I’ve seen several Trader Joe’s Baking Mixes on display, some with dairy, some without. But the Gingerbead Cake Mix was the first one that I simply had to purchase. Not only is it dairy-free by ingredients, it is also prepared without dairy. And I love ginger!
Do you want to know about that pretty whipped cream on top of the cake? It’s Trader Joe’s Dairy-Free Coconut Whipped Cream!
Tasting Notes for Trader Joe’s Baking Mixes
Trader Joe’s Baking Mixes are shelf stable and usually sold near the sugar and other baking ingredients. As we test more dairy-free Trader Joe’s Baking Mixes, or get information on them, I’ll add them to this post.
Gingerbread Cake Mix (seasonal)
It puffed up beautifully as it baked, but it took a full 35 minutes (not the 25 to 30 minutes noted in the directions). And I was a little concerned as it cooled and deflated. But despite its humble appearance this cake is a showstopper.
The ginger and other spices permeated every bite for a very warm flavor that was surprisingly cohesive. It was dotted with crystallized ginger, but the pieces were small and not sugary, which kept the sweetness at the perfect level. And the crumb wasn’t fluffy, but it wasn’t heavy either. In fact, it was every bit as tender as I would hope for gingerbread.
Ingredients: unbleached enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, malted barley flour), sugar, crystallized ginger (ginger, sugar), molasses powder, modified cornstarch, spices (ginger, cinnamon, nutemg), dextrose, salt, soybean oil, baking soda, natural flavors.
Nutrition (per ): calories, g fat, g carbs, g fiber, g sugars (includes g added sugars), g protein.*
The preparation calls for 1 large egg, 1/3 cup water, and 3/4 cup oil. I think you could safely swap 1 egg replacer to make this cake egg-free and vegan. They do call for vegetable oil specifically, but any baking oil should work well. I used grapeseed oil.
More Dairy-Free Trader Joe’s Baking Mixes
Their options go in and out of season, but do come up on repeat a lot. Here are baking mixes that we have spotted at Trader Joe’s, at some time, that are made without dairy ingredients. They often call for an egg in preparation. Some call for butter, but you can substitute dairy-free buttery spread or sticks with good results.
- Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookie Baking Mix (calls for oil, vanilla, and non-dairy beverage)
- Blondie Bar Mix (calls for an egg and butter; sub dairy-free butter alternative)
- Brownie Truffle Mix (calls for eggs and butter; sub dairy-free butter alternative)
- Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake Mix (calls for water, an egg, and butter; sub dairy-free butter alternative)
- Corn Cookie Baking Mix (calls for an egg and butter; sub dairy-free butter alternative)
- Gluten Free Cornbread Mix (calls for an egg, oil and milk; sub dairy-free milk beverage)
- Maple Pecan Cookie & Baking Mix (calls for eggs, oil, and powdered sugar)
- Mochi Cake Mix (calls for water, eggs, and butter; sub dairy-free butter alternative)
- Nut Butter Bar Mix (technically a No-Bake mix; calls for nut butter and honey or maple syrup)
- Pumpkin Bread & Muffin Mix (calls for eggs, oil, and water)
The Facts on Trader Joe’s Baking Mixes
Price: $2.79 per box (can vary)
Availability: Trader Joe’s Baking Mixes are sold exclusively at Trader Joe’s stores in the United States.
Certifications: Trader Joe’s Gingerbread Cake Mix is Certified Kosher D (for dairy equipment, not ingredients; see our Understanding Kosher Guide). We’ve seen this certification on some of their other baking mixes, too.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Trader Joe’s Gingerbread Cake Mix is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free (but an egg is called for in the preparation), nut-free, peanut-free, vegan (but an egg is called for in the preparation), and vegetarian.*
For More Product Information: Visit your local Trader Joe’s store or contact them directly via their website at www.traderjoes.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.
Gingerbread cake mix
This is the best gingerbread cake mix ever! My a Grandson ask for this every year for his birthday! I have to be sure and hold one back for him as this is a seasonal cake.
Warm spices and sweetness just right
So far, we’ve trialed the Gingerbread Cake Mix, and it was second to none. The warm spices were abundant, the sweetness was just right, and the crumb was just right – not too light, but not too much heft. Read below for full details …
3 Comments
I’ve made this replacing the oil with applesauce and the egg with 1T of ground flax seed. It came out great!
That’s great! Thank you for sharing Joe.
Awesome, I wish we had a trader Joe’s in Canada. Love reading reviews of products before purchasing – thanks 🙂