Simply Shari’s Gluten-Free and Fabulous Lemon Shortbread Bite Size Cookies
Product: Simply Shari’s Gluten-Free and Fabulous Lemon Shortbread Bite Size Cookies – $4.29+
LEMON!!!
Lemon is one of my most favorite flavors in this world. Honestly. There is something so refreshing and revitalizing about not just the scent, but that taste of lemon. And everyone who knows me is quite aware of this fact.
Especially my friend Jenn…who is as much a connoisseur of lemon-flavored lemony things as me. And she is the person I have to thank for bringing Simply Shari’s Gluten-Free and Fabulous Lemon Shortbread Bite Size Cookies into my life. For freakin’ real. She has been one of the most understanding and adapting of my friends when it came to me having to go gluten-free. I show up at her house at times and she showers me with goodies that she has found while out and about. AND…she keeps a “gluten-free” section in her pantry for me as well. Good friends like Jenn are AWESOME and meant to be praised in blogs like this one.
So…awhile back she gifted me with a bag of gluten-free goodness that I asked her to pick up for me since the items were on sale. And when there is a gluten-free sale, even in another state, I jump at the chance to take advantage of it. Well, she threw in a couple of extra things she spotted…and one of them was these little bite-size lemon shortbread cookies.
Simply Shari’s was one of those brands I just sort of accidentally happened upon way back when this gluten-free thing was new to me. I was in Frankfort, Kentucky for the Black Cat Chase 5K…and my roommate and I dropped into the Kroger on our way out. And one of the Manager’s Specials was on a frozen gluten-free pizza from Simply Shari’s. We ended up purchasing it…and eating it a few nights later…and loving it. The Almond Shortbread was next…and we both were enamored with that as well.
So…lemon goodness had to abound from these, right? I knew it was a sure thing because Jenn had picked up some for herself and told me that they were super yumtastic. Those weren’t her exact words. I’m loosely quoting here.
Well, being as it is National Chocolate Chip day…and I don’t have anything chocolate chip in the apartment…I settled on the next best thing for dessert. Yes…lemon cookies. Because nothing says celebrating chocolate chips like lemon shortbread. I never do anything normal or simple. This is my norm.
So, after a delightful dinner and after scouring all the dishes…my roommate and I were definitely ready for a small bite for dessert. That’s one thing I love about these cookies from Simply Shari’s. They are bite-size. So you aren’t getting this huge cookie that is packed with all these fillers that will make you feel more stuffed than you already are. Nope. Not these.
Simply Shari’s Gluten-Free and Fabulous Lemon Shortbread Bite Size Cookies (for being bite size…that’s a mouthful, yes?) are awesome. No exaggeration there. One bite and it was hard to keep myself from simply devouring the other two that were held in the palm of my hand. Honestly. Lemon at its best. Shortbread at its most awesome.
Yes…you still have that buttery and crumbly texture that is associated with shortbread. It’s sweet and savory all at once. But then…add in that fantastic lemon flavor and you totally turn of the volume on these cookies…all the way up to 11. They don’t skimp on the lemon flavor, nor do they throw it in your face either. It’s not subtle but it won’t leave your taste buds feeling assaulted by lemon. That’s the tricky thing about lemon…you can easily make it too lemony so easily. Not Simply Shari’s. And that lemon flavor…it was the perfect match with the buttery taste of the shortbread. So impressed.
These cookies are made with simple ingredients. Rice flour, brown rice flour, sweet rice flour, tapioca flour, cornstarch, potato starch, xanthum gum, water, baking soda, modified corn starch, guar gum, baking soda, and, naturally, lemon fruit pieces. These candied lemon pieces are the star of these cookies, bringing them to life with their stunning lemon flavor. And these crumbly, delicious shortbread cookies are rather impressive nutritionally too…as far as cookies go.
One serving is three bite size lemon shortbread cookies. These three cookies will set you back only 120 calories and 6 grams of fat. Not bad for shortbread. Not bad at all. Even better, the sugar content in these cookies is definitely on the low side – only 9 grams. These gluten-free cookies are also non-GMO, which is always appreciated.
Simply put…Simply Shari’s Gluten-Free and Fabulous Lemon Shortbread Bite Size Cookies are amazing. I am so glad I have a second pack of these in my pantry as well. I’m addicted and hooked and loving the lemon and buttery goodness in a simply delicious and simply fabulous bite-size package. It’s hard to keep that serving down to just three.
There are times where I regret waiting so long to get to one of the restaurants or places of interest on my list when I visit a city. That was certainly the case when it comes to BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery in Eagan, Minnesota.
Live and learn!
So, let me set the scene. On Find Me Gluten-Free, Cathy discovered that the Minneapolis area was home to this gluten-free bakery. And it got rave reviews. This meant…I had to check it out. So it was placed on the list with the address to get to while in town. And…life got busy. And before I knew it…it was Tuesday morning, the morning of the day I was leaving. I had gone on a 6.26 mile run that morning. Cathy had some shops she wanted to check out in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Oh, and I had a date with a celebratory banana split after my fantastic race on Sunday morning. I always celebrate races with banana splits. But it was still early and I wasn’t quite ready for ice cream.
As we were heading out toward some of the bookstores that Cathy wanted to hit up, we were driving by the Cliff Road exit. And she remembered…we had the gluten-free bakery to stop into. I’m glad she remembered. I would have cried had I not made it in there. We set the Garmin for the address she had written down and soon we were pulling into this little strip mall. The bakery was open, and it looked like the door was getting repaired as a large piece of wood covered it. No matter…they were open and that was what mattered.
We stepped inside and were greeted immediately. We were asked if they could help us and we mentioned that we were from out of town, that I was a Celiac, and that the very fact that this bakery existed was enough to make me happy. The man behind the counter said he would give us some time to look around and he’d be back in a moment.
