Gluten Free Food Reviews

These cookies were a new product featured at my local natural foods grocer, so I thought I’d give them a try. I have missed regular vanilla wafers, and was hoping these might be a satisfactory replacement.

These small vanilla cookies are about the size of a dollar coin, maybe even a little larger and are very pale in color. They are packaged in a plastic bag for freshness within a much larger box; I found the packaging deceiving compared to how many cookies actually come in the box.

They are slightly soft, but with a subtle crunch. The texture is fine, almost shortbread-like, and slightly crumbly with no chalkiness. The smooth vanilla flavor is strong but not overpowering; it makes this simple cookie interesting as well as tasty. These would pair well with a strong drink or just a glass of milk. They are a perfect snacking size, and I think adults and children alike would approve of these cookies. Overall a tasty treat.

Pros: Great vanilla flavor, perfect size for snakcing

Cons: slightly processed taste

Rating: 4 stars

Want to try them for yourself? You can buy them here:

Hoffnersglutenfree.comÂ

Ingredients: Potato starch, eggs, sugar, vegetable fat (soy), flavors (vanillin)

Oh yah, looks good, huh? This is the Cherrybrook Kitchen Sugar Cookie Mix with their vanilla frosting mix.

Every Easter, I have a tradition of making soft and yummy sugar cookies with my kiddos. I have a heavenly recipe that is to die for that I have used for years. And even though I don’t mind eating gluten free, at Easter, every so often, I wish I could just have one of my famous sugar cookies.

When I saw this mix at my local grocery store, I was excited. Maybe I wouldn’t have to miss out at Easter anymore! Could it be? A good GF sugar cookie mix? This, I had to try. When I prepared the mix at home, I found the cookies easy to mix by hand. I rolled 18 small balls of cookie dough by hand, gently placed them on the sheet, and popped them into the oven. They were supposed to bake for 12-14 minutes, so I set my timer for 13 minutes. When my timer went off, I was shocked to discover that the cookies weren’t even half baked! They had barely started to flatten out and showed no hint of browning at the edges. I ended up baking the cookies for a full 19 minutes before they browned a bit at the edges and slightly cracked at the top.

After cooling completely on a wire rack, I found that these cookies appeared rounded at the top, creating a thicker center. This created some difficultly in frosting the cookies, as I prefer a flat sugar cookie:

I found the bottom and edges of the cookies to be crisp, with a soft chewy center. The texture seemed grainy and mealy, and crumbled a bit when I took a bite. the flavor was mild, not too sweet with a slight aftertaste. They tasted “OK”, alone, but much better with frosting, as with most sugar cookies. These cookies also dry out quickly, and suggest storing them in an air tight container after cooking. The packaging is just adorable, I just wish the mix turned out better for me. I hope someone else out there had a better experience than I did.

Pros: easy prep

Cons: fussy baking time, grainy texture, “OK” flavor

Rating: 3 stars

Were Can I Buy This Mix?

Cherrybrook Kitchen - Sugar Cookie Mix
From: glutenfree.com

Ingredients: White rice flour, evaporated cane juice, potato starch, tapioca flour, baking powder [sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, cornstarch, monocalcium phosphate], xanthan gum, sea salt.

I admit, I wanted to get the mix just because the box was so darn cute.

The whimsical children sliding down the cupcake was just too much to resist. I just had to try it, and since I was also purchasing the Cherrybrook Kitchen sugar cookie mix, I thought the combination of the two would pair well together. I purchased the mix for $3.99 and it makes enough to frost a dozen cupcakes or a nine inch cake.

This frosting was easy to prepare, just add a whopping 2 1/2 sticks of margarine (or butter)and 2 tbsp soy milk ( or regular milk) to the frosting mix. I used a Kitchen Aid mixer and the frosting ended up light and fluffy and unbelievably smooth. I frosted my sugar cookies with ease. I suggest using this frosting immediately for best results.

The texture of this frosting is completely smooth and creamy, with no grittiness and a mildly sweet flavor. My children tasted it and thought it was whipped cream and loved it. When I tasted it, though, all I could taste was the butter. Yuck. I felt disappointed, but I really should have not have been surprised. I usually make my own buttercream frosting for frosting cookies, and in comparing my recipe and this mix, the ratio of powdered sugar and butter ( or margarine) seems to be off off- too much butter, not enough sugar. In reality, when examining the ingredients of this mix ( confectionary sugar, vanilla flavor and sea salt). I think you are better off making this from scratch.

