2/14/10 – Give-Away Closed
Joe looked at me after lunch and said, “Honey, you don’t have to answer this right now – but when are you going to take a picture of those cookies so I can eat them?”
Coming from a man who doesn’t like almond butter means that these cookies are really good.
I’ve never been one for premixed gluten-free baking blends. I like to mix my own flours. I know exactly what’s in the mix and in what proportion so I have total control over the final product. There are a couple of drawbacks to this, one being storage for all the different flours I have. The other is the learning curve that comes along with the different flours which, at least for me, means failed attempts.
The Result
With some reservations, I tried Pamela’s Baking & Pancake Mix for this recipe, made by Pamela’s Products. They generously sent me a bag to try and some to share with you. The resulting cookies are soft, delicious, and spread like glutenoid cookies in the oven. I was also quite impressed with how great they tasted the next day – not crumbly or dry and just as yummy as they were the day before.
Baking with this mix is easy. Really easy. Just measure and dump – no need to think about xanthan gum, baking soda, baking powder, salt…it’s all in the mix.
I wouldn’t hesitate to use this mix when baking for friends and family because it’s so strikingly similar to regular old flour. No one would ever know the difference. It’s got some nutritious ingredients, too – brown rice, almond meal. For my own every day breakfast muffins or afternoon snacks, I’d probably lean toward quinoa, garbanzo bean, buckwheat, and millet flours for the added nutrition.
This recipe is adapted from Pamela’s Products website.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1/2 cup almond butter, warmed slightly in the microwave
- 1/2 cup agave nectar
- 1 large, free range omega-3 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups Pamela’s Baking & Pancake Mix
Instructions
- Fit your stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Put butter in the bowl of your stand mixer and mix on medium for about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides and add the slightly warmed almond butter. (You want it just slightly warmed as this helps it mix smoothly. If it’s too warm it will melt the butter – you don’t want that.) Cream together for 3 – 5 minutes until the mix is lighter. Scrape bowl down as needed. Add the agave and mix for another minute or so until it’s fully incorporated. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until combined.
- Add flour all at once and, with mixer on stir, mix until combined. You may need to scrape down the bowl. Batter will be sticky. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour.
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat.
- Using a spring-release cookie scoop or a tablespoon, scoop out heaping balls of dough. Use floured or oiled hands (I lightly oiled mine – this worked well) roll the dough into balls. Place on cookie sheet two inches apart. With the tines of an oiled fork, make a tic-tac-toe pattern in the dough.
- Bake for 10 minutes, until firm to the touch and light golden brown. Let cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Last Week’s Winners
Congrats to the NuNaturals Stevia Give-Away winners as determined by Random.org: Katrina from Gluten-Free Gidget, and readers Megan, Robyn, and Andrea.
This Week’s Give-Away!
Thie week 3 readers will each win:
- 1 (24 oz.) bag of Pamela’s Baking & Pancake Mix
- 1 (12 oz.) bag of Pamela’s Cornbread & Muffin Mix
- 1 (19 oz.) bag of Pamela’s Gluten Free Bread Mix
A note – the Gluten Free Bread Mix does contain organic, natural evaporated cane sugar so I haven’t tried this myself.
Here’s how to enter:
**This is the 3rd week of give-aways and I have several more weeks of fabulous prizes to go…the entry methods might be getting a little old by now. Sorry. If you have a better idea, let me know.
- Visit Pamela’s Products & comment about something you’d like to try.
- Tweet about this give-away with a link and leave a comment telling me you did.
- Post about the give-away on your blog with a link back and leave a comment telling me you did.
- Subscribe to my feed either via RSS or e-mail – leave a comment so I know. (Button for this at top of page.)
- Follow me on Twitter – again, leave a comment. (Button for this at top of page.)
- Add me to your friends on Facebook with a comment. (Button for this at top of page.)
Open only to residents of the 48 continental United States…sorry to all my international friends.
