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Gluten-Free Living Taste Test: Broccoli Crust Pizza, Beans, Cornbread and More!

Every two weeks, Gluten-Free Living taste testers sample a batch of gluten-free foods and share their first impressions on Facebook and Instagram Live. During the latest tasting, they tried a grab bag of gluten-free products, from broccoli crust pizza to sauerkraut along with some sweet treats, including honey from Brooklyn-based Bee Raw and chocolates from Cocomel.

For some more information on the products featured, see below. Keep watching Gluten-Free Living social media for more live tasting events!

Crunchy Rollers

These mixed rollers are made with organic whole grain brown rice, blueberries and cranberries so you can fight hunger – healthfully. These rollers are twin wrapped, making them perfect for sharing. They might become your new favorite way to stay fueled while on the go.

Ground Up Nut Butters

Every jar of this healthful nut butter is handmade in Ground Up’s Portland, Oregon kitchen. Flavors include Classic Smooth, Coconut Cardamom with Chia Seed, Lavender Honey, Cinnamon Snickerdoodle, and the new Walnut Cashew Butter with Black Pepper Sea Salt. Ground Up products are peanut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free with no refined sugars or added oils.

A Dozen Cousins

These ready-to-eat beans offer a modern take on traditional dishes while using ingredients such as avocado oil, apple cider vinegar, turmeric, and other spices. These are non-GMO, vegan, and naturally gluten free. Each offering has 6 to 8 grams of protein and comes packaged in BPA-free, microwaveable pouches.

Krusteaz Gluten Free Honey Cornbread

This certified gluten-free version of cornbread from Krusteaz combines fresh corn, honey, and butter in a mouthwatering twist on traditional recipes. Here’s a helpful cooking tip: If you want to make this into a spicy version just add chopped bell peppers, chopped onions, shredded cheese and some cayenne pepper.

Cleveland Kraut

Cleveland Kraut makes fresh, crunchy, unpasteurized, probiotic sauerkraut. Each ingredient is hand-picked and hand-chopped, from every cabbage to each pepper, fermented using a time-tested technique, and hand coldpacked by a Clevelander before it’s shipped.

Spinato’s Pizza Crust

Spinato’s has an award-winning Broccoli Crust Pizza. This crust is certified gluten-free and made with slow-roasted tomatoes, fresh herbs and hearty vegetables. These pizzas are a better-for-you alternative to traditional pizzas with 7 grams of protein and 180 calories per serving.

Bee Raw

Brooklyn’s Bee Raw sells honey as nature intended — straight from the hive. Working towards sustainable practices and bee health, Bee Raw offers a myriad of honey and honey-related products. The business says raw honey’s enzymes and antioxidants are especially good for putting a spring in your step.

Sea Salt Chocolate Covered Cocomel Gift Box

Hand-crafted in copper kettles, these smooth and creamy coconut milk caramels feature premium 70% organic dark chocolate and are finished with a sprinkle of flake sea salt. These old-fashioned caramels are also dairy free. It’s important to note, that this particular product is out of stock, but there’s plenty of sweet treats from Cocomel to try. For more, check out their website: jjssweets.com.

Oprah Has a New Recipe for the ‘Best’ Gluten-Free Pancakes

Oprah Winfrey is getting ready to share a gluten-free recipe that she says makes “the best pancake I’ve ever had.”

The talk-show titan is currently in the middle of a 30-day challenge to eat one “plant-based meal” each day. She’s accepted the challenge posed in the book One Meal A Day by Suzy Amis.

On Insta Stories Winfrey said the recipe was inspired by a friend.

“We created this pancake because a friend of mine, Larry Gordon…has celiac disease,” she said in the story. Gordon is best known as a film producer whose credits include Die Hard, Field of Dreams and more.

The recipe is gluten-free, egg-free, and dairy-free, says Winfrey, adding that it has “banana, flaxseed and a little bit of Earth Balance to hold it together.”

Check out the recipe in the next issue of Oprah’s O Magazine.

Looking for a great gluten-free pancake recipe in the meantime? Here’s a recipe for Grain-Free Silver Dollar Pancakes. from Gluten-Free Living. These tiny pancakes pack a big flavor punch!

