Over the years, I’ve tested dozens of gluten-free baking mixes, and though many have evolved to showcase innovative ingredients and fancy formulations, it’s impossible to deny that sometimes the old tried and true options work best. 1-2-3 Gluten Free baking mixes aren’t revolutionary, but I’ll be darned if they aren’t tasty.
1-2-3 Gluten Free Baking Mixes use what I call the “standard gluten-free flour blend” of rice flour, potato starch, tapioca starch, and xanthan gum. Of course they use their own ratios, and have many, many variations – from fortified to sugar-free, chocolate-infused to perfectly spiced. But from my perspective, 1-2-3 Gluten Free follows the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” motto with delicious success.
Tasting Notes for 1-2-3 Gluten Free Baking Mixes
We sampled just a small handful of their products (at last count they had around 18 mixes!), including the following.
Divinely Decadent Brownies
It’s important to clarify the brownies we sampled as they actually have two varieties: Devilishly Decadent (with chocolate chunks) and Divinely Decadent (without chocolate chunks and thus free of soy lecithin). We trialed the “Divinely” variety, but trust me, those chocolate chunks were not missed. These crusty, fudgy brownies were just like my favorite homemade brownie recipe!
Because we’re at slightly higher altitude (about 4400 feet) they rose quite a bit, cut a thick crust on top and then collapsed beneath. I was worried that they were ruined, but once I cracked through the top, dense, rich brownies were revealed. Both Tony and I devoured them for 2 days straight! We decided to froze the leftovers and yes, they do freeze very well.
Sugar ‘n Spice Pan Bars (Pumpkin Recipe)
I was craving something a little holiday-inspired, so I cracked open a can of pumpkin puree and made the dairy-free version of the pumpkin Pan Bars on the box. The batter was AMAZING! I had to quickly wash the mixing bowl and beaters before I personally scraped it clean.
I took a peek a little over halfway through and was shocked at the site: a sky high cake! Call it our altitude, but I think their mix is a little more cake-like than dense bars. That said, they were de-li-cious! And this is from someone who really doesn’t love cake. They were just perfectly sweet, with the right amount of spice and warm hints of pumpkin. They’d be delicious with tea or milk alternative, iced, or topped with some dairy-free ice cream. Tony agreed, polishing off almost the entire batch before I had the chance to freeze any.
Allie’s Awesome Buckwheat Pancakes (Pumpkin Recipe)
I hate to sound like a promotion, but seriously, this was another winner. Since I had leftover pumpkin puree from the pan bars, I went with the pumpkin Pancakes variation on the box. I was worried, as the batter was a little floury in taste, but the cakes ended up perfectly light and puffy. In fact, I forgot that they were even buckwheat-infused! Tony gave them an enthusiastic “they’re good!” – he always uses the word good, so I have to judge by the inflections in his voice and the cleanliness of his plate – not a crumb remained.
Tony had the pancakes with maple, but I went with raw almond butter and enjoyed them with tea. They were just sweet enough and oh-so-comforting.
Important Note: For all of the above we used the dairy-free basic instructions on the box, which used eggs. 1-2-3 Gluten Free provides tested egg-free / vegan instructions on either the box, their website, or both for all of their mixes. But, we haven’t personally tested those egg-free recipes. They also provide numerous additional recipes on their boxes (inside and out!) and website for enjoying these mixes every which way.
The Facts on 1-2-3 Gluten Free Baking Mixes
Certifications: 1-2-3 Gluten Free Baking Mixes are Certified Gluten-Free and Certified Kosher Parve. They are also labeled as GMO-Free, though I didn’t note certifications.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, 1-2-3 Gluten Free Baking Mixes are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan / plant-based, and vegetarian. Nonetheless, verify on the label and check with the company on their manufacturing processes for all varieties if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. Processes, ingredients, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company / product.
For More Product Information: Visit the 1-2-3 Gluten Free website at www.123glutenfree.com.
