Pamela's Products' Chocolate Cake Mix

Brand: Pamela's Products

~ Other reviews of this brand!
~ This item is in A&Z's Store!

Product Name: Chocolate Cake Mix

Location/Cost Info: Pamela's website




Total From A to Z: 4 Stars

A's Review: * * * *

Good cupcakes. Pamela seems to have a good handle on baked goods. These were moist and chewy, just like non-GF cupcakes. Chocolatey delicious!

Z's Review: * * * *
I used this mix to make cupcakes. The cupcakes turned out fluffy and chocolaty and quite enjoyable. They also lasted well over a couple of days.

Sof'ella's Organic Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake and Frosting Mix

Brand: Sof'ella
~ Other reviews of this brand!
~ This item is in A&Z's Store!

Product Name: Organic Gluten-Free Choclate Cake and Frosting Mix

Location Purchased: Costco

Cost: $9.99 for 2 cake and 2 frosting mixes

Total From A to Z: 1 Star

A's Review: *
I am not sure what to say about this mix. We tried two different times and both turned out something goopey, burnt-smelling, and gross. Maybe there is a missing altitude adjustment, but something is definitely off. The frosting was edible at least.

Z's Review: *
I know it's April Fool's Day, but sadly this review is not a joke: I was thrilled to find a gluten-free mix at Costco, but unfortunately it turned out to be a total disaster. And I mean total! The first time I tried making the cake I followed all the directions, but somehow the batter ended up being too watery an the cake swelled up over the edges of the pan and all over the bottom of my brand new oven. That was unpleasant. But, since the box came with two mixes, I had A try again and we used a different pan. However, the resulting "cake" was still liquid goop. Maybe this mix is extremely sensitive to altitude? Boulder is quite a bit above sea level...but there weren't any suggested altitude adjustments on the box. In any event, we were unable to get anything remotely cake-like out of this cake mix. But the frosting was decent.

UPDATE: As I was working on this post, I discovered that Sof'ella actually has "High Altitude Instructions" for this mix right on its homepage. Unfortunately, I didn't check the homepage until after we had tried using this mix. Twice.

I do a lot of baking from mixes for this blog, and most of them work just fine with no alterations, despite the altitude. The mixes that need altitute adjustments usually say so right on the box. However, there was no indication on the Sof'ella box that it was sensitive to altitude. Perhaps it's too late to change the printing on the box, but it seems like they could at least add a sticker to a product that is so senstive to altitude when it is on sale in The Mile High City Costco!

If you live at a high altitude and feel like trying this mix, here are the altitude instructions:

High Altitude Instructions
Gluten Free Chocolate Cake & Frosting Mixes

For one packet of Cake Mix at an altitude of
5000 feet: Add additional 3 Tablespoons water
6000 feet: Add additional 3 Tablespoons and 1 1/2 teaspoons water
7000 feet Add additional 4 Tablespoons water

The following applies to all high altitude baking of the GF Chocolate Cake:

Increase oven temperature to 350°F.
Add an additional whole egg (3 whole eggs total)
Add the recommended 2/3 cup butter
Mix only until mixture is combined
Bake the cake(s) on the lowest rack in the oven
Bake 27-32 minutes for two 8" and 50-55 minutes for one 9" or until the center is set and the cake begins to pull away from the sides.

RECIPE: A Gluten-Free Guide's Celabratory Cupcakes

Source: A Gluten-Free Guide

Original Recipe: Celebratory Cupcakes! (Yellow Gluten-Free Cupcakes)

Recipe Review by Z: This recipe was actually discovered by my friend RK, who has been extremely supportive and encouraging during my transition to a gluten-free lifestyle. And, to be fair, she did most of the work when we were baking these while I just prepared to eat them! As far as the recipe goes, we had a few minor comments:

• We ended up buying two packages of Jello vanilla pudding because we weren't sure which size box was required. In the end we went with the 3.4 oz box.
• We only had to bake the cupcakes for about 21 minutes (less than the suggested 25) and we only got 21 cupcakes (less than a full dozen)
• For the frosting, we had a little bit of trouble with the quantities because the package of confectioner's sugar we had was more than a pound and we weren't sure how many cups to use. In the end, we guessed and then ended up adding a little extra milk to make the frosting less thick.
• ALTITUDE NOTE: Although Boulder is at a higher altitude, we didn't do anything to adjust this recipe and the cupcakes still came out fantastic!
  

Total From A to Z: 5 Stars

A's Review: * * * * *
Today, the mac and cheese was de-throned in battle for best gluten-free equivalent. These cupcakes are awesome, fluffy in the middle and just a little bit of crunch around the edges. Somehow the creators of this recipe managed to avoid the density and hardness issues that are so common with other gluten-free bread stuffs. This should serve as a template for all gluten-free bread things from now on!

Z's Review: * * * * *
I'm pretty sure these cupcakes were the very best dessert I have had since I have become gluten-free! Just for fun we used food coloring to turn the frosting pink and added little hearts out of red sprinkles. The cupcakes themselves were fluffy and tasted just like regular yellow cake. No trace of corn or orange juice! They were amazing hot out of the oven and just as tasty when cold hours later. I really enjoyed these cupcakes and I am delighted that we'll have them around the house for the next couple of days. Or at least the next couple of hours!!