Gluten Free Cookies: Ann's Nut & Fruit Cake, Inc. Gladys Treat Coconut Cookie

PRODUCT NAME:                        Gladys Treat Coconut Cookie

BRAND:                                       Ann’s Nut & Fruit Cake, Inc.

COST:                                          $7.95

SIZE:                                           16 oz (8 Cookies)

COST PER OZ:                            $0.50/oz ($1.00/cookie)

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           NA

ORGANIC:                                   NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           NA

VEGAN:                                       YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:             NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             Florida

SHELF LIFE:                                 8 Months

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

This Coconut Cookie from Ann’s Nut and Fruit Cake, Inc. is a delicious cookie.  It is strongly coconut flavored and you can taste the actual coconut texture with each bite.  The browned coconut flakes on top of the cookie is a nice touch as it finishes off each mouthful with a lovely toasted flavor.  The cookie is soft and chewy, not crumbly or brittle at all.  The label of the cookie says it is “gluten-free and allergen-free” which means that this cookie is also vegan, being egg free, dairy free and even soy free.  There is a wonderful blend of spiciness in the flavor, hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and a rich molasses enhance the coconut and rounds out the overall taste of the cookie.  I was initially impressed with the cookie after my first bite, but after reading the ingredients, I was even more so.  We’ve all had many cookies and treats that were gluten free and everything else free and they leave you with that, “well it’s also taste free” feeling.  Not so with this one.  Bold and flavorful, chewy and delectable, this is one good cookie.

Ann’s Nut and Fruit Cake, Inc. have a website that details their products, one of which is their gluten-free allergen-free line of baked goods.  They go into great depth detailing the ingredients of their cookies which have no artificial anything, I might add.  The cookie has 150 calories, but it’s quite a large cookie.  I couldn’t finish the whole cookie in one sitting because it is quite rich.  It is made of mostly coconut after all.  They have several other flavors as well and I am looking forward to trying them if this one is any indication of how the rest will be. 

Check out the website for other flavors, products and more info: http://www.annnutandfruitcake.com/

Taste:  full on coconut, toasty, rich notes of cinnamon and molasses.

Labeling: descriptive and clearly marked gluten free label

Packaging: see-through, resealable bag

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                3                             

Taste:                    4                             

Value:                   4             

OVERALL:            3.7

Reviewed by Krisztina L.

Gluten Free Cookies: Alternative Baking Co. Fudge Indulgence Cookie

PRODUCT NAME:               Fudge Indulgence

BRAND:                              Alternative Baking

COST:                                 $2.50

SIZE:                                   2.25oz

COST PER OZ:                    $1.11

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:  NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:   N/A

ORGANIC:                           N/A

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:    N/A

VEGAN:                               YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:     NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:     Sacramento, CA

SHELF LIFE:                         6wks (3mos frozen)

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

Alternative Baking Company is on a mission—to try and make the dairy and meat industry obsolete by using vegan alternatives to their delicious baked goods. Sans dairy, eggs, trans fats, hydrogenated oils, cholesterol, animal ingredients, and refined sugar, these cookies still provide the taste and quality of a traditional homemade cookie. Organic flour, organic sugar, and fruit juice make up the basic ingredients for these cookies made in small, homemade batches. In addition to their gluten-free flavors, Alternative Baking Company also has a wheat free line of cookies, currently available in four flavors.

The Fudge Indulgence flavor includes gluten free flour, organic unrefined sugar, fruit juice and natural grain dextrins, water, palm oil, cocoa powder, natural tapioca and potato starches, vanilla and sea salt. Even with the absence of any meat or dairy product in their baked goods, The Alternative Baking Company still somehow manages to create a soft and chewy cookie that can be easily enjoyed by anyone.

