As more and more people adopt gluten-free diets for health reasons or by necessity, many are wondering if popular grocery store items like Keebler’s chocolate pie crust are gluten-free. With so many dessert options containing gluten, it can be tricky to find gluten-free alternatives when baking pies and other treats.
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye. For those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten can cause a range of unwanted symptoms and adverse health effects. Some of the issues caused by gluten include:
- Digestive problems like gas, bloating, diarrhea and constipation
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Headaches and migraines
- Skin issues like rashes, eczema or dry skin
- Joint pain and inflammation
- Mood disorders like anxiety and depression
- Neurological symptoms like dizziness, brain fog and neuropathy
For people with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder, ingesting gluten can damage the small intestine and prevent proper absorption of nutrients. That’s why it’s critical for anyone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity to avoid gluten as much as possible.
Checking Labels for Gluten
When determining if a product contains gluten, it’s essential to carefully read ingredient labels. While many foods are labeled “gluten-free,” some products containing gluten may not be obvious at first glance.
Here are some things to look for when checking labels for gluten:
- Wheat – Wheat contains gluten, so any products listing wheat or wheat flour contain gluten.
- Barley – Like wheat, barley contains gluten so barley flour or malt extract are not gluten-free.
- Rye – Rye also contains gluten naturally, so look out for rye flour or rye grains in the ingredients.
- Malt – Malt is usually derived from barley and contains gluten. Malt syrup and malt flavoring are common culprits.
- Oats – Some oat products may be contaminated with gluten during processing. Opt for oats certified gluten-free.
- “Natural flavor” – The source of natural flavors isn’t always clear, so they could potentially contain gluten.
On a product label, if you see terms like wheat, barley, rye or malt, you can assume the product contains gluten. Calling the manufacturer to inquire about gluten sources in natural flavors, malt extracts and other vague ingredients is another way to confirm if a food is gluten-free when the label isn’t clear.
Keebler Chocolate Pie Crusts
Keebler offers several different types of ready-to-use pie crusts, including their Chocolate Cookie Crumb Pie Crusts. These crusts are made using chocolate sandwich cookies and are designed to be used for chocolate cream pies and other desserts.
Upon inspecting the ingredients list on Keebler’s Chocolate Cookie Crumb Pie Crusts, it’s evident that they contain gluten. The main two ingredients are wheat flour and rye flour, both of which naturally contain gluten. Here is the full ingredients list from Keebler’s website:
- Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Sugar
- Cocoa processed with alkali
- High fructose corn syrup
- Partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil with TBHQ to preserve freshness
- Wheat starch
- Salt
- Leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate)
- Natural and artificial flavor
- Rye flour
- Soy lecithin added as an emulsifier
- Chocolate liquor.
The combination of wheat flour, rye flour and wheat starch means Keebler’s chocolate cookie pie crusts clearly contain gluten. They would not be safe for someone following a strict gluten-free diet.
Gluten-Free Pie Crust Alternatives
Although Keebler’s popular pre-made chocolate cookie pie crusts are not gluten-free, there are several gluten-free options to consider instead for your next chocolate pie:
Gluten-Free Graham Cracker Crust
Making a pie crust from gluten-free graham crackers is an easy alternative to traditional flour-based pie dough. For a 9-inch pie pan, combine 1 1⁄2 cups fine gluten-free graham cracker crumbs with 5 tablespoons melted butter or coconut oil. Press the crumbs evenly into the pie pan and bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes until set.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cookie or Wafer Crust
Use your favorite brand of gluten-free chocolate cookies, like Oreos or chocolate wafers, and crush them up to make your own gluten-free chocolate cookie crust. Combine crushed gluten-free cookies with melted butter or coconut oil as needed and press into a pie pan.
Gluten-Free Shortbread Crust
Buttery gluten-free shortbread makes an excellent base for chocolate cream pies. Make a simple shortbread dough using your preferred blend of gluten-free flour, butter, sugar and salt. Shape the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and chill before rolling out and transferring to a pie plate.
