I have the pleasure of being a member of the DC Celiacs support group, and through this group, I met a woman named Marion who has been working feverishly to develop a near-perfect gluten free muffin mix and lemon bar mix. After having had the opportunity to sample her treats at several group meetings -- and trying both mixes myself at home -- I can’t say enough about the quality and taste of Marion’s Smart Delights Gluten Free Cookie and Muffin Baking Mix and her Gluten Free Lemon Bar Mix.
The variety of baked goods you can create with Marion's muffin mix is almost endless (she includes many delicious recipes on her website). I've personally tried the chocolate chip muffins, vegan orange chocolate chip muffins, and the shortbread cookies. The mix is not only gluten-free, but free of ALL 8 major allergens! Another thing that sets this versatile gluten-free baking mix apart from all the others is that it’s the only one that incorporates so many sources of whole grain (millet, amaranth, quinoa, and timtane), making your baked goods healthy as well as delicious. (And I don't know about you, but as much as I want to incorporate more of these healthy, gluten-free, "alternative" whole grains in the food I cook for my family, sometimes it's easier said than done!)
Another advantage Marion's mixes have is that they are naturally low in sugar and sodium, you aren’t getting as much of the “bad stuff” either...but trust me, the taste doesn’t suffer. With the muffins and shortbread cookies, I really enjoyed the subtle sweetness that can be tailored depending on the recipe you follow and what you add to the mix.
Marion’s Lemon Bar Baking Mix is another home-run...just the right level of sweetness and lemony flavor, and you’d never guess the bars are gluten-free. These two mixes are really perfect for anyone with gluten-intolerance or allergies to keep stocked in their pantry...the baking possibilities are endless. They are even Kosher certified, and recipes can be tailored to be dairy free or even vegan. Right now, Marion's Featured Recipe at the bottom of her Home page is for Cranberry Walnut Bread. Other tempting recipes included on her website include Carrot Cake, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, and Almond Cookies.
Marion's Smart Delights Mixes are currently available at a few stores in the Washington, DC area with new retailers coming soon. In the meantime, you can also buy the mixes and have them shipped directly to you through her website. If you buy them, I'd be anxious to hear what you made and how it turned out. Feel free to share YOUR favorite gluten-free baking mixes with us as well by replying to this post!