I would toss it. There are probably enough preservatives that it's not going to be "bad" but chances are it will taste stale.

Separate 3 eggs and whip the whites with a quarter cup of sugar slowly added until you have stiff peaks. Then take a stick of butter and cream that with a cup of sugar, add the yolks from the eggs and cream together nicely. Then alternately add 3/4 cup of milk with maybe 1 2/3 cups of flour, some vanilla and a bit of salt and 2 teaspoons of baking powder. When that stuff is almost mixed, fold in the whites, pour into pans and bake. It will take you maybe 10 minutes max and it will be better than the box, w/out the off flavors.

Good luck!

I agree with rose, toss it. I wouldn't worry as much about leavening as I would about stale flavors, they have various additives including oils and a bunch of things I can't pronounce.

I don't care for cake mix anyway, I think it has a strange chemical flavor, but my girls love it. If I had a box I'd check it for shortening or fats that could get rancid if allowed to age for too long.

Annie

Please toss it. I made brownies from a way past date mix once, I was visiting my mom and didn't check a date on a box from her pantry(I really should have known better). DS now refuses to eat anything from her home because he was very ill.

It Could be TOXIC, please toss it!

Here is a link that might be useful: Old cake mix

The other problem you could have, opening an old cake mix is that you may find it full of weevils. The eggs are in virtually all flour products we buy, and under the right conditions, will eventually hatch. Open that sealed bag, and you may not only have to toss it, but you may release them to infest other things in your kitchen.

Agree--toss it.

Thanks toss it,I never thought about it being stale or going rancid. Thanks Patty

It cost maybe a dollar. Why stress? Make one from scratch, it is cheaper than potentially toxic artificial ingredients in that old box.

Nancy

Ok Rum cake turned out wonderful as always
Bacardi Rum Cake
1 yellow cake mix with pudding in the mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup oil
1/2 cup rum ( light or dark)
Mix pour into greased and floured bundt pan bake 1 hour 325
Glaze
1 stick butter (1/4 cup )
1/4 cup water
1 cup sugar
Bring to a boil, boil 5 minutes while stirring take off heat. Add rum
1/2 cup rum
Pour over cake while warm and still in the pan wait 30 minutes turn onto serving plate. Patty

I am so proud I learn to post photos. Patty

Beautiful cake,
Beautiful picture!
Sure would love a slice right about now.

I'm definitely going to try this one,
SOON! ! !
Is that sliced almonds on it?
Dro-o-o-o-o-ol. . . . .

Rusty

Yes forgot that part of recipe put chop pecans or walnuts in pan before adding cake batter. Did not have any so used sliced almonds I would use them again. Much nicer presentation and add whip cream. Patty

Merry Christmas, Patty, and congratulations on learning to post pictures. It's an interesting process, isn't it?

Annie