Lucy's Cinnamon Thin Cookies

Lucy's Cinnamon Thin Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

There are generally a few methods for making cookies that don't have wheat gluten in them. One method results in a rather crispy cookie that is prone to exploding into a shower of small cookie crumbs every time someone takes a bite. Another method is some strange recipe where the cookie doesn't look anything like a cookie and the consistency doesn't seem very dessert-like either.

And then there are also cookies that a dry and taste like cake that's been sitting out on the counter for a few days along with cookies that simply fall apart if you stare at them too hard. With all of the strange recipes for cookies out there that don't include wheat gluten, it's almost like a game to try and figure out why most bakeries are trying to make cookies that just don't look like cookies.

Lucy's Cinnamon Thin Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

The cookies from Lucy's bakery seem to fall into the very first category mentioned. The cement cookie. Surprisingly, this shouldn't put you off eating the cookies as the recipes used do tend to be pretty tasty and are worth potential damage to one's tooth enamel.

For the cinnamon variety, one could almost pretend that the consistency of a very stiff cookie was fine and accepted since the usual recipe for a ginger snap is often going to be . . . snappy.

The nutritional content of these cookies isn't too out of this world although it's kind of odd that in this small package of four cookies, that the manufacturer would bother with making a serving size of 1.3 in a single bag. They should just put the number of calories that are in the entire snack size bag on the back and not expect people to notice that there's a third more calories in the bag than the simple number that's printed on the back of the bag next to the word "calories."

Lucy's does have a few different kinds of cookies and their sugar variety offers pretty much the same exact consistency (cement) although taste-wise, both recipes are rather good. Indeed if the cookies were made in such a way that they were softer, they'd honestly be a true competitor for wheat-filled cookies. As it is, the cinnamon variety is something that seems to work well with the idea of a ginger snap, which someone might expect to have a harder consistency.

Lucy's Cinnamon Thin Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Lucy's Cinnamon Thin Cookies Report Card

The Good Stuff:

If you like cinnamon and you enjoy cookies, Lucy's recipe is a winner (just like their sugar cookies). And the convenient snack-size packs are great for tossing into the lunch box of a child who's going to school or someone who might want a snack with their afternoon tea while at work.

What Could Change:

As noted above, these cookies are certainly a little on the stiff side and if the taste of the cookies wasn't so superior, they would definitely not get a very high mark. Not only does the hard nature of the cookies make them a bit of a crunchy experience, but they really do have a crumb-factor of 11.5 on the Richter-scale. Make sure you have a napkin ready for all those crumbs or are able to eat them over the sink.

Lucy's Sugar Cookies

Lucy's Sugar Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Cookies come in a million different flavors and are especially fun to eat in just about any type of combination with no shortage of creativity coming from dessert makers who are quite apt to taunt individuals who can't eat wheat or gluten with tons of different wheat-filled masterpieces that have everything from chocolate to lemon to pecan flavoring. 

Fortunately, finding gluten-free options has become markedly easier in the last few years as the gluten-free revolution has taken off and gotten immensely popular. But not all gluten-free cookies are created equal and one of the biggest problems that cookies tend to have when they're gluten free is that they're a bit gritty or they don't have the same sort of consistency that a gluten-filled version might have.

And there seems to be two schools of thought surrounding cookies and one is the art of imitation where a cookie is meant to taste just like the "real thing" while the other is an attempt to make a good tasting cookie that offers a nice dessert or snacking experience. And with Lucy's Sugar Cookies, it's clear that the company is attempting to mimic the style and taste of cookies that have gluten in them as a sugar cookie is usually a soft, sugary experience in the cookie world.

Lucy's Sugar Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

But beware, upon biting into one of these sugar cookies, it's definitely not going to be a soft experience as these little suckers are fairly taut in their presentation. And this isn't something that makes them taste any less delicious, but it is something that some people might not like as far as the consistency of a traditional cookie is concerned. And the interesting fact about these cookies is that they do taste good, but they're awfully crunchy.

And crunchy just doesn't seem to be the most interesting word one would want to apply to a cookie. It's more a descriptor that should be used for a cracker. These cookies certainly aren't Soft Batch, that's for sure. But perhaps some enterprising individual could pop them in the microwave for ten seconds and see what happens...

The basic appeal of these cookies is going to be that they taste good and not necessarily their lack of an accommodating texture. They're a crunchy sugar cookie and the taste certainly isn't something that would immediately suggest that they were something that was free of gluten. If you enjoy sugar cookies or any cookies really, they're worth a taste as the recipe is definitely something that tastes great.