Pros: Creamy, light taste. easy prep

Cons: tastes more like sweetend butter than frosting, pricey for what you get

Rating: 2 stars

Where Can I Buy This Frosting Mix?

Cherrybrook Kitchen - Vanilla Frosting
From: glutenfree.com

Ingredients: confectionary sugar ( contains cornstarch), all natural cvanilla flavor, sea salt

Yesterday I tried the chocolate version of these sandwich cookies by kinnikinnick, and I liked them so much that I thought these would be just as good. Ummmm, not quite.

The package shows a golden sandwich cookie that I expected to taste just like a “regular” vanilla sandwich cookie. The chocolate version did, so why wouldn’t the vanilla as well? I knew I was in for a big disappointment the minute I opened the package. The cookies did not look golden, they looked almost white, like a very pale shortbread cookie. When I bit into the cookies, the sweetness hit me. WOW. very sweet. The top and bottom of these cookies tasted strangely familar- I then realized it tastes just like the kinnikinnick KinniKrittrers animal cookies! Same cookie, different shape.

These cookies are crunchy, but not hard, and crumble just a little, as most cookies do. The top and bottom layers taste like a fine shortbread- light, with a sweet sugary taste. The creme in the middle is creamy and tasty with no grittness. Now, I suppose these are decent cookies, but for me personally, they were so sweet, and so different than what I was expecting that I just did not care for them at all. It is a personal preference and not necessarily a product flaw.

Pros: Nice texture, creamy filling is yummy, nice crunch factor

Cons: Too sweet, especially with the cookie/creme combination- get your sweet tooth ready!

Rating: 3 stars

Where Can I Buy These Cookies?

Kinnikinnick - KinniToos Vanilla Cream Sandwich Cookies
From: glutenfree.com

Ingredients: Icing (icing sugar (may contain 2-3% corn starch), palm fruit oil (non hydrogenated), vanilla flavor, soy lecithin, salt), sugar, pea starch, potato starch, palm fruit oil (non hydrogenated), white rice flour, cocoa powder, water, tapioca starch, glucose, pea protein, sodium carboxy methylcellulose, salt, vanilla flavor, pea fibre, guar gum, inulin, ammonium bicarbonate(90), sodium bicarbonate, soy lecithin.

Ok, so I had to find out what all the fuss was about. I have a few GF online friends that have raved about these cookies. However, I was hesitant. At $5.39 for an 8 ounce package of cookies, I thought the price was a bit steep. My friends assured me it was worth every penny, so I bowed to peer pressure and picked them up at my local natural foods store. I lucked out and purchased their last package of these cookies. The cashier, who also happens to be the owner, assured me these cookies were one of their best sellers in the gluten free section. I felt a little more confident in my purchase, and headed home just in time for my kiddos snack time. I figured they would be the ultimate test to see if these cookies are, in fact, the best gluten free Oreo alternative.

Well, my kiddos and I were not disappointed. These cookies are simply yummy. The chocolate cookies are crunchy, but not hard, and the cream center was smooth, creamy and perfectly sweet. I was amazed! These cookies are really really good, and if you are one that missed your Oreo dunk tradition, look no further. This is your cookie. The chocolate cookie part is not perfect- kind of light and sugary- but that was what I was expecting with this gluten free cookie after looking at the ingredients.

My my gripe with these cookies are with the cream filling. First, there isn’t enough cream in the middle- just a touch more would make them perfect. Also, the cream is applied in a donut shape:

This results in gaps and spaces in the cookie- a little disappointing considering the price.

Pros: Decent flavor, texture, perfectly crunchy, best GF oreo substitute out there so far!

Cons: skimped on the cream filling, a bit pricey, sugary sweet chocolate cookie may be too much for some

Overall Rating: 4 stars

Where Can I Buy These Yummy Cookies?

