The Best Gluten-Free Treats

It seems as though every other person these days is living a gluten-free lifestyle... and guess what, I'm one of them. I have a pretty manageable time with it, but I feel the g-free pain the most when it comes to sweet treats -- cookies, cakes, pastries, etc. Imagine: no cupcakes at the office, no homemade chocolate chip cookies from grandma, no croissant with that cup of coffee. Nightmare. It has, however, made me quite the professional alternative treat finder. Observe, my 5 favorite gluten-free treats:

#1: Andean Dream Quinoa Cookies -- My favorite is the chocolate chip variety, but they also have a few other options. Each cookie is individually wrapped in a little recyclable package so every bite is blissfully fresh and crunchy. Also, they're made from quinoa which has protein, vitamins and all eight amino acids. They're not too sweet but most definitely satisfy the cookie craving and the sweets craving.

#2: Quaker Chocolate Crunch Rice Cakes -- Ok these rice cakes are less over-the-top healthy, but still not horrible for you. These chocolate flavored delights have real chocolate chips in them, but they're only 60 calories each. Want to add some calories? Add some peanut butter on top. Omg, I can't deal. Uh-mazing.

#3: Foods By George Gluten-Free Brownies -- Brownies seem to be a really tough gluten-free pastry to get right. Regular ones are so thick and chocolaty and chewy and gluteny. These ones are awesome -- I found them in my local healthfood store once and then never saw them again. Maybe they were never really there? You can buy the brownies (and a bunch of other g-free treats) at their online store, or click here for a list of stores that sell them.

#4: Laughing Giraffe Snakaroons -- Meaning... macaroons. I was never a huge macaroon fan before I tried these -- but they blew my mind with their flavor and natural sweetness and fabulous texture. They come in 4 different varieties -- including my favorites: Vanilla Almond and Pineapple Macadamia (both with Coconut & Cacao). They're certified organic, raw, vegan, and certified scrumptious.

#5: Julie's Organic/Gluten Free Ice Cream Sandwiches -- Yeah, it's true... and they're everything you ever hoped they would be. They come in the gluten-full variety too, so pay attention when making your selection (I found them at Whole Foods). Who doesn't dream about sandwiches made of ice cream?

Those are my fav's, though obviously there are many more out there. What you got for me?

Happy Shopping.

 

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Comments

[MyPixieBlog]

12:45 AM on 02/12/2011

What a great post! I have many friends who are observing a g-f diet and I will have to forward this to them. Thanks :)

[Mihal Freinquel]

04:19 PM on 02/15/2011

awesome, thanks for the support!

[Claudia Pillow PhD]

10:18 AM on 02/11/2011

I have been an advocate for the gluten-free lifestyle for many years now through my work as an author, lecturer, culinary instructor, fund raiser, and as a board member of the Gluten Intolerance Group. One of the biggest issues people face on a gluten-free diet is finding delicious, healthy packaged snacks to eat at work, school, when traveling and even at home. That is why I was so excited to discover Hail Merry®. Their lines of GFCF, vegan and raw snack foods were created to bring awareness to the powerful benefits of healthy oils. I love their chocolate macaroons! http://www.hailmerry.com
Claudia Pillow, PhD @ http://www.foodphilosopher.com

[Casa-Giardino]

09:21 AM on 02/11/2011

About these walnut cookies - healthy and easy. I simply love them.

http://casa-giardino.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-favorite-treats-dolci-di-noci.html

[Dave Abed]

06:32 PM on 02/09/2011

Kinnikinnick's GF vanilla glazed donuts, they are also nut and dairy free!

[Mihal Freinquel]

10:29 PM on 02/09/2011

DONUTS???? uh oh...

[luvs2eat]

04:02 PM on 02/09/2011

As there's no Whole Foods or Trader Joes anywhere near me, I either have to make it myself or do without. Baking used to be one of my favorite pastimes, but I don't bake much anymore because the gluten free flours just don't bake up like good old wheat flour. I've not been able to alter my taste expectation and simply don't look for sweet baked things anymore. That said... the cupcakes at the New Cascadia Bakery in Portland, Oregon, are the best gluten free cupcakes I've ever tasted! Professional bakeries (there's another in Philadelphia... don't remember the name) seem to have figured out gluten free baking. Their cakes and cookies are closer to what I remember (when eating gluten) than anything I've been able to come up with!

Eating gluten free is not an option for me as I have celiac disease, but I'd sure like to!!

[Mihal Freinquel]

10:30 PM on 02/09/2011

PDX has the BEST gluten-free options of all time. My mom lives there and buys freshly baked gf-bread. I'm soooo jelly.