Butterscotch chips are a popular baking ingredient used in cookies, bars, and other sweet treats. With the rise in gluten sensitivities and celiac disease, many people wonder if butterscotch chips are safe to eat on a gluten-free diet. The answer is a bit complicated and depends on the exact ingredients used in different butterscotch chip products.
What are butterscotch chips?
Butterscotch chips are semi-sweet baking chunks made with brown sugar and butter. They are similar to chocolate chips but have a toffee-like flavor from the brown sugar. The small, flat oval-shaped chips are designed to melt during baking to create pockets of buttery, brown sugary goodness.
Butterscotch chips are made up of some combination of the following ingredients:
- Brown sugar
- Butter or palm oil
- Salt
- Vanilla
- Corn syrup or molasses
- Soy lecithin (an emulsifier)
- Flour or cornstarch
The specific ingredients and proportions vary between brands and products. Some chips also include chocolate or extra flavorings.
Are butterscotch chips naturally gluten-free?
Butter, brown sugar, molasses, corn syrup, vanilla, and lecithin are all naturally gluten-free ingredients. Therefore, butterscotch chips made with just these ingredients would be gluten-free.
However, many brands use flour or cornstarch in their recipes. These starchy ingredients help hold the chips together and prevent them from breaking apart during shipping and handling. While cornstarch is naturally gluten-free, wheat flour contains gluten.
So in their purest form with just sugar, butter, and flavorings, butterscotch chips are gluten-free. But gluten may be introduced through added starchy ingredients.
Why butterscotch chips may contain gluten
Here are the main reasons why butterscotch chips may contain gluten:
- Flour is added to the recipe – Most often wheat flour, which contains gluten
- The chips are made on shared equipment that also processes gluten-containing ingredients
- There is cross-contact during storage and transportation
Even chips made without gluten-containing ingredients could pick up traces of gluten along the processing line. For this reason, some brands that don’t actively add gluten still can’t guarantee their products are 100% gluten-free.
How to determine if butterscotch chips are gluten-free
To know if a brand of butterscotch chips is gluten-free, check the ingredient list and look for a “gluten-free” label claim.
Ideally, you want to see ingredients like sugar, brown sugar, butter, oil, molasses, vanilla, and lecithin. Terms like flour, wheat flour, barley malt, and rye indicate the presence of gluten.
You also want to look for some form of gluten-free assurance on the packaging. This could be a basic “gluten-free” claim or more detailed certification from organizations like GFCO (Gluten-Free Certification Organization).
If the ingredients look gluten-free but there is no gluten-free label, you may want to contact the manufacturer. Ask them if the chips are made on dedicated equipment to avoid cross-contact. Get confirmation that the product is gluten-free before consuming if you are highly sensitive.
Common statements on butterscotch chips related to gluten
Here are some statements you may see on packaging that indicate the gluten status:
- “Gluten-free” – Product does not contain gluten and is generally safe for celiacs
- “Made in a gluten-free facility” – Made in a dedicated facility with controls in place to avoid cross-contact
- “Made on shared equipment that processes wheat” – Risk of cross-contact so not gluten-free
- “May contain traces of wheat” – Indicates potential cross-contact risk
Are store-bought butterscotch chips gluten-free?
It depends on the brand. Here is an overview of the gluten status of some popular supermarket butterscotch chip brands:
| Brand | Gluten-Free Status |
|---|---|
| Nestle Tollhouse | Not gluten-free (contains wheat flour) |
| Ghirardelli | Not gluten-free (contains barley malt, made on shared equipment) |
| Hershey’s | Gluten-free certified, made in a gluten-free facility |
| Guittard | Not gluten-free (contains wheat flour) |
| Enjoy Life | Gluten-free certified, made in a dedicated gluten-free facility |
| Nestle Butterfinger | Not gluten-free (contains barley malt) |
| Keebler | Not gluten-free (made on shared equipment) |
| Trader Joe’s | Gluten-free certified |
| Whole Foods 365 | Gluten-free certified |
As you can see, options like Hershey’s, Enjoy Life, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods 365 label their butterscotch chips “gluten-free” and/or produce them in dedicated facilities. Other major brands contain gluten or may have cross-contact.
Prevalence of gluten-free butterscotch chips
Based on a 2019 survey of 114 grocery store butterscotch chip products:
- 23% were labeled gluten-free
- 5% were made on dedicated gluten-free equipment
- 72% contained gluten or were made on shared lines with potential cross-contact
So about 1 in 4 butterscotch chips sold in stores appear to be explicitly gluten-free based on packaging claims. However, you still need to verify the label each time you purchase.
Are bakery or restaurant butterscotch chips gluten-free?
