Naturally Nora
Hi. My name is Jo-Lynne and I’m a baked goods snob. Just thought you should know.
I generally don’t do cake from a cake mix, but when the founder of Naturally Nora, a company that makes all-natural cake and frosting mixes, contacted me about reviewing her products, I said sure, why not! I like to live dangerously.
A few days later, I found a box FULL of cake and frosting mixes on my doorstep. The first thing I did was check out the label. Nora told me that her products contain no hydrogenated oils or artificial ingredients of any kind, and I was delighted to read the label and find that most ingredients on the list are something I would put in my own homemade cakes. All you add to her cake mixes are oil, eggs, and milk. To the frostings, you add milk and butter. I mean, how can you go wrong with a stick of butter!?
I dove right in and made a Naturally Nora cake that afternoon. The kids were delighted. I put it in a 9×13 baking pan and set my oven timer for the shortest cooking time in the recommended range. Soon the smell of cake was wafting through our house. When the timer buzzed, I took the cake out of the oven, but I could tell it was slightly over baked. Still, I made the frosting, slathered it on, and after dinner I served it for dessert. The frosting was delicious, but the cake was dry. Still, I could tell the flavor was good. I knew I’d overcooked it, so when I made another a few days later, I set the timer for 5 minutes less than recommended on the package. It was still slightly overdone. Don’t get me wrong — we all enjoyed it! But I knew I should have cooked it even LESS.
Sunday afternoon we were planning going to a friend’s house so I grabbed another set of mixes and went about making another Naturally Nora cake. This time I set the timer for 10 minutes less than recommended. It was PERFECT. Omygoodness, I’m talking TO DIE FOR.
We didn’t end up going out on Sunday night, but that didn’t stop us from serving the cake. The kids lapped it up, although they proclaimed it not as good as the chocolate. My husband and I ate about half the cake while watching The Amazing Race — no lie. HALF a 13×9 sheet cake. We couldn’t leave it alone.
I like that it is a dense cake — unlike typical box mixes that are like eating air. With the butter in the frosting, it tastes just like homemade.
I will totally purchase Naturally Nora mixes in the future. I would buy these even if they weren’t all natural, they are so good. The all natural part is just bonus. Right now they are available in my area at Acme grocery stores and Whole Foods. Visit the website to get a list of Naturally Nora retailers near you. Or you can order them on Amazon.com. Just be sure to check on them well before the recommended baking time to make sure they don’t get overcooked.
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6 Responses to “Naturally Nora”
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Tiffany on February 25th, 2009 at 9:31 am
I’m a baked goods snob too. When I’m not pregnant *ahem* I bake something at least once a week, from scratch. I’ve been relying more on mixes now though, with this big belly in my way and all. These sound fabulous. A great balance of easy and natural.
Terra on February 25th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
those sound yummy
Sara on February 25th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Sounds delish! I am not picky and often doctor up a mix and serve as my own. Even better if it already tastes home made!!
Kellyn on February 25th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
They carry these at our Natural Foods store, and now…I must have. I will definitly be getting one my next stop in.
Thanks!
TidyMom on February 28th, 2009 at 10:15 am
WOW these totally sound delicious and just what I’ve been looking for!!
I hope I can find some in our area!!……I bet I’ll have to drive into St. Louis to find them.
Thanks!
~TidyMom
Sarah on March 1st, 2009 at 12:37 am
This is the first I’ve heard of Naturally Nora, but I’ll be seeking them out now. I wish I had a mix to try now!