Do you worry about the unnatural ingredients in the mixes that we rely on for cakes and cupcakes? I must confess that I choose to remain blissfully ignorant about these sorts of things, but even if you don’t worry about them, there’s no arguing that when you whip up a cake mix, you can taste the artificial ingredients. They just taste packaged and fake.

“From scratch” isn’t always an option, and my kids love to bake (and of course to eat the baked desserts). In fact, check out what my ten-year-old daughter and four-year-old son did with a Naturally Nora chocolate cake mix and vanilla frosting mix HERE (the decorations are probably unnatural, but the cake and frosting are all-natural and dee-licious).

Naturally Nora cake mixes and frostings are made without artificial flavors, coloring, preservatives, or hydrogenated oils, and are Kosher pareve. Is someone in your home allergic to dairy? The mixes themselves are soy- and dairy-free, so that the home cook can choose whether to add milk or vanilla soymilk. Because my son and I drink vanilla soy milk (in addition to regular milk), I used this substitute when I made up the first mix making with great results! I could still taste that soy flavor, but if you are used to it, it’s nothing that you would notice, and it didn’t affect the outcome of the cake negatively.

One unique thing is that since they are made by a mom with kids in mind, in addition to being natural, they are still fun for kids. Mom and founder Nora worked hard until she found a natural alternative to the artificial colorings for her fun-fetti “A Lota Dots” and chocolate star mixes.

Check out the list of stores where you can find Naturally Nora mixes HERE. You can also purchase them online at MyBrands.com, and it will soon be available on amazon as well.

I wouldn’t just go on and on about this great new product without giving you a chance to win (and trust me — I have been so happy with these mixes!). This contest is a little different, so listen up:

In addition to offering your family with a more natural, yet still-easy baking mix option, Nora wants to support the community as well, so she’s offering up two packages of cake and frosting mix to 25 different people to use for a bake sale or other fundraising event at school. She’s teamed up with Olan Mills photography to offer up some photo packages for your personal use. And one special grand prize winner will receive a year’s worth of mixes AND a special Olan Mills photo package worth over $150!

1. The first 25 people to send me an email with all the required information will receive the cake mixes for an upcoming school fundraising event (U.S. only) AND an Olan Mills photo package for your personal use valued at $38 (1 8×10, 2 5x7s and 8 wallets). See olanmills.com for store locations. You must send me your school name, PTA or school tax exempt ID, the event that you will sell the cupcakes, and your personal shipping address. I will not count your entry until I have received all this information. Send an email with “Nora” in the subject line to 5minutesforbooks [at] gmail (dot) com.
2. Anyone who leaves a comment is eligible for the Grand Prize of 12 cake and frosting mixes AND the Olan Mills package of one 16×20 Framed Portrait in Black & White or Color, 2 8×10, 4 5×7′s and 16 wallets. I will draw the winner from all comments on November 8.