Whether Betty Crocker yellow cake mix is gluten free or not is an important question for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. The short answer is: no, regular Betty Crocker yellow cake mix contains wheat and is not gluten-free. However, Betty Crocker does offer several gluten-free cake mix options that can be used as substitutes.
Does regular Betty Crocker yellow cake mix contain gluten?
Yes, regular Betty Crocker yellow cake mix is not gluten-free as it contains wheat flour. Wheat contains the proteins glutenin and gliadin, which together form the gluten protein. Since those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity cannot tolerate gluten, consuming regular Betty Crocker yellow cake mix would cause issues.
What are the ingredients in regular Betty Crocker yellow cake mix?
The main ingredients in regular Betty Crocker yellow cake mix are:
- Enriched bleached flour (wheat flour)
- Sugar
- Leavening (baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate)
- Modified corn starch
- Canola and/or soybean oil
- Dextrose
- Corn syrup
- Salt
- Artificial flavor
- Yellow 5, Yellow 6
As you can see, the first ingredient is wheat flour, meaning this product contains gluten and is not suitable for gluten-free diets.
Does Betty Crocker offer any gluten-free yellow cake mix options?
Yes, fortunately Betty Crocker has created several gluten-free cake mix products to meet the needs of those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity:
Betty Crocker Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix
This gluten-free cake mix comes in a yellow cake variety that can substitute for the regular yellow cake mix. Instead of wheat, it uses ingredients like rice flour, potato starch, and tapioca flour.
Betty Crocker Gluten Free Funfetti Cake Mix
This is a gluten-free Funfetti style cake mix that could fill the role of a festive, colorful yellow cake. It includes confetti sprinkles inside and is made without any wheat-based ingredients.
Betty Crocker Gluten Free Vanilla Cake Mix
While not yellow, this vanilla gluten-free cake mix could still work as an alternative in recipes calling for yellow cake mix. The flavors are similar and vanilla cake can easily be tinted yellow with food coloring if desired.
What ingredients are used in Betty Crocker’s gluten-free cake mixes?
Betty Crocker’s gluten-free cake mixes use ingredients like:
- Rice flour
- Potato starch
- Tapioca flour
- Sweet rice flour
- Brown rice flour
- Baking powder
- Xanthan gum
- Sugar
- Canola oil
- Natural flavors
These ingredients combine to create tasty gluten-free cakes without wheat, barley, rye, or other prohibited grains.
How to substitute Betty Crocker gluten-free cake mix
Making a substitution is easy since the gluten-free cake mixes can be used on a 1:1 ratio:
- Replace 1 box regular Betty Crocker yellow cake mix with 1 box Betty Crocker Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix
- Swap 1 box regular Betty Crocker yellow cake mix with 1 box Betty Crocker Gluten Free Funfetti Cake Mix
- Exchange 1 box regular Betty Crocker yellow cake mix for 1 box Betty Crocker Gluten Free Vanilla Cake Mix plus yellow food coloring as desired
Follow the instructions on the gluten-free box mix, being careful not to add any additional ingredients like wheat-based flour that could introduce gluten. Check that other ingredients used like oil, eggs, milk, etc. are also gluten-free.
Tips for baking success
Here are some helpful tips when substituting gluten-free cake mix:
- Check that your baking powder is gluten-free, as some brands contain wheat
- Grease cake pans well as gluten-free cakes tend to be more delicate
- Allow gluten-free cakes to cool completely before frosting or removing from pan
- Use milk substitutes like rice milk or almond milk for a dairy-free cake
- Let gluten-free cakes sit at room temperature overnight to allow flavors to develop
Gluten-free frosting options
Betty Crocker also offers gluten-free frosting and icing options:
| Frosting | Key Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Betty Crocker Gluten Free Creamy Vanilla Frosting | Sugar, palm oil, corn syrup, potato starch, vanilla extract |
| Betty Crocker Gluten Free Chocolate Fudge Frosting | Sugar, palm oil, cocoa, corn syrup, potato starch, vanilla extract |
| Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Gluten Free Cream Cheese Frosting | Cream cheese (milk), sugar, palm oil, corn syrup, vanilla extract |
Using a matching gluten-free frosting ensures your entire cake or cupcakes are gluten-free. Read labels carefully if using other brands.
Popular brand alternatives
Some other brands also offer gluten-free yellow cake mixes:
| Brand | Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix |
|---|---|
| Pillsbury | Pillsbury Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix |
| King Arthur | King Arthur Gluten Free Classic Yellow Cake Mix |
| Bob’s Red Mill | Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix |
Check the ingredients list on any cake mix, even if labeled gluten-free, to ensure it does not contain any wheat, barley, rye or contaminated oats.
