As the mother of a child with multiple allergies (dairy, peanut, and egg), I am always trying to find substitutes for the ubiquitous party treats at his school. While most of us moms prefer to fill our kids up with fruit and granola, sugary baked goods rule at school.

Cupcakes are the easiest treats to make, especially now that I’ve discovered Cherrybrook Kitchen cake mixes. I make sure to stock up on these cake mixes because, as vigilant as I may be about keeping track of birthday parties and holiday parties, the teachers may forget to keep me informed. There have been numerous occasions when I am dropping off my son at his school and his teacher will say, “Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you …” and I’m off and running back home to bake a batch of cupcakes.

Before I discovered Cherrybrook Kitchen, hearing those words would make me break out in a cold sweat while I mentally conjured up the contents of my kitchen. Do I have enough flour? What about vegetable shortening? And what about time—do I have enough time to throw it all together? If I use a Cherrybrook Kitchen cake mix, I can usually get back to my son’s school within an hour or less. And sometimes, in order to feel less guilty about using a cake mix, I’ll throw in a banana or a cup of blueberries to make it my own recipe (and for a little added nutrition, too).

As for cookies, I have another plan. Yes, Cherrybrook Kitchen makes a few cookie mixes, but my son doesn’t like them (although I am sure that other children and adults will find them quite tasty).

Read Richela’s Basic (Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Soy-Free, Peanut-Free) Cookie Dough