from Tracey G.

Gluten Free Doughnut Mix from King Arthur Flour

I personally do not need to eat gluten-free, but I really like to try things out for those who do – and mixes interest me because of the ease they offer to make GF treats. So far, everything I’ve tried from King Arthur Flour has been a win in their gluten-free mix line. This Gluten Free Doughnut Mix is a definite win in my book – I think I like it better than their regular doughnut mix! These are also baked doughnuts, like their regular mix, but I find that I love their texture and moistness much more!

They were very easy to prepare, with a couple of variations available to tailor it to your dietary needs. Here’s what you supply:

• Butter
• Vegetable Oil
• Eggs
• Milk

There is a variation where you can make it dairy-free by omitting the butter and regular milk, and use 1/3 cup vegetable oil and your milk substitute of choice (rice, soy or almond is what they list). So, since I cut cholesterol contributing ingredients where I can, I omitted the butter and used 1/3 cup vegetable oil, but kept the regular milk.

You do need a doughnut pan for these, I love this one from KAF, their Standard Doughnut Pan. And even though it’s non-stick, I do use a spritz of my no-sticky-residue-left-on-my-good-pans Vegalene Spray that I’ve mentioned before – it’s great stuff!

As I’ve been working on cookies again, I wasn’t in the mood to mix up a glaze this time around, so I dug out my KAF Baker’s Special Sugar, a superfine (castor) sugar and mixed it with some KAF Vietnamese Cinnamon and tossed the doughnuts with that in a zip-top bag (one at a time) to coat them. I am so glad I did! I think that combo made them way better than a glaze, lol.

So, Jeremy and I taste-tested and we both agreed they are really – I mean really – yummy and if you have to eat gluten-free, you will not feel deprived one bit! If you don’t have to eat gluten-free, they’re just a fabulous treat no matter what! Give the Gluten Free Doughnut Mix from King Arthur Flour a try!

 

from Kris B.

Cinnamon Sugar Puff Muffin Mix from King Arthur Flour

Sometimes simple is exactly what you need. I often find myself wanting just a little something sweet – not too heavy, not a specific flavor, not a major “experience” to make, and preferably a treat that goes well with coffee. A basic vanilla-ish muffin mix topped with cinnamon fits the bill perfectly.  These muffins are tasty without being overbearing.  For me, they are the best kind of comfort food.

I was away over the weekend at a retreat.  Let me just say that we were not lacking for food.  The camp chef prepared delicious meals.  Between meals, we also had an abundance of snacks.  Unfortunately, I did not bake for this week’s post before I left so I had to bake the Cinnamon Puff Muffins when I got home Sunday evening.  I must admit that food was the last thing that I wanted to think about.  Fortunately, these muffins are simple to make.

To the mix, you provide:

• Butter
• Milk
• Eggs

As with Tracey’s doughnut mix, the mix directions mention the substitution of vegetable oil or a mixture of vegetable oil and applesauce for the butter.  This time, I used butter.  I also used whole milk rather than almond milk, my usual, because that’s what was in the fridge when I was ready to bake.  Though the instructions don’t specifically mention substituting a non-dairy milk, the Baker’s tips on the website do.  I use almond milk almost exclusively in my baking and have never suffered any ill consequences.  It is important to note that the mix contains dairy so using a non-dairy milk will not make the muffins non-dairy.

The muffin mix, eggs, milk, and butter are stirred together and then divided into 12 standard-sized muffin cups.  (Mini-muffins are also an option.)  The muffins bake for 12-16 minutes.  Once done, the muffins cool for fifteen minutes before the topping is added.  The tops are then dipped in melted butter followed by the included cinnamon sugar.  That’s it!  Well, except for the eating part. 🙂

These Cinnamon Puff Muffins really are an anytime snack.  They are not too sweet to have with coffee for breakfast or too heavy too heavy to have as afternoon or bedtime snack.  I took a couple to school yesterday and left them on our secretary’s desk as a Monday morning treat.  Based on her reaction when I saw her later in the day, you’d have thought that I had left or a $100 bill or a Get Out of Jail free (aka day off) card.  I think that making someone’s day just a tiny bit brighter by sharing baked goods, even when from a mix, is why I love to bake so much.

As is often the case,

also offers several alternative ways to use this mix – doughnuts, scones, bundt cake.  Order a few boxes of this mix, try the variations, and make all of your friends smile!

Happy baking!