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Duncan Hines

Duncan Hines

www.duncanhines.com
What is your customer experience with Duncan Hines?

Duncan Hines Overview

The generated data is based on reviews and questionnaires provided by PissedConsumer.com users.

Based on reviews, created with AI
Rating Distribution

Duncan Hines has a 2.1 star rating from 185 reviews; consumers are mostly dissatisfied. 63% of users would likely recommend the brand.

Key Takeaways for Future Customers

  • Many Duncan Hines reviews report inconsistent product quality and size changes in cake mixes.
  • Expect customer service contact for issues; some callers received coupons but seek refunds.
  • Check boxes before purchase for missing packets, damaged seals, or foreign objects.

Negative Feedback / Risk Areas

  • Poor product quality: flat cakes, thin cakes, rancid or off tastes.
  • Contamination reports: insects, plastic, metal, and other foreign objects found.
  • Packaging and labeling errors, missing ingredients, and inconsistent recipes.

Positive Feedback

Some customers praise customer service interactions and a few long-time favorites remain liked by older shoppers.

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Media from reviews

Duncan Hines - Bad batch
Duncan Hines - I had something rubbery in míx.Duncan Hines - Wrong cake mix in the wrong boxDuncan Hines - Wrong cake mix in the wrong box - Image 2Duncan Hines - Wrong cake mix in the wrong box - Image 3Duncan Hines - Wrong cake mix in the wrong box - Image 4Duncan Hines - Wrong cake mix in the wrong box - Image 5
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Show reviews that mention
mix cake mix box cake brownie brownie mix brownies cakes fudge plastic
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Cynthia C Zci

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Clinton, Iowa

Bad batch

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Duncan Hines - Bad batch

I bought chewy fudge brownies. There was something in the mix.

I couldn't chew it. It was all through the brownies.

Loss:
$1
Pros:
  • Good products

User's recommendation: Be careful

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Cynthia C Zci

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Clinton, Iowa

I had something rubbery in míx.

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Duncan Hines - I had something rubbery in míx.

I bought chewy brownies and as something was in the mix . I made the.

Brownies.but couldn't eat them. It was all thru them.

User's recommendation: Be careful.

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Lisa B Xxr

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Wrong cake mix in the wrong box

AI Highlights
  • - Bought Duncan Hines Classic Yellow cake mix at Walmart.
  • - Opened the box; it was white, not yellow, and I went to Food Lion.

I brought a box of Duncan Hines cake mix of the classic yellow at Walmart. I opened the box and it was the wrong cake mix; it was white, not a classic yellow. Then I went to Food Lion and something happened.

Preferred solution: To correct the problem

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Carol K Uvv

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Waynesville, North Carolina

Tried to make 24 cupcakes as described...

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Tried to make 24 cupcakes as described on the box. The mix will only make 18 cupcakes.

I used a regular muffin tin, so it was not because of too large a tin. I filled the cups half full, so I didn't use too much mix per cup.

I called Duncan Hines and was told that since the mix was 6 days past the best by date, it made 6 less cupcakes! What a crock!

Pros:
  • Taste good
Cons:
  • Chintzy on the amount of mix

User's recommendation: Buy another brand

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Talal Jvp
map-marker Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Insect in product

AI Highlights
  • - Found a dried fly in an unopened pan of Duncan Hines dark fudge brownies.
  • - The reviewer requests a refund and a production-resolution.

I made a pan of dark fudge brownies. It was fresh, unopened.

I live in northern Wisconsin. There is no insect activity here at this time. Upon eating a brownie, I found a dried up fly. It was disgusting.

Ive been buying Duncan Hines products all my life, because my mother did.

Please refund me, and resolve this in your production. Unfortunately, I will never be able to make my favorite brownies again, due to this.

User's recommendation: Don't go there

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Barbara H Pcy
map-marker Dallas, Texas

Plastic bag in box was cut open but the box wasn’t cut

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They took down all the information and will send out a coupon. The call took less than five minutes. The representative was very nice and helpful.

Preferred solution: Coupon

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Liz M Jpr

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Sarasota, Florida

DON'T USE ANY DUNCAN HINES PRODUCTS

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EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN TERRIBLE! I REACHED OUT ABOUT AN ISSUE WITH BROWNIE MIX I PURCHASED THAT HAD BUGS IN 2 BOXES INSIDE THE ACTUAL MIX AND HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM THE COMPANY.

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Pj Q
map-marker Carrollton, Kentucky

Cannot locate a used by date on duncan.Hine cake mix cake mix

No use by date on cake mix box, use by date is required. What is the reason for the no date on the product?

Loss:
$1
Pros:
  • Good cake mix
Cons:
  • Use by date
  • No date on the box

Preferred solution: Full refund

User's recommendation: Use buy days to be placed on products

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Nilesh Vpn

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Carrot cake carrots are hard

AI Highlights
  • - The carrots in the cake are hard and ruin it.
  • - I will throw it away and use a spice cake instead of Duncan Hines.
Duncan Hines - Carrot cake carrots are hard

Carrots are hard and ruin the whole cake

I bought the carrot cake forgetting how terrible the carrots are so I tried to pick them out so many small pieces not even just shredded Im going to throw it out and use a spice cake instead thats not Duncan Hines. After I spent an hour trying to pick out all the pieces of hard carrot pieces.

