Product Review: Hodgson Mill Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix

I really enjoyed doing this review, mainly because it required no work on my part whatsoever. My beautiful and talented daughter was pulling these gluten free muffins out of the oven when I got out of bed this morning. The most effort I had to put in was trying not to get crumbs on our history book as I attempted to teach with a full mouth. Luckily, I have been doing reviews long enough that D.D. knows to put her review hat on whenever she makes anything new. She was able to give me great details on the portions of this review that I slept through (namely preparation).

Ease of Use

Hodgson Mill Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix was fast and easy to throw together. The batter was rather lumpy - D.D. says, “It looked kinda lumpy and ick, but don’t worry. They turn out fine.” Apparently the lumps came from the generous amount of dried apples that are in the mix.

Appearance

This mix has a yield of 6 to 7 gluten free muffins. D.D. made a dozen. Our muffins were very small with lumpy tops. (Those apples again.) They were a light golden cinnamon brown.

Taste and Texture

The muffins baked up dense and firm with a great texture and even crumb. They were very moist and had no hint of a grainy texture. The apple chunks are slightly chewy. They offer a pop of tangy sweetness and add a whole new dimension to the texture.

The muffins are sweet with a bit of spice, but they also have a bitter aftertaste. On the box it says to make the mix with 2-3 tablespoons of sugar. I recommend using the full 3 and sprinkling the muffins with brown sugar before baking.

Versatility

As a mix, this product comes with built in versatility. The box has instructions for muffins and pancakes. I’m sure you could use the mix for bread, donuts, coffee cake or any number of tasty treats.

Overall Value

This mix retails for almost $4 a box. That is a pretty steep price for the quantity.

Rating

I really enjoyed these muffins but the bitter taste nagged at me. If I buy the mix again I will have to experiment with different ways of covering that up.