Taste:  I’m not a stranger when it comes to the Alternative Baking Company’s line of cookies. I love chewy cookies, and this particular line is known for the soft texture, as well as their delicious spin on traditional cookie flavors (if you love the taste of cookie dough, try the Vanilla Bean flavor. Dead ringer!). With that said, the new Fudge Indulgence flavor does not disappoint at all. At 230 calories per serving, it’s a bit of a splurge on the diet but an appealing one at that! Though this cookie is covered in chocolate inside and out, the sweetness is not overpowering at all and does not cause me to tap out in the middle of a serving…actually it’s quite disturbing that I was willing and able to devour this cookie in one sitting. My sweet tooth normally does not gravitate toward chocolaty sweet treats in general, so this was a complete surprise but I feel that it was mainly due to the texture. I have no idea how they get the cookie so soft and chewy, but it melts in your mouth. The chocolate is smooth, silky, and not at all too rich after a few bites, which make this flavor a thumbs up in my book.

Labeling:  individually packaged cookie with logo and product name on front, nutritional value on the back.

Packaging:  Small, clear plastic bag. Serving size is 2 1/4oz with 1 serving per bag. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:          4

Taste:              4                             

Value:             4

OVERALL:       4      

Reviewed by Allison R.

Gluten Free Cookies: Enjoy Life Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies

PRODUCT NAME:                       Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies

BRAND:                                       Enjoy Life

COST:                                          $3.99

SIZE:                                            6.3 OZ

COST PER OZ:                             $0.63             

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           GFCO

ORGANIC:                                   NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A

VEGAN:                                       YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:             YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             SCHILLER PARK, IL

SHELF LIFE:                                1.5 YEARS
 

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

Enjoy Life, a company known for making delicious, allergen friendly products, recently launched a new line of crispy cookies. They have decided to take on classic cookies, like Chocolate chip, sugar, and ginger, and make them safe and delicious for just about everyone. Packed full of flavor and all natural ingredients, these delicious cookies are made without the eight most common allergens, which are wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish, and shellfish. They strive to make “smile-good foods that keep people’s insides happy” meaning anyone, allergy or not should feel safe and satisfied after consuming their products.

Enjoy Life’s Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies were crisp without being too hard. The sweet and soft chocolate chips, created a nice texture difference between them and the crunchy cookie. This cookie was very sugary and sweet, which appealed to my sweet tooth but may make my dentist a little worried. This crunchy cookie is a perfect candidate for dipping in a cold, tall glass of milk (or dairy free milk if you so desire). Although it is made free of the eight most common allergens, and all natural this Crunchy, sweet, cookie is definitely not a health food, but it doesn’t claim to be. At 120 calories per serving, which make up 11% of your daily fat, these cookies should probably be consumed in moderation. What it does claim to be is a safe, sweet treat that can be enjoyed by anyone, allergy conscious or not.

Taste: Sweet and crunchy with soft chocolate pieces, these cookies were delicious and addictive. They had no strange aftertaste and were made with all-natural whole ingredients.

Labeling: As a company specializing in allergen-friendly products, Enjoy Life has made it very easy to quickly assess if their treats are safe or not. The front of the package states that these cookies are dairy, nut, and gluten free. The side panel lists the common allergens NOT included in this recipe and the back has a little bit of information about this allergy-friendly treat. Ingredients and nutrition facts were also included on the side of the package.

Packaging:   Fourteen cookies were held in a plastic tray inside of a cardstock box.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:
Texture:       4  
Taste:           5
Value:          4
OVERALL:    4
Reviewed  by: Jennie L.

Gluten Free Cookies: Iamori Hazelnut Biscotti

PRODUCT NAME:                       Iamori Hazelnut Biscotti

BRAND:                                      Iamori  

COST:                                         $7.99

SIZE:                                           5.5 oz

COST PER OZ:                            $1.45

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           NA

ORGANIC:                                   NO                        

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           NA

VEGAN:                                       NO                        

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:            NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:            San Jose, CA      

SHELF LIFE:                               1 month

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

Iamori Hazelnut Biscotti are incredibly delicious.  There is a strong sweet, nutty hazelnut flavor with each bite that is accompanied by the satisfying crunch of having actual hazelnuts packed throughout the biscotti.  The hazelnuts seem to be lightly toasted as well, so there is a wonderful layer of flavor added to the nuts that compliments the entire experience of the biscotti very nicely.  The texture of the biscotti is firm and crunchy without being dry and brittle.  They hold up really well to being dunked into warm beverages, not becoming soggy and falling apart like many biscotti have a tendency to do.  There is a quality to them that feels wholesome and homemade, where I can imagine someone laboring over the ingredients to ensure that the outcome is the tastiest it can be.  It seems to me that their efforts have paid off.  Not only is this the best gluten free biscotti I’ve ever had, it’s up there with one of the best biscotti I’ve ever had, period.  I look forward to sampling their other flavors too! 