The bake case was filled with amazing looking bread loaves, cookies, bars, and the like. The counter top had different gluten-free mixes and even some gluten-free hamburger buns (that I am now kicking myself for not purchasing!). We scoured the case and decided that we would buy one of the half loaves of the Gluten-Free Banana Walnut Bread, a Gluten-Free Lemon Bar (which we would split), and then we each decided we would try one of the various cookies that the bakery made. We were rejoined by the nice gentleman behind the counter where I placed a gorgeous half loaf of the Gluten-Free Banana Walnut Bread. I asked about getting one of the amazing looking lemon bars, and then I chose to have the Monster Cookie and Cathy chose the Lemon Zinger Cookie. He wrapped up the cookies, and placed the lemon bar and half loaf of bread into a bag. We talked about being from Louisville, Kentucky, and he mentioned having been at the 2011 gluten-free expo in Carmel, Indiana. He said so much has changed over the years…and that BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery had been open for nine years now and was still going strong. This spoke very highly to me of their quality and their products…but I had to judge that for myself.
BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery’s Lemon Zinger Cookie and Monster Cookie
After climbing back into the car, Cathy and I decided we would make our cookies an amuse bouche. I mean, what better lead-in to a banana split than cookies, right? So, she grabbed her Gluten-Free Lemon Zinger Cookie ($1.48) and took a bite of it. Immediately she was elated, saying it reminded her of the Lemon Blossoms my friend Jenn and I make, but in cookie form. I snagged a piece and she couldn’t have been more spot on. The Lemon Zinger cookie was refreshing and zippy. Honestly. I love lemon flavored stuff anyway…and this was awesome. The Lemon Zinger is also a dairy free cookie at this bakery. The other ingredients include white rice flour, sugar, soy shortening, tapioca flour, lemon juice, lemon zest, eggs, aluminum free baking powder, sea salt and xanthan gum. The icing that was zigzagged over the top was a combination of powdered sugar and lemon juice. Just really amazing.
The Gluten-Free Monster Cookie ($1.20) intrigued me immediately. It looked like it had a little bit of everything…and all ingredients that I love. And I couldn’t have been happier when I took my first bite. It was sweet, savory, and just amazing and full of flavor. A party in this cookie monster’s mouth, for sure. This cookie really does have it all. It’s a perfect blend of peanut butter, gluten-free oats, brown sugar, sugar, eggs, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, raisins, butter, corn syrup, and baking soda. So, it was like getting a peanut butter-chocolate chip- oatmeal raisin- butterscotch cookie all in one. Amazing. Sweet…without being too sweet. I gave Cathy a piece of mine and she thought it was mighty tasty herself. LOVED this cookie. I sort of want to make some for myself. Just…yummy. And as a runner, my love of peanut butter and that salty-sweet combo really was matched with every bite of this cookie. YUM!
Bittersweet Gluten Free Bakery’s Half Loaf of Banana Walnut Bread
The rest of the goods sat in the car all day and then made the long flight home from Minneapolis. That following morning, being that we had no groceries in the fridge, meant that I’d simply slice up some of the half loaf of Gluten-Free Banana Walnut Bread ($4.25). First of all…bananas…walnuts…bread. This was going to have to be good. When I opened up the bag that the loaf was in, I could smell the mouth-watering aroma of the banana bread…almost as if I had just pulled it out of my oven. I sliced off two 1/2 inch slices, one for me and one for my roommate. I threw each one into the microwave to warm it up slightly, then kept it simple with a light schmear of Smart Balance and a drizzle of honey.
A slice of BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery’s Banana Walnut Bread
Bread…perfection. Honestly. This bread is super moist, despite being a couple of days old at this point. We had it this morning for breakfast as well. Still moist. And we’re polishing off the loaf tomorrow morning for breakfast. I just checked…it is still moist. Soft. Delicious. Filled with banana flavor that is only enhanced by the addition of the walnuts. This bread is awesome. I can’t emphasize this enough. Gluten-free bread, when done right, tastes just like any other bread. Regular bread. The kind anyone could eat. If you put this loaf down in front of someone who could eat any type of bread…and had them eat it…they wouldn’t know the difference. I promise you that. This is one of my favorite gluten-free breads I have ever eaten. Just…super yummy!! Super flavorful. Super moist. And super banana-y. This bread is love.
And, last night for dinner, while it was still fresh…Cathy and I decided that we would give that lemon bar a taste at dessert. So, after we ate our gluten-free grilled avocado and vegan cheese sandwiches, I got out the plastic container that held the lemon bar and pulled it open. And that…was where I realized that the flight and the car ride weren’t too kind to the lemon bar. The icing came off with the lid. Whoops. No matter…I could fix that.
BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery’s Lemon Bar
The Gluten-Free Lemon Bar ($3.05) is actually a light, airy lemon cake. I sliced it in half and placed one piece on a plate. I then scraped the icing off the lid and began to attempt to reapply it the best I could to the lemon bar itself. This was…a slight success. You work with what you have. I took the first slice out to Cathy and she immediately dove in. Before I even had icing on mine, she was raving about it. So, this was happy news to me. I put my slice on a plate, reapplied the icing to the top and went out to enjoy.
Cathy was so right. The light cakey base made this unlike the other gluten-free lemon bars that I have had in the past. I absolutely loved this take on this treat. The cake itself was very light, not heavy and dense. The icing…wow…that icing. Just like the icing on Cathy’s Lemon Zinger cookie, the frosting was simply a combination of powdered sugar and lemon juice. As for the light, delicious cake…that was simply eggs, sugar canola oil, white rice flour, potato starch flour, tapioca flour, lemon juice, lemon peel and xanthan gum. I loved how different this lemon bar was compared to the others I have tried from other gluten-free bakeries. The ingredients all worked well together well and baked up lemon perfection. Happiness in every tart lemon bite.
I was so happy with everything that I got from BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery that it has been decided that next time I’m in the Twin Cities…I immediately head to BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery and buy items to feast on the entire visit. This must happen. This WILL happen.
As for you, BitterSweet Bakery…you are amazing and completely delicious. Just the four items that my roommate and I purchased and enjoyed were enough to make me want to continue to go back for more…as often as possible…every time I’m in Minnesota. BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery…this out-of-towner can’t wait to get back into town to visit you again.
