The girls fancied chocolate cake one afternoon, but I had a ton of things to do: accounts (yuck!), cleaning (phooey), but after the girls mentioned chocolate, I could not shake the idea off that little brain of mine.
I had to have chocolate cake, but our cupboards were bare so I did something very naughty: I went in Jumpy’s stash of ‘free from’ food and dug out a ‘Fondant au Chocolat’ mix. My friend Hélène who blogs at ‘Croque-Maman’ had sent it for my little girl’s birthday. It was 3 days before her birthday? Oops! Luckily, Hélène had sent a couple of mixes. No-one would ever know…
I am not a fan of gluten-free cakes (unless I make them), but Hélène’s fondant mix looked like my kind of cake, so we gave it a go. All the ingredients we needed were the cake mix, butter and eggs. Since Jumpy cannot have eggs, we made chia eggs.
All we had to do was melting butter, adding our chia eggs, stirring and baking. Quick. Easy. Perfect when you are craving chocolate.
Jumpy did it all and she was pretty pleased with herself. Look at that cheeky face!
The first time we were made this cake and we stuck to the recipe (apart from the eggs), but the dough looked like the liquid to dry ingredients ratio was not quite right and it took about 30 minutes to cook instead of 10. It still tasted lovely. The chia eggs could be to blame, although they normally work just fine as straight egg replacers.
When Jumpy requested the same cake again for her birthday, I decided to use a smaller cake tin (20cm) and add a couple of heaped tablespoons of plain ‘free from’ flour to the dough and it turned out looking perfect and tasting delicious. We used round cookie cutters to take mini fondants to Willows Farm for her birthday party with her best friend.
She was proud to offer us all cake she had made herself and even more happy that it was yummy cake she was allowed to eat as well!
The organic baking mix was developed on Île de Ré in France and only the finest ingredients make it to Marlette’s mixes. The dark chocolate in high in cacao (60%). It is also Fair Trade, and so is the brown sugar used in the recipe. The ‘free from’ flour blend used in the recipe contains rice and tapioca flours, potato starch, as well as a touch of sea salt from Île de Ré.
Here is what my friend Cé thought: “Usually when Mel asks me to try free from cakes I am a bit apprehensive but these brownies looked good and…..they tasted even better!!! It’s the first time that I could not have guessed it was a free from treat. Truly scrumptious and enjoyed by both my 4 year old daughter and myself!”
Can you tell Cé is often my (unwilling) taste-tester?
Hélène has a lovely boutique online where she sells high quality French products and her motto is “to raise happy eaters, French style.” If you have not come across the online shop before, you will love it! I just bought another fondant mix (of course!) and a 2-in-1 tea towel & stuffed toy for Christmas. I asked her whether she would be happy for me to host a small giveaway so you could try the cake mix too, and she said “yes!”
You could win a £10 voucher for Croque-Maman Boutique
How to enter the giveaway:
Check the instructions in the form below. You can pick and choose a range of ways in which to enter. The only one you must click on to get into the draw is the one asking you to leave a blog post comment. You must also leave a comment telling us what you would choose on Hélène’s boutique should you win the voucher.
Entries are open until 23.59 p.m. GMT time on 6 December 2016. Good luck!
Disclosure:
– The baking mixes were sent as presents from my friend Hélène, who blogs at Croque Maman and I asked her whether she would be happy for me to host a small giveaway. All opinions and photos are my own.
– The prize will be supplied directly by Croque Maman.
– The giveaway is open to UK residents over 18.
I have listed this giveaway on ThePrizeFinder, SuperLucky, Competition Database and Loquax.
I’d buy the fox toddler bib – gorgeous items!!
They’re cute, aren’t they? I just want to buy it all!
Organic chocolate fondant baking mix – Marlette
I quite fancy trying the ‘normal’ one as I’ve only had the gluten-free version so far!
Me me me !! I want to win the children tableware set Panda!! Gorgeous colour and perfect for when I will start weaning Little Crapaud ?
I know, how cute is it? Do you want me to buy it for het for Christmas? xxx
I would love to try the chocolate fondant mix x
Great choice!
I love the tiger tea towel
It’s cute, isn’t it?
I’d choose this: http://www.croque-maman.com/product/gluten-free-organic-chocolate-fondant-baking-mix-marlette/
🙂
I would choose the Marlette Gluten-free organic chocolate fondant baking mix
Great choice!
These looks absolutely delicious! Chocolate fondant ALL the way!
You’re my kind of lady!
Not sure, as very little option for £10 approx.
You could get either of the fondant kits, one of the tea towels / stuffed toy.
I like the French toddler bib, organic cotton – Giraffe
i would buy the lion tea towel
I’d love a lion tea towel such such a unique product
They’re brilliant, aren’t they? Hélène sent us a giraffe and I just bought a penguin one!
