a scoop of ice-cream. Slightly placated Mark was still grumbling "told you I can't cook" far into the night. Mark didn't make a mistake, he followed the instructions as many novice macaron bakers would.
Too much fuss for a packet mix?? There is a .pdf that I downloaded from Donna Hay's website, because this packet mix comes with alternative step by step instructions.
Step Four on box says to "Drop 1 tablespoon of mixture at a time onto baking trays"... this changes in the .pdf to Step Five where you are dropping in a "circular motion". The filling is made at the end of the process rather that the beginning like on the box.
Neither way results in an attractive (normal?) macaron, you'll have to pipe the macaron mix for that. Break down the meringue a bit by firmly folding, until the mixture drops off your spoon looking "lava" like... then you will have a greater chance of getting the "foot"on your macarons.
You really should be aiming for this.... here almond macarons I made last week (from scratch) are ready to go in the oven.
how piped macaron mix should look on trays
Donna Hay Chocolate Cupcake packet mix
Donna Hay Chocolate Cupcakes packet mix $7.99 Woolworths Supermarket
In the box... the cake mix, frosting mix and plain dark brown cupcake cases.
Quick, easy and as close to home made as you can get from a packet.... just add butter, eggs and milk. The Donna Hay Chocolate cupcakes baked perfectly, frosting was good and everyone that tasted these loved them.
My step sons Mum made these too... same result, great cupcakes with a home made taste.
Donna Hay Macaron and Cupcake mixes available in Australia from Woolworths supermarkets and online at Donna Hay and for Donna Hay's step by step instructions on how to pack packet mix macarons download the .pdf here.
You might also be interested in TAKE 5... five packet brownie recipes tested including Donna Hay Molten Chocolate Brownies. 
warm Donna Hay Molten Chocolate Brownie
Reader Comments (5)
I saw the prepacks marcarons but didn't buy. I didn't see the cupcakes though, perhaps i should have bought and try. I was quite bored during the evenings/nights in the service apartment and could have baked some cupcakes instead.
Jeniffer
Made these last weekend for grandfinal BBQ worked really well, though probably not Masterchef standard but presentable, my piping skills need a bit more work. They were all snapped up and eaten no complaints.
Faithy.... you make beautiful macarons as it is!! The cupcake mix is very good ...for a cupcake mix :)
Jacinta... as you said they are better piped, not dropped in spoonfuls as per the instructions. Would be good if the box included a disposable piping bag and tip :)
Is it ok to use the chocoste cupcakes mix 3 weeks after the use by date??
Hi Brig, 3 weeks after the use by date should be fine... Not Quite Right stores sell cake mixes after the date. The flavour could be slightly impaired with storage, but that's about it. I'd bake it. Enjoy and happy baking :)