Lucy's Sugar Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Lucy's Sugar Cookies Report Card

What's Good:

The basic taste of these sugar cookies is exactly what you would expect and there's only the barest hint that they are a gluten-free variety and as a snack, they are great for getting a sugar fix. Tons of sugar will fly off these things every time you take a bite as they crunch in half, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. That's just the fun of eating a sugar cookie.

What Could Improve:

As noted above, the consistency of these cookies is really stiff! And it's going to catch some people off guard. But it's not something that would necessarily doom these cookies as something that shouldn't be tried at least once. In fact, the taste of these cookies is very satisfying and they're a tasty dessert or snack.

Glutino Gluten Free Dream Cookies

Glutino Gluten Free Dream Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Offering joy sleeve by sleeve for the past hundred years, Oreos are a classic comfort food that generations of kids have grown up around, dipping them gleefully in milk and going into delirious sugar comas.

Over the years there have been many significant developments in the world of Oreos from cookies that have twice the amount of stuffing to Oreos that are dipped in chocolate like a cone from Dairy Queen.

The food trucks at your local fair have even come up with a delicacy involving the Fry Daddy and Oreos. Because the only thing that an Oreo is missing is being dipped in a deep fryer, right?

For those of us who are considerate of our cholesterol levels and are looking for an Oreo type of cookie that isn't filled with gluten, one option is a box of Glutino Gluten Free Dream Cookies, which look suspiciously like Oreos in their design and might lead one to think that heaven has indeed arrived.

Glutino Gluten Free Dream Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

But the reality of these cookies is not quite like a dream. Sure, they look like Oreos, but they are definitely impostors!

The signature taste of an Oreo is something that is likely almost impossible to fully imitate with the limited ingredients available to a gluten-free bakery and while Glutino has certainly done well with the basic taste of some of their other foods, these cookies definitely fall victim to issues of tasting a little stale when they've clearly just been opened.

In addition, the cream-filled center of these cookies is a tad bit gritty and isn't as smooth as what one might find in an actual Oreo. And this is confusing since they have almost as much fat as regular Oreos with six grams for two Dream cookies versus seven grams for two Oreos (bet you didn't know that a handful of Oreos or Dream cookies would offer you an entire day's supply of fat, did you?)

Overall, these cookies should taste a lot smoother for the amount of calories and fat they pack since if someone is going to have to deal with such high calorie content, the food should at least be unforgettable. Like a fresh Oreo dipped in a crisp glass of milk.

Glutino Gluten Free Dream Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Glutino Gluten Free Dream Cookies Report Card

The Good Stuff:

If you were on a desert island and you needed some dessert to forget your troubles, these cookies might do the job. Or perhaps you could tie them together with palm fronds and use them as a life raft to get off the island.

What they Forgot:

While this cookie is clearly supposed to make you think of an Oreo, the taste is just not there. There are definitely other cookies on the market you might want to consider. If you want a better chocolate experience and must resign yourself to eating gluten free options, try Kinnikinnick Foods KinniKritters Chocolate Animal Cookies as they are quite delicious and you won't feel like you're sacrificing your cholesterol level and good taste by eating a handful.

Kinnikinnick Foods KinniKritters Chocolate Animal Cookies

Kinnikinnick Foods KinniKritters Chocolate Animal Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Cookies. They are a favorite treat around the world that milk adores and children yearn for when they've got a plate of vegetables in front of them. There's a reason why a breakfast cereal made out of cookies has earned the love and affection of children everywhere while simultaneously existing as a nightmare for any parent. 


And while people who were stricken with an inability to eat gluten-filled food were once safe from these flour-filled concoctions, there are a number of entries into the market lately that ask people who need gluten free food to open up a box and try one.


From the world of difficult-to-pronounce gluten-free foods, a particularly devilish sort of cookie is the chocolate variety of Kinnikinnick Foods KinniKritters Animal Cookies (they also have a vanilla variety), which are not only a mouthful to say but are also gluten-free, wheat free and dairy free. Although the design of the box would certainly invite one to believe that these cookies are for children and that they're just an innocent bunch of animal shapes, they are not innocent. They are exactly the kind of caloric disaster that can take someone by surprise when they realize that they've consumed an entire box of these little evil cookies while staring slack-jawed at the latest reality television show.

