Posts Tagged Betty Crocker Gluten Free Mixes

Gluten Free Coffee Cake

gluten free

The holidays are coming!

Let the panic/stress/I’m off my rocker festivities begin!  All joking aside, I seriously love celebrating the holiday season by serving up a delicious breakfast buffet.  Breakfast is much more manageable than attempting to clean a turkey and make like 26 side dishes from scratch.  Don’t forget the hand stamped and embossed place cards.  Yeah, I’m so over it!  Why not join my holiday mutiny and kick off your celebration with a warm and cozy gluten free breakfast?  Since we’re all family here at Hold The Gluten, I’m sharing my Good Morning Gluten Free Coffee Cake recipe with you!  Now don’t you feel special?!  You’ll not only find the cinnamon-sugary streusel mix on the top of this fabulous coffee cake, but in the center as well.  Can you say gluten free goodness?  I would but my mouth is totally full of coffee cake…

gluten free

Good Morning Gluten Free Coffee Cake Recipe

Streusel Mix
2/3 cup Bisquick Gluten Free mix
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ cup butter

Coffee Cake
2 ½ cups Bisquick Gluten Free mix
¼ cup sugar
¾ cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
½ cup sour cream

Pre-heat oven oven to 350°F. Spray an 11-inch round springform pan with cooking spray. In a small bowl, prepare the streusel mix using 2/3 cup Bisquick mix, brown sugar and cinnamon.  Cut in butter, using a mixer until mixture is crumbly; set aside.  In medium bowl, stir all coffee cake ingredients until blended. Spread half of the coffee cake batter in pan; sprinkle with half of the streusel topping, spread remaining batter and then top with remaining streusel topping.  Bake 35 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm! Store tightly covered.

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How to be a Happy Gluten Free Camper!

gluten free smore

Ahhhh, the great outdoors.  There’s nothing quite like enjoying the company of family and friends while kicking back in nature.  If you are planning on getting your recreation on, here are some tips and advice to a fun and successful camping trip!

Breakfast Menu

Just because you are away from home (and your kitchen), doesn’t mean that you can’t have a tasty and filling breakfast.  How about toasting a delicious Udi’s bagel and topping it with cream cheese or even making it into a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich?  Break out the cast iron pan and whip up some chocolate chip pancakes using Gluten Free Bisquick.  Gluten Free Chex Cereal with fresh fruit is a great start to the day as well.  Don’t forget your percolator for freshly brewed coffee!

Lunch

Lunch is time to recharge and refuel.  What’s more filling than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on Udi’s Whole Grain Bread?  You could get really adventurous and try my favorite sandwich – peanut butter and bacon!  It sounds a bit vile, but I promise you’ll be hooked once you taste it.  Homemade or store bought soup warmed over the campfire is another great choice.  You could always keep it light with yogurt topped with gluten free granola and mixed berries.

Mid-Day Snacks

I am obsessed with making my own gluten free Chex Mix!  It’s so easy to make and very portable.  The Chili and Garlic Chex Mix is my favorite, but the possibilities are endless.  Another great snack option is fruits and veggies.  Crunchy apples or carrot sticks will tide you over till the dinner bell sounds.  Some grab and go ideas are Larabars, Nature Valley Nut Crunch bars, or Glutino Pretzels.

Dinner

Pack some gluten free hamburger or hot dog buns so you can grill up a gluten free sausage with peppers and onions or a double decker hamburger.  Roasted potatoes and veggies cooked in a tin foil pouch are an easy side.  Premix all of the dry ingredients at home for skillet cornbread and add the wet ingredients at the campsite for traditional camping fare.  Get shucking and serve up grilled corn with chili-lime spread.  Grilled corn on the cob has such awesome flavor!

Dessert

What’s a camping trip without s’mores?  I’ve taste tested the Kinnikinnick GF Graham Crackers and they are awesome for s’more making?  Or be creative by using two Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cookies to sandwich your chocolate and roasted marshmallow.  Just bake the cookies ahead of time and store them in an airtight container in your cooler.  Premade Gluten Free Brownies or Gooey Rice Krispie Treats are also a well-deserved treat after a day of exploring.

