Product Review: PC GF Yellow Loaf Cake Mix

This week I happened down the gluten free aisle at my local Loblaws and saw a variety of new PC Gluten Free products. They have new PC Gluten Free chocolate and yellow cake mixes, but it was the loaf cake that caught my eye. My grocery shopping this week included treats that I could take to my choir's "tea/snack time" after practice. I had already planned on taking GF brownies as well as fruit, but when I saw the pound cake mix I had a thought that I could try something that I have been searching for.

                                                

I have been searching for a recipe for a gluten free lemon loaf. My mom used to make a wonderful lemon loaf when I was a child. It was not made very often, but when it was it was fluffy as well as tart and sweet at the same time. I have not had a good lemon loaf since going gluten free. Most have a weird texture to the cake. When I saw the loaf cake mix I wondered if I could turn it into a lemon loaf and what would it taste like. 

I made the mix according to the directions on the box, with a couple of changes. I changed the 1/2 cup of water into 1/4 cup of lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon) and 1/4 cup of water, and I mixed into the batter the zest from 2 lemons. I baked the cake according to the directions and it took a little longer than the directions stated. Watch your cake and keep testing it by pressing the cake in the center until the cake springs back. If your finger leaves an indent, it is not ready. You can also test by toothpick, but when I did this it came out undercooked in the center. Once out of the oven I poked the cake all over the top with a toothpick. I melted 1/4 cup of sugar in 1/4 cup of lemon juice (from the second already zested lemon) in the microwave until the sugar was completely dissolved and it was bubbling. While the cake was hot out of the oven I spooned a couple tablespoons of the syrup over the hot cake. Over the next hour I continued to spoon the syrup over the cake to build a sticky lemon crust on top while it cooled. Once completely cooled I sliced the cake.

                                                 

I took it to choir practice. It was completely devoured and the results were so positive. Everyone loved the cake and there was nothing for me to bring home. Not quite as dense as a pound cake, it was moist and fluffy. With the addition of the lemon it had a wonderful flavour. I can see this cake being topped with berries and cream for a wonderful short cake in the future. Since there were no leftovers I guess I have to get another box and make a second one for me since I only had one slice.

I highly recommend this product.