Gluten-free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people avoiding gluten for health or personal reasons. For those who love ice cream but need to avoid gluten, a common question is whether there are gluten-free waffle cones available.
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye. For people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms and health issues. When following a gluten-free diet, they need to avoid foods containing gluten, including many baked goods and other wheat-based products.
Are Traditional Waffle Cones Gluten-Free?
No, traditional waffle cones are not gluten-free. Most waffle cones are made from wheat-based flour, which contains gluten. Some key indicators that a waffle cone contains gluten include:
- Made with wheat flour
- Does not specify “gluten-free” on packaging
- Made in a facility that also processes wheat/gluten
So if you require a gluten-free diet, a regular waffle cone is off the menu. But don’t despair, because you have some gluten-free options.
Gluten-Free Waffle Cone Options
The good news is that there are several brands of waffle cones made without gluten ingredients:
1. Kinnikinnick Foods Gluten-Free Waffle Cones
Kinnikinnick Foods makes gluten-free waffle cones using ingredients like rice flour, potato starch, and sugar. They have a crispy, vanilla-flavored cone that can hold any ice cream or gelato.
2. 1-2-3 Gluten Free Waffle Cones
1-2-3 Gluten Free offers crunchy cones made from a blend of gluten-free flours, including rice, tapioca, potato starch, and cane sugar. They are certified gluten-free.
3. Gillian’s Foods Gluten-Free Waffle Bowls
While not a cone, Gillian’s Foods makes gluten-free waffle bowls for holding ice cream sundaes. The bowls are made with ingredients like rice flour, tapioca, and potato starch.
4. Forget Me Not Cookies Gluten-Free Waffle Cones
Forget Me Not Cookies specializes in gluten-free, allergy-friendly baked goods, including waffle cones. Their cones contain tapioca starch instead of wheat.
5. Prairie City Bakery Gluten-Free Waffle Cones
Prairie City Bakery’s cones are made with a blend of brown rice flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, and coconut flour for a crispy, gluten-free treat.
6. Enjoy Life Foods Gluten-Free Waffle Cones
Enjoy Life Foods makes dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free waffle cones with ingredients like rice flour, quinoa, potato starch, and amaranth. Their cones are certified gluten-free.
Where to Buy Gluten-Free Waffle Cones
You can find many of these gluten-free brands online or in stores specializing in gluten-free foods:
- Gluten-free specialty grocery stores
- Health food stores
- Well-stocked supermarkets
- Online retailers like Amazon
- Directly from the manufacturers’ websites
Some regular grocery stores also carry select gluten-free waffle cone options today. Check the baking or ice cream aisle for availability.
Gluten-Free Waffle Cone Nutrition
Gluten-free waffle cones are often made with nutritious grains and starches like rice flour, potato starch, tapioca, and quinoa flour. However, keep in mind that they are still a sweet treat and dessert item.
A typical 2 inch gluten-free waffle cone contains around:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 100 |
| Fat | 2g |
| Carbs | 20g |
| Protein | 1g |
| Fiber | 0.5g |
As you can see, a single waffle cone is low in fat and protein, but can contain around 20g of carbs, mostly from added sugars. The fiber content is also minimal. So these treats are best enjoyed in moderation as part of an overall healthy, balanced diet.
Gluten-Free Waffle Cone Recipe
Want to try your hand at making gluten-free waffle cones from scratch? Here is a recipe to try:
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown rice flour
- 1⁄4 cup tapioca starch
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 2 egg whites
- 1⁄4 cup milk or non-dairy milk
- 2 tablespoons melted butter or oil
- 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together the rice flour, tapioca starch, sugar, xanthan gum and salt until well combined.
- In a separate small bowl, beat the egg whites until frothy.
- Stir in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir to form a thick, smooth batter.
- Heat a waffle cone maker according to manufacturer instructions. Brush with oil if needed.
- Scoop about 2-3 tablespoons of batter onto the bottom plate of the waffle cone maker.
- Cook for 1-2 minutes until golden brown. Carefully remove waffle cone.
- Quickly roll into a cone shape around a cone-shaped object, holding for 30 seconds until it cools and hardens.
- Repeat with remaining batter. Enjoy your homemade gluten-free waffle cones!
Tips for Baking Gluten-Free Waffle Cones
Here are some helpful tips for getting the best results when making your own gluten-free waffle cones:
- Use a high-quality non-stick waffle cone maker for easy release.
- Choose flours like brown rice and tapioca starch that give a crispy texture.
- Xanthan gum helps bind and add structure in the absence of gluten.
- Don’t overmix the batter, which can make cones tough.
- Add a touch of sugar for lightly sweet flavor.
- Brush with oil if batter is sticking too much.
- Work swiftly when shaping warm cones before they cool and harden.
- Store cooled cones in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Are Gluten-Free Waffle Cones Healthy?
Gluten-free waffle cones can be a better option for people who need to avoid gluten. However, they are still a sweet treat that should be enjoyed in moderation.
While the gluten-free flours used provide more nutrients than wheat flour, waffle cones are still fairly low in overall nutritional value. They are high in refined carbs and sugar, low in protein and fiber.
Some key considerations for the nutritional value of gluten-free waffle cones:
- Often high in processed carbs from starch flours
- Higher in sugar than gluten-containing cones
- Low in fiber compared to whole grains
- Lack of protein provided by gluten
- Low amounts of micronutrients like vitamins and minerals
- High calorie density in a small serving
That said, gluten-free waffle cones can be an option for enjoying ice cream more healthfully. Some tips:
- Choose cones made with a blend of flours for better nutrition.
- Pair your cone with lower sugar ice cream and toppings.
- Watch your portion size and enjoy as an occasional treat.
- Add some fruit to help balance the nutrients.
The Bottom Line
If you follow a gluten-free diet, you can still enjoy delicious waffle cones for your ice cream. Several brands make gluten-free cones using alternative flours like rice, tapioca, and quinoa. You can find these specialty cones in stores or online.
Gluten-free waffle cones provide a tasty cone option, though they are still best enjoyed occasionally as a dessert treat. Pair them with nutrient-dense ice cream and toppings to create a more balanced indulgence.
