Fast And Fresh Dairy-free Minute Chocolate Cake Mix

[Karen B.]

I just tried another Fast and Fresh product, the Dairy-Free Minute Chocolate Cake Mix. I bought it from Amazon with a gift cert I received for my BD. I can't get the links to work so go to Amazon and search on Dairy-Free Minute Chocolate Cake Mix if you want to see the product.

It made a nice light fluffy piece of chocolate cake by dumping the contents of a small packet into a small plastic container, add the amount of water specified (they enclose a small measuring cup), put the lid on and shake until mixes. Then take the lid off and microwave for 60 seconds. What comes out of the microwave is a light, fluffy piece of chocolate cake that is quite tasty.

Note: this is not rich fudgy brownie type cake. It really is very light and fluffy, not something that happens often in gluten-free cakes. (Hubby's review -- "Man, that's good!")

Next time I make it, I'll give the plastic bowl a very light spray of PAM and see if it comes out cleaner (left a few crumbs behind). According to the package, one packet of mix equals 2 servings and each serving is 140 calories without the icing, 200 calories with the icing.

Through a shipping mix-up, they also sent me the chocolate icing for the cake. They told me to keep it so I got it for free! Microwave the unopened package for 20-30 seconds and moosh it around in the package to eliminate any lumps, snip the edge and pour over the cake. How easy is that! Same link problem so if you want to search for it on Amazon, search for Dairy-Free Chocolate Flavored Icing although Amazon had it on the same page as the chocolate cake on a deal where you could buy the 2 for less than $10.

This is not a frugal product -- it's a convenience product. For the cost of the package that makes 4 small cakes (8 servings), I could buy a package of Namaste Chocolate Cake mix that would make an 8-1/2x11 sheet cake. But then I would have to figure out what to do with all that cake. (Just plaster it to my hips would be the most efficient! :-)

I'm all for Celiac convenience! And I've learned at my loacl Celiac group that not all Celiacs feel comfortable with baking. Anyone can work a microwave! This is a great product, especially for those that need to be Dairy Free. (or for those that don't want a whole 8-1/2x11 cake)

[maryjk]

I have the White Bread Mix and the Hamburger Bun mix.

Like you said, this is not for everyday. It is expensive and loaded with calories. But you just can not beat the convenience.

I don't know if you can order it on Amazon, but the company also sells refills. That way you don't have to buy the molds each time.

(Hint: I was told that if it left crumbs in the mold that I wasn't cooking it long enough.)

[Karen B.]

I have the White Bread Mix and the Hamburger Bun mix.

Like you said, this is not for everyday. It is expensive and loaded with calories. But you just can not beat the convenience.

I don't know if you can order it on Amazon, but the company also sells refills. That way you don't have to buy the molds each time.

(Hint: I was told that if it left crumbs in the mold that I wasn't cooking it long enough.)

Thanks for the hint. I didn't see any uncooked portions but I'll try 10 seconds longer next time.

Actually, 200 calories for a piece of cake isn't bad. I don't expect cake to be nutritious (although this was enriched). For 200 calories, I can cut calories elsewhere to adjust around it. For me, the best thing is not being stuck with a bunch of cake just to have one piece.

I've ordered all of my Fast and Fresh products through Amazon because I can bundle it with other products like Lundberg's RiceXpress. And yes, the refills are cheaper. I still find the burger bun kit is the handiest because it lets me get a burger when the rest of my office is grabbing one without a lot of planning. I've given it as a gift to a couple of Celiacs.

I haven't tried the white bread because I do actually bake bread sometimes. :-) Is the white bread just passable or does it actually taste like regular white bread?

I think the biggest audience is for the people that either don't feel comfortable in the kitchen or business people that need something they can prepare on the road. I traveled 9 months for my job and found that you can almost always get a safe burger patty. But I know several Celiacs that are male and older and don't feel comfortable with baking. For them, this product would add a nice perk to the diet.

[maryjk]

Thanks for the hint. I didn't see any uncooked portions but I'll try 10 seconds longer next time.

Actually, 200 calories for a piece of cake isn't bad. I don't expect cake to be nutritious (although this was enriched). For 200 calories, I can cut calories elsewhere to adjust around it. For me, the best thing is not being stuck with a bunch of cake just to have one piece.

The bread is high. One slice for 170 calories. But even that is okay if you cut calories other places. And it is SO convenient it is hard to pass up.

I haven't tried the white bread because I do actually bake bread sometimes. :-) Is the white bread just passable or does it actually taste like regular white bread?

I haven't made mine here yet. But I tasted it at the GIG conference. The company had a table at the exhibit hall. It tasted like bread. Just tasting it made me buy both the white bread and the bun mix. When they made it there, they used a bowl to mix it. Said that although you could just add the water to the bag, it was easier to use a fork and a bowl to mix it up. I also tasted the brownie, I couldn't believe that it came from that little package, it was so good.

I like the mixes because you can make it quickly at someone's house. Or if you travel, you can mix it up and cook it at the hotel. Otherwise I am trying to figure out how to keep things frozen.

[Karen B.]

I really lucked out on this last order. They sent me some items I hadn't ordered and left out some items I had ordered. When I emailed them, they said to keep the extras and they sent me the missing items. How great is that! :-)

[Sweetfudge]

the best thing is not being stuck with a bunch of cake just to have one piece.

That's what sells me! I can't wait to try some!