One of my favorite companies that make allergy free foods is Namaste. Lucky for me, I found them early in our GFCF diet years. What I like best about them is that I can take their desserts with us to a party and no one knows they are gluten free.
Last month I contacted Namaste to see if it would be ok to write about their company. The response I received was so inviting. They offered me the opportunity to review a few products and “give away” a package of goodies to one of you!
My hardest dilemma was coming up with Namaste foods to “review” that I did not already use! They have a new line of sugar free foods. I will be reviewing the sugar free muffins on Wednesday. Today I want tell you about their chocolate cake…
Since we have been on the “diet” I have done many creative things to avoid making birthday cakes. Sorry, but GF birthday cakes – yuck. I have tried most brands. So I decided to try Namaste’s since hubby’s birthday was last week.
I baked the chocolate cake per directions. Honestly, I was not expecting much. 2 years – never a successful cake.
When I checked the cakes to see if they were done, I was surprised by the moist, spongy cakes that I pulled from the oven.
These cakes even pulled away from the pan a little like regular cakes do. Still in amazement I got ready to take the cakes out of the pan. I was sure this would be a chore.
If you’ve never cooked Gluten free before, ummm, gluten is like “glue”. It is what make the batter “stick together” . Most GF items are crumbly, and dry.
Not this cake. It came out of the pan cleanly. As the cake was cooling, I started my debate about what frosting to use. Namaste has a frosting you make – I didn’t have it. I had the Cherry brook frosting that is great for sugar cookies, but thick and hard to spread. I was afraid it would ruin my cake.
The cake looked so moist and rich. I decided to just put one layer on the other and… top it with powdered sugar. Ummm.
So here it is – Hubby’s cake.
Hubby's cake
And here is the giveaway.
Leave a comment below and I will pick a winner Friday night!
I love the Namaste products! Especially the brownie mix!! In place of eggs I use 1/4 cup of applesauce per egg and add a teaspoon of ground flaxseed to make up for the Omega 3s. I always use coconut oil for oil when oil or butter are needed. The other GF cake I like is the Gluten Free Pantry Old Fashioned Cake and Cookie mix, I add allergy friendly chocolate chips and it’s really good =)
Wow, this blog is great!!! I am so impressed by your diligence in trying to help out the rest of us. Kudos to you……………………Namaste is awesome! I can’t wait to dabble with some of the sugar free products that are coming out. Sugar is always an issue for us since the “YEAST MONSTER” lurks in the shadows of our house @ all times just waiting for me to “slip-up” and feed it!!! LOL……………….
Brenda-
We have fought the yeast beast for years! Actually, doing the NAET treatments has hugely eliminated the “yeast” symptoms. I am thinking (in hind sight) that maybe the “yeast symptoms” were allergies. Just a thought.
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Lisa
Danielle-
Thanks for the egg tip. I replace the eggs too – but I know others love to hear different ways to replace the eggs.
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Lisa
we like there pizza crust mix, we make it and roll them into tube sprials, dip them in oil and then roll them again in spice mix of corn meal, italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic salt, and onion bits. then bake them to make bread sticks! great with homemade spegetti and meat balls *made with lamb and rice or millet. if you haven’t tried that one I would recommend it. we tried there cake mixes in the beggining and didn’t care for them. if you haven’t tried cravings place dutch chocolate one (we do it with coconut milk) or orgrains vanilla one (YUM WARNING, the batter smells and tastes so good it MAY not make it into the oven) and we LOVE missrobens double fudge frosting as well!!!
Christel-
Yum! We will have to try that. thanks for the recipie! And in the middle of moving too!
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Lisa
Namaste’s pancake/waffle mix is the BEST, and the closest to gluten pancakes as I’ve found. Most gluten free pancake mixes have an after taste or use buckwheat which isn’t that appealing to the youngsters. I also fed this to my non-gf kids and they had no clue.
Their chocolate cake mix is also perfect. My gluten-eating son actually asked for it for his birthday one year! I always have this mix and the brownie mix in my pantry. The quality of chocolate is key, and Namaste knows it.
These are wonderful products. My only beef would be larger packages of the pancake mix. The ones I buy only make 4 batches.
I’m going to be completely honest–we are brand new to the GFCF diet and I’m still getting my feet wet when it comes to products and brand names. I know that my 18 month old son, who we are doing this diet for, LOVES chocolate and cake!
We live in rural Wisconsin were no one knows what GFCF is let alone how to live it. It’s going to be a challenge….
I look forward to looking through your blog for ideas.
Have a great day,
Wendy Hawkinson
http://www.gotrubberwillstamp.blogspot.com
Wendy-
The getting started GFCF link at the top should help you a little bit with getting started! Wow 18 months. I wish I had started my kids that young! What a great blessing you are giving him!
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Lisa
Having just discovered food allergies/intolerances we are in the transition stage of going GF (among other frees…). I’m in full blown research mode. I’ve tried three gluten-free recipes (bread sticks, banana flax muffins, and waffles) and none were good enough to make again, so I’m still on the hunt for DELICIOUS gluten-free food.
The cake looks wonderfully yummy, I think we need to try it! (I’m a confessed chocoholic.)
Thank you for posting your blog on the GFCFKids loop. I’m learning so much from the numerous gluten-free blogs out there and also find them a great encouragement that we won’t suffer with horrible food forever.
Blessings,
Jennifer
Jennifer-
I so remember where you are. Ugh! It is not fun! I hated hearing the words, “I’m hungry.” You might want to click on the egtting started GFCF link at the top of my blog. I have some easy tried and true favorites there. Summer is an easy time to start!
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Lisa
Thanks Lisa. I’m going to go look right now!!
Blessings,
Jennifer
I hate to be a dissenter on the brand, but I tried the vanilla cake/cupcake mix and they had a very odd flavor – one I did not like so I have been afraid to try anything else of theirs…
Mary Beth
I have never used the products yet and I would LOVE to try them. I do not have them at my local grocer – I will check them out online.
Thanks – Jennifer
Jennifer -
I can even find them at out local Meijer now. Our Kroger will get anything we want in – you just have to ask. Now that you have seen the brown and purple bag, you might just see it when you are out and about!
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Lisa
Honestly, I have not tried any of the Namaste products, but after reading about them in your blog they sure do sound yummy. How about going egg free as well? When we did all the testing it turned out my son was more allergic to eggs than anything else. Some of the GFCF mixes work well with egg replacers, some do not. Have you had any experience with that?
Karin-
We tested hugely high for eggs as well! The chocolate cake was made with eggs, but for the recipie on Wednesday I substituted apple sauce for the eggs. I also posted about duck eggs. They might be an answer for you in baking.
But back to your original question – yes, the brownies and waffles from Namaste cook well without eggs.
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Lisa
I agree that it is great to have mixes to rely on for those party moments. GF baking is the hardest to adapt and the mixes help ease you into it. It helps to have a few recipes that are allergen free for impromptu dinner parties as well so don’t be afraid to check out or buy books that exclude only one of your allergens and use your own subs.
I am so excited to have a sugar free mix that is GF! I’ll definitely be spreading the word about that one. It sounds too good to be true.
Penny-
The mixes are also great for class parties. They taste good and all the kids can eat them who have food allergies!
Lisa
I saw your post on Linked In Cincinnati and congratulate you on this blog and the new database. I’m sure it will be a great help to many families.
My daughter is on a gluten free, dairy free diet while her doctor tries to heal her “leaky gut.” Any and all product reviews are appreciated!
Carol in West Chester