Sweet Tart Dough made with Cake Mix

48 servings Prep: 20 m Cook: 15 m Total: 35 m Beginner
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Sweet Tart Dough made with Cake Mix
This easy sweet tart dough uses cake mix as a shortcut for making delicious fig-filled tarts. Just mix cake mix with eggs, oil, water, and flour, then fill with smashed canned figs for a quick Cajun dessert that freezes beautifully.

Ingredients

48 servings
  • 3 boxes white cake mix
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 1/2 cups cooking oil
  • 4 cups flour
  • Canned figs
  • Handful of flour and sugar for the dough
  • Pinch of nutmeg

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients (cake mix, eggs, water, oil, and 4 cups flour) in a large glass bowl. Refrigerate covered until ready to prepare tarts.
  2. Roll the dough in a mixture of sugar, flour and nutmeg. Note 1 tsp nutmeg and/or 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon may be added to the dough. Cut in squares, fill with smashed canned figs, fold over, seal with fork.
  3. Bake at 350°F until light brown, about 12-15 minutes. Do not overcook. Store in airtight bags or container. Tarts can be frozen after baking.

Common Problems and Solutions

Q: Why is my dough too sticky to work with?

A: The dough should be refrigerated before rolling. If it's still sticky, dust your work surface and rolling pin generously with the flour and sugar mixture. You can also add a bit more flour to the dough if needed.

Q: Can I use fresh figs instead of canned?

A: Yes, but you'll need to cook them down first. Fresh figs should be peeled and mashed, then cooked with a little sugar until they form a thick jam-like consistency. [Canned figs](/recipes/canning-figs-without-sugar/) work well because they're already softened and sweetened.

Tips and Techniques

Don’t overbake these tarts—they should be just lightly golden. Overbaking will make them dry. The dough is very forgiving and can be re-rolled several times without getting tough.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • white cake mix: yellow cake mix
  • canned figs: fig preserves, blackberry filling, or sweet potato filling
  • cooking oil: melted butter or vegetable shortening

Equipment Needed

  • large glass bowl
  • rolling pin
  • fork (for sealing)
  • baking sheet
  • airtight containers or freezer bags

Historical Context

Sweet tarts (tourtes douces) are a traditional Cajun dessert, often made for special occasions and holidays. This cake mix version is a modern shortcut that became popular in the mid-20th century when boxed cake mixes became widely available in rural Louisiana.