Even dedicated scratch bakers occasionally need a break and baking mixes can make life so much easier. Try these three local and regional mixes.
Bubble Bread from Marilyn’s Gluten Free Gourmet
This mix is called “bubble bread” but it actually bakes up a loaf of bread with one of the nicest textures we’ve found in a gluten-free loaf. Or instead of baking a loaf, use a scoop and turn the batter into dinner rolls. All you add to the mix is an egg and 12 ounces of sparkling or soda water. And if you are baking for vegan friends and family, the website offers a half dozen substitutes for the required egg. We tried the “pizza” version - stirring up the rosemary and sea salt mix, then adding cubed mozzarella, shredded Parmesan and a little pepperoni - and baked in a bundt pan. The mix also comes in original, garlic & herb and cornbread flavors. Baked as a loaf, it slices perfectly for sandwiches and toast.
$7.99 per 17.6-ounce bag. Available at the bakery at 1007 Mansell Road, Suite D, Roswell and online at qvc.com/ and marilynsglutenfree.com/.
Grandma’s Gourmet Cornbread Mix
You will never find an easier mix than Grandma’s Gourmet Cornbread mixes from Shirley Batchelor of Mableton. The mix is sold frozen. You buy it, thaw it and bake it. No need to add a single ingredient. The hardest work is remembering to thaw the mix in time for dinner, and if you forget, Batchelor says you can thaw the jug of mix in a bowl of hot water. We tried the original flavor and loved it. Little bits of corn, lightly sweet flavor, rich texture, it was delicious. There are five flavors of cornbread mix including whole grain and jalapeno, as well as sweet potato pie filling and cornbread dressing mixes.
$5.99 per 32-ounce jug. Available at Wayfield Foods, 2020 Headland Drive, East Point and 3050 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Atlanta. grandmasgourmetcornbread.com/
Cornmeal Pancake Mix from Palmetto Farms
Pancake mix might be the first baking mix most of us tried. And there are lots of brands at your grocery store. But we tried the Cornmeal Pancake Mix from Palmetto Farms in Galivants Ferry, South Carolina, and that’s our new favorite. It’s gluten-free - just a mix of cornmeal, leavening and sugar - and delicious. You add eggs and some milk and cook your pancakes on a greased griddle. They’re done in just minutes. They’re just lightly sweet so they’d be just as good with chili as with syrup. James Graham began operating his stone mill in 1934 and grandson David Dorman (with his sons Devin and Andrew) carries on the tradition. Palmetto Farms also sells cornmeal, grits and cornbread and hush puppy mixes.
$10.49 per 2-pound bag. Available online at palmettofarms.com/ and coming soon to Whole Foods Market.
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