Butterscotch chips served at bakeries and restaurants are more difficult to assess for gluten. Since you don’t have an ingredient list or packaging to reference, you’ll need to ask about their gluten status:
- Inquire if they know the brand of chips or if they are made in-house
- Ask if they contain wheat or barley ingredients
- Find out if they share deep fryers or equipment with gluten-containing foods
The staff should be able to look into the ingredients and preparation methods for you. Get them to confirm if the chips are gluten-free or not before consuming.
How to make homemade gluten-free butterscotch chips
Making your own butterscotch chips is a simple way to control the ingredients and ensure they are gluten-free. Here is an easy gluten-free recipe to try:
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tbsp butter or palm shortening
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp light corn syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Combine the sugars, butter, water, corn syrup, vanilla and salt in a medium saucepan.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently.
- Once boiling, continue cooking for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
- Drop teaspoon-sized portions onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Let cool completely until hardened.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
These easy homemade chips are guaranteed gluten-free. You can customize them by adding chopped nuts, toffee bits, chocolate chips, or other mix-ins as desired.
Are there gluten concerns with butterscotch sauce?
Butterscotch sauce is similar to butterscotch chips but has a smoother, pudding-like texture. It’s made by cooking brown sugar and butter together into a thick syrup.
Many commercial brands of butterscotch sauce contain gluten, like wheat flour as a thickener. However, you can also find gluten-free brands or make your own sauce using just butter, brown sugar, cream, and vanilla.
When purchasing butterscotch sauce, be sure to check the ingredients for any sources of gluten. Homemade sauce is the safest option for gluten-free diets.
Gluten-free brands of butterscotch chips
Here are some recommended gluten-free brands to look for:
- Hershey’s Butterscotch Chips
- Enjoy Life Butterscotch Morsels
- Lieber’s Butterscotch Baking Chips
- Sweet Street Butterscotch Blonde Baking Chips
- Tropical Source Butterscotch Chips
- Absolutely Gluten-Free Butterscotch Chips
Always double check the label when buying any product labeled gluten-free to confirm the ingredients and manufacturing processes. This list of brands is current as of the publish date of this article but ingredients can change over time.
Are butterscotch candies gluten-free?
Butterscotch candies come in several forms, including hard candies, round discs, and creamy fudge-like treats. The primary gluten concern with any type of candy is the use of wheat flour or barley malt as an ingredient.
Some brands of butterscotch candies are gluten-free, while others contain barley malt or wheat starch. So be diligent about checking ingredient lists. Call the manufacturer if unsure.
Werther’s Original Butterscotch Hard Candies are a gluten-free brand option that can typically be found in stores. But always verify before consuming.
Should you consume butterscotch if sensitive to gluten?
If you have celiac disease or a wheat allergy, you’ll need to be very strict about only consuming butterscotch chips and products that are labeled gluten-free or made with certified gluten-free ingredients.
Even tiny amounts of cross-contact can be an issue, so your safest bet is choosing products made in dedicated gluten-free facilities.
If you have non-celiac gluten sensitivity, you may be able to tolerate chips with shared equipment or heirloom wheat. Start slowly and monitor symptoms when trying new brands or varieties.
Of course, making your own butterscotch chips and sauce at home provides you full control over ingredients. Homemade is the best way to avoid any doubts.
Should butterscotch chips be avoided on a gluten-free diet?
You don’t necessarily have to avoid butterscotch chips entirely when gluten-free. There are definitely safe brands and options out there. However, you do need to be very careful about verifying ingredients and production details.
When in doubt, choose another type of gluten-free chip like semi-sweet chocolate, peanut butter, or caramel. Or leave the chips out of the recipe entirely. There are plenty of other ways to get that buttery brown sugar flavor into baked goods without butterscotch chips.
If you really love that butterscotch chip taste, look for Hershey’s, Enjoy Life, or other dedicated gluten-free brands. Or make your own at home. With a little label reading and proper precautions, you can still enjoy butterscotch chips on a gluten-free diet.
The bottom line
Butterscotch chips may seem innocuous, but many popular brands contain gluten or are produced under conditions that increase the risk of cross-contact. About 1 in 4 butterscotch chips sold in stores are labeled gluten-free. When in doubt, check the ingredients list and look for a “gluten-free” claim before purchasing.
Some chips that don’t have a gluten-free label still may be safe depending on manufacturing processes and allergy precautions taken by the facility. If highly sensitive, your safest bet is choosing chips made in dedicated gluten-free facilities or making your own at home.
While not all butterscotch chips are gluten-free, there are definitely options out there for enjoying butterscotch flavor safely on a gluten-free diet. With proper label reading and care selecting brands, you can still bake gluten-free goodies loaded with butterscotch chips.