The name of the company, Iamori, means “to see the light” in Tahitian and I feel like I certainly have by discovering this product.  They have a wonderful website that details everything from the origins of the company to ingredients and recipe suggestions.  These hazelnut biscotti have simple honest ingredients and are only about 43 calories each!  That certainly means that there will be some guilt-free indulging on my end!  I should also mention that these scrumptious treats are made locally in San Jose, and are made with care and attention so that even those of us with the most extreme allergy to gluten can enjoy all of their baked goods.

Check out the website for other flavors, products and more info: http://www.iamori.com

Taste:  nutty, toasty, full flavored hazelnuts, crunchy and good textured.

Labeling: fresh and inviting labeling, clearly marked gluten free.

Packaging: see-through, resealable bag

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 5                             

Taste:                     5                             

Value:                    3             

OVERALL:              4.3

Reviewed by Krisztina L.

Gluten Free Cookies: Aunt Gussie's Chocolate Chip Cookies

PRODUCT NAME:                    Chocolate Chip Cookies

BRAND:                                    Aunt Gussie’s

COST:                                       $5.95

SIZE:                                         6 oz

COST PER OZ:                          $0.99/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:       YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        GFCO

ORGANIC:                                 NO                        

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         NA

VEGAN:                                     YES    

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:           YES        

LOCATION OF FACILITY:            New Jersey

SHELF LIFE:                               6 months

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

Aunt Gussie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Chip cookies are surprisingly tasty.  They are not only gluten free but vegan as well.  They have a toasty sweetness to them that lingers on your tongue.  The chocolate chips are a bit small, but there are quite a few of them so you are sure to get a few with each bite.  These remind me a lot of Chips Ahoy cookies.  The texture and flavor are almost the same.  It definitely took me back to the days when I didn’t know I had a gluten allergy.  One thing that I did notice about these cookies is that they are a bit too crumbly.  On the plus side, they are crispy and are great for dunking, essential for any chocolate chip cookie.  If you’re looking for something sweet to fulfill your sweet tooth craving after a long day at work, these certainly fit the bill.

Aunt Gussie’s has done a good job with these chocolate chip cookies.  One thing you have to remember about these cookies is that they are a treat that you should enjoy .  It shows when you look at the nutrition facts and see that two cookies contain 140 calories so you shouldn’t pig out on these too much.  The ingredients are all simple and straight forward though so you are not actually eating anything that is all that bad for you in the long run.  The other nice thing is that the Aunt Gussie’s Bakery prepares their gluten free foods in a completely gluten free facility and using all natural ingredients.  Overall, these are a pretty good chocolate chip cookie considering and certainly something you could keep in your cupboards for when the mood strikes or take along to a gathering where vegan gluten free treats would be appreciated.  

Check out the website for other flavors and more info:  http://www.auntgussies.com/

Taste:  Toasty, sweet, a bit nutty, chocolate-y

Labeling: engaging bright label clearly marked gluten free and vegan.

Packaging: re-sealable recycled cardboard box with plastic cookie container inside

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 3                             

Taste:                     3.5                         

Value:                    3.5         

OVERALL:              3.3

Reviewed by Krisztina L

Gluten Free Cookies: Enjoy Life Soft Baked Double Chocolate Chip Brownie Cookies

PRODUCT NAME:                    Double Chocolate Brownie Cookie

BRAND:                                   Enjoy Life

COST:                                      $4.19

SIZE:                                        6oz

COST PER OZ:                         $0.70/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       GFCO

ORGANIC:                                NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

VEGAN:                                   YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:         YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:         SCHILLER PARK, IL

SHELF LIFE:                             1 YEAR


*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.       

