Kodiak Cakes

If you know me personally or have read my blog for more than a few weeks, you already know that I’m not a baking mix person. You won’t find a box of Bisquick in my pantry, and you can be pretty sure that all of my cakes and brownies are made from scratch. I like to bake from scratch… That’s just how I roll. Don’t get me wrong… I’m not criticizing those who do use mixes, it’s just not usually my thing.

So, when I got an email from Kodiak Cakes, offering to send some of their baking mixes to me to review, I started to write my usual “thanks, but no thanks” email (which I send all too frequently… I’ve gotten pretty good at turning down products for review).  However, as I glanced over their email again, this caught my eye…

We’re a family-owned, Utah-based company which focuses on making whole grain mixes that actually taste good.

Baking mixes that taste good? And are whole grain? That got my attention. In addition to the fact that I enjoy baking from scratch, one of the other reasons that I stray from boxed mixes is that they tend to have a lot of extra junk in them (which is why they can sit on the shelf in your pantry for years and years). So, I was intrigued by the idea of a whole grain baking mix with no added junk (they used the word preservatives, which is much more accurate, I suppose).

I agreed to have them send a few of their baking mixes so that I could test them out, but (as I always do) I was sure to mention that I could not guarantee a review because I only write about products that I feel are a good fit for both my kitchen and my blog.

Well, by now you have probably figured out that I must have been pleased with the products, because I wouldn’t have written about them otherwise!  I had the opportunity to sample the Flapjack and Waffle Mix, Big Bear Brownies, and Bear Country Cookies.  All three products are made with 100% whole grains (which immediately scored points with me) and are all natural. There were no secret ingredients that I couldn’t pronounce or identify.  See for yourself!

Ok, so now that I’ve convinced you that the mixes are made with quality ingredients and no junk, here’s the most important part…  They tasted great!  In other words – your husband or kids won’t turn up their nose at these healthy (yet simple to make) treats!

The first mix that I tried was the Big Bear Brownies. My hubby and I were both hungry for a sweet treat one afternoon, so I whipped them up real quickly! The box stated that applesauce could be substituted for all or part of the butter, so that’s what I did.  In addition to applesauce, the mix called for oil, water, and eggs.  I decided to bake the brownies in my muffin pan (which is something I frequently do) so make pre-portioned brownies.  The brownies puffed up a bit and were somewhat cakey (which I suspect may have been due, in part, to the fact that I used applesauce instead of butter – fat is an important ingredient in a chewy/fudgy brownie). I was skeptical, but when I tasted them, they were super chocolatey and had a great flavor.  My husband (who is more of a cakey brownie fan) absolutely loved them.

After the brownies, I decided that I had to give the Flapjack and Waffle Mix a try.  After all, it is their original product and has been featured in Bon Appetit! I followed the recipe on the box (1 cup mix, 1 cup water – what could be easier?) and decided to make waffles. I’m not very talented when it comes to using my waffle maker (which has nothing to do with this product), so my first batch didn’t turn out real well. My hubby had a few waffles from the first batch (the ones that weren’t stuck to the waffle iron or overflowing all over my countertops), though, and he thought they were good.  I decided to whip up a second batch, and substituted some lowfat milk for the water (just because… I like milk in my pancakes and waffles).  The second batch turned out well (except for the fact that I still can’t seem to figure out how much batter really goes into the waffle maker).  They were tasty and both my hubby and I enjoyed them for breakfast.  The leftovers kept well in the fridge and were great reheated in the toaster!

The final test was the Bear Country Cookies. The box called for 1 stick of butter and 1 egg, so that’s what I added. The dough was a bit crumbly (as indicated on the box), so I used my fingers to roll out balls of dough and place them on the baking sheet.  They held together well, and the cookies spread nicely when baked – not too thin and crisp, but enough that they didn’t look like oatmeal and chocolate chip golf balls. I watched the cookies like a hawk while they were in the oven, and took them out as soon as they started to look golden.  They were still somewhat soft, but after cooking on wire racks, the cookies firmed up a bit.  They turned out to be great soft chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. My hubby and I enjoyed a few of them, and I took the rest over to my grandmothers house one afternoon.  Everyone enjoyed them, and I would have been able to pass them off as homemade (although, I was honest and revealed that they were a boxed mix).

The Verdict…

So, here’s my verdict on the Kodiak Cakes products.  While I am not going to stop baking from scratch, I think that their baking mixes are the next best thing.  They are made with all natural and wholesome ingredients and they really do taste great. For anyone who enjoys baking, I think they’re great to have around anytime you’re in a pinch and don’t have time to worry about baking from scratch.  In fact, I’ll probably order a few more boxes to have on hand. And, if you’re not a fan of baking and prefer to use mixes, I think you’ll find that these are a healthier alternative to the typical mixes you’ll find on your grocery store shelves.

My Kitchen Addiction Product Review Policy and Disclosure- I received this product at no cost from the manufacturer (or a representative PR firm) for the purpose of testing and reviewing the product. Unless specified otherwise, I do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. I only review products that I have personally tested and used in my kitchen/home, and all opinions expressed are my own.