SPLENDID
GLUTEN-FREE BAKE MIX 2
This
is the bake mix I favor these days. Gelatin is very healthy for the digestive
and immune system and does not cause digestive distress like xanthan gum can.
Gelatin helps bind the wet ingredients and also the dry “flour” components of
the bake mix to prevent crumbly outcomes, which is what the xanthan gum
accomplished in the original bake mix. For the record, I never weigh the
ingredients! This is a very forgiving bake mix and so easy to use.
There is so much one can do with it! I love it and it totally
changed my low-carb lifestyle. If you do not want the oat flour, you can
look at some of the alternatives or use this bake mix in pre-maintenance and
maintenance levels of the Atkins diet. Please read the older link for the
bake mix for tons of info on how wonderful gelatin and oat flour are for our
health, let alone the heart-healthy almond flour. If I only mention the
former bake mix, it typically means the recipe has only been tested using it,
however, I believe that the two bake mixes are typically fully interchangeable!
This is the updated version as seen in revised copies of our Low-Carbing
Among Friends cookbooks. Volumes 1, 3 and 4 have been revised and are
organized by category, instead of by author. They have lots of lovely
photos. Volume 5 also has photos and is organized by category.
Volume 2 and 5 are the next books that are being revised. I am
hoping to have a new cookbook one of these days in addition to Kindle books (my
recipes only with perhaps a few from each of the team of Low-Carbing Among
Friends).
Note: I used to use almond meal (using sliced almonds and a
coffee bean grinder), but these days I feel enormously blessed to be able to
order 25 lbs of the best almond flour ever from Honeyville Grains online).
ADDING GELATIN: Here is a little known secret: The
truth is that most recipes will work without adding in the gelatin with the wet
ingredients of a batter. I almost always leave gelatin out of cookie
recipes. Gelatin is only used to prevent crumbly outcomes, because the
Gluten-Free Low-Carb Bake Mix is made up of several components. However,
if I have mentioned that I used gelatin in a recipe, it is safer to leave it
in, because that is how the recipe was tested. However, when you branch
out and make your own favorite recipes and are experimenting anyway, feel free
to leave out the gelatin.
NOTE: There is now a Gluten-Free, Grain-Free Low-Carb Bake Mix
that can be used cup-for-cup instead of this one or Gluten-Free Bake Mix
1: Click
here for the recipe.
12/3 cups almond meal, OR (400 mL; 182 g)
3/4 cup
certified GF oat flour, (175 ml; 100 g)
(Bob’s Red Mill®, not Legacy
Valley®)
2 tbsp coconut flour, (30
mL)
(Bob’s Red Mill®)
In large bowl, combine almond meal (grind sliced
almonds in coffee bean grinder), OR almond flour, oat flour and coconut flour.
In container with airtight lid, place bake mix and shake well to combine. When
measuring oat flour (only with the oat flour) into measuring cup, make sure to
tap the cup on the counter top and fill to top to get the correct yield for the
bake mix. Keep bake mix at room
temperature for up to one month or freeze or refrigerate for longer storage.
Instructions for substituting the bake mix in your own flour-containing
recipes: Add 1/4
cup (60 mL) additional bake mix when substituting for 1 cup (250 mL) or more
than 1 cup (250 mL) flour and use 2 tbsp (30 mL) more if substituting for less
than 1 cup (250 mL). Always begin by adding an extra egg in muffins,
loaves, cakes and coffee cakes, except for cookies and except if bake mix
required is less than or equal to 1 cup (250 mL). Withhold 1/4 cup (60
mL) of liquid/wet or fat ingredients; add in as needed (usually need it all).
If batter after processing at least a minute is still too thick, add more of
the wet ingredients, and if accidentally the batter ends up too sloppy, then
add a little more bake mix. If all the liquid has been used and the batter is
still too stiff, add another egg.
Adding Gelatin: Use 1/2 tsp (2 mL) unflavored gelatin for less than and equal
to 1 cup (250 mL) Gluten-Free Bake Mix.