REVIEW:

When I tell people who are unfamiliar with an allergy conscious diet of the foods I am unable to eat, they often ask, “Well, what can you eat?” When I answer them with an enthusiastic, “A lot!” They look at me with pity in their eyes while their hands clutch their beers and pizzas. I don’t feel like I am really missing out on anything and Enjoy Life seems to understand that a great tasting food can be made without ingredients commonly consumed in a western diet. Made without the eight most common allergens; wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish, and shellfish, Enjoy Life produces a product that can be enjoyed by just about everyone without sacrificing taste or texture. Focusing on snack foods, Enjoy life provides a variety of cookies, snack bars, trail mixes, chocolate bars, and so on.

Enjoy Life’s Soft Baked Double Chocolate Brownie was very chocolaty, soft and delicious. It didn’t taste exactly like a gluten-y brownie, rather, it tasted somewhere between a chocolate truffle and chocolate bread pudding. It was soft, but not chewy, full of chocolate chips and chocolate flavor. These half dollar-sized cookies did not leave a strange aftertaste or the chalky feeling sometimes associated with gluten-free baking after snacking.  They just were simply very tasty.

Not only were these brownie cookies made without the most common allergens, they were also created with only unrefined sweeteners like dates, fruit juice, and brown sugar. These cookies were also made of all natural ingredients and contain no trans fats all without sacrificing and ounce of richness. While slightly different that traditional brownies, there is no reason that anyone with or without an allergy would not be able to enjoy these cookies.

Taste: These cookies were chocolaty, rich and very delicious. I quickly ate about four of them as soon as I opened the package. They were soft, not too rich, but just decedent enough to satisfy my chocolate addiction.

Labeling:  The front of the package proclaimed these cookies to not only be all natural, nut and gluten free, but chocolaty and rich. There was a lot of information about what is left out of Enjoy Life’s products in addition to the standard, necessary information, like ingredients list and nutrition facts.

Packaging:   Six servings of cookies were stored in a plastic tray inside of a plastic bag which was then put inside a cardboard box.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:
Texture:                4  
Taste:                     5 
Value:                    3
OVERALL:              4


Reviewed  by: Jennie L.

Gluten Free Cookie: Alternative Baking Co. Coconut Fantasy Cookie

PRODUCT NAME:                Coconut Fantasy

BRAND:                               Alternative Baking

COST:                                  $2.50 

SIZE:                                    2.25oz 

COST PER OZ:                     $1.11

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:   NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:    N/A

ORGANIC:                             N/A

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:     N/A

VEGAN:                                YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:      NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:      Sacramento, CA

SHELF LIFE:                          6 wks (3 mos frozen)

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.            

REVIEW:

Alternative Baking Company is on a mission—to try and make the dairy and meat industry obsolete by using vegan alternatives to their delicious baked goods. Sans dairy, eggs, trans fats, hydrogenated oils, cholesterol, animal ingredients, and refined sugar, these cookies still provide the taste and quality of a traditional homemade cookie. Organic flour, organic sugar, and fruit juice make up the basic ingredients for these cookies made in small, homemade batches. In addition to their gluten-free flavors, Alternative Baking Company also has a wheat free line of cookies, currently available in four flavors.

The Coconut Fantasy flavor includes gluten free flour, organic unrefined sugar, fruit juice and natural grain dextrins, water, palm oil, coconut, chocolate chips, natural tapioca and potato starches, vanilla and sea salt. Even with the absence of any meat or dairy product in their baked goods, The Alternative Baking Company still somehow manages to create a soft and chewy cookie that can be easily enjoyed by anyone.

For more information about Alternative Baking Products, visit their website at: www.alternativebaking.com.  These cookies are currently available in select states.  Please contact the manufacturer for a complete list. 

Taste:  I’m not a stranger when it comes to the Alternative Baking Company’s line of cookies. I love chewy cookies, and this particular line is known for the soft texture, as well as their delicious spin on traditional cookie flavors (if you love the taste of cookie dough, try the Vanilla Bean flavor. Dead ringer!). With that said, the new Coconut Fantasy flavor does not disappoint at all. At 260 calories per serving, it’s a bit of a splurge on the diet but an appealing one at that! This particular flavor is full of textures to keep your mouth guessing with every bite. At any given moment a chocolate chip or fleck of coconut could provide a burst of flavor to contribute to the cookie’s signature chewiness. What I love about this flavor is that the coconut flakes are not overdone at all, and the same could be said with the portion of chocolate chips in each serving. Both the chocolate chips and coconut flakes balance out perfectly to provide the subtle sweetness and slight crunch to this cookie.  Interesting and great flavor from Alternative Baking Company!