A little pre-planning will help to make your camping trip an awesome experience.  Remember to pack your own utensils and pans to avoid cross contamination.  Be sure to educate your fellow campers of your gluten intolerance and the need to keep your foods separate from their gluten filled eats.

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Gluten Free Cake Pops!

Gluten Free Cake Pops

Birthdays are a time of celebration (and an excuse shamelessly to eat lots of cake!).   I’m beyond happy that gluten free dessert options have come such a long way!  I remember my first gluten free birthday.  Truth be told, “pre-celiac” my version of baking involved going to the bakery and buying something.  It was safer for all involved if I steered clear of the oven.  Then I went gluten free and I was basically forced to become one with my kitchen, 15 different types of gluten free flour, and a strange ingredient called Xanthan Gum.  I baked my first birthday cake and it was a disaster.  It tasted like burnt cardboard and looked like a squashed pancake.  However, in the past six years, I’ve learned to (gasp) enjoy baking!  I love creating new gluten free recipes and coming up with fun and tasty treats.  If I can do it, you can too!   Want to get creative for your next sans gluten birthday dessert?  This recipe was a huge hit with adults and kids alike.

gluten free cake pops

 

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Pops Recipe

Cake:
1 box of Gluten Free Devil’s Food Cake Mix (I used Betty Crocker)
1 stick of butter
3 eggs
1 cup water

Icing:
8 ounce cream cheese (softened)
¼ cup of butter (softened)
1 cup confectioners sugar
½ tablespoon of milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Additional Items:
2 packages of lollipop sticks (from local craft store)
Parchment paper
2 packages (four cups) white or dark chocolate chips
Sprinkles, non-pareils, sugar beads, or shaped sprinkles

I followed the directions on the Betty Crocker Gluten Free Devil’s Food Cake Mix box.  Let the cake cool completely.  Now for the fun part, plop cake into a large bowl and begin breaking it up with your fingers.   In a separate bowl, cream together one 8-ounce package of softened cream cheese, ¼ cup softened butter, 1 cup of confectioners sugar, 1 teaspoon of milk, & 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.   Once the mixture is fully creamed and smooth (if necessary, add a bit more milk), transfer the mixture into the bowl of crumbled cake.  Using your hands, combine the cake and icing.  Transfer cake/icing mix to refrigerator for 15 minutes.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Roll mixture into 1 – 2 inch balls and place on cookie sheet.  Once all balls are formed, insert a lollipop stick into each cake ball.  Pop the cookie sheet into the freezer for 15 minutes.  While cake pops are freezing, begin melting your chocolate in a double boiler (or microwave) in a deep bowl.  Begin dipping each cake ball completely into the chocolate.   Get creative and sprinkle on whatever toppings you’d like!  Place lollipop back on parchment paper and allow chocolate to harden.  FYI, these can be frozen for a future celebration!  Makes approximately 40 cake pops.

gluten free cake crumbsgluten free white chocolate

gluten free decorated cake pops

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Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake!

Cake or ice cream?  Tiara or party hat?  Big bash or intimate celebration?  We all like a birthday (or other festivity) with options.  Not only can we gluten free peeps have our cake, but thanks to Betty Crocker Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix we have other tasty choices!  I was super excited when I (insert modesty here) ingeniously decided to use Betty Crocker’s GF Cookie Mix to create a ginormous and scrumptious cookie cake!  I’m sure you’ve all seen cookie cakes in your local grocery store.  However, those cakes are loaded with gluten (boo hiss).  So I easily made my own gluten free cookie cake and it ended up costing less than the price of a store bought cake!  That’s a big ol’ win/win in my book.

Here’s how to make your very own gluten free cookie cake:  follow the directions on the Betty Crocker gluten free cookie mix box.  When cookie mix is a soft crumbly dough, transfer it to a 10 inch pie pan.  Evenly press the cookie dough around the base of the pie pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes (cookie will be light golden brown).  Let cool completely before decorating.  To decorate this cookie the size of sputnik, I used Betty Crocker Easy Flow Decorating Icing (it comes with four tips for different style options).