For more than 1 cup (250 mL), use 1 tsp (5 mL) gelatin. For 2 cups (500 mL) or more use 11/2 tsp (7 mL) gelatin. Gelatin is added to wet ingredients
in a food processor or mixer and mixed well. Add dry ingredients and process
until well combined. That’s it. It couldn’t be easier! Here is a little known secret: The truth is that most recipes will work without adding in the gelatin with the wet ingredients of a batter. I almost always leave gelatin out of cookie recipes. Gelatin is only used to prevent crumbly outcomes, because the Gluten-Free Low-Carb Bake Mix is made up of several components.
Some of the health Benefits of Gelatin
Some of the health Benefits of Gelatin
Applications: Gelatin option
works in muffins, biscuits, donuts, cakes, donuts, scones, loaves, bundt cakes,
cupcakes, squares and cookies. The gluten-free bake mixes need eggs in almost
all applications. Gelatin is not always required; usually it is
self-explanatory - for example, breading, crusts, etc. or simply where I’ve
elected to omit it in a recipe. The other
thing, too, is that many recipes will be fine without gelatin. Sometimes I simply forget to add it and it
works!
Cookies: Often cookies do not require gelatin. If you notice on my blog or Facebook or in
this book that I have a cookie recipe without gelatin, it simply means it
worked without. Keep number of eggs called for in cookie recipes the same and
follow the instructions for replacing flour with the bake mix. Cookies will
usually be somewhat fragile immediately out of the oven. Allow to cool completely on the cookie sheet
and using a thin metal spatula, place cookies in a container for the freezer or
refrigerator (separate with wax or parchment paper).
Alternatives
for Oat Flour, Almond Flour and Coconut Flour: Please note there is now a gluten-free, grain-free low-carb bake mix: click here. If you are intolerant to
certified gluten-free oat flour (could be the avenin), substitute some other
gluten-free flour like sorghum flour, which others have had success with in the
bake mix. Other ideas: quinoa flour (a seed not a grain works very well,
however, it might have a strong taste – try Bob’s Red Mill® and toasting the flour first to create a mild taste and store in the freezer), Carbalose flour, Spelt
flour (weak and a different gluten to wheat), Einkorn flour, an ancient,
healthy wheat (last three are not gluten-free – available at Netrition.com or
Amazon). I like the health profile of
oat flour (it makes up a small portion of the bake mix and helps our baking
taste more normal), as it lowers cholesterol very effectively. It now turns out
that oat flour is actually Paleo, as ancient stones were analyzed and oat flour
remnants were discovered. Instead of almond flour, use sunflower seed flour
(baking soda will turn baked goods greenish; use baking powder) or hazelnut
flour. Others have tried pumpkin seed flour: here. Instead of coconut flour, use golden flax seed meal or possibly oat fiber. You could experiment with half oat flour and
half oat fiber.
To sit down to a bowl of oats for most of us is no longer something we can do, however, using the bake mix with the oat flour diluted by twice the amount of almond flour, the insulin response in a small portion of a recipe will be much less than sitting down to a bowl of oats, which is not recommended for most of us with insulin resistance, weight issues, or just simply being older.
Note: I have just order Buckwheat flour which apparently has no particular harsh flavor anymore. That may work instead of oat flour, too. It is not a grain in case you are wondering. This is an alternative for grain-free folks, same as the quinoa flour. I will be testing the buckwheat flour. I already know that quinoa works very well, however, one has to get rid of the strong taste as I mentioned above.
To sit down to a bowl of oats for most of us is no longer something we can do, however, using the bake mix with the oat flour diluted by twice the amount of almond flour, the insulin response in a small portion of a recipe will be much less than sitting down to a bowl of oats, which is not recommended for most of us with insulin resistance, weight issues, or just simply being older.
Note: I have just order Buckwheat flour which apparently has no particular harsh flavor anymore. That may work instead of oat flour, too. It is not a grain in case you are wondering. This is an alternative for grain-free folks, same as the quinoa flour. I will be testing the buckwheat flour. I already know that quinoa works very well, however, one has to get rid of the strong taste as I mentioned above.
