Cookbook Review: The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten Free by Anne Byrn

The book I have been dreaming of for 3 years is finally here!  The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten Free is available in stores as of December 8, 2010.  I was a big fan of The Cake Mix Doctor prior to my daughter's Celiac Disease diagnoses 3 years ago.  Back then, I was on a personal mission to bake every cake in the original Cake Mix Doctor cookbook.  I was off to a pretty good start until I found out that my daughter could no longer have gluten.  During my initial "loss of gluten mourning period" the thought that I would never be able to bake anymore cakes from my Cake Mix Doctor cookbook bothered me significantly.

I am a determined individual and wasn't ready to say goodbye to The Cake Mix Doctor recipes, so I decided to be pro-active instead of re-active.  I sent an e-mail to Anne Byrn (a.k.a The Cake Mix Doctor), shared my story with her and suggested that she write a Gluten Free Cake Mix Doctor cookbook.  I didn't receive a reply, so I wrote her again a few months later.  And again.  And again.  You get the picture.

After the better part of a year, I found an e-mail in my inbox from the Cake Mix Doctor.  I was expecting to read an auto-response, but was delighted to read that Anne Byrn herself had replied!  She explained that she had been on a book tour for many months, which is why she hadn't replied to my previous e-mails.  She surprised me by saying she liked the idea of a Gluten Free Cake Mix Doctor cookbook, and wanted to know what some of my favorite gluten free cake mixes were.

As the months passed, I didn't hear any news so I e-mailed Anne for an update.  I couldn't believe it when she replied and told me that her publisher had approved the Gluten Free Cake Mix Doctor project and that she was actually writing the book!  Shortly after that, I was honored when she called me on the phone and asked me to test a few recipes for the book; at that time I shared that I felt the recipes should include dairy free options as well.

Finally, the book is complete!  Anne just sent me a review copy of The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten Free and it is absolutely fabulous!  I was surprised and flattered beyond words that Anne included me in the book's acknowledgments.  She also tells "my story" in the book's foreword.  To top it off, she added my Gluten Free Taste of Home blog in the gluten free resources section!  It feels amazing and surreal to know that my concerns were taken seriously and manifested into reality by the kind, talented, Anne Byrn (a.k.a The Cake Mix Doctor).  This experience taught me that I should never give up on my dreams, no mater how unattainable they may seem!

About the book:

"Anne Byrn shows how to transform gluten-free cake mixes into 76 rich, decadent, easy-to-make, impossible-to-resist desserts. Performing the magic that’s made her a bestselling baking author with over 33 million copies of her books in print, she doctors mixes with additions like almond extract, fresh berries, cocoa powder, grated coconut, cinnamon, lime zest, and more—naturally, all gluten-free ingredients—and voilà: Tres Leches Cake with Whipped Cream and Summer Berries, Almond Cream Cheese Pound Cake, Chocolate Cupcakes with Milk Chocolate Ganache, Caramel Melted Ice Cream Cake, Warm Tarte Tatin Apple Cake, plus brownies, bars, muffins, and cookies. Dessert is back on the menu."

Why I love this book:


The recipes in The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten Free are delicious and beautiful enough to serve to company, yet they never taste like they came from a mix.  My favorite thing about preparing Anne's recipes is that they always turn out wonderful... I have never made a Cake Mix Doctor recipe that my family didn't enjoy!  To top it off, the recipes from The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten Free can prepared in less time than from scratch desserts, freeing up more time to spend with my family.

I deeply appreciate that Anne decided to include dairy free options for nearly all of the recipes so more people can eat them.  If you are dairy free you will most likely be able to come up with dairy free alternatives for the very few recipes that do not include them (try Mimic Creme in place of cream, and So Delicious Dairy Free frozen desserts in place of ice cream).  Since my daughter is dairy free that is what I plan to do.


The bottom line is, if you love cake, cookies, brownies, and bars and need to bake gluten free, you will definitely want to add this book to your cookbook collection!

There are also many recipes in this book that are perfect for the holidays; for example, my family made and decorated the adorable Gingerbread Boys & Girls recipe.  The recipe starts with a yellow cake mix.  Easy and fun!

Thank you Anne for giving this amazing gift to the gluten free community!  


BUY IT:


Click here to order The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten Free from the Workman Publishing website, or pick up a copy at a book retailer near you.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I was not compensated for this post; I received a copy of this book for review purposes courtesy of the author. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Coming December 2010: THE CAKE MIX DOCTOR BAKES GLUTEN-FREE & a Cake Recipe from the Book!

I am absolutely thrilled to announce the highly anticipated upcoming release of The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten-Free by Anne Byrn (one of my all time favorite cookbook authors!)