Boring Full Disclosure Statement: I did receive free products from Pamela’s Proucts. I am not being paid to share their products with my readers. Instead, I am sharing them because I like them.
Lisa Milone
posted on January 31, 2010 at 9:38 pm
i’d LOVE to try crepes with the pancake mix! thanks for posting the giveaway!
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Lisa Milone
posted on January 31, 2010 at 9:38 pm
following you on twitter!
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Lisa Milone
posted on January 31, 2010 at 9:39 pm
subscribe via email!
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Iris
posted on January 31, 2010 at 9:52 pm
I’ve had some success with Pamela’s baking mix too. Actually, I think it’s the only mix I’ve tried so far that’s tasted good. I’d love to try their other mixes too!
And I tweeted…
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Allie (Random Teaspoon)
posted on February 1, 2010 at 6:11 am
I’m about done with my first bag of Pamela’s pancake mix and I love it! I’d love to try everything that they offer. I love that it’s lower glycemic than the other gf bake mixes around.
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Rosemary
posted on February 1, 2010 at 6:38 am
I would love to try the baking and pancake mix!
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Aubree Cherie
posted on February 1, 2010 at 6:44 am
Mmmm, I’ve had a lot of Pamela’s products and would love to win this giveaway!
I tweeted this post!
~Aubree Cherie
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Amy Rainey
posted on February 1, 2010 at 7:48 am
I love Pamela’s Baking Mix! I blogged about it a couple of months ago. The Peanutbutter Cookie recipe on their website is fab. You can get this mix via Amazon through Subscribe and Save and a SIGNIFCANT discount. You get three large bags for under $30, and can cancel at any time.
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leih
posted on February 1, 2010 at 8:05 am
Hi,
Could sprouted whole wheat flour be substituted for the baking mix? (I don’t have gluten issues, but others). I don’t know enough about making these kinds of changes to know if that would mean adding something else at the same time?
Thanks! The cookies sound great!
leih
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Amy Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 4:29 pm
@leih, I don’t know. That is out of my area of expertise. I don’t use sprouted whole wheat flours. I love trying new things and seeing how it works out – if you do come back and tell us.
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Jenna @ Newlyweds
posted on February 1, 2010 at 8:55 am
Oh I just love gluten free baking mixes because I am don’t know all the science behind the gluten free flours like you. I’d love to try the baking and pancake mix.
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Alta (Tasty Eats At Home)
posted on February 1, 2010 at 8:57 am
I love Pamela’s baking mix! The only thing I’m not too fond of is the price tag – but then again, I buy expensive flours all the time to use in my baking, so…! These look delicious, I love almond butter!
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Kestlyn
posted on February 1, 2010 at 10:03 am
Thank you for another giveaway! After all of these great comments I’d love to try all of the baking mixes. The dark chocolate chunk cookies look like something the kids would love too
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Elizabeth
posted on February 1, 2010 at 10:14 am
I have tried many of Pamela’s products. I would like to try the bagel recipe with the Baking Mix. I am following you on Twitter now and I retweeted your giveaway tweet. I am Ebee333 on Twitter.
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robyn
posted on February 1, 2010 at 10:31 am
Oh, the ginger cookies look yum-o!
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robyn
posted on February 1, 2010 at 10:31 am
subscribe via e-mail
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Emily
posted on February 1, 2010 at 10:32 am
I’d love to try the cornbread mix! Cornbread is so tasty and I miss it since going gluten free.
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nina
posted on February 1, 2010 at 10:38 am
I’d love to try the Baking and Pancake Mix!
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nina
posted on February 1, 2010 at 10:38 am
subscribed via RSS
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robyn
posted on February 1, 2010 at 11:48 am
following on twitter!
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robyn
posted on February 1, 2010 at 11:49 am
facebook friends!
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jacki
posted on February 1, 2010 at 11:50 am
i love that we are facebook friends….you’re my favorite=) Oh, and I would be all over the gluten-free bread mix from Pamela’s….i might just go try to find some tonight….=) have a blessed day!
