Gluten Free Cookies: Kinnikinnick Chocolate Sandwich Creme KinniTOOS Product Review #115

Gluten Free Cookies: Kinnikinnick Chocolate KinniTOOS

PRODUCT NAME:                   Chocolate KinniTOOS

BRAND:                                  Kinnikinnick

COST:                                     $4.99

SIZE:                                       8oz        

COST PER OZ:                        $0.62/oz    

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       NA

ORGANIC:                               NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       NA

VEGAN:                                   NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        Canada

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:
After seeing our review for Kinnikinnick’s Fudge Sandwich Crème KinniTOOS, a friend of ours recommended their Chocolate Sandwich Crème KinniTOOS.  Kinnikinnick was kind enough to provide us with a sample of these cookies for us to review.  Our first thought about them was that they were like Gluten Free Oreos.    So how do these compare?

From the start, you can clearly see that they look just like Oreos.  They have that same white cream sandwiched between 2 dark brownish black cookies.  When seeing the Oreo looking cookie, I was expecting it to taste like an Oreo too.  And my for the most part, my expectations were met.  The cookies used are great.  They have a light chocolate flavor that is very similar to the cookies used in an Oreo.  The cookie is crispy and has great texture.  They are crumbly by nature, just because of the lack of gluten, but Oreos are usually pretty flakey as well.  The cream is also very similar to Oreos.  The minor difference in flavor is that the cream used in the KinniTOOS is that it is not as sweet.  I don’t see this as a negative though.  One thing I will comment on is that the cream is a little pasty.  When you to split the 2 halves apart, the cream splits.  It doesn’t come off clean like Oreos. 

Nutrition Facts & Ingredients

Kinnikinnick puts a lot of care into their products.  Since 1991 they have been producing great tasting gluten free food that is also dairy free and nut free.  All of their products are produced in a dedicated gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, peanut free and tree nut free facility.  Comparing it to regular Oreos, the nutrition facts are about the same.  These Kinnikinnick Chocolate Sandwich Cream KinniTOOS have 50 calories, 1.5g of fat, 5mg of cholesterol, 20mg of sodium, 4g of sugar per cookie.  I wouldn’t consider these cookies healthy so be sure to eat in moderation. 

Overall, we thought these Chocolate Sandwich Cream KinniTOOS were great.  They weren’t quite the real thing, but they came pretty close.  Many people probably wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference.  If you’ve been craving Oreos, this is probably as close as you’ll get.  For more information about these cookies, visit their website at: www.kinnikinnick.com.

Taste: These cookies are pretty much the gluten free version of Oreos.  The only differences are that the cream is a little different and they don’t taste as sweet.   

Labeling:  The picture of the cookie on the front is sure to catch your attention.  The text is also easy to read and important information like the fact that they are dairy free, gluten free, and nut free are all enlarged or used as a seal. 

Packaging:  Just like the other Kinnitoos we reviewed, these cookies feature your typical cookie tray in a plastic package.  I would like to see a resealable package in the future because it states on the bag that it doesn’t contain any preservatives so it should be stored sealed in a cool dry place. 

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:                     4.5         

Value:                    3

OVERALL:              3.8

Reviewed 4/28/11 by Calvin C.   

Gluten Free Pasta: Lundberg Brown Rice Spaghetti - Product Review #91

Gluten Free Pasta: Lundberg Brown  Rice Spaghetti

PRODUCT NAME:                      Brown Rice Spaghetti

BRAND:                                     Lundberg

COST:                                       $3.95

SIZE:                                         10oz                      

COST PER OZ:                           $0.40/oz  

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:         NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:          N/A

ORGANIC:                                  YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:          CCOF

VEGAN:                                      YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:           YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:           California

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:
The Lundberg Family Farms have been producing high quality rice products since 1937.  It’s no wonder they make some of the best rice products around today.  They have a large variety of products including rice, rice cakes, rice chips, risottos and pastas.  Recently, we picked up their Organic Brown Rice Pasta Spaghetti that just happens to be gluten free. 

Cooking this pasta is as simple as just boiling it in water.  I tested the cooking directions on the box and the cooking times were accurate.  The directions called for bringing 4 quarts of water in a large pot to a boil with the option of adding 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of oil.  The salt is to flavor the pasta a little and the oil is to prevent it from sticking together.  There are plenty of arguments for and against, but it’s really left up to you to make the final decision.  I will recommend that if you are on a low sodium diet, leave the salt out.  I decided to add the salt and oil in my cooking process.  The box directions say to boil the pasta for 9 minutes, or 8-9 minutes for al-dente, making sure to keep a rolling boil throughout the cooking process.  Following these directions, we ended up with perfectly cooked spaghetti. 

The important part of pasta is its texture.  If it’s too hard, it doesn’t absorb the flavor from the sauce enough and if it’s too soft, it falls apart and makes your bowl of pasta mushy and watery.  Lundberg’s Brown Rice Pasta is perfect.  It is soft enough so it chews very nicely and it absorbs the flavor from the sauce just right and it is firm enough that it maintains its form.  We tossed this pasta with some chicken pesto sauce with some parmesan cheese.  It was delicious. 

Overall, we thought that this pasta was great.  It is definitely something we would buy again.  It’s gluten free, whole grain and vegan.  What more can you ask for.  The only drawback to this pasta is that it is a little on the pricier side at $3.95 for a 10oz package, but you have to remember that this is a high quality product that is gluten free, kosher, non gmo, vegan, and organic; all of which are makings for a great pasta.

Lundberg Brown Rice Spaghetti Nutrition Facts and Ingredients

Taste:  The taste and texture of this pasta was great.  It was the perfect consistency to toss with pesto sauce, but I think it would do great with marinara or any other sauce you want to toss it with.   

Labeling:  The labeling on this package is great.  The graphics are nice and the font is easy to read. 

Packaging:  The pasta is sealed in plastic and then placed in a 100% recycled paperboard. 

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:                    2

OVERALL:              4

Reviewed 031611 by Calvin C.