Make it in Minutes: 4 Easy Holiday Cookie Recipes

If you’re rushing around this holiday season but still want to bake some cookies, “scoop and bake” cookies are for you. These easy-to-make holiday cookie recipes are perfect to enjoy at home and also make sweet homemade holiday gifts. Nothing is more festive than freshly-baked cookies, whip up a batch of cranberry chocolate chip, soft pumpkin, or soft gluten-free gingerbread cookies to get in the holiday spirit!

4. Soft Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies

Making a batch of soft and spicy gingerbread cookies is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday cookie season. Before baking, roll the dough in turbinado sugar to add a pleasant crunch to the cookies. (Don’t have turbinado in the kitchen? Use granulated sugar. It’s not as crunchy but it finishes the cookies with a nice sparkle and sweetness.)

Prep time: 10 minutes plus 2 hours for chilling

Bake time: About 10 minutes per pan

Yield: About 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients

Cookies

2¼ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour (Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour recommended)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1½ teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons butter, softened
½ cup packed light or dark brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsulphured molasses
1 large egg

Topping

½ cup turbinado or granulated sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Whisk together gluten-free flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Beat together the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar on medium-high speed in the bowl of a stand mixer or with a handheld mixer in a large bowl for about one minute. Stop the mixer. Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl. Turn mixer to medium-low, add the molasses and egg. Beat until combined. Stop mixer. Add the whisked dry ingredients. Mix on low speed until a dough forms.

Cover bowl and chill for two hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

Make the topping: stir together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon.

Roll the dough into balls, about 1 tablespoon each. Roll dough into cinnamon-sugar topping. Place dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.

Bake until the cookies are set and slightly cracked, about 10 minutes.

Remove pan from the oven and let cookies cool on the pan cool for 4-5 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely.

Store in a sealed container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Gluten-Free Living Taste Test: The Testers Bite Into Bread, Bagels

Every two weeks, Gluten-Free Living taste testers sample a batch of new gluten-free foods and beverages and share their first impressions on Facebook Live. During the latest Facebook Live event, they sampled a variety of certified gluten-free bread and bagels made by Little Northern Bakehouse.

The tasters tried Sprouted Honey Oat, Millet & Chia, Seeds & Grain bread, as well as Blueberry and Cinnamon & Raising bagels in addition to other varieties. For more on the products, including where to buy, see below. Keep watching Gluten-Free Living’s Facebook page for more live product tasting events!

For more on Little Northern Bakehouse, click here.

For more on where to purchase the products featured, click here.

Sprouted Honey Oat

This vegan, allergy-friendly loaf is made with sprouted grains and has a subtle touch of honey to sweeten your day.

Cinnamon & Raisin

Made with naturally-sweet raisins, this flavorful loaf has a soft texture and a classic comfort food taste.

Seeds & Grains

Made with a range of crunchy seeds and grains this non-GMO project verified loaf has a satisfying crunch and moist texture.

Millet & Chia

This loaf is made with nutrient-rich millet and chia seeds. Both of these seeds are packed with vitamins and minerals and give this product a smooth texture and delicate crunch.

Gluten-Free Bagels

Here are three varieties of Little Northern Bakehouse’s Gluten-Free Bagels to check out. All of these varieties are 100 percent plant-based, egg free and certified gluten free. They are also certified vegan and non-GMO project verified.

Plain Bagels

Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

Blueberry Bagels

(Correction: In the video, it was stated that Little Northern Bakehouse is a U.S.-based company. The company is actually based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.)

Hershey’s, Mars, and More! 27 Gluten-Free Halloween Goodies

Halloween is almost here! This is one major holiday where there’s a surprising number of gluten-free goodies available. Many of the major manufacturer’s best-known products are already gluten free (yes, even candy corn). There’s a good chance your favorite is on our list. Please note: This is not a list of every gluten-free goodie out there. For a more comprehensive list, click here for this guide from the Celiac Disease Foundation. Be sure to remember to read labels to verify that all ingredients are gluten-free, as manufacturing practices may change. Before unwrapping, you are advised to verify ingredients directly with the manufacturer if you’re ever in doubt.

See below for a list of some Halloween classics along with some dedicated gluten-free offerings. Tell us what your favorite is on Gluten-Free Living’s Facebook page!