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robyn
posted on February 1, 2010 at 11:55 am
tweeted! http://twitter.com/rbynmyrs
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Chaya
posted on February 1, 2010 at 12:14 pm
I have never used a mix thinking it would not be as good as my own. They have a lot of delicious looking stuff at Pamelas, the shortbread, as an example.
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Chaya
posted on February 1, 2010 at 12:15 pm
I already follow you on Twitter.
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Maura
posted on February 1, 2010 at 12:28 pm
I’m subscribed to your RSS feed and haven’t tried any of the Pamela’s mixes yet. Those cookies sure look good, though.
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Brandae
posted on February 1, 2010 at 12:55 pm
I’m a FB friend.
I’d love to try the cheesecakes – YUM!
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Anna
posted on February 1, 2010 at 1:43 pm
I love making homemade bread so I would like to try her bread mix.
I love your site, by the way =) Thanks for the great recipes!!!
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Elaine
posted on February 1, 2010 at 3:30 pm
I would love to try them all or any one of them. I love to bake for all dietary needs and going gluten free has been somewhat of a setback for me as I am hesitant since I don’t know all the different flours and have to be aware of the ones with nut flours for a family member with tree nut allergies… but it’s an adventure at best and I am learning!
Elaine
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Amy M
posted on February 1, 2010 at 3:37 pm
I’d like to try Pamela’s Pancake Mix. Thanks for the great giveaways!
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Morgan
posted on February 1, 2010 at 3:42 pm
I want to try the baking and pancake mix!!
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Jenna @ Newlyweds
posted on February 1, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Amy,
do you think these could be made with peanut butter also? I hope so because I think I have everything on hand to make these.
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Amy Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 4:27 pm
@Jenna @ Newlyweds, Yep – they’d be great with peanut butter.
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Anna
posted on February 1, 2010 at 4:57 pm
I just used Pamela’s bread mix this weekend, and it turned out pretty well, though kind of sweet (perhaps due to the sugar added??) – I only wish I had another package to try the Pizza Dough or Pie Crust, for which she has recipes on the package!
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Anna
posted on February 1, 2010 at 4:57 pm
I’m a follower!
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Ashlie
posted on February 1, 2010 at 5:39 pm
I would like to try the bread mix most of all. Since going gluten free 3 months ago I have yet to make a loaf of bread. I found lots of great pancake recipes using grains or almond flour which I always have, and I make an all cornmeal corn bread, but I have been reluctant to buy 5+ different kinds of flour to make a loaf of bread!
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Lisa
posted on February 1, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Hi, Amy! I hope you’re doing well. Thanks for the giveaway. I’ve had my eye on Pamela’s Products, but haven’t tried them yet. I’m interested in trying the GF bread mix.
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Sandy Gillett
posted on February 1, 2010 at 7:29 pm
I enjoyed their website it is easy to read and I found the products I am interested in quickly. I love the colors,the purple and golden tones, on their pages. I buy Pamela’s Lemon Shortbread cookies at my Natural Food Market and they are very delightful. I would love to try Pamela’s GF Bread Mix. Thank you Amy, your sight continues to be outstanding!
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Laura E
posted on February 1, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Thanks for the opportunity! Cornbread is one of my favorite foods, so I would love to try their mix!!
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Renee
posted on February 1, 2010 at 9:47 pm
By clicking through to Pamela’s I discovered that one of our stores in town is now carrying the Pamelas’ cheesecakes!! Yikes! That’s dangerous! I would love to try those!
Also, trying to friend you on FB and your link isn’t getting me there. Also tried searching for amy green… will continue to try.
I am going to send along this recipe to a couple of newly diagnosed friends too.
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Alison
posted on February 1, 2010 at 9:50 pm
I just love Pamela’s baking mix! I don’t like to bake much, so when I do get around to it, I don’t want to mess with 5 different flours. Pamela’s makes it very simple. That said, I’ve never tried the cornbread mix, and I surely would enjoy the opportunity!