Helpful
Hints: I buy NOW® Brand gelatin in a 1 lb (0.45 kg) bag from
Netrition.com. One can use regular, store-bought, unflavored gelatin instead. If substituting this bake mix for some of my
other more robust bake mixes, then 2 tbsp (30 mL) to 1/4 cup (60 mL) more of this bake mix will be required
depending if one is replacing less than 1 cup (250 mL) or 1 cup (250 mL) or
more (last 2, latter amount). Follow
same rules. It is convenient to double,
triple or quadruple the bake mix. Almond
meal: sliced almonds or blanched
almonds ground in a coffee bean grinder (it is coarser than almond flour).
Honeyville Grains makes the best almond flour at a good price – available
online in bulk). I keep mine in large,
sealable plastic bags in the freezer or refrigerator. I buy 25 lbs at a time.
*If you are using the gelatin application for my
recipes that use the original Splendid Gluten-Free Bake Mix 1, page 241, it should be a straight exchange, however, you can
make small adjustments with more bake mix or liquid.
I usually keep my bake mix in the container shown above. We have a hot and humid climate and we don't use air conditioning other than in the one bedroom. It normally is fine at room temperature in the airtight container for at least a month . If I need to store leftovers for longer, I freeze it and typically use that for "breading" veggies and fish, etc., as usually I don't have a lot to freeze. However, after thawing completely and shaking it in your container to mix well, it should be good to go for baking. I have also used it straight out of the freezer - somehow with the other ingredients in the bake mix, it typically doesn't form clumps, which almond flour on its own has a tendency to do when frozen (just use your food processor (use the pulse button) to process briefly to get rid of clumps).
I usually keep my bake mix in the container shown above. We have a hot and humid climate and we don't use air conditioning other than in the one bedroom. It normally is fine at room temperature in the airtight container for at least a month . If I need to store leftovers for longer, I freeze it and typically use that for "breading" veggies and fish, etc., as usually I don't have a lot to freeze. However, after thawing completely and shaking it in your container to mix well, it should be good to go for baking. I have also used it straight out of the freezer - somehow with the other ingredients in the bake mix, it typically doesn't form clumps, which almond flour on its own has a tendency to do when frozen (just use your food processor (use the pulse button) to process briefly to get rid of clumps).
Yield: 21/2
cups (625 mL)
1/4
cup (60 mL) per serving
125.0
calories
4.5
g protein
8.9
g fat
5.7
g net carbs
Quote from a fan, a nurse by profession: "I am a 20g or less low carber. Live in ketosis. I use Jen's bake mix often and never have any problems, never go over on my carbs, never knocks me out of ketosis. And it has opened up a whole world of amazing dishes, from low carb breads/rolls, even to veggie dishes (ie yellow squash casserole). Look at her carb counts per serving, very low...
Why the small amount of oat flour over time should help lower cholesterol: READ ABOUT IT HERE
The virtues of my bake mix - READ ABOUT IT HERE
The virtues of my bake mix - READ ABOUT IT HERE
Quote from a fan, a nurse by profession: "I am a 20g or less low carber. Live in ketosis. I use Jen's bake mix often and never have any problems, never go over on my carbs, never knocks me out of ketosis. And it has opened up a whole world of amazing dishes, from low carb breads/rolls, even to veggie dishes (ie yellow squash casserole). Look at her carb counts per serving, very low...
When people go low carb, they give up a lot, (of course they gain so much more)...you are right in that the bake mix gives baked goods a feel, taste, and texture that is closer to mainstream baked goods, and does it with VERY little carbs. Nut flours are nice, but a bit heavy, and excess nuts are also not a good idea. Coconut flour is really nice and light, but you gotta use a million eggs! Lol!!! So this very low carb bake mix can help win a lot of folks over to low carbing and a healthier way of life by giving them something that seems close to what they are used to. Ok. Climbing off my soap box now! Lol!
