It's been a good year so far to be at Trader Joe's if you are gluten-free. Now, I'm not gluten-free, but I do like to see how things taste. And if desserts are where you feel like gluten is missing the most then they have you covered with Trader Joe's Fudgy Chocolate Quinoa Loaf and Cake Mix.
Taste and review
I like to pick things apart step by step. So here we go.
First, all you need to make this is 4 eggs, water, and oil. So in terms of adding things you are good. Having made this, you can totally add in other things to supplement this like chocolate chips or candy to make this more delicious.
Second, when mixing these items you get a chocolate mix in this box plus some chocolate syrup. So there are actually two additional plastic bags in this box. No big deal in my world. Just more packaging that I can't really see a way around.
After mixing all the required items together I made this in a loaf pan. After making the Bourbon Cake Mix this past winter, I wanted to use a more standard shape. Plus that mix didn't even come half way up the side of the pan making it hard to gaze into the oven to see how things were progressing.
Well, if you are going the route of the loaf pan, be warned: this nearly fills an entire loaf pan. Which in my case caused me to panic and put a cookie sheet under it should anything go wrong. And in my world, I don't like cleaning the oven.
I'm happy to report that while it did rise past the top of the loaf pan, nothing spilled. ::Phew::
Now, I don't know if the addition of the extra cookie sheet added cooking time, but according to the box, this needs just about an hour. Well, I was at an hour and 14 minutes when my cake tester came out clean.
I do hate it when they don't mention whether or not it needs to sit in the pan for a bit. So I gave it a 10-minute rest in the pan before removing it.
It still needed quite a while to cool down, but what I was rewarded with was delicious chocolate cake. It doesn't rise to brownie fudge level. Nope. It's cake. It's relatively light in texture, just not in calories.
My loaf is apparently 15 servings. However, to be fair, the cake is pretty rich tasting, so that will slow you down.
Had I not known that this mix was gluten-free, it would be hard to tell. With one exception: the edges and top. They didn't quite get the right. The edges aren't pillowy soft the way a flour-based cake would be. But otherwise, they really did nail this.
Overall
And if you find yourself saying: "It's Quinoa, it must be healthy." Sorry to break this to you. Most of the fiber that is found in quinoa has clearly been stripped away here. Perhaps this is a touch nuttier than a regular chocolate cake, but otherwise for $3.49, this is really well done.
This is sold at Trader Joe's but is also available on Amazon.com.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
Product photos
The box of Trader Joe's Fudgy Chocolate Quinoa Loaf and Cake Mix:
Calories
Ingredients
Directions
After being cooked you get:
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
Trader Joe's Fudgy Chocolate Quinoa Loaf and Cake Mix
Product Name: Trader Joe's Fudgy Chocolate Quinoa Loaf and Cake Mix
Product Description: A gluten free chocolate cake mix from Trader Joe's.
Price: $3.49
Summary
Trader Joe's Fudgy Chocolate Quinoa Loaf and Cake Mix is gluten free chocolate cake.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Very moist chocolate cake
- Hard to tell that it was gluten free.
Cons
- If you make it in a loaf pan, you might need a few more minutes than the directions suggest. Mine took almost another 15.
- It also filled the loaf pan to the top, so just be aware of that.
TJ lover says
can you make it with fewer eggs and less oil?
becomebetty says
Hey TJ lover! If this had flour in it, I could tell you, but quinoa flour doesn't quite behave in the same manner, so this would take some experimentation. I wish I had a better answer for you.
TJ Fan says
Could. You make cupcakes with this mix ?4
becomebetty says
I don't see why you couldn't 🙂
Amelie says
Can I use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil?
becomebetty says
Hey Amelie! I dont see why you couldn't. The only difference should be the coconut oil will impart its coconut flavor. Let me know how it turns out!
Heidi Tasker says
Made it in a bundt pan. Baked for 55 minutes at 325 degrees convection bake mode. This was pretty hard to get out of the bundt pan. I make a bunch of bundt cakes, and don't usually have to grapple with cake so much to get it out the pan. Finally, it came out, with a few tidbits stuck in the pan. The cake is delicious.
becomebetty says
Hey Heidi! So glad you shared this and glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to stop by and share your experience with it.
Addie says
im making it it and the batter is SUPER runny! Lets hope it comes out okay!
becomebetty says
Hey Addie! It does have a lot of egg in it. Are you making it as a loaf?
2Twins Catherine says
Same experience: Watery batter, not done at 60 mins (adding 15). My 9" x 4" loaf pan is full to 1/2" from the top, but I have a mix that is six months old. If it sticks to a Bundt pan, you could try an Angel Food Cake pan.
Has anyone just made chocolate loaf without the fudge, and kept that as a topping? I might try that next time. Thanks for the reviews, my child can have a chocolate cake now!
becomebetty says
Hey 2Twins Catherine! Thanks for the feedback. How long did yours take to bake all the way through? Thanks again for taking the time to stop by.
Jenny Lopez says
The first time my husband bought the “Fudgy Chocolate Quinoa Loaf and Cake Mix” from Trade Joe I put it away and I thought I will never try it because having Quinoa and chocolate mixed together did not sound right. However, after running out of bread during this times of Covid, I decided to bake it and all I can say this product is delciiisoososssooooouuuussssss! I am becoming addictive to it. It is not that sweet and it really has that strong chocolate flavor which is the best part. The cake is super moisture and I have never tried anything similar to it in any bakery here in the States. This truly taste like chocolate! Kuddos for Trade’s Joe! My favority market in the entire universe
al says
After 1.5 hour s in a loaf pan, a toothpick came out clean in three places. After it cooled, it was difficult to remove from the pan, but finally came out. The end slices were cooked through, but one section of the cake nearer the bottom center was wet and uncooked. I had to discard half the loaf. I think there is too much liquid in this recipe with the oil, water, and eggs. Somewhat disappointed in the results!
Cassandra says
I finally made mine last night and sprayed Olive oil in a loaf pan. The 60 minutes suggested didn’t suffice. It took another 7 minutes in my oven. I let it rest the standard 10 or maybe a little longer more like 20. Then I flipped it out. It came out well. Very little stayed in the pan. As for taste it was good. Texture was very dense. Moist. I have to say for being made w quinoa flour it wasn’t bad. Just different. But, definitely doable. 😉
Aalia says
I baked this today at 350 degrees for 63 mins. The batter is runny and fills a loaf pan to the top but doesn’t spill. Came out perfect.
Oiled the pan and placed parchment paper in it. No sticking.
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing Aalia!