Betty Crocker: American home baking since 1921 — frostings, cake mixes and so much more!

Did you know Betty Crocker never existed?

It's one of the greatest marketing moves in history. In 1921, the Washburn Crosby Company (the forerunner of General Mills) ran a puzzle contest in a magazine. Surprise: along with the entry forms, the company received thousands of cooking questions from American homemakers. To answer them in a personal, warm way, the advertising department — made up mostly of men — invented a fictional signer: "Betty," a first name they found friendly and familiar, and "Crocker," in honor of a former company director.

Betty Crocker came to life: she signed the mail, hosted one of the first cooking shows on radio starting in 1924 (the "Betty Crocker Cooking School of the Air"), then moved to TV. The wildest part? In 1945, Fortune magazine named her the second most famous woman in America, just behind Eleanor Roosevelt — even though she never existed! Today, her famous red spoon is one of the most recognizable logos in American kitchens.

Betty Crocker frostings, the star of the lineup

Frosting is that creamy, generous icing that tops American cakes. Betty Crocker made it a specialty, and at MYAM you'll find the whole palette. The Rich & Creamy in Vanilla, Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Creamy White, Cream Cheese and even Lemon. The Creamy Deluxe in French Vanilla and Chocolate. The fun versions with the Rainbow Chip and its colorful sprinkles, the light Whipped Fluffy White, and even an OREO Creme that'll delight fans of the famous cookie. Enough to turn any homemade cake into a celebration dessert.

Betty Crocker cake mixes and brownies

The secret to ultra-moist American cakes? The Super Moist mixes. At MYAM, you'll find them in French Vanilla, Chocolate Fudge, Devil's Food (an intense chocolate), Lemon, Carrot Cake, Butter Pecan and Cherry Chip. On the brownie side, the Oreo and Reese's mixes are a treat lover's dream, as is the Reese's Mini Pieces Cookie Mix for cookies straight out of America.

Betty Crocker isn't just about sweet treats

The brand is also home to everyday American savory classics. Bisquick, that magic mix (in Original or Gluten Free) that's the base for a thousand recipes: pancakes, biscuits, waffles, pie crust... The Buttermilk pancake & waffle mixes for a US breakfast in minutes. And the famous instant mashed potatoes, in Four Cheese, Roasted Garlic, Sour Cream & Chives or Sweet Potato — American mashed potatoes ready in a flash. Not forgetting the Scooby-Doo Fruit Snacks, those fun-shaped gummy snacks for kids (and grown-ups).

A fan's tip: the perfect layer cake

For a real American layered birthday cake: prep two pans with a Super Moist cake mix, let them cool completely, then stack the two rounds, spreading Rich & Creamy frosting between the layers. Cover the whole thing with a generous coat of frosting and finish with Rainbow Chips. Pro tip: swap the water in the recipe for milk and add a spoon of sour cream — your cake will be even more moist and tender.

Where to find Betty Crocker?

Betty Crocker mixes are hard to find in regular stores. My American Market, your online American grocery store, hunts them down straight from the USA. Want to bake American-style? Take a look at the Pillsbury and Duncan Hines products in the shop too!