Your food is love. And I’m head-over-heels for you!
BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery’s Lemon Bar (with reassembled icing of awesome!)
It has become quite evident as of late that shortbread is totally in. Totally. Why? Because I have been eating a lot of it recently. Oh, nothing is better than that slight crunch, that buttery flavor, that sweetness that sort of hits on the light side of savory. Yeah…shortbread is pretty amazing.
Gluten-free shortbread can go either way. I’ve had some that have impressed, and I have had some that have fallen short of all expectations. I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I picked up a bag of Simply Shari’s Gluten-Free & Fabulous Almond Shortbread Bite Size Cookies…but it was a risk I was, apparently, willing to take. I had previously only tried one other product from Simply Shari…a frozen pizza…and I fell in love with it. I think that was where my confidence in this product came. That and the fact that I really am a cookie monster…and where there are gluten-free cookies…you will find me.
Simply Shari’s Gluten-Free & Fabulous Almond Shortbread Bite Size Cookies are a simple blend of recognizable and common ingredients: sugar, unsalted butter, rice flour, brown rice flour, sweet rice flour, tapioca flour, cornstarch, potato starch, xanthum gum, water, baking soda, and modified corn starch. Basic, key ingredients to any shortbread, yes? Even better…the products that Simply Shari’s produces are all made in a dedicated gluten-free facility. It definitely takes some of the guess work out of what you are eating…even if it is simply a cookie (or three).
Given that these are almond shortbread cookies, be assured that almonds are a prevalent and important part of the flavor and texture in this flavor of shortbread. This particular flavor has almond slivers throughout the crumbly, buttery cookies. And that…honestly…is what sets it apart from other gluten-free shortbread.
Let me first start by saying…this is, hands down, one of the better gluten-free shortbread cookies out on the market. The almond flavor really meshes well with the buttery, sweet flavor of the shortbread itself. In fact, these are so reminiscent of homemade shortbread cookies. Honestly. The sweetness is just the right amount to make it feel like a dessert. It definitely cleanses the palate. And it has that wonderful shortbread crunch, coupled with the taste and smell of almonds…it’s right at shortbread perfection.
And…even better…is that these cookies aren’t loaded down with calories and fat either. When it comes to other gluten-free treats on the market, these will definitely fit into your diet plan, for sure. There might be a little guilt, but nothing a good yoga session won’t burn off.
A serving of these cookies is 3 bite-size cookies. Yep. Three. These cookies are about the width of a quarter and stand about a half an inch tall. So, they are just the right amount of dessert at the right time. Three cookies will only set you back 120 calories and 6 grams of fat. That’s not bad for a cookie, as I said before. Additionally, you will take in only 80 mg sodium, 1 gram of protein, and a scant (for cookies) 7 grams of sugar. Loving it? I am.
I’m so very impressed with these cookies that I’m looking forward to opening my next bag of them…which just happens to be the Lemon Shortbread variety. Lemon + Shortbread…two of my most favorite dessert flavors in one? With Simply Shari’s…I bet they are beyond simply delicious.
As for Simply Shari’s Gluten-Free & Fabulous Almond Shortbread Bite Size Cookies…delicious doesn’t even begin to cover the amazing flavor, texture, and lightness that are all pulled together in this fine product. Spectacular snacking and sweet treat potential. And I’m loving every serving of them.
It has been forever since I’ve had an Oreo. Going gluten-free takes simple pleasures like a simple sandwich cookie and sometimes makes them…untouchable. But…not with sandwich cookies. Quite a few brands are actually out on the market. Some are better than others. But…that’s to be expected.
Another treat to myself when I was last in Minneapolis, Minnesota was these Gluten-Free Chocolate O’s, Schär’s version of the gluten-free sandwich cookie. In every sense of the world…an Oreo. Chocolate cookies with a vanilla cream center sandwiched between them. I saw the box while at Cub Foods, and again, at the time, had yet to see that in my area. Since then, they have been incorporated into at least a few of the natural foods stores that I frequent. But, I’m just a little backed up on my cookie obsession in my gluten-free pantry. I’m getting there! So, naturally, since these were not available, at the time, in my region, I purchased them and carried them home with me.
Mmmm…sandwich cookies!
And, after all this time, they were next up in my gluten-free cookie backlog of epic proportions! So, two days ago, I broke into this box and pulled out a serving of Schär’s Gluten-Free Chocolate O’s. That, by the way, is 3 cookies. Yes…THREE cookies. Don’t get too excited though. These are definitely not the size nor stuffed portion you would find in Oreo cookies. These cookies are about the size of, or maybe slightly bigger (very slightly) than a quarter. Yep. One bite delight. But, that’s the good part…they are at least delicious!
The chocolate biscuits that make up the cookie portion of these little bite-size cookies are a rich and have that crisp softness to it. Sound contradictory? Well, you won’t break your teeth biting into these, but they aren’t soft either. They have just the right amount of crispness to them to make them taste like a cookie. And the center…so delicious. Not too sweet, but so reminiscent of the Oreo stuffing (just less of it), that it wowed me. I was in sheer heaven, looking for a glass of almond milk to dunk these in for good measure. Yes…they are truly amazing. I loved them. The chocolate is rich, but balanced by the cream in the middle. Just delicious bite-sized cookie goodness.
While these cookies are wheat-free and gluten-free, they do contain milk and soy. So be aware! The chocolate cookie is simply made from sugar, palm oil, corn flour, cocoa powder, soy flour, milk powder, potato starch. The filling is a blend of palm oil, milk powder, dextrose, sugar, lactose, soy lecithin, and natural vanilla flavor.
The three cookies in your serving will only set you back 170 calories and 8 grams of fat. Not too shabby for sandwich cookies, I think. The sodium is low (135 mg). As for sugars, for sandwich cookies, 11 grams per serving isn’t bad. And each serving does offer 3 grams of protein. Keep in mind…these are sandwich cookies you are eating. Indulge a little. You can have broccoli tomorrow.