Mars Candy

1. M&M’s

(Note: There is a cross-contamination risk on pretzel-flavored M&M’s and some of the brand’s other special flavors.)

2. Three Musketeers Bars

(This is our second favorite candy. Keep reading to see our personal fave.)

3. Milky Way Midnight Bar

(We love the dark chocolate. Try this future classic.)

4. Snickers

(Chocolate, peanuts, caramel, and nougat: A winning combo.)

Gluten-Free Living Taste Testers Munch on Bean Chips, Keto Cookies and More!

Every two weeks, Gluten-Free Living taste testers sample a batch of new gluten-free foods and beverages and share their first impressions on Facebook Live. During the latest Facebook Live event, they sampled a grab-bag of gluten-free offerings including several ones designed for those following the Keto diet.

The tasters tried Beanfields Bean Chips, Lebby Chickpea Snacks, Fat Snax Cookies and many others. For more on the products, see below. Stay tuned on Gluten-Free Living social media for more live product tasting events!

Life’s Grape

Life’s Grape motto is “raisins revamped.” The company’s grapes are dried on the vine soaking up sun and nutrients. If you’re craving some California sunshine enjoy them on a salad, in your favorite recipe or all by themselves. They are gluten-free and non-GMO.

Gluten Free Expo Returns to Bay Area with New Name, Same Mission

Nourished: The Gluten Free, Allergy & Specialty Diet Festival, formerly The Gluten Free & Allergen Friendly Expo, is returning to the San Francisco area. The Bay Area stop of the festival is set for November 16-17 in the San Mateo County Event Center, Fiesta Hall.

In 2019, all Nourished Festival locations will provide expanded offerings to better accommodate the most popular food lifestyles. In addition to the existing gluten-free and nut-free zones, paleo, keto, and plant-based products will bring variety and educational opportunities to everyone living a gluten-free lifestyle. As in the past, all products at the festival will be gluten free.

At the Nourished Festival, attendees will have one-on-one moments with over 75 brands exhibiting the best products for food sensitivities, food allergies and specialty diets. The festival also provides the opportunity to sample and purchase products, meet founders, receive coupons and attend free educational presentations hosted by industry-respected speakers.

While all products at the festival are gluten free, many exhibitors will also showcase products free from the top eight allergens – and beyond. The Nourished Festivals are managed by The Nourished Group, with a team fluent in gluten-free living, celiac disease, and food allergies – and the rising need to find safe and delicious food and lifestyle products for any specialty diet. Presented by allergen-friendly sponsor Enjoy Life Foods, this event is family friendly.

“Our festivals nourish the needs of the entire food community – whether its those with celiac disease, autism, autoimmune or inflammatory conditions or those committed to living a healthy lifestyle,” says Nourished Festival founder, Jen Cafferty. “With comfort foods like pizza and baked goods to healthy lifestyle options like protein bars and probiotic drinks, this festival truly offers something for everyone. An event of this scale being accessible to the general public is a rare and exciting way to explore new options and sample products before buying them in store.”

A sample of this year’s exhibitors includes:

Santa Barbara’s Lilac Patisserie, a dedicated gluten-free bakery and cafe that ships nationwide.
LarkEllen Farm featuring Grain-Free Granola including new limited edition Gingerbread flavor for the holidays.
Bay Area’s Marin Gourmetfeaturing vegetarian products – like their artichoke, green olives, capers and garlic dip – made from fresh ingredients grown in Northern California.
Local favorite Odd Bagel, providing gluten-free bagels to the Bay Area and beyond.

Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door. A one-day ticket is $15 for adults and $5 for children at the door. Parking is $15 a day at the San Mateo County Event Center.

For more information, visit https://nourishedfestival.com/.

4 Back to School Twists on Classic Recipes

Back to school time means “parent-approved,” kid-friendly meals on-the-go. This menu includes a fun twist on some classic recipes and, as always, they are easy to make, packed with extra nutrition and gluten free. They are also nut free, too, making these recipes ideal for school. Start the day with Pancake Muffins—given that they are made in advance, they are great to eat on the run. Then we have mac ‘n cheese, but get this, there are veggies hidden in it. Last, looking for a new birthday or party treat that everyone will love? Try birthday cake pie that is a cookie pie, cheesecake and birthday cake combined into one.