For those that don't have a particular intolerance to oat, it is a very small amount and would still allow a person to stay low carb. She uses the gluten free oat flour. I don't particularly eat the oat for the cholesterol benefits, because low carbing in general will provide all the help with cholesterol you will need. I think most people in the grain free world view wheat as the real culprit. I am completely wheat and gluten free by choice. (I have no food allergies or intolerances.) Yet after carefully reviewing Jen's recipes and carb counts using the bake mixes, I gave it a try. I love the bake mix! And as I said, I keep at 20g or below and stay in continual ketosis. Can't get much more low carb than that. So as long as a person doesn't have a specific intolerance to oats, I encourage all to try!"
NOTE: Some people have tummy issues with xanthan gum. My Splendid Gluten-Free Bake Mix 2 is the answer to that problem. It uses unflavored, unsweetened gelatin.
My Alternate Bake Mixes (not gluten-free): When substituting the Splendid Gluten-Free bake mix for some of my other bake mixes, 2 tbsp (30 mL) to 1/4 cup (60 mL) more bake mix may be required depending on if one is replacing less than 1 cup (250 mL) or 1 cup (250 mL) or more (last 2, latter amount). Follow the same rules above. It is convenient to double or triple this bake mix. See blog post on this recipe for more information or updates: low-carb-news.blogspot.com
Oat flour and almond flour in the gluten-free bake mix are both proven heart-healthy ingredients. Oat flour reduces cholesterol. Arrowhead Mills Oat flour is used in the nutritional analysis as well as ground almonds (made using sliced almonds and a Cusinart coffee grinder, 18-cup capacity, although these days they have one specifically for grinding nuts and seeds) versus almond flour as that is what was used in the bake mix. http://store.honeyvillegrain.com/search.aspx?find=almond+flour
(Honeyville Grains) is the very best blanched almond flour available at a good price. With regard to oats and insulin spikes – remember if it was pure oat flour, it would be a problem, but since the oat flour is a small amount diluted in a large amount of almond flour and a bit of coconut flour, the glycemic load (which is more important than glycemic index) is a lot lower and, therefore, the insulin response would be a lot lower, but everyone is different. The coconut flour, oat flour and xanthan gum provide fiber which is heart-healthy as well as helps stabilize blood sugar. Compare the heart-healthy Splendid Gluten-Free Bake mix with bleached all-purpose flour which contains alloxan, a chemical used to induce diabetes in lab rats, let alone the gliadin,which is a protein in wheat that stimulates the appetite for more . 1/4 cup (60 mL) white flour = 24 g carbs and compare 1/4 cup (60 mL) Gluten-Free Bake Mix = 5.7 g carbs (Splendid Gluten-Free Bake Mix is 4 times less carby than white flour!). This bake mix may be used in place of Jennifer’s other bake mixes in most recipes. See instructions below recipe. What to do with leftover bake mix? Visit http://low-carb-news.blogspot.com (RHS) to find suggestions.
NOTE:
One sweet lady shared with me recently in comments under the Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting - love comments like this! :) I hope she doesn't mind me sharing.
"Good to know I can keep a smaller batch right on the
counter. I'm in Georgia/USA and it's hot and humid here.
I buy 25 lbs of blanched almond flour from Honeyville Grain. I break
it down into large freezer bags and freeze most of it. It saves me
money to buy it in bulk. We have an extra refrigerator in our garage
so that helps. I usually mix up 4x - 5x your GF bake
mix. Shake it up, dip my measuring cup into the mix and level it off
with the back of a knife. It's been no-fail. I'm baking one or two
of your recipes each week. Your GF baked goods go into my kids
lunchboxes each day so we really appreciate all that you do to bring us
these wonderful recipes!"
"I cooked these bars this morning. They browned
beautifully and smell divine. Easy to make as I always keep a large
tupperware container full of your GF bake mix in my fridge. Just give it a good
shake and I'm ready to bake. Instead of cream cheese frosting, I covered
them with your Chocolate Ganache recipe from Low Carbing Among Friends as my
husband and kids are chocolate lovers. We've been enjoying the new
cookbook so much. Thanks!"
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