While these are not at the top of my list for gluten-free sandwich cookies, these were very delicious and I have enjoyed indulging my inner cookie monster with a these dunkable, sweet, bite-size treats. Would I buy them again…sure. Would they be the first ones I reached for? Nope. But they are definitely worth the money.
Product: Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Super Cookie – $3.99
I’ve stated it in the past two posts I have done on cookies from Annie May’s Sweet Café in Louisville, Kentucky. Nothing will ever, ever top their allergen-free chocolate chip cookies. For real. They are, by far, the best and most amazing gluten-free cookies that I have ever had the pleasure of sinking my teeth into. For real. They don’t get much better than this. Buttery, smooth, soft, chewy, sweet…perfection.
Could it get any better?
Oh…believe it or not…it can.
How, you might ask?
By making a chocolate dipped cookie sandwich out of them, of course. I mean, when something is already as amazing as a single allergen-free chocolate chip cookie…take two of them, place some amazing icing between them and dip half of the cookie in dark chocolate. What emerges is what Annie May’s likes to call their Super Cookies.
Super sinfully satisfying, that’s for damn sure. Be prepared to share, because these cookies are epic big and epic filling. But worth every calorie-filled sweet, indulgent bite.
For real.
I have been eying the Super Cookies for a long while now. Especially after the amazing yumminess of the chocolate chip cookies on their own. How could two with filling and chocolate be bad? It can’t. It can only elevate the already amazing flavor of the cookies. I can guarantee that.
After a long run this morning, my roomie and I decided to head to Annie May’s for our usual Saturday breakfast. But, as an added bonus, we picked up one of the Super Cookies after I stared longingly at it the entire time we were there. Hey…my sweet tooth was acting up. I can’t help it. We agreed that we would get one cookie to split between us as dessert tonight, so we got it wrapped up to go and headed out for a day full of grocery shopping and hitting up a few stores in search of some items we have been searching for.
Then, after dinner tonight, I excitedly pulled out the Gluten-Free Super Cookie (this is not vegan) from Annie May’s Sweet Café and carved it in half. One half went to Cathy…the other half was mine.
One bite. One sinful bite and I was transported back to the days my sister and I would fill up on The Great American Cookie Company’s Double Doozy cookies. Except…these were far tastier…far more delicious…far more indulgent…far more…EVERYTHING. Take what you know about chocolate chip cookie sandwiches and multiply it to the nth degree. Because that is how amazing the Super Cookies are from Annie May’s Sweet Café. I wanted to savor each bite. I tried. But the sweetness kept luring me in for another bite. Then another. And before I knew it…I was left only with crumbs and the lingering taste on my palate.
Yeah…my favorite gluten-free chocolate chip cookie elevated to the next level. Not a thing wrong in the world with that. Not one thing.
Just bliss. Sweet, satisfying, sinful bliss. Creamy, chocolatey, cookie goodness…bite-for-bite. Entice your inner cookie monster today. Head to Annie May’s Sweet Café and get one for yourself. Super delicious Super Cookies from the super bakery…Annie May’s!
Something this sinfully sweet never tasted so good.
I have quite a few food memories that go all the way back to when I was a child. It’s helped shape me into the fearless vegetarian and gluten-free foodie that I am today. Honestly. I was raised with the mantra that you have to at least try something before you can say whether you like it or not. Forget that your best friend totally despises asparagus. I had to try it and make my own judgment call on it. I liked it. I was never afraid to try something…regardless of how it looked or smelled. That was the rule…and I obeyed it.
With that lead-in, I bring you to one of my guiltiest pleasures I indulged in as a child. Wafer cookies. Perhaps you remember them…those chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavored wafer cookies that came in a pack. The strawberry were always my favorite…followed by the chocolate. But my most favorite thing to do would be to separate the different layers of the cookies and then reconstruct them, so that each cookie had a bit of each flavor in it. My very own Neapolitan wafer cookie, if you will.
I mean, these weren’t gourmet cookies by any means…but as a child…they were fun. They might have tasted like artificially flavored cardboard…but you ate them…and your parents continued to by them. And you just never got tired of them. Yep…I remember those days…
Then a couple of years ago…the gluten-free diagnosis came. My eating habits changed, but I still like to indulge every now and again. And that’s okay. I love to treat myself to different products that sound intriguing.
Well, with my love of lemon, the day I spotted Glutino’s Gluten-Free Lemon Wafers on the shelf was the day I thought I died and went to heaven. Would they be like those wafer cookies of my childhood…just in my favorite flavor? Or would they surprise me and be better? There was only one way to find out, but unfortunately, it took me months to convince myself to actually purchase them. I live on a very strict budget, but I decided to treat myself one day. So, they finally left the shelf and made the journey to my pantry.
Lemon just seems to brighten up everything, which is why my palate loves it so much. I could add lemon to just about anything and be a happy girl. It’s refreshing.
But, that’s not to say I didn’t worry that these cookies would taste like liquid dish soap cardboard. It was a very real concern yesterday when I cracked open this box for my dessert.
They looked like and felt like those wafer cookies from my childhood…that’s for sure. Just minus the fake food dyes. These cookies are white with a light yellow filling…which would be that lemon I could go on and on about…
But I’ll spare you that. First…the nutritional value of these wafer cookies…
A serving size is three wafer cookies, which will set you back 160 calories and 7 grams of fat. I know…seems a bit high for little wafer cookies…I agree. These also supply 12 grams of sugar to your daily allowance. Keep in mind, however, that these are…cookies. So, they aren’t supposed to be naturally good for you.
These cookies are made from simple ingredients which include cane sugar, potato starch, palm oil, soy lecithin, citric acid, salt and lemon flavor.
So, how do they taste?
Like…wafer cookies, to be honest. But wafer cookies taken up a notch. I didn’t find these to taste like cardboard, for one thing. The lemon flavoring is awesome and very refreshing. I loved the creaminess of the filling between the layers of wafer. They have the right amount of tang, without being too much. They are light, being made up of wafer layers and a thin layer of cream. And…honestly…I prefer them over the ones from my childhood (which I can no longer eat anyway!). I love that no artificial colors are used and that the flavor comes from lemon. Awesome.
