Children's Cupcake Maker Has Gluten Free Mixes

[Amyleigh0007]

The brand is Girl Gourmet and it's a cupcake maker similiar to an Easy Bake Oven. I turned the box over and it clearly states that all the cupcake mixes and frosting mixes are wheat and gluten free!! I first saw it at Target and then we got a Walmart Christmas catalog and it was in there too.

[hez]

Amy, I hate to admit this but I did not believe you! I went on Amazon and sure enough you are right! My dd has been asking for one of these things and I decided no a long time ago. But since it comes with gluten-free mixes I might have to cave!

It is getting horrible ratings so if you do buy one you may want to stock up on the mixes now. Not sure how long it will be around.

Hez

[Amyleigh0007]

I didn't believe my eyes when I first saw it. It caught my eye because my son loves cupcakes and I about flipped out when I saw it included gluten free mixes. But, when I showed it to him in the Walmart catalog he didn't want it because it is pink. Oh well. That's a bummer it's getting low ratings.

[Juliebove]

Seriously!? Daughter saw it and was upset because she would be allergic to the cupcakes, but if they are gluten-free...this might be good. Of course she goes have other allergies.

Okay, I just looked this up and the mixes are processed in a facility that also processes wheat. Plus you don't apparently use the device to bake it. They bake in the microwave. And they got horrible ratings by users. Said the product just doesn't work and makes a tasteless mess.

I just looked more. The mixes are made only with cornstarch. No rice flour or anything else. No wonder they taste bad! Also may contain peanuts and tree nuts and the non-food parts are made in China. Yuck!

[gfgang]

My daughter wants this , but we told her no because of her gluten-free brother... This is great news!!! Good looking out! And who care about the ratings everyone has a different pallet.. As long as she likes it and it makes some cullinary creations im for it...lol

[abbysmom]

I saw this on "The View" yesterday and I just had to have it! I hate that it is getting bad reviews, because I thought the cupcakes were REALLY good. Even my gluten eating husband and my mom liked them. We bought it today and my daughter, who is almost 4, and I made the Red Velvet w/Cream Cheese Icing and Cinnamon Sugar w/ Vanillia Icing. Other than the icing being a little runny, they were easy and great! The only downside I could see is the price. The initial kit is $30 and it only comes with enough mix to make 4 cupcakes. You can buy more, $7 for 3 cupcakes or $13 for 6. But my daughter and I are gluten-free and this was easier than making a whole batch...plus she felt like she was cooking. It says not to use other batter, but who knows, maybe it could be done!

[mommida]

The company that makes the mixes is called Food-Tek. I met them at a few gluten free food fairs. They are knowledgeable about gluten and cross contamination. Every food manufacturer is going to have standard CYA statement if they understand cross contamination.

You can order microwaveable gluten free and casein free food items at www. foodtek .com (odd spaces added to slip past the system) It makes traveling a whole lot easier. I always thought it was like easy bake oven baking with a microwave for grown ups. You take the mix, add water, pour into the appropiate mold (i.e. bread slice shape for white bread), and pop into the micro. When it's done pop the item out of the mold and enjoy. They really have come in handy when my kids go to birthday parties and I didn't have time to make gluten free cake for them to enjoy at the party.

Santa is leaving the Girl Gourmet under the tree this year for my Celiac daughter!

If you have any questions check the web-site or e-mail me.

Laura

[Rook's Mommy]

I have to go to Target. My daughter is going to go bananas!

[GFHome]

I called Food Tek the makers of the mixes for the girl gourmet cupcake maker and they actually batch test their gluten free mixes and icing! They register at about 5 parts per million which is much less then the industries standard to be considered gluten free. They where so knowledgeable and helpful! They also have gluten free mixes on their website that you can buy to replace the packets for the easy bake oven! (foodtek.com) Our gluten free kids can finally now enjoy making their own gluten free treats.

[ANDOBEAR]

Why does it have to be the GIRL gourmet? Why not just Gourmet....and come in a genfer neutral color like red or teal? My son would get a kick out of this. Actually, he probably wouldn't even care that its pink.

It just bugs me that its aimed at girls. I like a guy that can bake a cake...especially a gluten free cake!

[mommida]

The cupcake mixes bake in the microwave oven. The plastic parts in the package are for frosting and decorating.

THIS WOULD BE GREAT FOR ANY CELIAC CHILD who might need an emergency gluten free treat to fit in with b-day party celebrations and such.

My advice if your son has an interest in this, get some permanent makers and make it whatever colors/design he wants.

When I met the people at the Food-Tek booth, I am still under the impression the person who made the mixes - was male. He was very interested in everyone's taste test comments because he was still "working" on the products.

[Juliebove]

Against my better judgement, Santa brought this for daughter. She was less than thrilled upon opening it, saying, "Isn't that the thing that got the bad reviews?" She looked at the box with one eyebrow raised, that eye big and the other eye little. Sort of pushed it aside. Left it until she had opened and played with all the other toys. Then became bored and asked if she could make a cupcake.

So we did. She selected chocolate with chocolate frosting.

The cupcake was easy enough to mix up and do in the microwave although the paper cups were stuck togother and both the frosting and cake mix seemed to clump up in the packets and it was difficult to remove all of them.

Made the frosting and proceeded to try to fill the frosting tube. I had to do this. There was no way daughter (age 10) could have done it. As it was, I had a tough time.

Proceeded to frost the cake. The tube sort of pooped out the frosting in a random pattern. Very unattractive and it in no way covered the cake.

Then as I released the handle (I took over because daughter was frustrated) we watched in horror as the spinning base spun rapidly in the opposite direction and flung the cupcake onto the floor!

Back to the drawing board.

This time I made the cupcake and frosting. Was able to do them much quicker than daughter could. This time I made the frosting a bit more runny and not like cookie dough as the directions said. This time, daughter held her hands around the cupcake fixing to catch it when it flung. She got frosting all over her hands. The tube didn't work any better this time with a few turds of frosting flung haphazardly across the top of the little mishapen cake. You see when you bake it, you bake it just in the paper cup with the lidded baking pan, seemingly useless, except perhaps to lift the cake out of the microwave.

So... I told daughter if we ever do this again, we'll not use the decorating unit and instead just spread the frosting on with the little green spatula thingie that comes in the kit.

Daughter's critique of the cake? It was just a little better than okay and very soft. And VERY messy.

[Amyleigh0007]

Juliebove- That's a shame it didn't work out for your daughter. I had it in my cart for my son but put it back at the last minute since he had said he didn't want it because it was for girls. I still thought he might like to use it. I was hoping it would become popular like the Easy Bake Oven and the fact that is uses gluten free mixes would get some media attention. But, it doesn't sound like it will.

[Cheri A]

Julie, I'm sorry that it was so disappointing for you and your dd. ((hugs))