Gluten Free Food Reviews

I just love pancakes for breakfast in the morning with my girls. They prefer chocolate chips as their topping of choice, while I like banana, walnuts and a drizzle of real maple syrup. And, because I like pancakes so much, I am very picky when it comes to the gluten free variations. I still miss “real’ gluten pancakes. But you know what? With this buttermilk pancake mix, I don’t miss them anymore. These pancakes are fantastic!

I purchased this 12 ounce mix for $4.99 at a natural foods store on my last trip home to Minnesota. This gluten free pancake mix makes makes two large batches of pancakes that will feed 2-3 hungry people per batch.

Mixing the pancake batter was a breeze- just add oil, and egg and buttermilk. Since I didn’t have any buttermilk, I followed the enclosed directions for a great buttermilk substitution that combines milk with lemon juice that worked perfectly in the mix. I whisked the batter easily with no lumps to be found. Unfortunately the batter was so thin that my first attempt at a pancake turned out more like a crepe, and that was not was I wanted. However, adding 2-3 more tablespoons of the mix did the trick, and even though the pancakes still appeared to be on the thin side, they tasted perfect. I found that adding any more mix, or reducing the milk by more than a few tablespoons resulted in thick pancakes with a sticky, gooey texture.

These gluten free pancakes are only slightly sweet,and have a smooth, slightly fluffy gluten-like texture that is ideal for any topping your taste-buds are craving. There is no hint of a mushy rice texture or flavor that I have often experienced with other gluten free pancake mixes. The flavor of the pancakes is subtle, but pleasant. The edges of the pancake are slightly crisp and the pancake itself cooks evenly- perfect if you like tall stacks of tasty pancakes. On the Sylvan Border Farm website, they have a dairy free substitute that may work as well. Overall, I really liked the Sylvan Border Farm Pancake & waffle mix, and will definitely buy it again.

PROS: excellent texture and flavor, easy prep, makes thin pancake perfect for stacking and toppings.

CONS: thin batter, resist the urge to add too much extra pancake mix to thicken

Rating: 5 stars

Want to try this mix out ?Buy it from:

GooddayGlutenFree.com-(product packaging photo at this link)

Sylvan Border Farm website

Ingredients: Potato Starch, White Rice Flour, Brown Rice Flour*, Amaranth Flour, Quinoa Flour*, White Cornmeal*, Garbanzo Bean Flour*, Sugar, Soy Flour*, Aluminum-Free Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt. ( * organically grown)

I picked up this mix on my last trip to the midwest. I did not recognize the brand or packaging of this Sylvan Border Farm chocolate cake mix, and promptly purchased it with a promise from my mother that our family would help me sample it. Ok, twist my arm mom! The helfty 1 lb 12 ounce mix makes a 9×13 pan.

Initially I was impressed with the packaging. Inside the unassuming earthy white bag, the mix was double bagged for freshness, accompanied by an insert of recipes. What a nice surprise! I mixed it in a Kitchen-Aid stand mixer and added oil, milk, eggs and boiling water. I found the batter to be very thin and sloshy when I added the water, so much so that some of it sloshed over the edge of the bowl. Helpful hint: be sure to mix at a lower speed when adding the water. I tasted a fingerswipe of the batter and it was just awful- very pasty and tasted like rice flour. I kept my fingers crossed that the final product would be worth my time; I was not disappointed.

This cake was baked in a 9×13 pan for 40 minutes and perfectly rose up above the pan in a reddish cocoa mound.This baking time was perfect, and I would suggest baking at the low end of the suggested 40-45 minute window to prevent overdrying.

The cocoa smell was divine! After letting the cake cool completely and topping it with my famous homemade chocolate truffle frosting, it was ready for consumption by my gluten consuming family. It was amazing! The texture of the thick slices of cake was soft, fluffy and smooth, not a bit grainy or pasty. The cake tasted like a real cake-a real gluten cake- and very moist with average crumbling. The chocolate taste is a slightly sweet cocoa flavor, almost like a german chocolate cake; I loved the chocolate flavor without feeling like I was in for a sugar high. My entire family raved about this cake, and I plan to make it again.

I stored this cake covered on my countertop, and it remained perfectly moist and tasty for a whopping 3 days. Yet another reason to love it.

PROS: Excellent flavor and texture, tastes like “regular” cake, makes a large 9×13 pan

CONS: be careful- sloshy batter

Rating: 5 stars

Ingredients: Sugar, White Rice Flour*, Potato Starch, Cocoa, Brown Rice Flour*, Amaranth Flour, Quinoa Flour*, Baking Soda, Xanthan Gum, Aluminum-free Baking Powder, Salt, White Cornmeal*, Garbanzo Bean Flour*, Soy Flour*; *Organically Grown

Read what Alisa from Moove over Milk has to say about this mix!