User's recommendation: Carrots are hard and ruin the whole cake leave the carrots out if they aren’t going to soften

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elizabeth a Vat

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Rancid

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AI Highlights
  • - -The mix was rancid and smelled off.
  • - -A small bite tasted noxious and metallic.
  • - -Bag smelled sour after opening, dates in range, poisoning concern.
Duncan Hines - Rancid
Duncan Hines - Rancid - Image 2
Duncan Hines - Rancid - Image 3
Duncan Hines - Rancid - Image 4
Duncan Hines - Rancid - Image 5

Not sure my review went through. Either way, I wanted to add pics.

The mix was rancid. It smelled off as batter. Coming out of the oven, it didn't smell as bad, so I tried a small bite. So noxious!

Gross metallic taste. Leaves a very unpleasant taste in your mouth! I checked the expiration dates on products used, and they were within the time frame. I actually smelled the plastic bag the mix was in, and it smelled sour even a day later and after being opened.

I took the Tupperware over to my neighbor, and she tried it and spit it out immediately; it was really that awful.

Was this some sort of poison? Am I going to get food poisoning from this brownie mix even though I did not eat more than one bite?

Loss:
$179
Pros:
  • Pretty pic on box
Cons:
  • Risk of food poisoning rancid foul

Preferred solution: Full refund

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Anonymous
map-marker Houston, Texas

Plastic

Duncan Hines - Plastic

There is plastic inside of my Duncan Hines dark chocolate mix. I have pictures please let me know what I can do to get my money back.

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Cathy S Vtg

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Zelienople, Pennsylvania

Did not like the Duncan Hines Carrot cake.

AI Highlights
  • - Hard carrot pieces in the mix.
  • - Beaters jumped around during mixing.
  • - Initially thought pieces were plastic and asked if the cake is safe to eat.

Spoke with the rep - there were hard bits of carrots in the mix, and I first noticed that the beaters were jumping all around. Thought there might be nuts in there, but saw it was carrot chunks.

Thought when baked they would become softer, but they didn't. Had to spit out the carrot chunks.

Is the cake safe to eat? Thought at first that these were bits of plastic.

Loss:
$3
Pros:
  • Always good mixes
Cons:
  • First time there was a problem

Preferred solution: Full refund

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Jacinta K Rkf

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Tampa, Florida

Formula exchange for Duncan Hines devil food

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AI Highlights
  • - The mix is dry, airy, tasteless.
  • - It used to work for chocolate chip cheesecake cupcakes.
  • - It no longer works and I will bake from scratch.

The Duncan Hines devil food cake mix has been ruined. It's full of air, dry, and tasteless.

You could eat a dozen cupcakes without icing and still be hungry. I've been using this cake mix for years to make chocolate chip cheesecake/chocolate cake cupcakes, but now it doesn't work.

I guess it's time to start cooking from scratch. Duncan Hines, you have failed me and my family.

Loss:
$5
Cons:
  • Cake that taste like cardboard

Preferred solution: Change the recipe back.

User's recommendation: Don't waste your money

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1 comment
Guest

Sorry to hear Duncan Hines has gone to the dogs. It was always the choice cake mix.

The Supremes were wonderful. Shame.

Kathy N Grd

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Zelienople, Pennsylvania

Carmel was not in package of brownie mix. Salted Carmel. Numbers on package are 426650**** 12:30 best by Aug 15 26

Opened package and extra packet was not in box. Baked the brownies without the Carmel. They were very good.

Loss:
$4
Pros:
  • Always good

Preferred solution: I just wanted you to know.

User's recommendation: Make sure you report things like this.

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RK K Sid

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge brownie mix - what has changed - these are inedible!

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AI Highlights
  • - Longtime fans; this box has ingredient issues, very disappointed.
  • - Oil amount (2/3 cup) and bake at 325°F.
  • - Doubling time didn’t bake through.
Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge brownie mix - what has changed - these are inedible!

We have made these for years, and they are our favorites. This last box we just bought seems to have messed up the ingredients.

2/3 cup of oil? Bake at 325 degrees? Hey, I cooked them for twice the time they suggested, and they still aren't done. Had to throw them away!

Please fix this! Very disappointed!

Loss:
$4

Preferred solution: Full refund

User's recommendation: Give these guys a few months to fix this before you buy any more of them!

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Claire V Uns

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Metal object in brownies I made

Duncan Hines - Metal object in brownies I made

Took a bite, felt something hard and a strange taste, thought I broke my tooth. I told my family not to eat it to be on the safe side.

Loss:
$5
Pros:
  • I have never had a issue before i really like there products

Preferred solution: Full refund

View full review

About

Related Companies

Conagra Brands, Marie Callenders Meals, Banquet Meals, Hungry Man Frozen Dinners, Chef Boyardee

Summary

Duncan Hines is a large company that offers food products. It was founded by Duncan Hines in 1952. The company’s headquarters is based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States of America. Now the Duncan Hines brand belongs to Pinnacle Foods Group LLC. Duncan Hines is a big producer of ready-to-cake brownies, pie fillings, frostings, cake mixes, and muffins. Its product line counts more than 80 different sweet mixes. Duncan Hines offers over 250 products under its trademark. It also provides recipes as well as instructions for baking for hundreds of company products. Duncan Hines manufactures and distributes products within the United States and Canada.

Duncan Hines reviews and complaints

Duncan Hines is ranked 294 out of 3247 in Food Manufacturers category

Area Served

USA

Payment Methods

VISA

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