Did you know that many original baking mixes didn’t require eggs or dairy? So it comes as no surprise to me that Cherrybrook Kitchen Baking Mixes are able to compete with other popular mixes.
Unlike most other brands, Cherrybrook Kitchen runs a peanut-free and tree nut-free facility, and uses equipment that is also dedicated dairy-free and egg-free. They were actually one of the original pioneers for allergy-friendly convenience foods.
Tasting Notes for Cherrybrook Kitchen Baking Mixes
They have grown to offer several varieties of Cherrybrook Kitchen Baking Mixes, but we started a chocolate sampler …
Chocolate Cake Mix
This cake was a snap to prepare, just add oil and water, and bake for around 20 minutes. Fast, easy and practically foolproof. The resultant texture was perfect. In my opinion – a touch on the dense and hearty side when compared to the fluffy chemical contenders, but not a bit crumbly. The chocolate flavor was mild, but spiked with miniature chocolate chips that added little flavor bursts throughout. Although the instructions say the mix will make one 9-inch round cake pan, I think you could get another cupcake or two on top of this. We came out with a very tall single layer cake. If you go for cupcakes, a dozen or so may be likely.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
Once prepared, the texture of these cookies is very light and fluffy, with just a slight doughy feel as you bite into the center. It’s a delicately sweet cookie absolutely loaded with dairy free semi-sweet chocolate chips. They’re quite a shift from my usual hearty, whole wheat cookies.
Tony gobbled up a half batch in no time – offering his non-verbal seal of approval. Fortunately, they are very easy to prepare. In fact, we highly recommend this mix for Sunday baking with kids. There is just enough for them to do without too many complicated steps or mess. With luck, the cookies will even make it to the oven. The cookie dough is quite tasty, and since it is free of eggs, moms need not worry.
Fudge Brownie Mix
The only place where we hit a snag was in the pan size. Lacking a 9×9 inch pan, I had to go down in size. Requiring a longer cook time and resulting in what looked like taller, more cake-like brownies. Fortunately, the true brownie in these emerged upon cooling, with a slightly denser texture and a relatively intense dark chocolate taste. I was surprised that the chocolate chips did not present themselves, but rather melted into the brownies, creating occasional pockets of semi-sweet chocolate flavor.
I would love to trial these brownies again in the a proper pan to experience their true fudgey side. As for Tony, these brownies had just enough “sweet” and chocolate to satisfy.
I think my only caveat for some of the Cherrybrook Kitchen Baking Mixes is that they do require dairy-free margarine / buttery spread. I always prefer mixes that use oil instead (including for cookies). That said, they make up for this with cute, cartoon-style packaging that is appealing to kids and could even make for a fun gift basket.
The Facts on Cherrybrook Kitchen Baking Mixes
Price: $6.49 per boxed mix
Certifications: Cherrybrook Kitchen Baking Mixes are Certified Kosher Parve.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Cherrybrook Kitchen Baking Mixes are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan / plant-based, and vegetarian. Nonetheless, check with the company on their manufacturing processes for all varieties if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. Processes and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company / product.
For More Product Information: Visit the Cherrybrook Kitchen website at cherrybrookkitchen.com.
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What Others Are Saying ...
Versatile and delicious
We trialed out the chocolate bunch, including the cake, chocolate chip cookies, and fudge brownies, with great success. All were easy to prepare and the results were spot-on delicious. The cake is just a bit “heartier” than brands like Duncan Hines, but the ingredients are also simpler and more straight-forward. We were also surprised by the nice, rich and dense results of the brownies, which are usually a textural challenge of vegan baking.
