Product Review: Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix

Product: Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix – $4.49+

It was October 2014 and I was entering the great land of Trader Joe’s in Louisville, Kentucky.  I had just passed the big center display of bananas when my gaze fell upon an end cap that was holding a bunch of pumpkin goodness.  I love anything pumpkin.  This is no secret.  And a Trader Joe’s mix with pumpkin pancake-y goodness?  HELLO!  Sign me up.

I snagged a box of it and gave the sad Celiac eyes to my roommate.  And…yes…we fit them into the budget.  Sad Celiac eyes work wonders!!  So, checkout was complete.  And fall turned into winter.  And then spring came around.  And while I had been making things for breakfast…pancakes even…I had other mixes and flour blends that had to be used first.  But, as the great kitchen pantry purge continues…Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix was up to bat today!

So, this morning, I decided to haul out the Mickey (Mouse) waffle maker and make some pancake waffles.  Why?  Because waffles are delicious and fun…and these are shaped like Mickey.  They win.  Always.  I mean, pancakes probably would have been less labor intensive but…I was craving waffles for awhile.  In fact, I sort of promised my roommate I’d make waffles after we went to our gluten free bakery Saturday morning for breakfast and she lamented that she wished they still offered their gluten free waffles (and pancakes).  So, a promise is a promise.

Mixing up the Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Pancake Mix is super easy.  Simply get out a bowl and crack an egg inside.  Then, add 2 tablespoons of melted butter (or oil).  I melted down 2 tablespoons of Earth Balance.  Then, whisk them together.  Add in 2/3-cup of water plus 2 additional tablespoons and whisk that up as well.  Then, scoop out a cup of the Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix and add it to the wet ingredients.  Mix until just combined.  It’s okay if it’s a little lumpy.

So easy.  I had all that done by the time my roommate hauled herself out of her room.  Perfect timing.  I ladled the mix into the waffle maker and closed the lid, allowing it to cook to that perfect crusty outside, soft inside consistency.  It usually takes about five minutes to get there.  And while that was working, I warmed up some pure maple syrup to pour over it.  YUMMY!  I lifted the lid of the waffle maker when the steam subsided and lo and behold…the perfect pumpkin-y gluten-free waffle shaped like Mickey Mouse.  YES!  I was already feeling good about this mix.  I slathered it up with some Earth Balance spread and then dowsed it in some maple syrup.  I then got my own waffle working and prepared to do the same thing.  Once again, the perfect waffle emerged, with this golden crust on the outside.  I was elated.  As the third (and final) waffle (now in the freezer) was working, I settled in to enjoy my breakfast.

So…it was awesome.  Let me just say that.  Some flour mixes and pancake mixes don’t get that golden crust on the outside, but Trader Joe’s managed it to perfection with this mix.  It had the perfect amount of pumpkin spice flavor.  Not too much.  And not too little (although my roomie says that she didn’t get much pumpkin).  I disagree with the roomie and think that the amount of pumpkin flavor was spot on.  As I am the pumpkin freak…I know best.  The crust on the outside was crisp and crunchy and the inside of the waffle was light and soft and just…so amazing.  I was in love with each bite.  I may have hoovered it, using the last bite to mop up any extra syrup lingering on the plate.  Really, very impressed.

The Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix was a new product that was introduced last October due to numerous requests from their fans of the original Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Pancake Mix, who had found themselves now eating a gluten-free diet.  The Trader Joe’s peeps went to work for months to get the right texture (no soggy, heavy pancakes allowed) and finally it it spot on, even getting the seasoning right to bring that warm fall-ish feeling to the finished product.  The recipe for the pumpkin pancakes (the one I listed above) was on the side of the box to make sure you succeeded on your pumpkin pancake quest.  They did well.  They did very well.

The Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix is made from white rice flour, potato starch, cane sugar, dehydrated pumpkin flakes, buttermilk powder, tapioca flour, molasses powder, baking powder, sea salt, organic vanilla flavor, expeller pressed canola oil, ground cinnamon, ground allspice, ground ginger, xanthan gum, annatto for color, and ground nutmeg.  This mix is gluten-free and cholesterol free.

A serving of Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix is 1/3 cup dry mix or 2 pancakes prepared.  A serving of the mix will provide 130 calories and 0.5 grams of fat.  It contains 250 mg sodium and 7 grams of sugar.  The dry mix will also give you 29 carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, and 2 grams of protein.  When it is prepared as per the instructions on the side of the box, you will be taking in 210 calories and 8 grams of fat.  You will be taking in 70 mg cholesterol, 270 mg sodium, and 7 sugars.  Prepared, you will have29 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber and 4 grams of protein.

Honestly, it is one of the better gluten-free pancakes mixes out there.  I was above and beyond happy with the way my Mickey waffles came out.  Not only were these full of perfect pumpkin flavor, they were crispy and soft and the texture was right where it needed to be.  Trader Joe’s definitely nailed the gluten-free pumpkin goodness in these.  I hope this mix is back on the shelves this upcoming fall.  Total yum!