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christina
posted on February 2, 2010 at 12:48 am
I would like to try their cornbread mix. My GF daughter loves cornbread. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
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christina
posted on February 2, 2010 at 12:49 am
I also subscribe to your blog.
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Jen
posted on February 2, 2010 at 12:15 pm
I friended you on Facebook! I use this mix all the time for pancakes and anything I can think of.
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Heather @CeliacFamily
posted on February 2, 2010 at 8:12 pm
I love Pamela’s baking mix, and use it to make pancakes and waffles weekly. I also use it to make my favorite carrot cake. But, I haven’t tried the cornbread mix. I’ve read good comments about it and would love to try it.
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heather
posted on February 2, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Id love to try the baking mix!
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Jennie
posted on February 3, 2010 at 10:26 am
I’d love the pancake and baking mix. Great giveaway! I have many friends who LOVE Pamela’s!
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Jennie
posted on February 3, 2010 at 10:27 am
I’m a friend on Facebook.
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Jessica
posted on February 4, 2010 at 10:22 pm
I’ve had samples of different Pamela’s cookies at the health food store. Yummy! I’d love to try the pancake and baking mix since I haven’t tried a gluten-free flour mix before!
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Rebecca
posted on February 6, 2010 at 2:10 pm
I would love to try their bread mix. I will have to try these cookies with my own flour mix; I can’t use their biscuit mix because it has dairy.
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Rebecca
posted on February 6, 2010 at 2:10 pm
I subscribed; I love your blog!
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Jenn C.
posted on February 7, 2010 at 8:37 am
i’d be interested in trying their chocolate cake mix or vanilla cake mix. I’ve tried some of the others – and my husband likes their cookies!
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Jenn C.
posted on February 7, 2010 at 8:37 am
I also subscribe to your blog via google reader!
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Helen
posted on February 11, 2010 at 11:16 am
About baking cookies,cakes & muffins, I like a very heavy cake & muffin and cookies that are also heavy & hard,crisp to the bite. Would I use all the same flours to achieve the same result whether cookies,cakes,muffins?
Or could you please give me some tutoring if its not in the flour?
Thanx,Ms.Helen&Crew
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Amy Reply:
February 11th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
@Helen, I think it depends more on the type of fat you use – shortening tends to produce a crispier outside than oil. Maybe someone else knows more about this than me.
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Helen
posted on February 11, 2010 at 11:20 am
I love chocolate, have you “tested” Hersheys “DARK unsweetened Cocoa” if there is any significant TASTE or Flavor than using their regular Hershey Cocoa?
Thanx,Ms.Helen&Crew
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Amy Reply:
February 11th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
@Helen, The Dark is a blend of dutch process and regular cocoa. I think it’s a little deeper in flavor than the regular unsweetened.
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Helen
posted on February 12, 2010 at 11:24 am
bought a bag of Yellow Corn Meal, does anyone have recipe for CORN BREAD with a sweet touch? Thanx, Ms.Helen&Crew
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Amy Reply:
February 12th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
@Helen, I have two – one that is moister and great for cornbread dressing. It’s here. The other is my go-to quick and easy recipe – find it here.
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Michelle
posted on September 11, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Hi. I live in Canada. Could you plese tell me where I can find Pamela’s Baking and Pancake Mix? Can this product be substituted with something else? Thanks!
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Amy Reply:
September 12th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
@Michelle, I don’t know – you can check Pamela’s website. I know it’s also available at Amazon.com. I haven’t tried it with any other blend so I can’t say for sure but the garfava-sorghum blend on my Flour blend would probably work. I haven’t tested it, though. Just my best guess. Hugs!!
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Alan C irvine
posted on October 27, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Your cookie recipe looks so good im off to try it. many thanks
Alan C Irvine
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Jessica
posted on December 4, 2010 at 9:39 am
The recipe for the fruit tarts looks yummy! A friend who is very inventive made me a tart type thing for my going away party. She didn’t want to accidently add gluten, so she made her own crust out of rice cakes in the food processor with cinammon and sugar added and a little butter. It was awesome! Using Pamela’s may have been easier!
