Is Frosted sugar cookies Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look at the ingredient list to determine safety for specific diets. For these cookies, the verdict is clear immediately upon reading the label. The first ingredient listed after sugar is Enriched Bleached Flour. The parentheses explicitly state that this is Wheat Flour. Wheat is one of the three primary grains containing gluten (along with barley and rye). Therefore, the structural base of the cookie is inherently gluten-containing.

Furthermore, the ingredient list includes Leavening agents like Sodium Aluminum Sulfate and Monocalcium Phosphate. While these are chemically leaveners, in mass-produced baked goods, they are often processed in facilities that handle wheat. However, the main issue remains the flour itself. The product label explicitly states at the end: CONTAINS WHEAT.

It is also important to note that the product contains Milk (via nonfat milk and margarine) and Soy (via soybean oil and soy lecithin). While the focus of this article is gluten, those with multiple allergies should be aware of these additional allergens.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, these cookies are a source of empty calories. The first ingredient is Sugar, followed by refined flour and fats like Palm Oil and Soybean Oil. A single cookie contains a significant amount of the daily recommended sugar intake. While they provide a quick burst of energy due to the high sugar and refined carbohydrate content, they lack significant fiber, protein, or essential micronutrients other than the vitamins added back into the enriched flour. For those on a gluten-free diet looking for treats, it is often recommended to seek out products made with almond flour, oat flour (certified gluten-free), or coconut flour, as these offer better nutritional profiles and are safe for the diet.