Recipe(tried): Quarter Cake with Variations (Uses 1 cup cake mix)

QUARTER CAKE

1 egg (OR 1 to 2 egg whites OR 1 1/2 tsp Egg Replacer plus 2 Tbsp. water OR Just Whites OR Egg Beaters)
2 Tbsp. oil (1 Tbsp. oil works, or replace with 2 Tbsp.: yogurt, applesauce, or etc., for lower fat)
1/4 cup water (or juice?)
1 cup yellow cake mix (any brand calling for 2 eggs)
1 1/3 cups liquid (Janet: any kind has worked)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a (7x3-inch) loaf pan with waxed paper (J: I've never done that).

Beat egg; add oil and 1/4 cup water and blend. Stir in dry cake mix and 1 1/3 cups liquid to moisten. Whip 1 to 1 1/2 minutes until smooth (J: I do this with a hand blender). Pour into prepared loaf pan.

Bake 25 minutes until edges separate from pan and cake springs back when lightly touched in center. Cool in pan 15 minutes. Remove by lifting ends of waxed paper. Cool on wire rack.

Makes 3-4 servings (if you're either calorie-obsessed or it's your first birthday).

VARIATIONS:

CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE:
Finely chop 2 Tbsp. chocolate chips in blender a (not TOO fine). Stir into batter.

CHERRY CAKE:
Finely chop (not TOO fine) 6 maraschino cherries to make 2 Tbsp. Stir into batter.

NUT CAKE:
Stir 2 Tbsp. chopped toasted walnuts or toasted almonds into batter.

LEMON OR ORANGE CAKE:
Stir 1/2 tsp. grated lemon or orange peel into batter.

I HAVE BAKED THIS IN:

- 2 small (2 cup) casseroles for a small 2 layer cake. Measure evenly, bake for 20 minutes.
- 4 balloon pan cakes, 15 minutes.
- Snackmaster (make 6 in sandwich maker machine)
- 3 mini loaf pans, 20 minutes.
- 3 mini Bundt cakes.
- mini-muffins - 9-11 minutes.
- 5 cupcakes, probably 15-ish minutes.
- 6 in shortcake pan, 12-14 minutes.
- 6 microwave cupcakes at bake setting (8) for 1 minute 45 seconds (turn at 45 seconds if no turntable).
- 1 medium brioche pan, 30 minutes. (40 minutes if using yogurt, check early, though).
- 4 small heart-shaped cakes (don't over-fill) in microwave small heart pan, 3 to 4 minutes (makes 2 cute layer cakes/tortes).

Source: Cooking for 1 or 2 by Barbara Swain