With the rising popularity of gluten-free and vegan diets, many home bakers wonder if Betty Crocker’s gluten-free cake mixes are also vegan. Betty Crocker offers several different gluten-free cake mix varieties, including yellow, chocolate, and vanilla. However, upon close inspection of the ingredients lists, most Betty Crocker gluten-free cake mixes contain milk or egg ingredients and are therefore not vegan.
Milk and Egg Ingredients in Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Cake Mixes
The primary non-vegan ingredients found in Betty Crocker’s gluten-free cake mixes are milk products and eggs. Most Betty Crocker gluten-free cake mixes contain milk products such as whey powder, buttermilk powder, or nonfat dry milk powder. These dairy-derived ingredients provide moisture, richness, and structure to the baked cakes. Eggs are also included in the ingredient lists, usually in the form of liquid whole eggs or egg whites. Eggs act as leavening agents and emulsifiers to help cakes rise and achieve a tender crumb. Vegan bakers avoid all animal-derived products, including milk and eggs. Therefore, the presence of these ingredients would make most Betty Crocker gluten-free mixes unsuitable for vegans.
Milk Ingredients
Here are some examples of milk-derived ingredients found in Betty Crocker’s gluten-free cake mixes:
– Whey powder – Added for moisture, flavor, and browning. Whey is the watery part of milk that separates from the curds during cheesemaking.
– Buttermilk powder – Provides a tangy flavor and tender texture. Buttermilk is cultured dairy milk.
– Nonfat dry milk powder – Made from dried skim milk and adds richness.
All of these milk-based ingredients are considered non-vegan.
Egg Ingredients
The main egg ingredients seen in Betty Crocker gluten-free cake mixes include:
– Liquid whole eggs – The most common egg product used.
– Egg whites – The whiter part of eggs added for leavening.
– Egg yolks – The yellow portion providing fat, color, and moisture.
Eggs are undisputedly an animal product and off-limits for vegans.
Exceptions – Vegan Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Cake Mixes
While the majority of Betty Crocker’s gluten-free cake mixes contain milk and/or eggs, there are a couple of exceptions:
Betty Crocker Gluten Free Funfetti Cake Mix
Funfetti cake mix features colorful confetti sprinkles baked inside vanilla cake. Betty Crocker’s gluten-free Funfetti cake mix contains no milk or egg ingredients.
The ingredients list consists of:
– Rice flour
– Tapioca starch
– Potato starch
– Sugar
– Leavening (baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate)
– Salt
– Dextrose
– Xanthan gum
– Confetti sprinkles (sugar, rice flour, vegetable oils [palm, palm kernel], carnauba wax, carrageenan, corn syrup, artificial colors, sodium citrate)
With its lack of animal-derived ingredients, Betty Crocker’s gluten-free Funfetti cake mix is considered vegan.
Betty Crocker Gluten Free Devil’s Food Cake Mix
Betty Crocker’s gluten-free Devil’s Food cake mix is a rich, chocolatey option that is also vegan.
It contains:
– Rice flour
– Sugar
– Cocoa processed with alkali
– Potato starch
– Tapioca starch
– Cellulose gel
– Salt
– Xanthan gum
– Baking soda
– Guar gum
– Carrageenan
The chocolate flavor comes from natural cocoa powder rather than milk chocolate. And there are no egg ingredients. So this Betty Crocker gluten-free cake mix can be part of a vegan diet.
How to Make Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Cake Mix Vegan
While most Betty Crocker gluten-free cake mixes are not vegan due to milk and eggs, there are some simple ingredient swaps that can transform them into vegan recipes:
Replace Eggs
– 1 egg can be substituted with:
– 1 tablespoon ground flax or chia seed whisked with 3 tablespoons water
– 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana
– 1/4 cup blended silken tofu
– 1 teaspoon baking powder + 1 tablespoon water
– 1 tablespoon vinegar + 1 teaspoon baking soda
Replace Buttermilk
– 1 cup buttermilk can be replaced with:
– 1 cup soymilk or other nondairy milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar
– 1 cup plain nondairy yogurt
Replace Milk
– Substitute cow’s milk with nondairy milks such as almond, soy, oat, coconut, or rice milk.
Replace Butter
– Instead of butter, use vegan butter, coconut oil, or vegetable oil.
With these simple substitutions, most Betty Crocker gluten-free cake mixes can be made vegan-friendly.