Glutino has always wowed me with their products and it’s good to know that something as risky as a wafer cookie still keeps them in my favor. No product that I have tried has had me turn up my nose. This is a great company that puts a lot of pride into their products, and you can tell. The Glutino Gluten-Free Lemon Wafers made me feel like a kid again. And I loved pulling them apart even now…and eating the creamy bit last.
It doesn’t get much better than that. Just ask my mom, who would always share one of her favorite cookies with us when we were growing up – Pecan Sandies. She loved those cookies. And they traveled well in the summer, so those car trips we took to Minnesota in the hot summer meant no gooey chocolate chip mess. We’d have Pecan Sandies on hand. I grew up with that rich, buttery, yet salty flavor and grew to love it as much as my mom did.
And then the whole gluten-free thing happened…
For awhile, I went without any cookies, treats, snacks aside from vegetables and fruits. And I truly felt like I was missing out. So, when I started to purchase some here or there…I had to budget it. These aren’t inexpensive little treats. Gluten-free often means bigger grocery bill. But at least I know the food won’t cause me any sort of problems. Peace of mind.
Well, as stated over numerous entries…cookies are sort of my thing. I love to bake them as much as I love to eat them. But when my life gets a bit hectic and that urge to have a cookie strikes…sometimes you just have to find one at the store. Thankfully, most stores around here carry Pamela’s Products. And one such journey brought me to one that happened to have Pamela’s Products Pecan Shortbread Cookies.
I had to have them.
And then…over the course of me putting them in the pantry, they got lost in the gluten-free goodies shuffle. Up until last night. Because I needed dessert and the last cookies I had didn’t do it for me. I climbed up to the goodie shelf and there, happily anticipating their time to shine, was the box of Pecan Shortbread from Pamela’s Products.
Starting with the basics here…a serving size is 1 cookie. And these cookies are really decent sized. None of this bite-size, gone in two nibbles stuff. Each cookie delivers 130 calories and 8 grams of fat. Keep in mind that these cookies do have nuts in them, so that at least means some of that fat is the healthy kind…and not just from the butter. These cookies only have 5 grams of sugar, which is awesome, and are low in sodium and cholesterol. It just makes dessert a little less guilty when you look at those facts, yes? And these cookies have six ingredients: the cookie flour base, butter, evaporated cane sugar, pecans, xanthan gum, and vanilla flavor. I recognize everything listed there. WIN!
But…how do they taste?
Remember that lead-in I gave about the Pecan Sandies? I think these are better than those cookies. I haven’t been able to eat Pecan Sandies in years, but these crumbly, buttery, nutty cookies really took me back to the way those cookies tasted. The texture is awesome…just like shortbread…crumbly, buttery, and soft on the inside. The walnuts add just the right amount of saltiness to go with the sweetness of the vanilla.
In a side-by-side nutrition comparison, Pamela’s Products Gluten-Free Pecan Shortbread has fewer calories, less fat, less sodium, and less sugar than Pecan Sandies. These are, definitely, a healthier option if you love that type of cookie. And, as I stated, I think they taste better. They definitely avoid any sort of preservative or chemical, unlike Keebler. And Keebler has a slue of ingredients as opposed to the six in Pamela’s Products cookies. I’ll take less ingredients, better taste any day of the week.
These cookies are rich, tasty, and amazing. And I’m hooked on them. I need to add more to my pantry next time that cookie craving hits. Because these definitely hit the spot. Delish!
Product: Sunstart Chocolate Wrapped Golden Crunch Cookies – $6.50+
There are very few cookies in this life that I have met that I haven’t wanted to just shove into my mouth and devour. Honestly. There are flavors I prefer to others and certain brands I would buy ahead of others. There are ones I would make before I made others. But there aren’t a lot that I would take one bite and just…feel so unimpressed.
But that was how I felt when I cracked open my box of Sunstart Chocolate Wrapped Golden Crunch Cookies.
I had never seen this brand before in my life. However, the Gluten-Free Trading Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin had them on their shelves. And as I was making a conscious effort to purchase products from that store that I had never found anywhere else, these cookies made the cut. And I was pretty excited about them. I mean…chocolate makes everything worth biting into, yes?
Eh…not really in this case. Which I am truly sad to report because I was pretty excited about these cookies. For one thing, they are imported from Northern Ireland. One of the draws of this particular brand is that it is gluten-free, wheat-free, egg-free, cholesterol- free, and yeast-free. Hence part of the “Freefrom” branding that this company does. One reason I was stoked about trying these was how allergen-friendly it was. According to the box, these cookies are reminiscent of British digestive biscuit, coated on one side with chocolate.
Like I said…chocolate = delicious. Sadly, the chocolate was my favorite part of these cookies. One bite and I was less than impressed. Not to say that they were horrible. They weren’t. But I have so many gluten-free cookies in my pantry, I’ve decided not to waste my time on ones that don’t wow me. And these didn’t. At all. The actual biscuit part has a slight coconut flavor and texture…which didn’t work for me, oddly enough. Also, while the photo on the box shows a cookie liberally coated in chocolate, the reality is…quite different. In fact, you can see the golden biscuit through the light chocolate coating on the actual cookie from the box. So disappointed. I was expecting this thick layer of chocolatey goodness…and was left with just enough to put some sweetness into each bite.
Granted, these cookies are actually a decent size (about 2.5 inches across) and clock in at only 85 calories per serving with 5 grams of fat. That’s not bad for a cookie, especially a gluten-free cookie. But the flavor was just…not there for me. The texture was rather dry and crumbly, more like shortbread without that buttery flavor. In fact, this cookie was more like a Girl Scout Samoa…just lacking that caramel flavor. But…overall…just such a disappointment. I had high hopes for these, especially with those nutrition facts…but…they were just…eh.
And this cookie monster doesn’t want to waste time on cookies that fail to impress.
