Product review: Honeybuns cakes

Because I enjoy baking and experimenting in the kitchen, I don’t tend to proactively search for gluten-free cakes on the internet. I’m always a bit unsure about the quality, especially as the gluten-free cakes and biscuits you find in supermarkets are always so bad (I’m looking at YOU, Tesco “chocolate” muffin!)

Occasionally, companies will send me samples to review and I always get a bit worried that people will think I’ve sold out and become a shady gluten-free cake mafia boss or that I won’t like them and my bad review will cut off my supply of cake forever, and I’ll be placed on some sort of gluten-free cake blacklist.

“Don’t send her cake, she is a harsh critic!”

But I can assure you, that I have high standards and not just any old gluten-free cake will cut it. Promise – I will always be honest.

So that’s my disclaimer before I launch into singing the praises of Honeybuns.

Honeybuns is a Dorset based business that makes cakes, scones, brownies and savoury tarts. They have a little attached cafe which is open once a month.

I opened up my little sample pack, and what did I find inside?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snowy Hills

A ginger and polenta shortbread, this tasted like a soft, cakey biscuit with curd on top. The flavours of the lemon and ginger were fantastic and it was light and wonderful. Not exactly a traditional shortbread, this was somewhere between a cake and a dense biscuit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Caramel Shortbread

The base was dense and biscuity and it was topped with caramel that was lovely and chewy. Overall it was sweet, but not overly so, which I really liked!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chedder and red pepper savoury tart

This tart can be served hot or cold, but I woke up at 5am on a cold October morning and so I popped it in the oven for breakfast. It was cheesy, tomatoey and the pastry was flaky. The boyfriend was impressed: “nice and cheesy”, “good pastry for gluten-free”. It occurred to me I haven’t had a savoury tart since my diagnosis, and vowed to experiment with them in the future! As a matter of preference, I think I would have preferred the Goats Cheese & Mushroom tart that they do, but this one was very respectable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sconeybun

Absolutely hands down my favourite of the bunch! I can still taste the unusual flavour and lovely texture in my mouth. This product is a half-scone half bun and works wonderfully well. I warmed mine in the oven and served with a little butter. Seriously, I could eat these all day if they’d let me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almond & salted pistachio cookie

This was ok, but tasted a bit too much like marzipan, which is not really my thing. However, if you love marzipan, you’ll really love this. It’s really nice and chewy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heathcliffe Brownie

 I guess to me, a brownie is a brownie, but these are better than most, with the great taste of orange, and a nice rich flavour. Nice and dense as well, not crumbly.

Overall thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed all the products, and I particularly liked that they aren’t too sweet (listen up, supermarkets!) and their use of sorghum flour, which really makes a big difference to the flavour and texture.  I love the ethos behind the company, and I encourage you to support them (and enjoy the cakes!). Their prices are not rock bottom cheap, but I think quite reasonable considering the quality you get. Learn more about them here:

Honeybuns (YouTube)

Now excuse me while I go stock up on sconeybuns…..