Labeling:  Individually packaged cookie with logo and product name on front, nutritional value on the back.

Packaging:  Small, clear plastic bag. Serving size is 2 1/4oz with 1 serving per bag. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:               4

Taste:                   4                             

Value:                  3             

OVERALL:            3.7         

Reviewed by Allison R.

Gluten Free Cookies: Schar Vanilla Wafers

PRODUCT NAME:                    VANILLA WAFERS

BRAND:                                   SCHAR

COST:                                      $3.49

SIZE:                                        4.4 oz

COST PER OZ:                         $0.79/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:       NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

ORGANIC:                                NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

VEGAN:                                    NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:         YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:          ITALY

SHELF LIFE:                             2-3 MONTHS

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.       

REVIEW:

The Italian company, Schar has been around since the twenties and has been creating gluten free products for over 30 years. Now solely a dedicated gluten-free company, Schar produces a wide variety of wheatless treats, like pizza, bread, pasta, cookies, crackers, and other snacks. Created by a group of food specialists, Schar takes pride in providing a product based on an innovative, forward looking approach to gluten-free living. Since dedicating themselves to making only gluten free products, Schar has worked with doctors and nutritionists in order to create not only safe, but delicious products.

When I was a kid, my mom always fed my brother and I wafer cookies; the Neapolitan kind that came in a package of strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla cookies. I haven’t eaten them in years and was instantly brought back to my childhood. I even found myself eating them the way I used to when I was little; by separating each layer and eating the cream found in between layers instead of eating it quickly with big bites. Schar’s Vanilla Wafers tasted very similar to those cookies from my childhood, with a slight crisp and subtle vanilla taste. The wafers were light and airy and the vanilla cream was not too sweet. I remember the cream of conventional wafer cookies being slightly powdery but this was not the case with Schar’s Wafer Cookies. The cream in these cookies was the way it should be, creamy, fluffy, and not too dry.

These cookies would make a very good snack or desert. Each 160 calorie serving was made up of four cookies, so it was easy not to over-eat. They contain no preservatives, trans fats, or cholesterol, so they can be eaten without worry of putting too much unhealthy stuff in your body. For more information on their products, history, and hints for a fulfilling gluten-free lifestyle, visits www.schar.com/us/. 

Taste: These cookies were crisp with a subtle vanilla-flavored cream. The wafers were light, crispy and fluffy and the cream was sweet, but not too sweet.

Labeling:  Simple and sunny, this package had all the information I require when choosing a gluten free product. On the front it stated three times that it is gluten free, said it once again on each side as well as once on the back. It included an ingredients list, nutrition facts, and information about their multi-generational company as well as information about their website.

 
Packaging:   The cookies were stored in a plastic bag inside of a cardboard box.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:
Texture:       4  
Taste:           5 
Value:          3
OVERALL:    4

Reviewed  by: Jennie L.

Gluten Free Cookies: Aunt Gussie's Chocolate Spritz Gluten Free Cookies

PRODUCT NAME:                    Chocolate Spritz Cookies    

BRAND:                                   Aunt Gussie’s Gluten Free Kitchen

COST:                                     $5.95  

SIZE:                                       6 oz.

COST PER OZ:                        $0.99/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       GFCO

ORGANIC:                               NO                        

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       NA

VEGAN:                                   YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        New Jersey

SHELF LIFE:                            6 months

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

Aunt Gussie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Spritz cookies are not only gluten free, but vegan as well.  They are made with a blend of several types of cocoa, which is evident from the first bite you take.  The flavor is bold bittersweet chocolate with a lightly toasted nutty after taste that lingers a little on your taste buds.  Biting into the cookie on first blush, they are crisp, but not crumbly and rich, but not chewy.  They have a pleasant consistency and density that certainly delivers.  I think the true virtue of this cookie is its propensity for dunking.  After trying my first bite, I instinctively went for my Vanilla Hemp milk and I was finely rewarded.   The cookie brilliantly holds a milk-like beverage, blending its cocoa flavors very well with whatever you choose to dunk it in.

