Make mom light & fluffy Kinnikinnick pancakes for breakfast this Mother's Day!

Gluten intolerance or sensitivity is something that affects many Americans. Gluten is a protein composite that appears in foods processed from wheat and related species like oatmeal, rye and barley. It makes dough elastic and helps it rise and hold its shape. People who are sensitive or intolerant to gluten cannot eat traditional baked goods, pastas or many other foods you find in the grocery store.

Finding gluten free foods can be quite difficult. There are limited selections in most grocery stores but even when you find a gluten free alternative, they often do not taste anything like their gluten containing counterpart. Gluten free products use alternative flours like rice flour, tapioca flour, and soy flours which not only bake differently but often taste differently.

Kinnikinnick or Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva ursi) is an important plant for
both wildlife and humans alike. This bush grows low to the ground and has berries that often last through the winter, long after others are gone. They are especially important to black bears in the early spring when food is scarce. The leaves from the kinnikinnick bush were made into a tea used to treat urinary tract diseases. The leaves have also been powdered and applied to sores and the berries were made into a tea that was used to ward off obesity. The berries which are very high in vitamin C, were used during the winter months as a supplement to the Native American's diet. They were also fried or dried and used in pemmican.

Kinnikinnick Foods offers a wide variety of ready made gluten free foods including breads, donuts, cookies, waffles, cakes and other products. Kinnikinnick now offers a pancake and waffle mix that is gluten free so people can now prepare their own gluten free products at home. Kinnikinnick operates dedicated gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, peanut free and tree nut free facilities and equipment so there is no worry of cross contamination from foods that do contain gluten or other allergens.

The pancake and waffle mix comes in a 16 ounce package and is also dairy free and nut free. It can be used not only for pancakes and waffles but also for crepes. Preparation involves adding egg, vegetable oil and water. The ingredients include alternative flours like pea starch, white rice flour, corn starch, and tapioca starch.

I found the Kinnikinnick pancakes to be as easy to make as any other mixed pancake. They came out light, fluffy and absolutely delicious. I wouldn't have guessed they were allergy free from eating them. They were easily enjoyed by everyone in my family - even those who were not gluten intolerant. I love being able to have one mix that is well liked by everyone and is gluten free for my daughter.

Kinnikinnick products can be found at many grocery and health food stores but they can also be purchased online from the kinnikinnick.com website. Select products can also be purchased from Amazon. Suggested retail price for the pancake and waffle mix is $4.99.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Article first published as Kinnikinnick Pancake & Waffle Mix on Blogcritics.