Diabetic Kitchen Gourmet Chocolate Brownies

We all have those certain treats that take us straight back to childhood.

For me, it’s a pan full of brownies.

Brownies were my family’s go-to after-dinner dessert. Warm, fudgy, walnut-y brownies. And we’d accompany these delicious chocolate squares with a big glass of milk.

Honestly, my mouth still waters when I think about them.

But let’s not get it twisted…these were not homemade brownies or my grandma’s secret recipe. These were the Betty Crocker kind – straight from the box.

I honestly never looked at the ingredients when I was a kid. But I just did a quick Google search and this is what I found:

Sugar, Enriched Flour Bleached (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Corn Syrup, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and/or Cottonseed Oil , Corn Starch. Contains 2% or Less of: Carob Powder, Salt, Artificial Flavor.

Yep, none of that is close to being “Paleo” or even healthy. Yikes.

Needless to say, I haven’t had a pan of box brownies in quite a while. And while I could definitely suck it up and make some Paleo-friendly brownies at home, I’ve never really gone down that road either.

(Side note – if you want to make your own brownies, here and here are a couple of really great recipes from our archives.)

Diabetic Kitchen Gourmet Chocolate Brownie Mix

It’s been a good long while since I have devoured a rich fudgy brownie. That was – until I tried the Diabetic Kitchen Gourmet Chocolate brownie mix.

To be honest, I was a bit skeptical at first. If I’m being straight up with you, the name “Diabetic Kitchen” isn’t the most appealing. I had no familiarity with this brand at this point, and as much as I can love and appreciate real food that helps keep our blood sugar in check, I don’t know if it sounds the most appealing.

But I love brownies that much that I overlooked the name.

And thank goodness I did.

Taste test

I’m not putting this lightly…these brownies were AMAZING. They were rich, fudgy, and tasted like I remembered from my childhood.

I never quite trust my tastebuds to recommend something to the larger general public though. I’ve been known to love some foods that the majority of people find kind of gross.

But these brownies – they are roommate approved.

I live with two phenomenal women (one who works at one of the best gluten-free bakeries in Portland) and they both thought these brownies were delicious. In fact, I left the empty canister in the cabinet after I made these treats, and they got excited because they thought I had another batch.

After reading some other comments online about these treats, some people recommended putting them in the fridge and letting them chill for a bit before eating. I didn’t try this, so I can’t attest, but it may be something to keep in mind if you decide to try these out in the future.

What’s not inside?

What sets Diabetic Kitchen’s brownies apart from the rest is the ingredients. These brownies are gluten-free, diabetic friendly, high fiber, low carb, and contain no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols.

Wow.

This is what’s NOT in the brownies. I copied this straight from their website. Almost all of these ingredients were in those boxed brownies of my past.

– NO Aspartame or Artificial Sweeteners
– NO Artificial Colors or Flavors
– NO Trans Fats (Hydrogenated Oils)
– NO Preservatives
– NO Added Sugar
– NO Sugar Alcohols
– NO Soy
– NO Gluten

What exactly is in these brownies?

I bet one thing from that list is sticking out to you – the prebiotic dietary fiber – from corn…

According to Today’s Dietitian, this fiber is “ produced through the enzymatic hydrolysis of cornstarch. It’s poorly digested in the small intestine but partially fermented by gut bacteria in the large intestine and exhibits the same physiological benefits of dietary fiber. It has a low viscosity, is water soluble, and is stable under heat, pH, and processing stresses.”

So would these brownies be considered strict Paleo? No. Corn is a grain and grains are a no-go. So, if you’re looking for a treat that is 100% Paleo-friendly, this one isn’t for you. (Refer back to those brownie recipes I linked to earlier…)

Research has shown that soluble corn fiber like AdvantaFiber has some beneficial properties, like building and retaining calcium in bone and increasing overall fiber content in the diet. That being said, corn is one of the highest genetically modified foods in our diet. The good thing about AdvantaFiber is that it definitely comes from corn that is non-GMO. So it does have that in its favor.

Also, an isolated fiber source – like soluble corn fiber – can cause digestive distress for some.

Nutrition Facts

My thoughts

If you’re a brownie lover, but want an option that’s much more health-friendly than the Betty Crocker brownies of your childhood, these are a great option.

If you don’t have an intolerance to corn-based products and feel comfortable including something that’s not 100% Paleo (but still pretty dang close)  – these are definitely a delicious treat in which you may want to indulge.

One final thing…for one canister of brownie mix, you’ll shell out $14. This is a hefty price tag – and I say this as a brownie lover.

Diabetic Kitchen’s Gourmet Chocolate Brownie Mix is a splurge, but if you’ve had the hankering for a fudgy, gooey brownie, it just may be worth it.

And – as a treat for you – we’ve teamed up with Diabetic Kitchen to offer you an awesome discount. Use the code NEWFRIENDS at check out, and you’ll save 10% on you order. There’s also FREE shipping on any order over $25.

Ready to treat yo’self? Check out their site here. I was happy that I did.

via GIPHY