Before you blow out the candles, don’t forget to make a wish!

Disclaimer: please don’t judge me on my cake decorating “skills” cause I have none!

 

gluten free cookie cake

 

gluten free cookie cake

 

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Traversing the Grocery Store – Gluten Free

I remember when I first went gluten free; I would spend hours at the grocery store.   Fear not!  You can easily tackle gluten free food shopping with some important tips in mind:

1)      Do your research and create a list before you shop.  Compile a “cheat sheet” of what is gluten free before hitting the supermarket and bring your reference guide with you.

2)      Stop by the customer service desk.  Many grocery stores are now providing a list of gluten free products they carry in store.  Some stores even have a downloadable version you can access online.

3)      Shop the perimeter of the store.  Naturally gluten free fruits and veggies, meats, poultry, fish and dairy products can be found in the outer aisles of most grocery stores.

4)      Explore the inner aisles for gluten free finds such as canned goods, rice, corn tortillas, Frito Lay snacks, Chex gluten free cereal, Betty Crocker Gluten Free cake, cookie and brownie mixes, and Gluten Free Bisquick.  Chain stores as well as food stores such as Target, Trader Joes, Wegmans, and Whole Foods also carry a nice selection of gluten free food products.

5)      Speak to the store manager.  Is there a certain gluten free food that you are wishing your store would carry?  Talk to the manager and ask to fill out a product request form.

6)      Read all labels.  As time consuming as it may be, reading ingredient labels is the one way you can make absolutely certain if a product is gluten free.

7)      Shop during non-peak times.  If at all possible, plan to do your shopping during a time when your grocery store is not busy (early morning, late evening, weekdays).  You’ll feel less pressured when the aisles aren’t jam packed with frenzied shoppers.

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Gluten Free Chocolate Orange Cupcakes with Orange Cream Cheese Icing

Gluten Free Chocolat Orange Cupcakes

These cupcakes are beyond good!  If you are craving a moist, chocolaty, decadent but easy dessert, look no further than this recipe.  I made these cupcakes for Thanksgiving and my entire gluten-eating family raved about them!  The addition of buttermilk and sour cream helps make the cupcake moist beyond belief.  The hint of orange brings another flavor level to your basic chocolate cupcake.  Be forewarned, these cupcakes are so darn good you probably won’t want to share!

Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes

Gluten Free Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

1 box Betty Crocker GF Devil’s Food Cake Mix
1 cup buttermilk
1 stick butter (1/2 cup), softened
3 eggs
1 cup orange juice
1 cup sour cream
1 4-ounce packet of instant chocolate pudding mix
orange zest

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Beat cake mix, buttermilk, butter, eggs, orange juice, sour cream, chocolate pudding mix, and orange zest in a large bowl on low speed for 30 seconds, then on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping the bowl occasionally.   Pour into prepared cupcake pan (filling 2/3 way).   Bake for 18 – 23 minutes (until wooden toothpick inserted into center of cupcake comes out clean).  Cool completely before frosting.  Makes approximately two dozen cupcakes.

Orange Cream Cheese Icing

1 16-ounce can Betty Crocker cream cheese icing
1 8-ounce block of cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons orange juice
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
orange zest

Using an electric mixer, blend icing, cream cheese, orange juice, orange extract, and orange zest until thoroughly combined.

Gluten Free Cupcakes

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Let Your Gluten Free Voice Be Heard!

As many of you know, in addition to my Hold The Gluten site, I’ve been blogging for General Mills Live Gluten Freely.  I am a huge fan of General Mills and the strides they have taken to offer gluten free products “mainstream”.  In a few weeks, I have the amazing opportunity to travel to the General Mills location and get a gluten-free glimpse of the Betty Crocker Portrait Kitchen (O.M.G!!!).