Pancake Muffins

Makes 14
Gluten free, nut free, vegetarian

Pancakes on the go are a super-fun solution for a busy weekday morning or early-morning road trip. This is a fun recipe to make with kids and to get creative by adding your own spin. Get the recipe.

Veggie Mac and Cheese

Makes 5 servings
Gluten free, nut free, vegetarian

Back to school means that it’s time for easy and healthy weeknight dinners. What is more kid-friendly than mac ‘n cheese and more parent-friendly than veggies? A veggie mac ‘n cheese! Get the recipe.

Chickpea Salad

Makes 3 servings
Gluten free, nut free, vegetarian, dairy free

Looking for a quick side salad packed with protein? This is it! Colorful, fresh and an easy crowd favorite. Get the recipe.

Birthday Cake Pie

Makes 8 servings
Gluten free, nut free, vegetarian

This sweet treat is sure to be a crowd pleaser. It is a wonderful combination of everything fun. It’s like putting a cookie cake, cheesecake and birthday cake in a blender, and this delightful dessert is born. Get the recipe.

9 New Crave-Worthy Snacks to Try at Target this Fall

Target launched a new, huge addition to its ever-expanding line of owned brands (think Archer Farms, Goodfellow & Co, and Simply Balanced) when Good & Gather hit stores on Sept. 15 with 650 new products. Among the ready-made pastas, fruits, veggies and dairy are plenty of gluten-free snacks.

The complete Good & Gather line, which includes a whopping 2,000 items, will be available starting next year. According to Target, the idea behind Good & Gather is quality food made without artificial synthetic colors, artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup.

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“Our guests are incredibly busy and want great-tasting food they can feel good about feeding their families,” says Stephanie Lundquist, executive vice president, Food & Beverage, Target. “We saw this as a huge opportunity for Target to help. So our team got to work on our most ambitious food undertaking yet, reimagining our owned food brands to serve up convenient, affordable options that do not cut corners on quality or taste.”

Looking for the basic ground rules of the gluten-free diet? Click here for everything you need to know.

If you love Target as much as we do, you likely can’t wait to try see what’s available. Don’t sleep on this list. We’ve got nine snacks to grab the next time you hit Target. Click here to find a Target store near you.

Personally, we’re looking forward to taking a bite out of the Almond, Peanuts & Sea Salt Fruit and Nut Bars.

New Good & Gather gluten-free snacks at Target

Organic Blue Corn Tortilla Chip with Flax Seeds – 18oz – $3.99

18oz bag feeds the whole family
Organic, kosher and gluten free
No preservatives
Non-GMO
20g of whole grain per serving

Lightly Salted Popcorn – 5oz – $2.49

5oz bag is perfect for sharing
23g of whole grain per serving
Kosher and gluten free
Non-GMO
No artificial flavors, synthetic colors or preservatives

Traditional Kettle Chips – 8oz – $2.19

Kettle cooked for crispy-crunchy texture
Seasoned with sea salt for a light, savory flavor
Perfect for lunches, parties, barbecues and afternoon snacks
Kosher and gluten-free
Resealable bag for freshness

Veggie Straws – 7oz – $2.49

Made with real fruit puree concentrate
Mango fruit strips have a sweet, satisfying taste
Gluten-free, Non-GMO Project verified and kosher
No certified synthetic colors, artificial flavors or artificial sweeteners
Contains 25 fruit strips

Almond, Peanuts & Sea Salt Fruit and Nut Bars – 4ct – $4.59

4pk of gluten-free nut bars provides an excellent source of fiber*
Made with almonds, peanuts and sea salt with drizzled cocoa for a simple, tasty snack
Kosher
Each bar contains 6g protein and 8g fiber for a satisfying bite
Non-GMO Project Verified and made without artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, synthetic colors, partially hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup

Organic White Cheddar Baked Puffs – 10oz – $4.99

Great-tasting alternative to potato chips
10oz bag
Kosher and gluten-free
Non-GMO
No artificial flavors or synthetic colors

