I was contacted by the Butterfly Bakery in Clifton, New Jersey to see if I would be interested in sampling some of their gluten-free creations. Well, “sweet tooth” is my middle name so it took me a split second to say absolutely. I received a tray of their Banana Walnut Mini Muffins and their Plain Vanilla Crème cake (that arrives neatly sliced and ready to serve).
The first thing I noticed was that Butterfly uses Teff flour – not something you see all that often and it was refreshing to see them using a flour that is higher in protein than even wheat flour. It also helps add a bit of natural sweetness to the products so fewer sweeteners are needed and you’ll immediately notice that these products have just the right amount of sweetness.
First up was the Banana Walnut Mini Muffins. These little gems were in a word AMAZING. The second you open the package you are immediately enveloped in a wonderfully rich banana scent that is just a prelude of the deliciousness to come. These muffins are two bite-sized – okay, I might have managed a few in just a single bite – but they are just that good. They are light, airy, and most importantly super-moist. They didn’t last very long in my house as I would pop one whenever they were within sight but I will say that the few days that they were around; I did not refrigerate them and they remained as moist and fresh as when I first opened them – nice!
The Plain Vanilla Crème cake was anything but plain. It too was wonderfully moist and had just the right amount of sweetness. The rich vanilla notes really came through but were in perfect balance with the other flavors. Best of all this cake comes in slices so is ready to go in seconds – just peel off the paper edging and it’s good to go. While this was great all on its own I found it particularly good topped with plain vanilla ice cream and a few fresh blackberries.
The Butterfly Bakery not only makes delicious gluten-free treats (which are made in a separate part of their manufacturing facility) but also has a line of sugar-free, no sugar added, and lite baked goods. Be sure to check out their Web site for their full lines and product portfolio. You can also see where you can find their products near you. But fear not, if they are not in your area, you can contact them and will ship them right to your front door. You can also find them on Amazon.com but it appears you have to buy them in bulk and as I have not tried freezing these products cannot comment on how they freeze.
Each of the different Butterfly lines are easily identifiable by color – orange is gluten-free, pink is sugar-free, and blue is no sugar added. I am definitely looking forward to trying some additional gluten-free products from Butterfly Bakery and it is nice to have a local bakery catering to a range of restrictions and needs.
