**UPDATE: CRAVE BAKE SHOP is now KYRA’S BAKE SHOP in Lake Oswego, OR**

HAPPY CELIAC DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH!

It’s our month to be advocates and celebrate the life that was given to us (that may not have been the life that we chose). Speaking of celebration – sometimes we have to celebrate with amazing gluten-free cupcakes. And by sometimes, I mean – I want cupcakes every day.

This year, I was able to meet one of my favorite gluten-free people in the universe. You may know her as the gluten-free winner of Cupcake Wars (twice). You may know her as the owner of Crave Bake Shop in Lake O (Portland), Oregon. You may remember her from my review of Crave Bake Shop in our last Portland vacation to see Non-GFBF’s family.  Or, you may just know her as the beautiful Kyra Bussanich. And she rocks. I couldn’t think of a better person that could help us kick off this great month.

She recently added a new product line to her amazing shop – her dry mixes are available for the world! Now you can make award-winning cupcakes at home! And you don’t even have to go to culinary school to learn how to bake gluten-free – she’s done all the hard work for you! These mixes have their own Facebook page!

I am in love with everything Crave Bake Shop touches – and I couldn’t be happier that she’s come out with mixes for people like me – people who can’t bake or follow a recipe to save our lives. On my own, I could never replicate half of what Kyra and her team does, but with these mixes I can create cupcake that would impress any guest – even if they don’t know they are gluten-free!

Now, before I post any photos, know that when I bake with mixes, I do a lot of substitutions. I am trying to avoid dairy, so I use Earth Balance vegan spread and Pacific Foods hemp milk whenever I bake. I adore hemp milk, it’s so great to bake with because it’s thick like milk. I know it’s not the same properties of baking as milk, but since I refuse to buy dairy (mooooooo!) I’m using it! But, if you can still have dairy, I’m sure your cupcakes will look different than mine (and probably taste better too – and kudos if you can handle dairy!).

The chocolate cupcakes WERE SO GOOD! I can’t even tell you how rich they were – even with the dairy substitute.

For the snickerdoodle mix, I made cupcakes and then tried to make little donut holes (that are actually mini cupcakes) and putting powered sugar and icing on top! These are such a unique mix and such a great taste. When you have these, I promise you can’t be sad that you have to eat gluten-free. We couldn’t get enough of these.

The vanilla ones are just what they are – vanilla cake mix. These were the hardest to make dairy-free because they didn’t have the rich flavors of the chocolate or snickerdoodle – but these were the best to add flavorings and goodies too. I added Enjoy Life chocolate chips and frosting on top and gave them out as party favors at one of my birthday events!

That picture was from Chandice of Gluten Free Frenzy who snapped a pic of my cupcake – chocolate chips on the bottom and frosting on top!

 

All of these mixes are given a score of 5 wheat stalks.

[ratings wheat=”5″]

That means that I will be buying them regularly. 5 wheat stalk means that I will totally be talking about these for a while (as if you couldn’t tell by me mentioning it every second I could to you guys). If you are at all doubting my rating, or want to just buy one mix – go with the Snickerdoodle. You will NOT be disappointed.

HOW DO I ORDER THESE MAGICAL BOX MIXES???

Email: info@cravebakeshop.com

Tell them that Celiac and the Beast sent ya!

BUT I WANT TO WIN THEM FOR MYSELF!

Well, you can win a box of these mixes along with other items throughout our Celiac Awareness Month celebration!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tagged: Crave Bake Shop, Cupcakes, gluten free, Gluten Free Cupcakes, Kyra Bussanich