Kinnikinnick - KinniToos Choc. Cream Sandwich Cookies
From: glutenfree.com

Ingredients: Icing(Icing Sugar(may contain 2-3% corn starch), Palm Fruit Oil (Non Hydrogenated), Vanilla Flavor, Soy Lecithin, Salt), Sugar, Pea Starch, Potato Starch, Palm Fruit Oil (Non Hydrogenated), White Rice Flour, Cocoa Powder, Water, Tapioca Starch, Glucose, Pea Protein, Sodium Carboxy Methylcellulose, Salt, Pea Fibre, Vanilla Flavor, Caramel colour, Guar Gum, Inulin, Sodium Bicarbonate, Soy Lecithin, Ammonium Bicarbonate

My sister spotted these at a natural foods store in Richmond, and I am so glad she did. It is funny, when I visit family, I often raid the natural foods shops, because the gluten-free food selection is so much better than in my small town!

These hand crafted italian cookies cost $5.59 for a 6 ounce bag, or about 15 mini biscottis. I peeked in the see-through window and they truly reminded me of the biscotti I sampled in Italy ages ago. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed!

These small biscotti are truly yummy. The chocolate flavor is light and studded with bits of almond. I was surprised when I bit into one- initially they were crunchy, but instantly melted in my mouth, just like real Italian biscotti- not the American version that requires a dunk in a cup of hot coffee or cocoa to make them chewable. The texture was not gritty and did not even provide a hint of it’s rice flour base. They certainly don’t taste gluten free.

I thought the flavor was just perfect, although a bit more almond would have made them even better. Overall, a great find! I strongly encourage you to sample their other flavors and check out my reviews for the following biscottines flavors: vanilla, chocolate chip, and hazelnut anise ( this one will be posted later this week). For information about the Sorella Gluten Free Bakery, check out my review for the chocolate chip flavor biscottines.

Pros: great flavor and texture

Cons: Could use a bit more almond

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Where Can I Buy These YUMMY Biscottines?

Sorella - Biscottines - Chocolate Almond
From: glutenfree.com

Oh my goodness, are these Glutino crunchy chocolate covered wafer cookies addictive!

This product was sent to me from Glutino to review, and I am so glad they did! These cookies sell for about $3.99 for a box of 16 wafers, or four servings. Looking at the packaging makes you want something chocolate just by looking at it! I was surprised to find that the center of the of the inside packaging tray has a false bottom, so you aren’t getting as many wafers as you’d expect- the edges are stacked two high, and the center is a single layer of wafers- just something to keep in mind.

These wafers are a perfect balance of crispiness and sweetness. The chocolate is rich without tasting too sugary, and the wafers are light and crunchy and hold their own between the creamy layers of chocolate. These definately do not taste gluten free, and if you choose to purchase them, I’d suggest adding two boxes to your virtual shopping cart.They really are that good!

Pros: Wonderful flavor, texture and sweetness- doesn’t taste gluten free!!

Cons: Be careful of melting if shipped in the summer heat

Rating: 5 stars

Where Can I Buy These Tasty Wafer Cookies?

Ingredients: WAFER: evaporated cane juice, palm oil, potato flour, cocoa powder, soy oil, soy lecithin, salt, vanilla extract, sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate. COATING: evaporated cane juice, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, cocoa mass, soy lecithin, salt

Who doesn’t love a good chocolate chip cookie? I think I may have found a fast gluten free version you can bake in your own oven with minimal fuss and mess. Now, that’s my style! Sorry, but my great photo of these cookies has gone MIA on my computer, so please feel free to check out a photo HERE at godairyfree.com.

My local natural food store sells this Gluten-Free Essentials chocolate chip cookie mix for $5.99, however, Gluten-Free Essentials generously sent me this complimentry mix to review. Gatta love it! But don’t worry, just because it’s complimentry doesn’t mean it will get a good review. Each package makes aproximately 2- 3 dozen cookies, depending on how big they are. The bright red packaging makes it easy to spot this brand on the shelf.

To make this mix you add melted butter and 2 eggs, although I have heard that you can use a butter and egg substitute with decent results as well. During preparation, I would suggest not adding the eggs directly to the hot melted butter unless you happen to enjoy scrambled eggs in your cookies (trust me on that one). Other than this slight precautiion, this mix combines easily by hand with a wooden spoon or spatula. Seriously, it could not be easier. After mixing, I chilled the dough for 30 to 45  minutes and found that was long enough for a nice result, unlike their Cocoa Mudslide Cookies, that required a longer chill time. I rolled the dough into balls by hand and baked them for 14 minutes and let them cool completely on the pan.

