As one of the most popular cookie brands in the world, Oreo has released a new gluten-free treat to the market, meaning that coeliacs won’t have to miss out on everyone’s favourite dunk-able dessert. But how are they made? Where can you get them? And – perhaps most importantly – are they really that tasty? We took a dive into the wonderful world of sweet treats and found out
It hardly needs to be said, but Oreo cookies are extremely popular. These black and white sandwich cookies – which are made up of tasty, sweet wafers, packed with a thick creamy white centre – have been the most popular cookie choice in multiple countries for decades now, breaking into markets worldwide and consistently delighting children and adults alike.
In recent years, with its growing popularity, Oreo as a brand has tried to introduce new flavours and varieties of cookies in order to appeal to a broader consumer base. These have included everything from toffee Oreos to mint-chocolate Oreos, and from a seasonal Christmas-themed white fudge option, to a slightly dubious (in my opinion) lemon-flavoured cookie variety.
Only in recent years has Oreo made the move to break into the gluten-free market – finally! – with a product aimed at those suffering from coeliac disease.
The move makes a whole lot of sense and was perhaps long overdue. With Coeliac UK estimating that as many as 1 in 100 people in the UK suffer from the disease, there are clearly lots of gluten intolerant people out there who are crying out for a sweet treat alternative from their favourite brands.
What to understand about coeliac disease
Not everyone is aware of what exactly coeliac disease is – so let’s set out some basics.
Coeliac disease is a condition where a person’s immune system attacks their body’s tissue when they consume gluten. The name ‘gluten’ comes from the ‘glue-like’ property of food products like grain, wheat, and barley. These products contain gluten.
The disease can cause a range of symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating, and indigestion, as well as even more extreme symptoms like vomiting and diarrhoea.
When did Oreo introduce its gluten-free cookie alternative?
Oreo shared the news in late 2020 that they would be releasing a gluten-free version of their cookies, with the product hitting the market in the US in 2021.
Ahead of the release of the product, Oreo shared a statement about the move with Food & Wine Magazine, saying: “Oreo is always looking to welcome more people to experience the playfulness of Oreo cookies. We have been planning the launch of our Gluten-Free cookies for some time and are excited to give more fans the opportunity to experience the playfulness of Oreo cookies beginning in January 2021.”
The brand and the coeliac-suffering cookie lovers both saw the move as a win-win. They had coeliac disease, but they still wanted to eat the product. So the brand decided to make it gluten-free.
But what exactly are gluten-free Oreos? What are they made of? Where can you find them? And does the product stand on its own two feet as a tasty cookie?
I took a deeper look to find out…
All right then – what exactly are gluten-free Oreos?
In 2021, Oreo announced the launch of two new gluten-free products which the company said will be permanent additions to the Oreo brand and Oreo shop. These products were: Oreo Gluten-Free cookies and Oreo Double Stuf Gluten-Free cookies.
Traditional Oreo cookies contain wheat flour, meaning that they weren’t suitable for those with gluten intolerance. However, the brand has devised a new recipe for their gluten-free cookies which means that wheat flour is not used.
The ingredients for gluten-free Oreos are as follows: sugar, white rice flour, tapioca starch, palm oil, canola oil, whole oat flour (gluten-free), cornstarch, cocoa, invert sugar, soy, lecithin, baking soda, salt, xanthan gum, chocolate, and artificial flavour.
Are these cookies definitely gluten-free?
Of those ingredients listed above, some people might raise their eyebrows at the need for Oreo to add ‘gluten-free’ next to their whole oat flour, but this is merely a small detail that the brand has added for extra clarity and reassurance. While oats are naturally gluten-free, they can occasionally be harvested, stored, and packaged in places where they might come into contact with gluten products, such as wheat, barley, or rye.
However, Oreo’s food company Nabisco has made sure that they use strictly gluten-free commodity oats in their products where indicated. In fact, Nabisco has gone as far as to become ‘certified gluten-free’ by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO), the largest third-party gluten-free certifying agency in the U.S.
I won’t bore you by getting too bogged down in the finer details, but you can rest assured that when Oreo say their products are gluten-free, they’ve gone to great lengths to make sure that that is 100% the case.
Why should I be excited?
Oreo is a massively popular snack and is the preferred cookie brand in dozens of countries worldwide.
Parents of children who have coeliac disease will know well how stressful it can be to do a big shop and not be certain about what sweet treats are suitable for their children.
Many parents have faced the dread of having to rigorously check ingredients, the despair at not being able to find gluten-free alternatives, and the heartbreak of having to explain to young ones why certain treats won’t be suitable for them anymore.
It’s not easy to find gluten-free treats that are good, certified, and have reliable brands. You often end up feeling disappointed.
So it goes without saying that there are plenty of reasons to be excited about Oreo’s new gluten-free cookies!
The move will allow coeliac-suffering children and adults to reacquaint themselves with popular snack, as well as hopefully make the shopping trip that small bit easier and less complicated.
Sounds good. So where can I get them?
Oreo gluten-free cookies are already flying off the shelves in the US.
Unfortunately, the cookies have yet to hit the sweets aisle in major supermarkets in the UK. Oreo hasn’t said anything about bringing their gluten-free snacks to the UK yet, but you can check out their website for any news on their products. They might surprise us with some tasty treats soon.
If you’re really keen to try gluten-free Oreo cookies, there are still ways of accessing them. International food shippers, such as iFoodsUK, have Oreo gluten-free cookies listed as available for shipping from the US. You can order these new sweet treats online and get them delivered to your door. Many websites have information on how to do that.
As with most Oreo products, we’re likely to see them rolled out internationally in due course, following a domestic run in the US. So, if you’re not from the US, our best advice is to stay patient until a time when Oreo gluten-free cookies make their way to a supermarket near you…
Do Oreo gluten-free cookies really taste that good?
There has certainly been a lot of buzz about these products since they were first announced. With many people who have coeliac praising the move and saying they’d waited a long time for a gluten-free Oreos.
The reception to gluten-free Oreos has been mostly quite positive. Fans of the cookies reacted warmly to how the brand appears to have seamlessly kept its signature flavour and retained the cookie’s crunchy yet crumbly texture, all while providing a safely gluten-free option.
In fact, positive reviews are still flowing in on Oreo’s website. A review from as recent as September, written by a fan named Lili, said:
“I developed a wheat allergy as an adult. Oreos was one of the things that I missed the most and could not find a suitable replacement. For obvious reasons, I am not doing a side by side comparison, but these taste just like I remember! I didn’t think a cookie could make me so happy, but this one has!”
Meanwhile, another recent reviewer praised the brand for how its gluten-free cookies tasted virtually the same as its traditional cookies.
“Excellent GF version of America’s favorite cookie. Nabisco managed to maintain the traditional Oreo biscuit flavor and crispness without using wheat flour. This is very difficult to accomplish for even highly skilled baking technologists. Hopefully, there will be more Nabisco gluten free products in the future !”
Still not convinced? the only solution I can give you is to find out for yourself whether they’re the right product for you. Follow our advice to help you get your hands on a box of gluten-free oreos. If you’re particularly feeling inventive – even use them in a unique Oreo recipe. I’m sure you’ll find the right option to suit yourself.
Happy – and healthy – eating!