I am ready to pour my cake batter in the pan but the mixer won't release when I push the lever.

Hi Deborah, what is your questions regarding gingerbread cake mix?

slice-heaven-com will download the original instructions for a fee. You might be able to wing it without them, knowing that Wilton recommends filling large, deep pans only half deep. Fill it with water first, then pour water into a large measuring vessel to gauge how many cups of cake batter you will need at that depth. The average cake mix makes about 4 cups batter, but they vary. You could always just prepare 2 boxes and reserve any excess for another use. As for baking, this pan will probably take a little bit longer than a 9 by 13 by 1-1/2 at 350 F. Maybe you could add 15 minutes and check on it. Do not open the oven if it is clearly not done.

According to Duncan Hines - no. One box of mix will cook properly in a 10x2 pan assuming it is the same height as your regular cake pans. Here is some conversion info that I copied from one of their mix boxes: 1 box of mix yields 5 1/2 cups of batter. 5 1/2 cups can be cooked in a 10x2 pan and should take about 40 - 50 minutes. You can make 2 cakes and stack them for a big cake but all that batter in one pan probably won't cook right. Two boxes of mix need a 15 x 2 round pan or an 11 x 15 x 2 rectangle pan. I hope that helps!

Try this recipe. It's a very simple cake but has a yummy frosting that my kids love.

http://www.countryliving.com/recipefinder/basic-vanilla-cake-69

It could be that your over mixing the batter. It is very easy with a KitchenAid to push a batter too far, and you get too much air, or cream the butter too much into the flour, or press all the oil out of peanut butter. Try using the mixer for only as much to get the matter mixed.

I have the recipe for yellow cake from the handbook:
preheat over for 15 minutes and spray pans with cooking spray

1. pour contents of yellow cake mix into bowl and stir to break up any lumps. 2. add 1.5 teaspoons of water and stir to form batter 3. pour batter into baking pan and spread evenly. 4. place pan in baking slot of oven and use pusher end of pan tool to push it into baking chamber. Do not use your hands. 5. bake cake for 12 minutes. 6. when baking time is complete, use pusher end of pan tool to push pan into cooling chamber and let cool for 10 minutes. 7. when cooling time is complete, use holder end of pan tool to remove pan from cooling chamber. Transfer cooled cake to a plate, turning over so bottom faces up.
frosting 1. pour contents of frosting mix into bowl. 2. add 1/2 teaspoon of water and stir until smooth. For thinner frosting, stir in a few extra drops of water. 3. spread frosting over cooled cake.
Sugar Cookies
1. pour contents of sugar cookie mix into bowl and stir to break up any lumps. 2. add 3/4 taespoon of water and stir to form dough. 3. sprinkle your hands with flour and shape dough into 6 small balls. 4. flatten 3 cookie balls and place in baking pan. 5. place pan into oven and use pusher end of pan tool to push into oven. Make sure both metal doors are closed. 6. cook for 10 minutes. 7. when baking time is complete, use pusher end of pan tool to push pan into cooling chamber and let cool for 10 minutes. 8. when cooling time is complete, use holder end of pan tool to remove pan from cooling chamber. 9 repeat steps 4-8 to make remaining 3 cookies.
those were the basic recipes in the handbook. Hope that helps