The other thing about free-from foods is that they often avoid other nasties too, such as artificial flavours and colours.
Often free-from foods have a much higher price point but this one seems quite reasonable. This mix is about 50c more expensive than the Betty Crocker's normal brownie mix and a dollar cheaper than Betty Crocker's gluten-free brownie mix.
Free From Gluten Choc Brownie Mix $6.50 for 400g
Ingredients (greatest quantity first):
Brownie mix sachet:
Sugar
Per 1 50g slice you will get 15.9g of sugar which is just over three teaspoons. This is a sweet cake so you would expect that much sugar.
Corn starch
This is corn flour.
Tapioca starch
This is a flour taken from tapioca or cassava root.
Rice flour
Flour from rice tends to make the baked goods lighter and crispier.
Cocoa powder (2%)
This will add the chocolate flavour.
Thickener (1442 from maize)
This is Hydroxy-propyl distarch phosphate (1442) which is a treated starch, in this case taken from corn.
Natural chocolate flavour
Good to see a natural flavouring in here.
Raising agents (450,500)
These are diphosphate (450) which is a last of phosphoric acid and baking soda (500).
Iodised salt
Not too much salt in here at 180mg of sodium per 50g serve.
Compound dark chocolate buttons (37%):
Sugar
As above.
Vegetable fat (from palm)
Nice to see the producer has identified palm oil in here. It means people who avoid it can make an informed decision.
Emulsifiers (492,322 from soy)
These are sorbitan tristearate (493) and lecithin (322) which is a fatty substance that occurs naturally in animal and plant tissues.
Cocoa powder (5%)
As above.
Salt
As above.
Natural flavours
As above.
My recommendations:
If you've got a gluten-free person in your family or having someone over who won't eat gluten then this is a great box to have on hand to make some chocolate treats.
It doesn't have any artificial nasties in it but do remember that it still makes chocolate brownies, which are a sweet treat, so you'll still get a big hit of sugar.
As far as cake mixes go, I rate this one highly because it is easy to make and tastes good.
Highlights
• No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
• Uses rice flour which makes the brownies light and a little crispy.
• Easy to make.