Vanilla Cake Mix Review

For some reason, gluten free cake mixes range from $2 – $10 a mix! Call my crazy, but I’ve had a $2 cake mix I’ve enjoyed more than an $8 cake mix. I wanted to put gluten free vanilla cake mixes to the test and see which mix is worth the price. I will rate each mix based off of taste, texture, durability, baking instructions, and cost. Each category will be given a number between 1 and 10, with 10 being the best score possible.

Vanilla is my favorite! I will pick vanilla cake and vanilla ice cream almost every day of the week (unless there is pistachio ice cream). Some say vanilla is basic, boring, or not even a flavor, but they are wrong! Vanilla is a classic and will be around until the end of time. However, I know not everyone is as big of a fan as me, so you can find my Chocolate Cake Mix Review here.

As I continue to try different brands, this post will be updated and the list will be rearranged to have my top choice listed as number one. All opinions are my own.

1. King Arthur ($5 -$7)

Overview:

As a family favorite, I knew King Arthur would not disappoint. That being said, there’s one aspect of this cake mix that is easily beat by other brands: cost.

Taste: 9/10

King Arthur has the strongest vanilla flavor, which I love! Whenever I serve this cake, no one can tell it is gluten free. The taste and smell of this cake will fool the biggest skeptic.

Texture: 7/10

My cupcakes had a more open texture compared to the cake on the box, but it still felt like you were eating a soft, moist cake (compared to a dry, dense cake).

Durability: 9/10

The cupcake was easy to tear apart, but solid enough to hold frosting. I have decorated cakes using this mix before, and I was successful in trimming and carving.

Baking Instructions: 4/10

Although this is a box mix, King Arthur had a few more steps compared to a traditional box cake mix. You beat the butter and oil, then add half the cake mix, beat in eggs one at a time, add half the milk, add other half of cake mix, and finish with the last half of milk. The steps might be simple in nature, but for someone who does not bake, or for someone looking for a cake mix they can dump in the bowl and mix, this is NOT the mix for them. That being said, if you have the time, your efforts will be rewarded.

Cost: 3/10

King Arthur is usually priced higher than most mixes (gluten free or not), but they can be found on sale on their website, or at the grocery store. If I am baking a cake for a special occasion, and I don’t want to make my own, I will typically go for King Arthur because I know my cake will be delicious and come out exactly as I want it.

Extras:

• This recipe can be made non-dairy by using vegan butter and a milk alternative (rice, soy, or almond milk).

2. Bob’s Red Mill ($3 – $5)

Overview:

Bob’s Red Mill has one of my favorite gluten free baking flour blend. Yet, this was my first time trying their vanilla cake mix. Overall, the mix was easy to make, easy to bake, and tasted delicious.

Taste: 7/10

The cupcakes from this mix were not as fragrant or over the top with vanilla flavor, but there was enough vanilla to not get lost when frosted or filled.

Texture: 7/10

There was a pretty big open texture with this cake mix. However, it still felt like you were eating cake. It was light and airy, yet soft and moist.

Durability: 8/10

Bob’s Red Mill makes a solid cupcake! It was easy to tear apart, but not dense. Once broken apart, it did not crumble too easily and continued to hold its shape.

Baking Instructions: 9/10

Simple! Mix together wet ingredients, add in cake mix, and you’re done. The instructions to claim to only make 18-20 cupcakes, but, I was able to get a full 24 by carefully measuring and not filling each cupcake as full.

Cost: 8/10

Bob’s Red Mill is usually fairly priced and can occasionally be found on sale at the grocery stores. Although cheaper than some brands, the quality is fantastic for the price and I would buy this mix again for any occasion.

Extras:

• Instructions for a white cake are listed on the package.

3. Simple Truth Organic ($4 – $5)

Overview:

Simple Truth Organic Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix can be found at Smith’s, aka Kroger brand grocery stores. I was excited to try this cake mix because it is usually cheaper than the other options on the shelf. This would not be the first cake mix I grab because I don’t want to use a food processor for a cake.

Taste: 8/10

The vanilla taste was fantastic!

Texture: 3/10

Wow! This mix was a little disappointing with texture. I think the problem was due to the instructions calling for a food processor (see Baking Instructions below). The crumb was gritty rather than smooth and soft. I’m guessing the gritty texture, when not blended in a food processor, is due to the first ingredient: sugar.

Durability: 8/10

Even with the grainy texture, the cupcake held up and worked well with frosting.

