Product Review: Hodgson Mill Gluten Free Brownie Mix

Posted on | December 29, 2011 | 2 Comments

I found this gluten free brownie mix at my local Harmon’s grocery for $3.99. The price seemed fairly reasonable, as far as gluten free mixes goes, so I used that as an excuse to try it out.

There is one gluten free food that has never been replicated well, in my opinion. A brownie. I have never had a GF brownie that has the same consistency and texture as a “regular” brownie. I was excited to try this Hodgson Mill product to see if this company had gotten it right.

After mixing it, I definitely felt unsure of it. The dough was thick and looked delicious, but I tasted a bite, and it was awful! The flavor of the brown rice and sorghum flour
was overwhelming, and it did not taste very chocolaty.

After taking it out of the oven, I was even more discouraged. It looked awful. It had white specks, and looked more like cake than a brownie. I let it cool, and I gave it a try. The first few bites tasted like sorghum flour, and the chocolate flavor was more of an aftertaste and afterthought than the star of the brownie. The more bites I took, the better it got. The brownie got gooier, and fudgier. The flavor got more chocolaty, and much more like a brownie. By the end of the brownie I was in love. The best brownie I’ve eaten in a long time. I guess first impressions can be misleading.

I had three gluten eaters try them. They ate their piece and said it was good, but they did not ask for more. I kept the brownies covered for a few days and they stayed soft, and delicious.

Rating: 3 stars

Pros: Rich, gooey texture; great chocolate taste

Cons: first bites have a strong sorghum flour taste, and overall might not taste that great

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Ingredients: sugar, cocoa, brown rice flour, sorghum flour, tapioca starch, cornstarch, baking powder, xanthan gum, flake salt, baking soda

Nutritional snapshot: 100 calories, 6 g. fat, 24g carbohydrates, 13g sugar, 1g protein, 106 mg. sodium

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Want to try this gluten free brownie mix for yourself?

If you cannot find this mix in your local grocery store, it may be purchased individually at the Hodgson Mill website or in bulk at amazon.com:

Comments

2 Responses to “Product Review: Hodgson Mill Gluten Free Brownie Mix”

Lindy
January 8th, 2012 @ 1:09 pm

Thanks so much for this review I am always trying to find a good brownie mix. The only one I found was Gluten Free Pantry Brownie Mix, Chocolate Truffle Brownie 16 oz. Me and the kids can eat the whole pan. I want to make homemade but haven’t found any recipes I like. If you know of any that you have tried let me know please.
Katherine
February 14th, 2012 @ 12:10 pm

My experience with this mix was much more positive. In fact, I would rate it as excellent. I have tried the mix with one egg and with two eggs. Successful results both times. Two eggs is more cake like. I have substituted organic canola oil for butter with equal results. I now keep a box of this in my pantry. I think it is a great brownie mix without all the junk even if a gluten free diet is not a concern. Our Wal Mart carries it.