While Sunstart makes other gluten-free cookie options, I think I’m done with them on just this cookie itself. Not impressed to pour any more money into their products. I wanted to like these…I really did. And I liked them…I just didn’t love them. Nor did I feel the urge to go back for more or hide them so I didn’t eat the entire box in one setting. That, in and of itself, speaks volumes.
Okay…two posts in a row dedicated to Annie May’s Sweet Café in Louisville, Kentucky? Overkill? Never. Why? Because I go here often. And there is a reason I continue to return weekend after weekend after weekend. The food they bake up and cook up is worth the trip over the river. It’s one sweet or savory indulgence…and even if it means I only get it on Saturday morning’s due to living on the Indiana side of the Ohio River…than so be it. One day of treating myself is worth every moment in that cozy little bakery on Frankfort Avenue.
Normally on Saturday mornings, I get my long run or my race in and then my roommate and I hurry over for some amazing breakfast food at Annie May’s Sweet Café. I am truly addicted to their allergen-free donuts and their allergen-free and vegan breakfast sandwich. Seriously. It might be borderline unhealthy obsession…but I constantly am talking about breakfast at Annie May’s before the weekend even hits. I guess that speaks highly of their breakfast service…so if you haven’t been in there for breakfast…get over there this Saturday. I mean it.
But…this past Saturday we opted to do something…different. And it completely threw off Annie May and Kenna at the shop. But, they were more than happy to accommodate the change, of course. We actually arrive shortly after 11 a.m., instead of our usual 9:30 a.m. time. Why? Well, I ran in the Papa John’s 10 Miler that morning and clocked a fantastic time. Afterwards, instead of heading right to Annie May’s for breakfast, we did a little browsing at Half Price Books to kill off some time. The reason? Gluten-free pizza.
Yes, for their lunch portion of the fare offered on Saturday’s at Annie May’s…they cook up individual gluten-free and vegan pizzas. With a variety of offered toppings. As we had grown so accustomed to their baked goods and their breakfasts…Cathy and I chose to hit up the lunch service and see what the pizza was like. Now, I had my usual pre-race fuel of a gluten-free pizza at The Mellow Mushroom the night before…but we were totally getting different toppings and I was quite curious to see what the pizza crust was like here. They actually sell frozen pizza crusts at the shop, by the way.
So, we placed our order for one of the 9-inch gluten-free pizzas with vegan cheese ($9.99), and added tomato and onion for our toppings ($0.50 each). Kenna went ahead to get working on it and Cathy and I took a seat and anticipated our lunch. We were both rather hungry at that point, having eaten breakfast long before my race, and splitting a banana afterwards to just get us through to when we could get to the café and order lunch. For the pizza at Annie May’s…you can get a half (3 slices) or a full 9-inch pizza (6 slices). As we were splitting the pizza, we got the full one as we knew it would be just enough. We were right.
The pizza arrived after a short wait and I set to taking pictures for the blog while Cathy anticipated that first slice. With the photos taken, I dished us each up a slice and we dug in.
First of all…I love that for the onion they used red onion. It is my favorite onion, by far, and it works so well on pizza. The tomatoes were nicely diced and scattered over the top. The tomato sauce was light and flavorful, seasoned very well. And they use Daiya cheese, which I am a huge fan of, when it comes to vegan cheese. It melts to perfection and it totally complimented the rest of the toppings on this pizza. But the true star of any gluten-free pizza is the crust. So often gluten-free pizzas get relegated to that thin, cracker crust. The type that is immediately crunchy coming out of the oven. There is little to it. And it often can’t stand the weight of the toppings. I’ve eaten my fair share of cracker crust gluten-free pizzas. And that crust is okay…but it’s not…the pizza crust I remember.
At Annie May’s Sweet Café, you get an actual pizza crust. I mean, it’s no deep dish…but that’s good. I don’t like deep dish. But you get an actual crust. A fluffy, actual pizza crust that you can slice of bite into and actually feel like you’re eating a real pizza. It was such a nice change of pace from the norm of eating gluten-free pizza out. I was so thrilled. And everything about it just made my lunch that much more satisfying. It was golden brown, baked to perfection. The toppings were warm and the vegan cheese was melty, gooey, good. Cathy and I made very short work out of our 3 slices each.
And we loved, and yes, savored, every bite!
And we split one of their chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Because I love those cookies. So. Much.
This is how gluten-free pizza is done properly. Totally impressed. Maybe when the summer hours kick back in at Annie May’s my pre-race Friday pizza will be enjoyed there more often. So glad we decided to give the pizza a try because I was beyond impressed.
Whether it’s for baked goods, specialty cakes, breakfast, lunch (served throughout the week), or pizza on Saturday…stop in to Annie May’s Sweet Café and treat yourself to some gluten-free and even some allergen-free treats and meals that will blow you away. Anyone who says gluten-free is tasteless obviously has been dining and eating at the wrong place. Annie May’s Sweet Café hits all the right flavor notes and makes everything to perfection. Delicious perfection.
Annie May’s Vegan and Gluten-Free Pizza with Daiya Cheese, Tomato, and Red Onion
I know. I know. I’m an adult. A responsible, reliable adult.
But when I saw Annie May’s Sweet Café in Louisville, Kentucky, announce their Easter boxes of goodies ($25.00)…I had to have one. I’m like a kid in a candy store whenever I go in there for breakfast or to purchase an allergen-free/gluten-free treat. I can’t help myself. Everything I have had there has been a delightful party in my mouth. Honestly. I enjoy taking my non-gluten-free friends there because…you can’t tell that these products are allergen-free. You just can’t. Annie May and Kenna do amazing work. And their box of Easter goodies is no exception.
I picked up my Easter box when I stopped in for breakfast on the Saturday morning before Easter. Along with the Easter box, I went ahead and purchased two other items that I would enjoy on Easter. Take-and-Bake Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls (with a vegan icing) ($12.00) and Take-and-Bake Allergen-Free Biscuits ($12.00). Happiness is carby goodness in a delicious form that I can actually savor, enjoy, and devour.
