This Examiner received free samples of the two gluten-free mixes from Marion's Smart Delights: Cookie & Muffin Baking Mix and Lemon Bar Mix. Marion’s Smart Delights baking mixes are made in a dedicated facility, certified gluten-free and under Kosher supervision. The mixes are both low in sodium and reduced sugar and contain an impressive amount of whole grains per serving.
Here is more information on the company:
Founded by Marion Braswell, PhD, Marion’s Smart Delights is a small company dedicated to solving a big problem for people seeking a nutritious — and safe — way to bake mouthwatering treats. Taking good care of our valued customers means paying meticulous attention to every aspect of our business: choosing GF whole grains like quinoa and amaranth … including just enough sugar for luscious bakery-shop texture … working with a packing company that is certified gluten-free, allergen-free and certified Kosher … and providing recipes that allow the mixes to be adapted for vegan, dairy-free and heart-healthy baking, as well as for “sharing” times like parties or gift-giving. You can count on our company to meet your highest expectations for integrity and customer service, while meeting your highest expectations for ease of use and utterly reliable, incredibly scrumptious results.
The gluten-free mixes are allergen-free and there are many recipes to choose from, and they can be prepared free of various allergens. You can even use the muffin mix to make carrot cake or cranberry nut bread! View the recipes here.
We made cranberry muffins using the cranberry nut bread recipe (minus the nuts) with the cookie and muffin baking mix to enjoy at Thanksgiving. The directions are very easy to follow and only required the addition of a few ingredients. The muffins baked up nicely and looked just like the photo on front of the box. The muffins had a great spring back and didn't crumble or leave a weird aftertaste. They had just enough sugar in them for me without giving me a dire need to eat vegetables. We enjoyed them as an afternoon snack with hot tea.
The lemon bar mix was quite fascinating to me because it is the first gluten-free bar mix that comes with its own crust. First you make and bake the crust, then you make the filling, combine and bake. We were quite nervous about over baking the bars, but they turned out just perfect. The bars have a nice mouth feel and were perfectly sweet , but would have been a touch sweeter topped with a little powdered sugar, but we were out.
These mixes are not currently available locally, but they can be purchased on their website for $6.49 for the lemon bars and $5.99 for the baking mix.
Ingredients for Lemon Bars: Sugar, baking mix (rice flour, corn starch, tapioca dextrin, xanthan gum, rice extract), arrow root, whole grain millet flour, potato starch flour, whole grain amaranth flour, whole grain quinoa flour, baking powder (potassium biocarbonate, calcium acid pyrophosphate, cornstarch, monocalcium phosphate), organic lemon peel, natural flavor, sea salt, inulin, luo han guo.
Ingredients for Cookie and Muffin Baking Mix: Baking mix (rice flour, corn starch, tapioca dextrin, xanthan gum, rice extract), whole grain millet flour, sugar, whole grain amaranth flour, potato starch, whole grain quinoa flour, arrow root, whole grain timothy grass seed flour, natural flavor, sea salt, inulin, luo han guo.
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