Make your own gluten-free cake from scratch
For full control over ingredients, you can also bake a gluten-free cake completely from scratch:
Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Recipe
Dry ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cups (155g) gluten-free flour blend (see below)
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp xanthan gum (if your flour doesn’t contain it)
- 1/4 tsp salt
Wet ingredients:
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup (180ml) milk
- 1/3 cup (80ml) canola or vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Yellow food coloring (optional)
Combine dry ingredients and whisk until blended. In separate bowl, beat wet ingredients together until combined. Add wet to dry and mix just until batter is smooth. Pour into greased cake pans and bake at 350F (175C) for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
For the gluten-free flour blend, use a blend of:
- 3/4 cup (95g) white rice flour
- 1/2 cup (60g) tapioca starch
- 1/4 cup (35g) sweet rice flour
This blend mimics the properties of wheat flour for a tasty gluten-free cake you can feel good about!
Gluten-free ingredient swaps
When baking gluten-free, use these ingredient swaps:
| Instead of | Use |
|---|---|
| Wheat flour | Gluten-free flour blend (rice, tapioca, potato, etc) |
| Breadcrumbs | Gluten-free breadcrumbs or pulsed gluten-free bread |
| Pasta | Gluten-free pasta (rice, quinoa, etc) |
| Baking powder | Gluten-free baking powder |
| Beer | Gluten-free beer |
| Soy sauce | Gluten-free tamari |
Double check all ingredient labels to ensure they are certified gluten-free before using.
Is Betty Crocker gluten-free?
While Betty Crocker offers some gluten-free products, the Betty Crocker brand itself is NOT gluten-free across the board. Many Betty Crocker products contain gluten, including:
- Cake, brownie, cookie, muffin, and pancake mixes
- Frostings and icings
- Bisquick baking mix
- Potato products like mashed potatoes
- Betty Crocker brand cereals
- Pizza kits
- suddenly salad mixes
- Hamburger and tuna helpers
So while gluten-free options are available, it’s crucial to check each individual product’s ingredients list and labeling.
Are Betty Crocker products made in a gluten-free facility?
No, regular Betty Crocker products are produced in facilities that also process wheat-based foods. This means there is a risk of gluten cross-contact for people who are highly sensitive.
However, Betty Crocker’s certified gluten-free products are produced in dedicated gluten-free facilities and have strict protocols to avoid cross-contamination.
Contacting Betty Crocker about gluten-free
You can contact the Betty Crocker customer service line at 1-800-BISQUICK (1-800-247-7845) for any questions about gluten content in their products. Their staff should be able to verify whether individual products are gluten-free or made in a dedicated facility.
You can also browse their gluten-free recipes online or refer to their gluten-free FAQ.
Is homemade yellow cake gluten free?
Homemade yellow cakes are NOT gluten-free by default as they traditionally rely on wheat flour. However, you can easily adapt recipes to be gluten-free by swapping the wheat flour for an appropriate blend of alternative gluten-free flours.
Some good gluten-free flour options include:
- Rice flour
- Tapioca starch/flour
- Potato starch
- Almond flour
- Coconut flour
- Chickpea flour
Using a blend of flours helps mimic the texture of wheat flour. Rice flour mixed with a starch like tapioca or potato works well. Refer to gluten-free recipes when adapting your own.
Gluten-free substitutions for boxed cake mixes
If you don’t have a gluten-free cake mix on hand, here are some substitutions you can make:
| If recipe calls for… | Substitute… |
|---|---|
| 1 box yellow cake mix | 1 1/4 cups gluten-free flour blend + 1 tsp xanthan gum + 3/4 cup sugar + 1 1/2 tsp baking powder |
| 1 box Funfetti cake mix | Above yellow cake substitution + 2 Tbsp rainbow sprinkles |
| 1 box vanilla cake mix | Above yellow cake substitution + 2 tsp vanilla extract |
Mix the dry ingredients together, then add wet ingredients like oil, eggs, milk until blended. You may need to adjust moisture levels slightly by adding a touch more milk if batter seems too thick.
Conclusion
Those avoiding gluten for health reasons must take care when using Betty Crocker products. Regular Betty Crocker yellow cake mix contains gluten and is not suitable for gluten-free diets. However, Betty Crocker has created several gluten-free yellow cake mixes that provide tasty options for those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance. When in doubt, always check the ingredient labels!