Annie May’s Sweet Café Easter Box of Awesome™ (plus 4-pack Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls and 4-pack Allergen-Free Biscuits)
So…what all was included in this Easter box that made me feel like a kid again? Well, you basically got to assemble it yourself…as in, pick 5 items from a list that they provided. So, after a little deliberation with my roomie, we made our final choices and I called in the order. I chose to make my Easter box up with a 2-pack of allergen-free Chocolate Cupcakes, a 2-pack of allergen-free Chocolate Chip Cookies, 1 gluten-free Peter Rabbit Sugar Cookie, 1 allergen-free Sunbutter Candy Bunny, and a 4-pack of allergen-free Chocolate Boulders. Also offered for these Easter boxes were an extra-large allergen-free sugar cookie on a stick (if you can’t have eggs…as the Peter Rabbit Sugar Cookie had egg in it) and an egg-shaped Whoopie Pie of your flavor of choice.
All week I was anticipating picking up my box of Easter goodies as well as my Easter day additions. I went in for breakfast that morning (again, if you haven’t tried their breakfast sandwiches, you are missing out!) and then picked up my goodies. I think I skipped happily out of the bakery that morning, carrying this box of wonderful goodness to my car. Easter came early for me. And I couldn’t wait to dive in.
The first item from the basket that my roomie and I decided to try was the cupcakes. Why not? They looked absolutely sinful and decadent. And…it had been awhile since I had a cupcake. My attempts to make allergen-free cupcakes at home usually result in…my cupcakes getting soggy. I haven’t figured out why yet. So…cupcakes…it had to be cupcakes.
Annie May’s Sweet Café Allergen-Free Chocolate Cupcakes are a rich and moist treat. I was so happy when I first bit into this item. They often have cupcakes in their case, but I’m normally in there for breakfast and have yet to really just go in there and pick up a bunch of sweets to try. It will happen. So, this was my first ever taste of one of their cupcakes. Let me tell you…I am hooked. The cake was moist and soft and packed with rich chocolate flavor. It was heaven. I’m not much of an icing person, but the chocolate ganache icing was amazing. It really elevated the richness and the sweetness of the cupcake to that perfect dessert level. It wasn’t too much. It was just enough to make you feel like you were truly indulging after dinner. I savored every bite of it. And even saved a chunk of the cupcake with the icing on it for last. Which is very weird for me…but it happened. Cupcakes were an epic and total chocolate win! I must sample more cupcakes in the very near future. YUM!
So, Easter morning rolled around…
I went for my morning run and returned home very excited and eager to get started on breakfast. Why? Because it was Easter Sunday, which meant the first treat I got would be popped into the oven and warmed to a golden, ooey-gooey goodness. Ah…it would be the perfect start to the holiday.
Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls with Vegan Icing
This treat, of course, is the Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls with the Vegan Icing that I purchased separate from the basket. Now, I’ve indulged in Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Take-And-Bake Cinnamon Rolls before…but I was at a friend’s house and for some reason, her oven was on crack. And despite baking these rolls longer than advised, they were still doughy in the middle. Disappointment. But…not in my house and definitely not in my oven. Annie May stuck the sticker with the directions right on my cinnamon roll packaging. I was to bake them in the oven at 325°F for 20 minutes. Annie May did tell me that sometimes it does take longer to get them golden…it all depends on the oven. Well, I stuck them into my oven for about 25 minutes total, and when they emerged…they were beautifully toasted to a golden perfection. They smelled amazing. And I gave each roll a healthy schmear of the vegan icing provided with them. As I settled in, my roommate was already about halfway through one of her rolls, munching diligently and happily. I took this as a good sign. I sliced into one of the cinnamon rolls with my fork and took a bite of the hot roll. Oh my goodness, oh my goodness. Heaven in cinnamon roll form. These were light, and had the right amount of cinnamon tucked inside each roll. The pastry outside was crisp and golden, but that inside was soft and chewy and perfect. I had to remind myself to chew slowly and enjoy or I might have devoured both of my rolls in seconds. That is no exaggeration. These were so delicious and very, very filling. Which was good…because Easter lunch was going to be running about an hour and a half behind schedule…
After doing a bit of cleaning around the apartment and slicing up some fresh pineapple to take to Easter lunch, it was time to get to work on my other Easter treat for myself. Those amazing sounding Take-And-Bake Allergen-Free Biscuits. Annie May’s Sweet Café had been talking about these on their Twitter and Facebook feeds for awhile…and I just never had a reason to pick them up…despite wanting to…desperately. But, I figured these would be the perfect starch for me to bring to Easter lunch with me…as the bread that everyone else could eat would be off limits to me. And much of the food being cooked up wouldn’t work with my food allergies or my vegetarian diet. So, some hearty allergen-free biscuits sounded like just what I needed. I decided to cook these up ahead of time at my apartment to not interfere with what my roommate’s sister was doing at her father-in-law’s house for Easter lunch. Best to streamline and make things easier. That kitchen can be hectic on the holidays as it is. Why add to the insanity? Besides, this ensured no cross-contamination. Which is always a good thing.
Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Allergen-Free Biscuits
So, into an oven at 325°F these little biscuits of dough went for about 40 minutes. The instructions said 3o minutes, but Annie May told me that there was a chance they would have to bake a little longer. Simply slice into one of them with a knife and check to make sure the center wasn’t still doughy. I did that, and they needed only a bit more time. Ten minutes, and they were perfection. I covered the tray with aluminum foil and wrapped it in a towel. Then, I drove to Corydon for Easter lunch. And the plan to eat at noon turned into eating at 1:30…but my biscuits were still warm the way I packaged them up. So that meant no reheating in the microwave. WOOHOO! I took two and Cathy took two and I immediately broke off a piece and popped it into my mouth. I had been anticipating eating these all morning; I was wasting no time now.
