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The fifth favorite thing in my series goes to Betty Crocker for taking gluten-free to the masses.  These mixes are easy and taste like the real thing.  It is nice to be able to pick them up in your local market particularly if you need a quick sweet fix. While I have a multitude of GF option here in NYC, I realize that this is not the case in other areas so having a mix that is readily accessible to a wide-range of consumers garners the number five spot on my list.

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
Having enjoyed the brownies, I decided to give the chocolate chip cookies a go.  Like the brownies, the prep was very easy – stir in the wet ingredients, mix well, and spoon onto a greased baking sheet.  Again, it was all super easy which I really like.The cookies themselves were, like the brownies, a bit flat.  Not sure if this had something to do with the size of my scoops but I did follow the directions exactly as they were written.  The texture was light and airy and there was a very good balance between crispy and chewy. 

From a taste perspective, they did in fact taste like the “real deal” and even my non-Celiac other half enjoyed them as well.  I tend to prefer a more bulked-up cookie so perhaps next time I will try adjusting the scoop size to see if these can be bulked up just a bit.


Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Brownie Mix
I have been meaning to publish my review of Betty Crocker’s GF brownie mix for a while but kept getting sidetracked by other sweet GF offerings.  I have to start out by saying that it is fantastic that there is finally a mainstream brand out there that is recognizing (and meeting) the sweet tooth needs of Celiacs -- and it can be picked up at your local grocer.I carefully read the instructions which warned that the mixture would be stiffer than usual and they were not kidding.  After mixing in the wet ingredients, I got a very through workout trying to stir the batter by hand.  The prep could not have been easier though, which was a good thing.  I dumped the batter into a greased baking pan and had to work it so that it would spread out evenly.  Even then, I noticed that the mix yields a rather thin layer of batter.  As it baked in the oven, the kitchen was filled with a nostalgic scent of store bought brownies and this is going to sound strange but it smelled like the Betty Crocker I remembered pre-Celiac.The end result, a rather thin brownie but it was moist and actually really quite nice tasting.  Betty Crocker was able to, in my opinion, successfully replicate their famous mix in a GF variety.  It definitely has a place in the mass market and will no doubt delight millions of children who can now become part of the Betty Crocker generation.  For the gourmet dessert aficionados out there, it is worth a taste and good in a pinch but you will probably want to look elsewhere to get your brownie fix.  Check out Betty Crocker's complete GF line here.
 


Comments

Sandra Bagwell

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:35:09

What a great blog! I found you on FB. Thanks for the great info and fun reading.

I am thrilled that savvy companies like Betty Crocker and Chex are considering the gluten free population when considering new markets. IMHO it is a wise move on their part. I had heard Betty Crocker was putting out a GF line but for a while thought it was a "Celiac Urban Legend" until I saw the mix in a neighboring town's grocery store. I now keep some on hand.

Ditto on the cookies being "Non-Celiac approved." After eating SEVERAL cookies I had to ask my sister to save some for the celiac child - she didn't know they were gluten free!

I have had better GF brownies - but not for under $4 and not from a mix found in a local grocery store. I was so excited to see the mixes in our local, small town Wal Mart.

They get a thumbs up from me AND my Gluten Free daughter!

Sandra

 

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