Baking Instructions: 5/10

The first step of the instructions said to mix everything in a food processor. Really?! Who pulls out their food processor for baking a simple, vanilla cake? I didn’t! And honestly, I think that was why the texture of my cupcakes was off. The instructions are also only for making a 9″ x 13″ cake, so I had to watch the cupcakes during the suggested baking time of 25 to 30 minutes.

Cost: 7/10

I would say this mix is mid to high range for GF cake mixes. That being said, I have seen this mix go on sale dropping the price below $4.

Extras:

• This mix is a product of Italy, which I found pretty cool!

4. Grandpa’s Kitchen ($5.99)

Overview:

I found this cake mix at Smith’s, but I have also seen this brand at the health food store near my house. You can also purchase Grandpa’s Kitchen mixes directly from their site since they are a Utah based company. The back of the package has a company slogan, “where gluten free doesn’t mean taste free.” Now, I kind of agree with that statement, because yes there is some taste; however, you can tell something is off about this cupcake.

Taste: 7/10

Overall, the taste is pretty average. Yes there is the vanilla flavor, but there’s nothing special about it. In fact, this is the type of vanilla cake that gives vanilla a bad name because it’s just average. The mix is not overly sweet, which works well when frosted.

Texture: 5/10

Compared to other mixes I have tried, Grandpa’s Kitchen is a little chewy and not as soft. I think the texture would make someone question the gluten content of this cupcake. Also, this cupcake was a little dense. I emphasize “a little” because yes its noticeable, but not that bad and might not bother certain people.

Durability: 8/10

Since this cupcake is a little dense, it holds up well under frosting and eating, so decorate to your heart’s content!

Baking Instructions: 8/10

All in all, the baking instructions are rather straight forward. In fact, there was a note about baking cupcakes, which shouldn’t be a surprise given the front image, but not every mix includes a baking note for cupcakes. The only “extra” ingredient on the list was buttermilk. I used powdered buttermilk and I thought the cupcakes came out just fine.

Cost: 5/10

The Grandpa’s Kitchen website lists this cake mix for $5.99, which is a little pricey for cake mix. That being said, you might be able to find it on sale at the grocery store. I would probably buy this cake mix again, if it was on sale and my first and second choice weren’t available.

Extras:

• Grandpa’s Kitchen Yellow Cake Mix is nut and soy free. There are special notes on the package to keep the mix dairy and egg free.
• Visit Grandpa’s Kitchen for more information and mixes.

5. Thrive Market Yellow Cake ($5.99)

Overview:

Talk about a healthier cupcake! Thrive Market is all about better ingredients, so when I found their gluten free cake mix I had to try it! I’m glad I did because for some people this mix is a wonderful option due to the limited ingredients and no added fillers. It is gluten free and dairy free, but also refined sugar free! Although this mix is able to cater to a variety of dietary needs (not nut free since it uses almond flour), the cupcakes were not my favorite. I don’t think I would buy this mix again; however, the chocolate cake mix from Thrive Market was so much better!

Taste: 4/10

While making this cake mix, I used coconut oil, per the instructions, and the coconut flavor carried through. There was a slight vanilla taste, but the coconut sugar and coconut oil almost matched the taste of the vanilla. You could also taste the almond since the flour they use is almond flour.

Texture: 4/10

My cupcakes gave off serious bran muffin vibes! Not just in a general look, but also in color. The cake was moist and soft, which was strange when you paired it with the gritty texture. Since they used almond flour as the base, the cupcakes were not as fluffy as other mixes that use a variety of finer flours.

Durability: 8/10

Durability was there and I had no trouble frosting or pulling apart these cupcakes while eating them.

Baking Instructions: 10/10

This mix is pretty straight forward. You don’t even need an electric mixer! Whisk together the wet ingredients, and then add in the mix with a spatula. Although I used coconut oil, the instructions also list vegetable oil as an option. There are tips to adjust the recipe to be vegan and leave out the eggs.

Cost: 5/10

To be honest, I think the price is a little high for an OKAY cupcake. Again, if I wanted to make cupcakes for someone who couldn’t have refined sugar, I might use this mix so they could enjoy a dessert.

Extras:

• Non-GMO, Kosher, Paleo, Preservative-Free, Free of Dyes and Color Additives.
• Visit Thrive Market to see their whole line of gluten free products! Although I don’t recommend starting out with this cake mix, they have some other wonderful items and carry a lot of quality brands.

 

Disclaimer: This post contains an affiliate link, which may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Thrive Market is an online health food store that offers a variety of amazing products. Filter products by diet like Gluten Free or Paleo. If you are interested in trying Thrive Market, you can use this link to received 25% off your first order! Their customer service is fantastic and they offer so many Gluten Free products. Let me know if you have any questions, and I’d be happy to help!