These allergen-free biscuits are phenomenal. Absolutely what I thought they should be. I wish I had been able to slice into them and enjoy fresh out of the oven. Next time. Because I can only imagine how epic they are having not sat around for 2 hours. BUT…given the circumstances of the holiday…what can you do? Honestly, these are really delicious. The inside bakes to this fluffy and soft consistency. And the outside gets golden. These have the best bread-flavor ever and would be awesome to build a sandwich with or…even use as a burger bun. Seriously delicious. And two of them filled me up. I didn’t need the pineapple, green beans or boiled potatoes. I would have been fine making a meal out of two of these biscuits. Trust me…these will be purchased again…and eaten straight from the oven. I can’t complain…even after 2 hours of sitting after baking…these were made of total win.
As full as I was on Easter, I didn’t get to eat any of the desserts I provided for the get-together. One of them had dairy in it…so that wasn’t happening anyway (hello peanut butter cheesecake bars!). The other was lemon bars, which I intended to eat a small square of…but I was just so full from dinner, dessert didn’t sound good at all. So, I skipped it and when I returned home, went to work on cleaning the rest of the apartment. Before I knew it, it was past 7 p.m. And I was now ready for my dessert. As I had this great Easter box of goodness…I went to decide what to have from it this time.
Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Allergen-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
For Easter…it was the allergen-free Chocolate Chip Cookies. Now, I’ve had these chocolate chip cookies before. There was a morning when the waffle maker at Annie May’s was giving their dough hell, so for our wait, we were given free chocolate chip cookies. And, in my post about it…I said that they were, perhaps, the best I had ever tasted. We all know how much of a cookie monster I am. Well, after having the chocolate chip cookies…again…I can honestly declare them my favorite gluten-free chocolate chip cookie I have ever eaten from anywhere. Love is finding that right consistency for a cookie…and people can be so subjective when it comes to what the perfect cookie is. Annie May’s chocolate chip cookies are sheer perfection. They have this beautiful golden crust on the outside…but they are so soft and chewy. The mini chocolate chips give the perfect amount of sweetness in each bite. And they don’t crumble or crack when you bite into them. I savored mine. As much as I could. Each bite was slow and I made sure I enjoyed every bit of that cookie until it was gone. Oh, these cookies are going to be coming home with me more often. That’s what happens when you fall in love.
Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Gluten-Free Peter Rabbit Sugar Cookie
Skip ahead two days. Monday meant no treats from my Easter box because it was my group run with my running store. That meant I get home at a non-dessert time, so these sweet treats had to wait an extra day. No worries though. Because I already knew the next item that was going to be up for noshing. The extremely adorable gluten-free Peter Rabbit Sugar Cookie. This cookie comes attached to a stick, which definitely makes me feel like a kid. Which, I love. It’s those little touches that bring out that giddy, kid-side, and I do enjoy showing that side of me. I feel like I have to be so serious at the office most of the time, it’s nice to have something as simple as a cookie on a stick and feel like a kid in a candy store. And these cookies are extra special…and here’s why. That adorable image of Peter Rabbit in the icing…that’s hand painted. Yes…hand painted. Almost too cute to eat. Almost.
Sugar cookies aren’t usually my thing. I’ve always been a huge fan of chocolate chip cookies. Or snickerdoodles. I love snickerdoodles. But, these sugar cookies were really, really delicious. The icing itself is more like a candy coating. It’s sweet, but doesn’t take away from the sugar cookie itself. And as for the cookie…perfect. Not too sweet. Not gritty. Cookie perfection. Honestly. My roommate and I split this cookie in half (because there was only one in the basket) and we both agreed that, while we both loved the chocolate chip cookies more, this was really good. It was just such a shame to eat all that beautiful handiwork that went into decorating it. Well…not really. It was delicious and perfectly balanced. Who knew Peter Rabbit could taste so sweet?
So, naturally, the next goody that came out of the basket was the other item which we only had one serving. The Sunbutter Candy Bunny. Completely allergen free. And super, mega, delicious. Think of a Reeses Cup on crack. Because that’s what this is. The chocolate was a rich, dark coating. Inside this cute bunny shape was a delicious helping of sunbutter. Sunbutter, for those of you who may not know, is a peanut butter alternative made from roasted sunflower seeds. And it’s really, really good. Completely allergen free as well. I have always loved the combination of chocolate and peanut butter (or a peanut butter substitute) because you get that sort of salty-sweet aspect working. This was no exception. This was to die for. I sort of wish I didn’t have to split it in half and share it, because it was really that amazing and delicious. I need to find out if Annie May’s creates other chocolate and sunbutter delights because I was blown away by this candy. Melt-in-your-mouth good. Oh…so good!
Which, naturally brings us to the final chapter of the Annie May’s Sweet Café Easter Box of Awesome™…the allergen-free Chocolate Boulders. What are Chocolate Boulders, you ask? At first glance, they look like dark chocolate covered cake balls. I was…almost right on that assessment. These rich, chocolatey balls of goodness are fudgey, on the inside and covered in a dark chocolate coating on the outside. The result…a smooth, creamy, amazing bite. My roomie and I had intended to eat one tonight and save the other one…but then…we each ended up eating two tonight for dinner. We couldn’t help ourselves. These were so delicious. But, they are rich…in the best of ways. If you’re going to do chocolate boulders of extreme yumminess…you go big or go home. And Annie May’s really delivers with these. If you have a major chocaholic in your family…this would be the treat to gift them. I was in a state of chocolate nirvana with each tasty bite.
As I have now and forever dubbed the box of Easter treats from Annie May’s Sweet Café the Easter Box of Awesome™…it is safe to say that everything inside of it lives up to that title. In one word: AWESOME!
If you live in or around Louisville, Kentucky…or if you find yourself just passing through…do yourself a favor and stop into Annie May’s Sweet Café for a treat or for lunch. They have special Tuesday through Saturday. And on Saturday, you can even grab some breakfast…and treat yourself to one of their amazing allergen-free donuts. Trust me…the calories are totally worth the splurge.
Like I said…their products are AWESOME! So are the two ladies in charge – Annie May and Kenna. Drop in and pay them a visit…purchase some of their amazing products…and enjoy. You’ll be so glad you did.
They’ve certainly made my life a little more indulgent and delicious…and awesome!
The Celiathlete 