Best Vegan Gluten-Free Cake Mix Alternatives
For bakers who want reliably vegan and gluten-free cake mix options, here are some recommended brands:
| Brand | Details |
|---|---|
| Bob’s Red Mill | Offers vegan gluten-free cake mixes in chocolate, vanilla, and spice flavors. Does not contain milk, eggs, or soy. |
| Pamela’s Products | Specializes in gluten-free and vegan baking mixes including chocolate cake, lemon cake, and honey spice cake. |
| King Arthur Baking | Their gluten-free yellow cake and chocolate cake mixes are vegan. |
| Namaste Foods | Makes organic, gluten-free and vegan cake mixes in fun flavors like lemon raspberry and orange coconut. |
These brands offer high-quality, vegan ingredients and helpful instructions for succeeding with gluten-free cakes. Purchasing pre-made mixes saves time and makes gluten-free vegan baking more accessible.
Tips for Baking Gluten-Free Vegan Cake Mixes
Gluten-free flours behave differently in baking, so here are some tips for getting great results when baking vegan gluten-free cake mixes:
– Carefully follow package instructions – Do not rely on your usual baking times and temperatures. Gluten-free flours may require adjustment.
– Avoid overmixing – Gluten-free flours do not develop elasticity like regular flour. Overmixing can make cakes dense and gluey.
– Let batters rest before baking – Resting hydrate the flours and allows leaveners to work. This improves rise and crumb texture.
– Use parchment paper – Gluten-free cakes are delicate. Parchment prevents sticking and makes removal easier.
– Check for doneness early – Gluten-free cakes set faster than traditional cakes. Watch closely to avoid dryness or burning.
– Allow to cool completely before frosting – Gluten-free cakes need time to finish setting as they cool. Wait to frost.
With some extra care, gluten-free vegan cake mixes can result in bakery-quality cakes at home. Have fun mixing and matching flavors!
Delicious Vegan Gluten-Free Cake Recipes From Mixes
Ready to bake a tasty vegan gluten-free cake? Here are some recipe ideas using purchased mixes:
Strawberry Shortcake Cake
Ingredients:
– 1 box vegan vanilla cake mix
– 1 cup nondairy milk
– 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
– 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
– 16 ounces fresh strawberries, sliced
– 1 recipe vegan whipped cream or vanilla coconut yogurt
Instructions: Prepare cake mix as directed on package, using nondairy milk, coconut oil, and vinegar instead of eggs/butter. Bake in two 9-inch pans. Cool completely. Fill with sliced strawberries and vegan whipped topping.
Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Filling
Ingredients:
– 1 box vegan chocolate cake mix
– 1 cup brewed coffee, room temperature
– 1/3 cup maple syrup
– 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
– 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
– 1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
Instructions: Make cake according to package directions, substituting coffee, maple syrup, coconut oil, and vinegar for the wet ingredients. Bake in two 9-inch pans. Cool completely. Spread raspberry jam between layers.
Lemon Coconut Cake
Ingredients:
– 1 box lemon vegan cake mix
– 14 ounce can coconut milk
– 2 tablespoons lemon juice
– 1 teaspoon lemon zest
– 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions: Make cake following package instructions, using coconut milk instead of water and milk. Bake in a 9×13 pan. For frosting, mix powdered sugar, 1/4 cup coconut milk, lemon juice and zest. Frost cooled cake. Garnish with coconut flakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Betty Crocker gluten-free yellow cake mix vegan?
No, Betty Crocker’s gluten-free yellow cake mix contains milk ingredients like whey protein concentrate and is not vegan.
What can I substitute for eggs in a gluten-free cake mix?
Great egg replacers include flax eggs (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water), mashed banana, applesauce, blended silken tofu, vinegar + baking soda, or commercial egg replacer powders.
Can I make a non-vegan gluten-free cake mix vegan?
Yes, with a few substitutions you can make a gluten-free cake mix vegan – use nondairy milk in place of milk, swap eggs for flax eggs or banana, and use oil instead of butter.
Should I adjust baking times for gluten-free vegan cakes?
Gluten-free flours may set faster than regular flour, so it’s advisable to check for doneness 5-10 minutes earlier than the time listed on the cake mix box. Keep a close eye to avoid overbaking.
What are some good brands for purchasing vegan gluten-free cake mixes?
Some of the top brands for vegan and gluten-free cake mixes are Bob’s Red Mill, King Arthur Baking, Pamela’s Products, and Namaste Foods. Check the ingredients since not all flavors are vegan.