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Jessica
posted on December 4, 2010 at 9:39 am
I follow you on FB!
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Jen
posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:22 am
These look really good. I have been missing cookies. I am going to have to skip the specialty baking mix though and try something slightly different – I will let you know how it turns out when I make them : )
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Jenny R
posted on January 1, 2011 at 2:10 pm
These were soooo good. It would make a great base for tons of things too. I think I am going to make them chocolate chip next time! This time I cheated and used the thumbprint and jam idea from your other almond cookie post and they are hands down the best little cookies I have had since I went gluten free. Thanks again!
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Amy Reply:
January 3rd, 2011 at 4:33 pm
@Jenny R, You just made my day, Jenny! This is why I blog.
Much love,
Amy
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Jenny R Reply:
January 3rd, 2011 at 5:54 pm
@Amy, And just like you said they stay soft. I just finished them up this morning. For some reason I don’t feel guilty eating them for breakfast. I think it is the almonds : )
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Irene Clark
posted on January 3, 2011 at 5:32 pm
I think I have some of Pamela’s Baking Mix and all the other ingredients — I’m excited — I can make some cookies tomorrow!
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Christine
posted on January 4, 2011 at 6:08 am
I’ve been wanting to make a loaf of cinnamon bread for a while now to use for french toast, but my sandwhich loafs tend to be too dense and whole grain to serve that purpose well. Pamela’s bread mix would be great for that, and they have a simple recipe on their website. Pamela’s is my go-to mix when I have to use a premade mix, or to make baked goods my friends or family would like but that I still want to be able to eat. I currently have a bag of it set aside for Adventures of a Gluten Free Mom’s homemade poptarts recipe I hope to try this week.
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Christine
posted on January 4, 2011 at 6:10 am
I follow your blog by email subscription.
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jessica
posted on December 7, 2011 at 12:50 am
made these with coconut sugar as agave is still processed a bit and they fell apart. had to add more peanut butter, and extra egg and some honey, then they were yummy. They didn’t spread like the pic though. Maybe its because my butter melted too much
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Amy Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 10:45 am
@jessica, Whenever you start subbing ingredients, you change the outcome of the final product so I’m not surprised that your result was different. Did you also use Pamela’s Baking & Pancake mix?
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jessica Reply:
December 9th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
@Amy,
I did use the pamela’s, I ended up using honey, one extra egg and more peanut butter and they were really good. Gone in a few days.
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Michelle
posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:23 pm
can honey be used instead of agave? we dont use agave after doing some exensive research on it, it is not a good alternative sweetener. thanks
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Phyllis
posted on May 15, 2012 at 1:25 am
Oh dear! Everything I’ve read says that agave almost all fructose, just as bad for you as high fructose corn syrup and no better than refined sugar. What a disappointment. So where does that leave us? What can we do? Elana Amsterdam’s book is all agave, and we the public have been mislead and manipulated by the food industry yet again. The reason it has a “low glycemic value” is misleading – it is because it does not contain glucose – it contains something much worse. For those of us who want to go “sugar and gluten free” for health reasons, what’s left? I just tried to bake with stevia and it was AWFUL and the cake came out white!
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Amy Reply:
May 15th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
@Phyllis, Stevia can be tricky. I personally think that moderation is key. A little agave won’t hurt anyone. If you use it all the time for everything then it’s not good – but that is true of any added sugar. I think Elana would say the same thing.
I am a big advocate of eating a diet that is based in whole foods. Dessert is a treat. And, if I have a teaspoon or two of agave in a cupcake or a cookie it’s no big deal.
I really like using coconut palm sugar – here is a post I wrote about it in case you’re interested: http://simplysugarandglutenfree.com/coconut-palm-sugar/
And, here is an article from Whole Living Magazine about agave: http://wholelivingdaily.wholeliving.com/2010/07/agave-nectar-the-backlash-should-we-panic.html
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