Postby FLH03 » Tue Feb 02, 2016 8:33 pm
I have coeliac disease, and find nothing beats homemade cakes, I use Doves gluten free self raising flour, and any gluten free baking powder. (In all the supermarkets)
Some of the shop/cafe/market stalls one are too dry, gluten free bakes are at their absolute best on the day, they don't keep well at all, even the next day they have lost that soft light fluffiness. I also find they make them over complicated, I just want a really good Victoria Sponge cake, lemon drizzle, chocolate cake or coffee cake. Too often it's too much ground almond this or polenta that. And they are expensive.
I have been cooking now for years just replacing the ordinary flour with gluten free (self raising) but always add baking powder as well. The cakes need a bit more liquid, either another egg or a little bit of milk, they can take quite a lot of extra beating as well. They don't rise quite as much, but still taste as good. It is a bit trial and error, but you get to eat lots of it while trying! Still can't find a good GF puff pastry to buy, my yorkshire puddings look a bit sad but taste just as yummy.
So for a Victoria Sponge I would do 150g GF SR flour, 150g golden caster, 150g butter/margarine, 3 eggs, teaspoon vanilla essence.
Good cakes to buy though if you don't have time and need a quick easy source are the M&S Free From or Wheat free range, and also the Tesco Free From, both taste pretty fresh. Deelight Bakery in Ritherdon Road SW17 also has a good selection of other GF baked stuff like brownies and tray bakes and so on.
I feel for your mum, it's hard when you are first diagnosed and getting used to the change of diet, the Coeliac Society is worth joining as very supportive and they send you lots of free samples. Good luck and happy cake eating.