I will be reviewing the cookbook closer to it's December release... this is just announcement to let you know that it is coming!  I am literally counting the days until December when I can get my hands on a copy of this book; you will be the first to know!

I had the honor of testing a few of the gluten free cake recipes in this book for Anne Byrn while she was writing it, and even had the pleasure of chatting with her about gluten free baking on the phone.  She is such a warm and friendly person, no wonder every recipe I have ever made from her cookbooks tastes so comforting!

Much to my delight, I was recently asked to sample a recipe from The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten-Free called Kitchen Sink Gingerbread Cake, and was provided with a box of gluten free yellow cake mix for use in the recipe.  The aroma of ginger and cinnamon made my house smell like the holidays when it was baking, and the final product was moist and tasted divine.  

Recipe Sneak Peek:

Gluten Free Kitchen Sink Gingerbread Cake Recipe (Courtesy of The Cake Mix Doctor):

Vegetable oil spray, for misting the pan

1 package (15 ounces) yellow gluten free cake mix
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
8 tablespoons (1stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 large eggs, 2/3 cup apple cider or water
2 tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, or 1 teaspoon grated orange zest

1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly mist an 8-inch square pan with vegetable oil spray and set the pan aside.

2. Place the cake mix, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Cut the butter into tablespoons, then add it and the eggs, apple cider or water, molasses, and vanilla or zest and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are just incorporated, 30 seconds. Stop the machine and scrape down the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat the batter until smooth, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes longer, scraping down the side of the bowl again if needed. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the rubber spatula, and place the pan in the oven.

3. Bake the cake until the top springs back when lightly pressed with a finger, 52 to 57 minutes.. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the cake cool completely, 15 to 20 minutes. if desired.

Keep It Fresh! Store the cake in the pan, covered with plastic wrap at room temperature for up to three days. Freeze the cake, wrapped in aluminum foil, for up to one month. To serve the cake warm, reheat it, partially covered with aluminum foil, in a 300 F oven until warmed through, 30 minutes.

The Cake Mix Doctor Says: 

Try a variation with 1 chopped, peeled apple stirred in once the batter is blended.

*My adjustments to this recipe:

I substituted Earth Balance Buttery Spread instead of butter to make this cake dairy free, with excellent results.  My oven runs hot, so I reduced the baking time to 48 minutes.  My cake was completely done in 48 minutes; next time I will check the cake after 40 minutes. 

ABOUT THE CAKE MIX DOCTOR BAKES GLUTEN-FREE:

"Thirty million Americans are gluten-intolerant or have a gluten sensitivity, eliminating it from their diets because gluten—a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley—has been implicated in health issues ranging from respiratory problems and abdominal discomfort to anemia, anxiety, and infertility. The food industry has bullishly taken notice. Gluten-free baking products, including cake mixes from Betty Crocker, King Arthur, Whole Foods, and others, have increased sevenfold on grocery shelves in recent years, and the number of other gluten-free products has grown as well—832 were introduced in 2008 alone. And gluten-free options are on the menu of national restaurants like Boston Market, Chili’s, Ruby Tuesday, Outback Steakhouse, and others."

"Now comes even sweeter news for people looking to cut gluten from their diets: Anne Byrn shows how to transform gluten-free cake mixes into 76 rich, decadent, easy-to-make, impossible-to-resist desserts. Performing the magic that’s made her a bestselling baking author with over 33 million copies of her books in print, she doctors mixes with additions like almond extract, fresh berries, cocoa powder, grated coconut, cinnamon, lime zest, and more—naturally, all gluten-free ingredients—and voilà: Tres Leches Cake with Whipped Cream and Summer Berries, Almond Cream Cheese Pound Cake, Chocolate Cupcakes with Milk Chocolate Ganache, Caramel Melted Ice Cream Cake, Warm Tarte Tatin Apple Cake, plus brownies, bars, muffins, and cookies. Dessert is back on the menu." 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

"Anne Byrn is the author of the bestselling Cake Mix Doctor series, with over 3.3 million copies in print. She makes frequent appearances on Good Morning America and QVC. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her family, and her website is www.cakemixdoctor.com."

PRE-ORDER THIS BOOK:

The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten-Free will be available for purchase from Workman.com on Dec 8, 2010. For now you can pre-order from one of these online retailers: 

• AMAZON.COM  

• BARNES AND NOBLE  

• POWELL'S BOOKS  

• INDIEBOUND

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was not compensated for this post; I received a complimentary box of gluten free cake mix and 3 recipes for review purposes courtesy of Workman Publishing.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”