The orangutan tableware set is lovely!
It’s cute, isn’t it?
organic chocolate fondant baking mix- marlette
I’d get the lion teatowel/ toy
The gluten free organic chocolate fondant baking mix
It’s yummy!
I really love the Tiger drawstring bag!
I love the lion tea towel
The Giraffe tea towel and toy for my niece who is mad about giraffes!
That looks really yummy! It looks so yummy I think I would choose the Gluten-free organic chocolate fondant baking mix – Marlette so I could try it myself 🙂
Children’s tableware set, bamboo and organic cotton – Orangutan
I would choose the Gluten-free organic chocolate fondant baking mix – Marlette x
The Organic chocolate fondant baking mix – Marlette looks lush!
I would love to try the fondant
I’d get the chocolate fondant baking mix.
My boys love the tiger teatowel
Cant resist the chocolate findant organic baking mix
Sounds delicious
I’d put it towards the penguin bodysuit – very cute!
chocolate fondant baking mix would go down well with my chocolate obsessed 4 year old
Love the penguin bodysuit x
Me too! I wish I had a baby to put in it!
Organic chocolate fondant baking mix – Marlette
The fox bib
Chocolate Fondant mix
Baby gift set: organic cotton matching bodysuit, bib and suitcase – Penguin
The lion tea towel
I would put it towards buying their lovely Tiger Children’s drawstring goûter bag. x
It’s incredibly cute, isn’t it?
id buy the chocolate fondant kit 🙂
the tiger teatowel
Your little one is just so adorable… It is wonderful to have such cute taste testers 🙂
Thank you so much Mel for your feature xxx
Thanks sweetie, she’s such a little sweetheart at the moment, telling me she loves me and I’m the best Mummy in the world (bless!). She melts my heart! It’s a real pleasure to feature the fondant kit on my little blog ma belle. x
The chocolate fondant baking mix! Definitely 🙂
Id choose the penguin bodysuit
I’d choose the Children’s drawstring goûter bag, organic cotton – Giraffe
French toddler bib, organic cotton – Fox
love the Children’s tableware set, bamboo and organic cotton – Orangutan
I would go for the Organic Chocolate fondant baking kit.
I would get the Organic chocolate fondant baking mix as the children love baking
2-in-1 tea towel & stuffed toy, organic cotton – Giraffe
The childrens Tiger drawstring bag
The Organic chocolate fondant baking mix – Marlette
I would buy the gluten free chocolate fondante mix for my sister who has coeliacs 🙂
The Guess the Flag family table game.
Oh, I didn’t even spot that one!
2-in-1 tea towel & stuffed toy, organic cotton – Giraffe
Chocolate fondant looks amazing!
The Penguin baby gift set is adorable x
The Giraffe Tea Towel 🙂
Reusable colouring tablecloth, perhaps the space one!
I would choose the Organic chocolate fondant baking mix – Marlette
The guess the flag game would be quite fun.
Gluten-free organic chocolate fondant baking mix – Marlette
Sounds fab! Looks safe for Isabelle too!! xx
It’s really yummy!
Chocolate fondont baking kit.
I would love to try the chocolate fondant baking mix.
Thank you for running such a generous giveaway!
i would choose the chocolate fondant mix
Gluten free chocolate fondant baking mix
The 2 in 1 Tea towel – Fox
Oooooh. The organic fig and apricot breakfast cake looks divine!
I would buy the Organic breakfast bread baking mix – Marlette
Organic Chocolate Fondant Mix! Delicious
Gluten-free organic chocolate fondant baking mix – Marlette looks delicious!
Organic chocolate fondant baking mix – Marlette
If i was to win i would pick the gluten free organic chocolate fondant baking mix marlette
The Guess the flag family table game.
I’ve not seen this one. Will have to get it too!
Gluten-free organic chocolate fondant baking mix – Marlette. Thanks for the chance.
the tiger tea towel would be ace to get if i won the prize.
It’s cute, isn’t it?
sure is
I’d chooze the Fox tea towel
Organic breakfast bread baking mix and guess the flag game
I would buy a t towel probably the tiger one
Great prize
The Organic breakfast bread baking mix – we need a little treat for weekend brunches!
Becca Barnes x
Gluten-free organic chocolate fondant baking mix – Marlette
Awsesome
Chocolate fondant mix
I think the re-usable colouring in place mat set is a great idea!
http://www.croque-maman.com/product/reusable-colouring-placemat-set-surf/
HHHHHH THE CHOCOLATE FONDANT MIX LOOKS AMAZING!
Gluten-free organic chocolate fondant baking mix – Marlette