Here’s where YOU come in!!  Alone, I am one gluten-free voice, but together we can make a difference in our gluten-free community.

If you could ask the Gluten Free Team at General Mills anything at all (or put in a gluten free food product request), what would it be?

This is your chance to be heard!  Share your honest opinion, feedback, questions and/or comments.  I will share your thoughts with the General Mills Team next month.  As my thank you, you’ll automatically be entered to win a fantabulous box of Gluten Free Bisquick!  Comment deadline is November 2, 2010.

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Betty Crocker Gluten Free Devil’s Food Cake Review

“Birthdays are nature’s way of telling us to eat more cake.”

forkfull of gluten free cake

This past Sunday was my birthday.  Not to be all Negative Nancy, but turning 37 was NOT that thrilling in the grand scheme of things.  To make matters worse, a full-on “raging hormone” war was taking place in my SAGGY, FLABBY body.  Can I get a waaaah?  What I wanted – strike that – needed was chocolate.  Lots of chocolate.  My darling husband of ten years knew it was vital that he take action quickly:  provide his long in the tooth wife with some chocolaty confection or get punched in the throat.  Just for the record, I wouldn’t really punch my devoted spouse in the throat.  I abhor physical violence.  A kick in the shin might be warranted though as I take my chocolate very seriously.

Enter the wondrous Betty Crocker.  As you all know, Betty Crocker offers gluten free cake, cookie and brownie mixes.  What could be better to perk up a disheartening 37th birthday than with chocolate cake?  I had yet to try Betty’s gluten free version of their Devil’s Food cake.  However, a few months ago I had taste tested the gluten free vanilla cake mix with good results.  Chuck (a.k.a. husband in reaction/avoidance mode) began mixing the cake ingredients.  Just as I had doctored the Betty Crocker vanilla cake mix, Chuck added two ingredients to the gluten free devil’s food cake mix.  One cup of sour cream and one packet of chocolate pudding mix went into the batter.  The result?  A moist, dense, chocolaty hunk of heaven.  This cake was so darn good that Chuck and my two kiddos were permitted ONE slice each.  I ate the rest of the cake forkful by fabulous forkful.  By the time I got around to taking a picture to post (priorities People, cake before photography!), all that remained was one tiny bite.

My birthday turned out to be quite fabulous and amazingly tasty.  I can’t wait to turn (gasp) 38!  Yeah, that’s totally a lie, but the cake…I’ll take any day!

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Happy Birthday Hold The Gluten!

The latest episode of my Hold The Gluten Podcast is now live!

Episode 25 “Happy Birthday Hold The Gluten” Features:

Read the blog. Listen to the podcast. Educate yourself.

Rock on Celiacs!

Click the player below to listen to the show! Subscribe to the podcast using iTunes (or whatever media player you use) at http://feeds2.feedburner.com/htgpodcast

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Glorious Gluten Free Food!

The latest episode of my Hold The Gluten Podcast is now live!

Episode 20 “‘Glorious Gluten Free Food” Features:

  • Effective June 1, 2009 – In addition to Gluten Free Rice Chex, General Mills will make the following Chex cereals gluten free:  Corn, Honey Nut, Chocolate, Cinnamon and Strawberry.
  • General Mills Betty Crocker brand will include gluten free brownie, cake, & cookie mixes. Check out About.com for further information as well as Kill The Gluten’s blog for product review.
  • Have you had a “gluten nightmare”?  Dreams of accidentally ingesting gluten…
  • Successful gluten free dining experience in Atlantic City, NJ.  Delicious gluten free options at Buddakan Restaurant.
  • Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Pasta Review (Rice Sticks Traditional Thia Pasta & Organic Spaghetti).
  • Bob’s Red Mill Certified GF Oats
  • What do YOU think of this HTG Podcast? Leave your feedback wherever you download this podcast!

Read the blog. Listen to the podcast. Educate yourself.

Rock on Celiacs!

Click the player below to listen to the show! Subscribe to the podcast using iTunes (or whatever media player you use) at http://feeds2.feedburner.com/htgpodcast

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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