Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. For people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten can cause adverse health effects. Chips Ahoy is a popular cookie brand, so it’s important for gluten-sensitive consumers to know if Chips Ahoy contains gluten.
Quick Answer
Most varieties of Chips Ahoy do contain gluten. However, Chips Ahoy does offer some gluten-free options, such as their Chewy Chips Ahoy gluten-free cookies. So while their regular cookies contain gluten, Chips Ahoy has made efforts to create gluten-free alternatives for gluten-sensitive consumers.
Ingredients in Regular Chips Ahoy
To determine if a product contains gluten, it’s important to check the ingredients list. Here are the ingredients commonly found in regular Chips Ahoy cookies:
- Enriched flour (wheat flour)
- Sugar
- Palm and/or canola oil
- High fructose corn syrup
- Soy lecithin
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Chocolate
The main ingredient in regular Chips Ahoy is enriched flour. This indicates the flour comes from wheat, which contains gluten. Therefore, regular Chips Ahoy contain gluten.
Varieties with Gluten-Containing Ingredients
In addition to the original chocolate chip cookies, there are many varieties of Chips Ahoy cookies that also contain gluten:
- Chewy Chips Ahoy
- Crunchy Chips Ahoy
- Chocolate chunk Chips Ahoy
- Red velvet Chips Ahoy
- Birthday cake Chips Ahoy
- S’mores Chips Ahoy
- Fudge dipped Chips Ahoy
- Caramel filled Chips Ahoy
All of these varieties contain wheat flour as a main ingredient, meaning they contain gluten. Even if a flavor contains additional ingredients like sprinkles or candy pieces, the presence of wheat flour still makes them unsuitable for a gluten-free diet.
Gluten-Free Offerings
While most Chips Ahoy products contain gluten, there are some gluten-free options available:
- Chewy Chips Ahoy gluten-free cookies – These cookies are made with rice flour and other gluten-free ingredients. They have a similar taste and texture to regular Chewy Chips Ahoy.
- Thin Crisps Chips Ahoy cookies – The Thin Crisps line is made with potato starch instead of wheat flour, making them gluten-free.
Chips Ahoy has created these products specifically for gluten-free diets. They are produced in facilities that avoid cross-contamination with gluten. So gluten-sensitive consumers can enjoy Chewy Chips Ahoy gluten-free and Thin Crisps worry-free.
Ingredients in Gluten-Free Options
Here are the main gluten-free ingredients found in Chewy Chips Ahoy gluten-free cookies and Thin Crisps:
- Rice flour
- Potato starch
- Sugar
- Canola and/or palm oil
- Cocoa
These ingredients replace the wheat flour and provide a similar taste and texture, while keeping the cookies gluten-free. Always check the ingredients list on packaging to confirm gluten-free status.
Are Chips Ahoy Cookies Dairy-Free?
Along with gluten, another common food sensitivity is dairy. Unfortunately Chips Ahoy cookies are not dairy-free due to containing ingredients like chocolate and soy lecithin.
All varieties of Chips Ahoy contain chocolate, cocoa or chocolate flavored coating, which contain dairy ingredients. Many also contain soy lecithin, an emulsifier derived from soybeans that is commonly used in commercial baked goods. Soy lecithin may contain traces of dairy in some cases.
So both regular and gluten-free Chips Ahoy cookies are not suitable for a dairy-free diet. Those with dairy sensitivities or allergies will need to avoid Chips Ahoy and select a dairy-free cookie brand.
Nutrition Comparison
When comparing regular Chips Ahoy to gluten-free Chips Ahoy, there are some differences in nutritional value:
| Nutrition Facts | Regular Chips Ahoy (1 cookie) | Gluten-Free Chips Ahoy (1 cookie) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 53 | 140 |
| Fat | 2g | 7g |
| Carbs | 9g | 21g |
| Protein | 1g | 1g |
| Fiber | 0g | 0g |
| Sugar | 5g | 14g |
In general, the gluten-free cookies tend to be higher in calories, fat, carbs, and sugar compared to regular Chips Ahoy. This is often true for gluten-free baked goods, as alternative flours and starches are used to mimic the properties of gluten.
However, those following a gluten-free diet are accustomed to these differences. The most important thing is that gluten-free Chips Ahoy provides a tasty, gluten-free alternative to enjoy cookies with less worry.
Precautions
If you follow a strict gluten-free diet, there are some precautions to take with Chips Ahoy cookies:
- Always check the packaging for gluten-free confirmation, even for products labeled as gluten-free. Manufacturing processes can change over time.
- Be aware of cross-contamination. Regular Chips Ahoy containing gluten are produced in the same facilities as gluten-free varieties. Trace amounts may be present.
- Consume gluten-free cookies in moderation. They are higher in sugar, fat, and calories compared to regular cookies.
Following these tips will help you safely enjoy gluten-free Chips Ahoy cookies while adhering to your gluten-free diet.
Cooking and Baking
In addition to enjoying them straight from the package, Chips Ahoy cookies can be incorporated into recipes and desserts:
- Cookie crust – Use crushed gluten-free Chips Ahoy instead of graham crackers for the crust of a cheesecake or pie.
- Cookies and cream desserts – Add crushed gluten-free cookies to ice cream, milkshakes, or layer into parfaits.
- Edible cookie dough – Make edible cookie dough using gluten-free Chips Ahoy and enjoy raw.
- Party mixes – Mix crushed gluten-free cookies into trail mixes and snack mixes.
Gluten-free Chips Ahoy adds great flavor and texture when used in recipes. Get creative with gluten-free baking and cooking using your favorite variety of Chips Ahoy.
Where to Buy
Finding gluten-free Chips Ahoy cookies is fairly easy:
- Grocery stores – Most major grocery store chains will carry at least one gluten-free variety in the specialty diet section.
- Online – Websites like Amazon, Walmart, Target, etc. allow you to order gluten-free Chips Ahoy online if stores near you don’t carry them.
- Convenience stores – Some convenience store chains like Wawa or QuikTrip have started stocking gluten-free snacks including Chips Ahoy.
- Direct from Nabisco – You can order gluten-free Chips Ahoy varieties directly from Nabisco’s website.
Gluten-free Chips Ahoy may not be carried at every single store. But with so many options, you should be able to find and order them without too much trouble.
Conclusion
Chips Ahoy is undoubtedly one of the most popular cookie brands. Thankfully Chips Ahoy offers gluten-free versions so those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity can also enjoy their cookies.
The key takeaways:
- Regular Chips Ahoy contain gluten due to having wheat flour as the main ingredient.
- Chewy Chips Ahoy gluten-free and Chips Ahoy Thin Crisps are two gluten-free varieties.
- Always check labels and be aware of cross-contamination risks.
- Incorporate gluten-free cookies into recipes for gluten-free baking.
While they are higher in sugar and fat, gluten-free Chips Ahoy provide a delicious option for when you’re craving chocolate chip cookies on a gluten-free diet. Enjoy but consume in moderation!