Udi’s Cinnamon Raisin Bread is a sweet breakfast in the making

Product: Udi’s Cinnamon Raisin Bread – $5.99+

First, I have to get this off my chest.  Bear with me for just a moment…

FINALLY!!!!

You know, as a patron of the gluten-free food scene, I am a fan of Udi’s products as much as the next person.  Their cookies are off the charts.  Their muffins are soft, spongy goodness.  Their bagles…taste like bagels!  And while their bread was the first gluten-free bread I ever, EVER tasted, my last few loaves have been riddled with holes, which makes enjoying a grilled cheese sandwich, a peanut butter sandwich, or any kind of sandwich for that matter, a bit of a task.  Near impossible.  And it was so frustrating because, in a sense, I’m paying for air.  Bread with pockets of air carved into them.  And with the $5.99 price tag attached to these loaves, I was not willing to go through that again.

Observe my last loaf of Udi’s bread:

Despite how amazing their gluten-free bread is…I swore it off.  Because I felt cheated.

And then, wouldn’t you know it, my local grocery store had loaves of Udi’s bread on sale.  And the rule for me is if it’s gluten-free and vegetarian…and it goes on sale…then I get it while I can afford it.  So, I didn’t ignore the sale.  And since I had yet to try it, and my roommate encouraged me it would be good for the blog…I bought a loaf of the Cinnamon Raisin Bread.

This morning…I decided to give Udi’s it’s second chance.  So, imagine my delight when I opened up this loaf of bread, removed two slices, and found them WHOLE (not holey)!  Things were looking up!  Perhaps the Udi’s bread ban could finally be lifted.  I haven’t gotten past the first two slices though, but this is a promising start.

Now, the important part.  How did it taste?

Well, I did say that Udi’s made amazing products.  Their gluten-free Cinnamon Raisin Bread is no exception to that rule.  The texture is fantastic.  The cinnamon flavor pairs deliciously with the raisins that are prevalent in every slice.  There is no skimping on the ingredients here.  I topped mine off with a smear of gluten-free (and vegan) margarine and a light dusting of powdered sugar.  YUMMY!  I was definitely in breakfast heaven this morning.  I bet this would be amazing made into French Toast.  Hmmmm…breakfast tomorrow, perhaps.

That being said, I still find their bread to be much smaller than other gluten-free breads out there.  While size isn’t everything, I do find that the Rudi’s brand of bread (each flavor: Multigrain, Original, Cinnamon Raisin) is of equal quality, uses only natural ingredients, and has a better size ratio going for it.  And…it’s usually $1.00 cheaper than Udi’s if not more.

However…I’m not saying that Udi’s isn’t up to par.  That is not the case.  I enjoy their products immensely and really find them to be at the forefront of gluten-free foods out on the market these days.  I just can’t always rely on their bread to make a perfect gluten-free sandwich.

Maybe the times are changing.  I’ll have to see how this loaf works out as I go further into it.

Yes, gluten-free products do cost more…but for health, for quality, for peace of mind, it’s sometimes necessary.  I think Udi’s is one amazing company that specializes in gluten-free products, manufactured safely.  If you mention gluten-free bread, theirs is usually the first brand that comes to mind or is mentioned.  That’s saying something.  The products they put out back up their outstanding status in the land of gluten-intolerance.

I am a fan.  And slowly…very slowly…they are earning my respect back for their bread.