Store-Bought Gluten-Free Pie Crust
There are now several brands producing gluten-free versions of traditional pie dough, like Immaculate Baking, Wholly Wholesome and glutino. These gluten-free pie crusts can be found in the freezer section and used just like regular pie dough.
Some grocery stores may even have refrigerated gluten-free pie dough available. Just check the ingredients to confirm the crust is made without any wheat, barley, rye or malt ingredients.
Grain-Free Pie Crust
You can also make tasty gluten-free pie crusts using grain-free options like almond flour, coconut flour or tapioca flour. Get creative and experiment with different gluten-free flour blends to find your perfect chocolate pie crust.
Popular Keebler Products Containing Gluten
While Keebler’s chocolate cookie pie crusts are not gluten-free, here are some other popular Keebler products that also contain gluten:
| Keebler Product | Contains Gluten? |
|---|---|
| Sandies Shortbread Cookies | Yes |
| E.L. Fudge Double Stuffed Cookies | Yes |
| Pecan Sandies | Yes |
| Vienna Fingers | Yes |
| Graham Crackers | Yes |
| Oreo Cookies | Yes |
| Chips Deluxe Cookies | Yes |
| Animal Crackers | Yes |
The main reason most Keebler cookies and baked goods contain gluten is because they primarily use wheat flour in their recipes. Wheat flour contains the gluten protein. Always check labels to confirm gluten content when eating Keebler products.
Keebler Products Labeled Gluten-Free
While the vast majority of Keebler’s products contain gluten, they do offer a few certified gluten-free options:
- Keebler Gluten-Free Fudge Mint Cookies
- Keebler Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Cookies
- Keebler Gluten-Free S’mores Cookies
If you see a Keebler product that is specifically labeled “gluten-free”, it will be safe for gluten-free diets as long as you double check the ingredients. Otherwise, assume their standard cookie and cracker products contain gluten.
Cross-Contamination Risks
Even if a food product doesn’t directly contain gluten ingredients, there can still be a risk of cross-contamination during manufacturing. Trace amounts of gluten could make their way into gluten-free foods through shared equipment, facility and production lines.
According to Keebler’s website, their gluten-free products are produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility to avoid cross-contamination. However, their regular gluten-containing items are produced on shared lines, so there is a chance of cross-contact.
Those with celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity should use caution when consuming any items produced on shared lines, as even tiny amounts gluten could cause issues for those highly sensitive. Calling the company to inquire about their safety protocols can provide extra assurance.
Gluten-Free Diet Precautions
When starting a gluten-free diet, keep these precautions in mind:
- Get tested for celiac disease first if possible, before eliminating gluten.
- Read ALL ingredient labels closely to look for hidden sources of gluten.
- Check labels for mentions of shared equipment or manufacturing lines.
- Call manufacturers when ingredient sources are unclear.
- Opt for certified gluten-free oats and grains whenever possible.
- Cook at home from scratch using gluten-free ingredients as much as you can.
- Be cautious when dining out and ask questions about prep methods.
- If extreme gluten sensitivity, consider carrying gluten detection kits.
Following a strict gluten-free diet can seem overwhelming initially when you have to analyze every label and menu. But over time, it will become second nature. With planning and diligent label reading, you’ll be able to find plenty of gluten-free baking and snacking options, including gluten-free pie crusts.
Conclusion
When it comes to popular Keebler chocolate pie crusts, they unfortunately do contain gluten. The wheat flour and rye flour used in their recipe make these pre-made crusts unsuitable for gluten-free diets. However, there are many other ways to make delicious gluten-free chocolate pie crusts at home using ingredients like gluten-free cookies, shortbread and grain-free flours.
With some adaptations to recipes and careful inspection of labels, those avoiding gluten can still enjoy tasty pies, cookies and other baked goods. While it takes some extra effort, you don’t have to fully miss out on desserts just by going gluten-free. Companies are increasingly offering more certified gluten-free versions of their products due to growing demand as well.
Whenever there is uncertainty about an ingredient, don’t hesitate to call the manufacturer directly. Being vigilant about label reading and understanding terms that indicate gluten are also key. With some adjustments, care and creativity, living gluten-free is very possible and you can still satisfy your sweet tooth cravings along the way.
