Admittedly, we’ve barely scratched the surface in sampling the vast line up of Pamela’s Baking Mixes. They have about a dozen Non-Dairy varieties. Although our review team has only sampled a few thus far, the results have been quite excellent.
Tasting Notes for Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Pamela’s Baking Mixes
I’ve included our notes for all of the Pamela’s Baking Mixes that we’ve tried, and a list at the end of all their dairy-free baking mix options.
Cornbread & Muffin Mix
In our home, we tested the Cornbread & Muffin Mix. I started with their “Sweet Old Fashioned” preparation, but made a few tweaks. I ended up with two varieties: Dairy-Free Buttermilk and Strawberry Vanilla Cornbread Muffins. Tony and I thought both batches were delicious, in fact, every nibble was devoured in two days! They were very cohesive, and had a nice texture with bits of corn grits throughout for an “authentic” taste.
As my husband reached for what I believe was his fourth muffin that day (I lost count), I finally told him they were gluten-free. At that point, he just looked at me, shrugged with a “so what” attitude, and happily enjoyed his muffin.
Since we aren’t into super-sweet mixes, I was a bit worried about going with the Sweet Cornbread recipe, but I was glad I did. The taste was pleasantly sweet, but not sugary, like so many muffins. They went perfectly with our savory chili dinner, but turned right around and served as an after-dinner treat topped with jam (for my husband) and honey (for me). I can definitely see the versatility in this mix.
Chocolate Cake
This mix was tested by Go Dairy Free reviewer Amy B. and her daughter.
I am amazed at the ease of Pamela’s Baking Mixes – no special instructions, just throw it all together in one bowl! I made the chocolate cake into cupcakes (frosted with Pamela’s Chocolate Frosting Mix – no longer available) for a family birthday and they went over incredibly well. Everyone was so impressed and they vanished quickly! No one could guess they were gluten or dairy free. The flavor was lusciously rich and chocolaty, and the crumb was soft but not fragile.
Vanilla Cake
This mix was tested by Go Dairy Free reviewer Amy B. and her family.
My mother made Pamela’s vanilla cake with their vanilla frosting (no longer available) for my birthday- what a wonderful gift!
Upon first slice, I could tell how moist and perfect the texture was. It sliced easily and was only slightly sticky on the tray, so texture-wise I thought it was a fair rival to traditional bakery cake. Just one bite, and I knew the rest of the cake would be gone in a heartbeat. It was rich but still light and fluffy. My only wish is that the mix made a slightly bigger cake. The result in an 8×11-inch pan was a somewhat modest height.
Chocolate Chunk Cookies
This mix was tested by Go Dairy Free reviewer Amy B. and her daughter.
I was impressed by the rich chocolate smell that came out of the bag when we opened it. There were HUGE chocolate chunks in the mix, which I was quite excited about. Once prepared, my daughter and I settled in to watch a movie with a plate of these cookies and glasses of dairy-free milk beverage. Can I just say YUM?! The whole cookie literally melts in your mouth with a perfectly sweet taste.
Bread
This mix was tested by Go Dairy Free reviewer Amy B. and her daughter.
Far simpler than wheat bread, you just mix everything up, let it sit for an hour and then bake – so easy! The end result was a rich, chewy and moist bread that allowed me to remember what it was like to come home from work and eat a jelly sandwich. The texture of the baked bread was a bit hearty, which I love. It had substance, but it did threaten to crumble a little too quickly. That said, it did hold up well in sandwich form, in the toaster, with peanut butter and jelly, and smothered in margarine for a midnight snack. Plus, the flavor and overall quality rivaled that of my mother’s homemade bread. (Note: I also used it to make Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free French Toast.)
All Dairy-Free Pamela’s Baking Mixes & Allergen Notes
Ingredients, manufacturing processes, and product availability are subject to change at any time. So be sure to confirm with the packaging. But at our time of review, the following Pamela’s Baking Mixes were made without any dairy.
- Biscuit & Scone Mix
- Bread Mix
- Chocolate Brownie Mix
- Chocolate Cake Mix
- Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix
- Cornbread & Muffin Mix
- Vanilla Cake Mix
Additional Allergen Notes: At last check, only their Baking & Pancake Mix contained dairy in the ingredients. That said, all of their mixes are made on equipment that processes tree nuts, coconut, eggs, soy and milk. Pamela’s facility is gluten-free and peanut-free.
More Facts on Pamela’s Baking Mixes (Dairy-Free Versions)
Price: $6.99 per package
Availability: Pamela’s Baking Mixes are sold at Whole Foods, Albertsons stores, and other natural food stores in the U.S. You can also order them direct from their website below or via Amazon.
Certifications: Pamela’s Baking Mixes are Certified Gluten-Free, non-GMO Verified, and Certified Kosher. The mixes without chocolate chunks are Certified Kosher Pareve. The mixes with chocolate chunks (brownies and cookies) are Certified Kosher D (for dairy equipment, not ingredients; see our Understanding Kosher Guide).
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, the non-dairy versions of Pamela’s Baking Mixes are dairy-free / non-dairy, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, and vegetarian. Most varieties are soy-free (the ones with chocolate chips contain soy lecithin). The mixes themselves are vegan and made without eggs, but they call for eggs in the preparation.*
For More Product Information: Visit the Pamela’s website at www.pamelasproducts.com.
*Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy.
Really good gluten-free mixes
We sampled the Cornbread (so versatile!), Chocolate and Vanilla Cakes (fooled everyone), Chocolate Chunk Cookies (melt in your mouth) and Bread (hearty whole grain) – all were winners. The flavors were pleasant and the texture was always soft and tender, yet cohesive – just the Bread threatened to crumble a little too easily. We did follow the preparation instructions, which called for eggs. I cannot confirm if these mixes would turn out well with an egg substitute.
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