The company that makes these cookies, Aunt Gussie’s, makes a whole lot of other products some of which are not gluten free.  They, however, make their gluten free products in a special gluten free facility so these are safe for people who have a severe intolerance or Celiac’s disease.  The cookies themselves are a good size and require several bites to polish off.  Three cookies are 130 calories.  They are made with a nice blend of flours and other natural ingredients.  We can’t forget that these are indeed cookies and not health food, but when the sweet tooth strikes you, these are a great choice.

For more information and to see other Aunt Gussies products, visit their website at: http://www.auntgussies.com/

Taste:  Great flavor of raw cocoa that is slightly sweet with a nutty after taste

Labeling: engaging bright label clearly gluten free and vegan.

Packaging: re-sealable recycled cardboard box with plastic cookie container inside

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:       4                           

Taste:           4                             

Value:          3             

OVERALL:    3.7

Reviewed by Krisztina L.

Gluten Free Cookies: Alive and Radiant Foods Thumbalina Cookie

PRODUCT NAME:                       Thumbalina Cookie

COMPANY NAME:                       Alive and Radiant Foods

COST:                                         $3.00

SIZE:                                           1.5 oz

COST PER OZ:                            $2.00                      

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           NA

ORGANIC:                                   YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           Unknown

VEGAN:                                       YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:             NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             Emeryville, CA           

SHELF LIFE:                                 2 months

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.               

REVIEW:

Taste: 

Upon being presented with this item I could only think one thing: To call this product a cookie is quite a stretch. Although Alive and Radiant foods really does give it their all in trying to recreate the relative shape of your standard thumbprint style cookie, that is about the only comparison I can comfortably make. The appearance of this cookie is odd, to say the least. The outer cookie part is the shocking green that, in my time as a health foodie, I can only recognize as being the result of a Spirulina injection. Spirulina, a nutrient rich additive that popular juice companies use to make their green smoothies green, has always had an off-putting texture and taste to me. Perhaps it is the knowledge that it is derived from sea weed but it just plainly reminds me of sludge each time I partake . I believe that a powder form was used for this cookie, as a distinctly chalk like overtone enveloped my mouth as I took my first bite. No matter what the advocates say, Spirulina will never be indiscirnable to me. Its just a fact.

Aside from Spirulina, the “cookie boasts simple ingredients that are full of natural health properties. Almonds, coconut butter, agave, and Goji berries join our slimy seaweedy friend and meld together to create this snack. While almonds, coconut, and agave have all made fairly large health claims, nothing has walloped us over the head quite like the Goji berry. It has the illustrious title of “super food” and many claim that it is the most nutrient dense food on the planet. This little berry has more protein then whole wheat, more vitamin C and beta carotene then oranges and carrots, tons of B and E vitamins, as well as amino acids galore. Basically, the Goji berry is really freaking good for you, and I was excited to partake. With enthusiasm I chomped down and again, my tongue recoiled. Goji berries are sour and they are bitter. There is no real tinge of sweetness to balance the intensity and lord knows the outer cookie wasn’t doing the Goji center any favors. I was shocked at how the almond and coconut (two huge fat sources known to add excellent flavor to most anything) could be totally overpowered. 

 As with Alive and Radiant’s Contrast cookie (which I reviewed earlier this week) there was a texture that was strongly reminiscent of Play-Doh in this product.  All in all, the experience of eating this cookie couldn’t be passed off as remotely pleasurable, even to this vegan, gluten free, sugar free, lover of all things vegetable. My distaste surprised even me.

Labeling

I found labeling of this product to be insufficient. There was no nutrition information and it took poking around the Alive and Radiant website to find out that the product was even organic. Wouldn’t they want to advertise all those health benefits?

Packaging:

Packaging of this product was a thick plastic sealed bag. It seemed sufficient for upholding the freshness of the product.

Reader’s Reviews:

Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:           1

Taste:               1         

Value:              2

OVERALL:        1.3

Reviewed by Lacy D.