I found these cookies to have a sweet, traditional flavor, comparable to a Tollhouse recipe chocolate chip cookie. The texture was somewhat grainy and seemed “off”, but were not crumbly. The cookies were crisp on the bottom and edges with a chewy, softer top. They tasted a bit dry to me, so I could suggest baking closer to 12Â minutes. The chocolate chips appeared evenly distributed and tasted yummy. Overall, I would definately buy this mix to have on hand for cookie craving emergencies

Pros: traditional flavor, nice combo of crisp and chewy, easy prep

Cons: texture is a bit grainy, long chill time, plan ahead

Rating: 4 stars

Where Can I Buy This Mix?

GlutenFreeEssentials.com

Ingredients: sorghum flour, sugar, GF baking powder, guar gum, salt, chocolate chips (chocolate liquor, cocola butter, soy lecithin sugar, salt, vanilla)

I came across this cookie flavor as I browsed a newer natural foods store on my last visit to see my parents. I am a sucker for dark chocolate, and it is not a secret I like many of Pamela’s Products, so I took the dark choco splurge. My mom is a chocoholic as well, and her enthusiasm definately helpd edge me closer to the check out line.

I purchase the box of nine cookies for $3.89, fairly average price for Pamela’s Products items. When I opened the package I discovered these cookies were on the smaller side, and fairy thick. As I took one out of the box and took my first bite, I noticed these cookies were not as soft as the other Pamela’s cookies and had a distinctive crunch to them. The texture seemed grainy to me with a thick, rich dark chocolate flavor that I really enjoyed. The chocolate chunks are evenly and generously distributed throughout the cookie. The flavor is very sweet and rich, but not too sweet- just right for such a chocolatey creation. This is a decent cookie if you need a chocolate fix, but not a product I would call my gluten free sister about.

Pros: Excellent chocolate flavor

Cons: Grainy texture, somewhat crunchy

Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Where Can I Buy These Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies?

Pamela’s Products - Dark Chocolate Chunk Chocolate Cookies
From: glutenfree.com

INGREDIENTS: Organic Natural Evaporated Cane Sugar; Organic Non-hydrogenated Palm Oil;, Organic Chocolate Chunks (Organic Natural Evaporated Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Paste, Organic Cocoa Butter, Non-GMO Soy Lecithin/emulsifier, Gluten-free Organic Vanilla. Chunks may contain traces of milk protein due to the manufacturing equipment.); Organic Rice Flour Base (Organic Brown Rice Flour, Organic White Rice Flour, Organic Tapioca Starch, Organic Sweet Rice Flour, Xanthan Gum); Organic Cocoa Powder (Processed with alkali); Grape Juice and Rice Syrup; Organic Eggs, Gluten-free Natural Flavor; Gluten-free Organic Vanilla; Grainless & Aluminum Free Baking Powder (Monocalcium Phosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Cornstarch); Sea Salt; Xanthan Gum.

It is officially the middle of July, and I am really excited about some of the yummy cookies and biscotti I have sampled thus far. Yum!! In case you missed one or two of the cookie reviews, I thought I’d provide links to our featured July gluten free products.

To avoid missing a product review in the future, you can get my gluten free reviews delivered to your email inbox. Just register with your email address in the section on the right sidebar, and you’re all set! ( This is for review use only- no spam will come your way from this service. I hate spam just as much as the next person!)

 As of July 15th, our gluten free “Cookie Specials” include:

Sorella Bakery Gluten Free Vanilla Biscottines

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Snickerdoodle Cookies

Gluten Free Essentials Cocoa Mudslide Cookie Mix

Kinnikinnick Kinnicritters Animal Cookies

Glutino Vanilla Dream Bites

Sorella Bakery Gluten Free Biscottines- Chocolate Chip Flavor

Here are the cookie and biscotti reviews posted before July’s Cookie Month offcially began:

Mi-del Mini Pecan Cookies

Pamelas Products Peanut Butter Cookies 

Jennies Almond Flavor Macaroons

Pamelas Products Pecan Shortbread Gourmet Cookies

Mi-del Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nana’s Cookie Bars- Banana flavor ( Guest review from my sister!)

Pamelas Products Chocolate Walnut Biscotti

Mi-del Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Glutino Lemon Wafer Cookies

Check back for more great cookie and biscotti reviews through this month- I have some great  products ready to share! 

If you have a favorite cookie or biscotti products, I”d love to hear about it- just list it as a comment to this post. Happy Snacking!