Hope you’ve all been sporting some green in celebration of Celiac Awareness Month! Definitely try some new gluten-free recipes and restaurants this month- take a risk and challenge yourselves! And this is a great place to start… what better way to spread awareness than trying some delicious, gluten-free cookies?! That honestly can’t be too1 much to ask for, right? And the best part is that these store-bought cookies have the same (or arguably better) quality and taste as home baked ones.

Hope’s Country Fresh cookies resides on Lancaster Ave. on the mainline of Philly. When recently driving by, I noticed the “NEW! Now serving Gluten-Free Cookies!” sign on the bakery eatery cookie-ry. Ever since, I’ve been anxious to try them since Hope’s has quite the reputation preceding it. Honestly, it’s pretty rare for a gluten-free gal to be treated to a soft and chewy, freshly-baked cookie. Typically, the store bought ones that you find in the gluten-free aisle at Wegman’s or Whole Foods are harder, crunchy cookies. They are what I like to call “pantry cookies“. Don’t get me wrong, there are many brands that have excellent gluten-free shelf cookies, but this is a whole different playing field. Anyways, you’ll be pleased to know that I did eventually try Hope’s new gluten-free cookies- when I found a good excuse to indulge, that is, and hence this post came about. (Side note: exams are always a brilliant excuse to eat and do just about anything)

So onto the scrumptious little baked balls of dough… I was treated to two chocolate chip cookies and two ginger cookies. The unique flavors, chewy texture, and hint of sweetness that create the ginger cookie is unparalleled. And it is truly not so often one can describe a gluten-free cookie as chewy in a positive connotation. The last time I described a gluten-free food as chewy was probably Chebe’s pizza crust when it is undercooked and far too chewy. At any rate, in terms of cookies, I typically associate the word chewy with non-gluten-free, wheat-based cookies because gluten-free cookies are usually drier in texture. However, this time, that was not the case! I just want to make it clear that the chocolate chip cookies were wonderful. With the hint of sea salt, the sweet and salty combination was at its A game. More than anything, I think the fact that the ginger cookie’s flavors were more exquisite and unfamiliar made it the more interesting, and therefore better, cookie.

Unfortunately, Hope’s does not have in information regarding their gluten-free cookies online. You can order all of their other varieties online. Hopefully the GF cookies will be added to the site soon, so you can purchase them online if picking up from the store is a trek. What’s more, as of right now, Hope’s only has two GF cookie flavors. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they will expand their GF selection and hopefully (hopefully hopefully hopefully!) will make a white chocolate macadamia cookie.

Cheers!

Anika