Kinnikinnick Foods KinniKritters Chocolate Animal Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Without a doubt, these cookies are tasty and while they aren't exactly the sort of soft-baked cookies that would remind one of the delectable aroma of homemade chocolate chip cookies coming out of the oven, they are still more than passable as a type of cookie that has just a bit of a crunch to it, much like a cracker. So far this author has been able to try the chocolate and vanilla varieties and it might be an anecdotal experience, but the chocolate cookies seem to have a better consistency. 


One of the best parts about these cookies is the fact that they don't taste specifically like a gluten free cookie. They just taste like animal crackers/cookies that anyone might pick up in the store. Of course, they will cost a tad bit more since all gluten-free food does, but as long as you don't feel as though you'd be vulnerable to eating the entire box in a single sitting, they are a tasty snack. Remember that if you eat the whole box, you'll be consuming almost a thousand calories and a hefty 35 grams of fat. Perhaps that's okay if you're on the Cookies All Day Diet, but for the rest of us, it's best to take these at a handful at a time.

Kinnikinnick Foods KinniKritters Chocolate Animal Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Crunchy and chocolaty, these cookies are a great option for anyone looking for a dessert treat that's not something that's going to taste as though something is missing.


Kinnikinnick Foods KinniKritters Chocolate Animal Cookies Report Card:


The Good Things:


These cookies are simply a tasty chocolate snack and are great for anyone of any age group. Just because the box and the contents are of a design that would appeal to children doesn't mean these cookies aren't great for everyone. When everyone else is chowing down on Oreo Cookies, you'll have KinniKritters.


What Could Be Better:


These little cookies do seem to have a fair bit of fat in them and if someone is on a low-fat diet, it's best to eat these in significant moderation.

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Lively Lemon Cookies

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Lively Lemon Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

One of the most significant types of food that people who cannot eat wheat or gluten tend to miss is the glorious cookie. From giant chocolate chip cookies that are the size of a Frisbee to soft baked sugar cookies, there are just an endless supply of delicious treats that like to sit on store shelves and taunt anyone with an allergy. 

And this is why many dessert and candy manufacturers have been searching for the perfect cookie recipe. But most companies have had little true success with creating a cookie that actually tastes like it has the right consistency.

And that is one of the biggest things about cookies that are gluten free. Usually the question is: are they smooth and sugary or cake-like and gritty?

For Enjoy Life Soft Baked Lively Lemon Cookies, the answer is something in the middle as they do have a nice consistency yet it's still possible to tell that it's a gluten free type of cookie. But this isn't necessarily a deal-breaker as people who must eat things that don't have the magical "glue" of gluten are used to their food falling apart before it even comes out of the package.

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Lively Lemon Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

But these cookies definitely stay together and upon opening the box, you'll likely see twelve completely intact cookies. But they are twelve very tiny cookies as they are not much bigger than a half dollar. If you don't pay attention to what you're eating, you can down this entire box in a matter of seconds. And for anyone who doesn't otherwise possess the metabolism of a marathon runner, this would mean a whopping 600 calories! That's more calories than a Quarter-Pounder with Cheese! It's hard to believe, but just a single cookie is actually fifty calories and has 3.5 grams of fat. 

This is definitely a food you need to eat in moderation unless you happen to be running a marathon the next day.

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Lively Lemon Cookies - Tiny Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

One of the nice things about these cookies is that they're not only gluten free, but they're also nut free as well and this is a plus for anyone seeking dessert food who is also allergic to nuts. Many dessert foods that are in the cookie category are either filled with nuts or are produced in a facility that processes nuts. 

Fortunately for people with gluten allergies or nut allergies, the Enjoy Life bakeries are stated to be free of either substance.

The consistency of the cookies is nice though and for the lemon variety (the company makes several flavors), the aroma of lemon will definitely fill the general vicinity when you open the box. Some other nice things about these cookies include the fact that they are completely free of artificial flavors, although it's interesting to note that they're not organic (so many gluten free and "natural" foods are also organic).

Biting into one of these cookies is a nice experience, even if the cookie's size is not exactly significant.

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Lively Lemon Cookies
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

Enjoy Life Soft Baked Lively Lemon Cookies Report Card

The Good Things:

The lemon aroma of these cookies is great and the "soft baked" angle is a tasty way to present the cookie. If you like lemons and you like cookies, these cookies provide a decent cookie experience. You won't fall out of your chair in bliss, but you'll get your cookie fix.

What Could Be Improved:

It's likely that the bakery responsible for these cookies was concentrating on taste and consistency more than making a cookie that could be eaten without worry about things like fat and calories. The cookies are pretty small and could be flattened out a small amount to make their real estate seem a little more significant.