Organic Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips – 12oz – $2.99

Organic tortilla chips with 22g of whole grain per serving
Made from yellow corn for great taste
No preservatives
Kosher and gluten-free
Non-GMO
Chips pair perfectly with a variety of salsas and queso dips

Organic Kettle Corn – 7oz – $2.49

7oz bag is perfect for sharing
12g of whole grain per serving
Kosher and gluten free
Non-GMO
No artificial flavors, synthetic colors or preservatives

Parmesan Garlic Kettle Chips – 8oz – $2.19

Kosher and gluten-free
Potato chips are kettle cooked for crispness
Parmesan-garlic flavor makes a great snack and pairs with a variety of other foods
Resealable bag for freshness

Click here for 5 Seemingly Unrelated Conditions to Celiac Disease. Research shows a strictly gluten-free diet may help treat No. 5.

Top 5: Delicious Gluten-Free Pizza Crusts Made with Veggies

We could all stand to get more veggies in our lives, right? One of the easiest ways to accomplish this task without having to think about it is with pizza. Yes, pizza. That wonderful crusty dough continues to show its versatility as riced cauliflower, broccoli, sweet potato and kale are being incorporated to produce crispy pizzas loaded with vegetables that promote eating well.

By transforming what is normally thought to be too high in carbs and fat into a healthful option, pizza has turned the corner, becoming more than just a weekend or Friday-night splurge. Whether you are short on time or lacking dinner inspiration, pizza is a crowd pleaser, but now its healthful benefits outweigh any guilt parents might have felt serving it in the past.

Here are our top picks for gluten-free pizzas and pizza crusts loaded with veggies:

1. ALDI

In the deli refrigerated case at ALDI are two take-and-bake cauliflower crust pizzas—Uncured Pepperoni and Three Cheese. These 12-inch pizzas offer the most bang for your buck, coming in at under $7 per pie. Made by Mama Cozzi, each pizza is certified gluten free and is held together with only cheese, cornstarch, potato starch, olive oil and sea salt, producing a crispy, cheesy pizza that makes seconds a sure thing.

2. Caulipower

Leave it to Caulipower to introduce the first-ever frozen Paleo cauliflower pizza crust. This grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free crust makes the perfect pizza base for a low-carb and high-vegetable pizza option—and no one will taste the difference. The company also has the first-ever personal-size cauliflower crust pizza, too. Each takes only minutes for hungry kids (and adults) to bake and delivers a crunchy pie bursting with flavor, protein and fiber.

3. Costco

Stop by Costco to stock up on Milton’s Craft Bakers cauliflower crust pizzas in three flavors: Roasted Vegetables, Four Cheese and Margherita Four Cheese. Mozzarella, provolone and Parmesan cheeses, Roma tomatoes and basil top these thin and crispy crusts, made with a combination of rice flour, cheese and tapioca starch. Sold in a two-pack, these pizzas are a steal at less than the typical cost of one cauliflower crust pizza.

4. Spinato’s

Finally, a way to eat spinach without getting it stuck in your teeth. Spinato’s broccoli crust is made from a blend of broccoli (first ingredient), rice and tapioca flours, and cheese. Topped with aged cheeses, slow-roasted tomatoes and crispy vegetables, the pizzas are available in four styles: Mediterranean Supreme, Margherita, Primavera and Aged Asiago, Romano & Mozzarella.

5. Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s two vegetable crusts, cauliflower and kale and broccoli, serve as perfect pizza bases suited to your busy lifestyle. And each veggie-filled crust, made with a short list of ingredients, is also free of dairy and eggs. With a base of riced cauliflower, corn flour and potato starch, the cauliflower pizza crustis a picture of modern nutrition waiting to be dressed. Or maybe the broccoli and kale pizza crust, with broccoli, black kale, corn flour, cornstarch and potato starch, makes a better base for your family. Any way you slice it, these crusts offer a vegetable canvas that stands up to a boatload of toppings.

Bonus: We haveheard that Udi’s Gluten Freeis getting into the vegetable fun with two new grain-free sweet potato crust pizzas in Barbecue Chicken and Four Cheese. Sweet potatoes for the win, seriously! Sweet potato makes an excellent base for quiche, so we can only imagine what a wonderful crusty combination it will create with pizza dough.