Is there gluten in cookie dough ice cream?

Quick Answer

Most cookie dough ice cream does contain gluten because it is made with regular wheat flour. However, some brands offer gluten-free cookie dough ice cream made with almond flour or other gluten-free flours. Always check the label to confirm if a cookie dough ice cream is gluten-free or not.

In-Depth Answer

Cookie dough ice cream is a delicious treat that combines the flavors of cookie dough and ice cream. It typically consists of ice cream with pieces of edible raw cookie dough mixed throughout. While this dessert tastes amazing, people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity often wonder if cookie dough ice cream is safe to eat.

The answer lies in the source of the cookie dough used. Traditional cookie dough contains wheat flour, which provides the gluten protein that gives it the elastic texture for rolling and cutting shapes. This means regular cookie dough ice cream made with standard cookie dough does contain gluten. Each brand can differ in the exact amount, but there is gluten present from the wheat flour.

Risk of Gluten Exposure

People who require a completely gluten-free diet need to avoid products made with wheat, rye, and barley. For those with celiac disease, consuming gluten triggers an autoimmune response that damages the small intestine. Even small amounts of gluten can cause issues.

Those with a wheat allergy must also avoid gluten strictly. Wheat allergies cause IgE antibody reactions that can result in severe and even life-threatening symptoms. Just traces of wheat can trigger an allergic reaction.

For those with gluten sensitivity or intolerance, symptoms may occur when consuming more than trace amounts of gluten. Abdominal discomfort, bloating, fatigue and headaches are common complaints. While the exact threshold varies by individual, these people still need to minimize gluten exposure.

This means regular cookie dough ice cream is not suitable for anyone following a strict gluten-free diet due to the flour content. Those with celiac disease or wheat allergies especially need to confirm a product is certified gluten-free before consuming.

Finding Gluten-Free Options

The good news is that several brands now offer gluten-free cookie dough ice cream options. These are produced with gluten-free flours instead of wheat flour. Some examples include:

  • Enlightened – Made with almond flour and certified gluten-free
  • Halo Top – Made with gluten-free flour blend
  • So Delicious – Certified gluten-free cookie dough
  • Ben & Jerry’s – Select flavors use gluten-free cookie dough

Always thoroughly read the label and product information to confirm if a cookie dough ice cream is gluten-free or not. Don’t assume it is safe without verifying. The ingredients list should specify if a gluten-free flour is used, and the packaging will be clearly labelled “gluten-free” if suitable for a gluten-free diet.

What About Oats?

Some cookie dough ice creams may use oat flour instead of wheat flour. However, oats can also pose a risk of gluten exposure if not specially produced to be gluten-free.

Oats are naturally gluten-free grains. However, many get contaminated with wheat, rye or barley during growing and processing due to shared equipment. Only oats labeled “gluten-free” have been specially handled to prevent cross-contact.

So if a cookie dough contains oat flour, be sure to verify that it specifies the oats are certified gluten-free. Otherwise, some gluten transfer may still occur.

What About No Cookie Dough?

Some ice cream flavors resemble cookie dough but don’t actually contain dough chunks. For example, vanilla or chocolate ice cream simply swirled with extra cookie crumbles or chocolate chips.

In this case, it depends on the other ingredients used such as the chocolate chips, cookie crumbles, or fudge swirl. Check to see if any wheat-containing ingredients are listed. If not, then these flavors are likely safe without the actual cookie dough. But be sure to still read labels carefully.

How Much Gluten is Dangerous?

The maximum safe gluten intake depends on the individual:

  • Celiac disease: Less than 10-20 mg gluten per day
  • Wheat allergy: Trace amounts can trigger reaction
  • Gluten sensitivity: Varies, but typically under 50 mg gluten per day
  • Most people: No issue consuming gluten

For those with celiac or wheat allergy, even crumbs from cookie dough ice cream prepared on shared lines could be problematic. Those with gluten sensitivity may tolerate occasional trace exposure, but likely best to avoid regular consumption.

Of course, people without gluten concerns can enjoy regular cookie dough ice cream without worry! Just be mindful of dining companions who may have restrictions.

Identifying Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Ice Cream

When selecting cookie dough ice cream, check for a few key indications that it is gluten-free:

  • Labels clearly state “gluten-free” on packaging
  • Ingredients list uses gluten-free flour such as rice, almond, coconut etc.
  • Contains certification from GFCO, Certified Gluten-Free, or other certifying body
  • Does NOT list wheat, barley, rye or malt ingredients
  • Produced in a facility free of wheat/gluten

Reputable brands marketing to gluten-free consumers will be very transparent about ingredients and production practices. Do not hesitate to contact the manufacturer if you have any questions or concerns.

Those with celiac especially need to be very cautious and ensure any ingestion is well below the 20 ppm gluten threshold. While some cookie dough ice creams may be low gluten, only products verified as gluten-free provide adequate assurance.

Watch Out for Added Risks

Besides the cookie dough itself, also consider additional ingredients mixed throughout the ice cream. Cookies & cream flavors for example may also blend in pieces of cookies containing wheat. Fudge swirls could contain sources of gluten from wheat-derived ingredients.

Flavorings, cocoa powders, and inclusions should all be reviewed for hidden sources of gluten. Just having gluten-free cookie dough alone does not guarantee the entire end product is gluten-free.

Check Production Processes

Cross-contamination is also a concern in facilities that produce multiple varieties of ice cream, some with regular cookie dough and others with gluten-free dough. Make sure the brand can validate the gluten-free status of the entire supply chain.

Beware of advisory warnings such as “made in a facility that also processes wheat”. Gluten-free consumers need to avoid any products at risk of gluten cross-contact.

Consider Allergens Besides Gluten

In addition to being gluten-free, cookie dough ice cream should be free of your other food allergens too. Dairy, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soy and wheat are all top allergens to watch out for. Check the labels thoroughly and avoid flavors putting you at risk.

Nutritional Profile

Going gluten-free often means embracing more nutritious whole grains like quinoa, rice, buckwheat and legumes. However, cookie dough ice cream is still ice cream! So don’t expect it to be a health food.

Most gluten-free cookie dough ice creams have a similar nutrition profile to regular ice cream. Pay attention to sugar content, fat, calories and carbohydrates based on your own dietary needs. Those seeking protein or fiber will need to look elsewhere!

Tips for Making Your Own Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Ice Cream

If you enjoy baking, you can also easily whip up homemade gluten-free cookie dough ice cream. This gives you control over the ingredients to customize the flavors and ensure it is safe for your diet.

Choose a Gluten-Free Base

Your favorite vanilla or chocolate ice cream works perfectly fine. Just confirm the pint you select is labelled gluten-free. Or churn your own ice cream base using dairy, cream, eggs, sugar and gluten-free flavorings like cocoa powder or vanilla extract.

Gluten-Free Cookie Dough

Bake up your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe substituting the wheat flour for an alternative gluten-free flour blend. Brown rice flour, almond flour, oat flour or coconut flour all work beautifully. The cookies don’t even need to be baked, just form the dough.

For convenience, many brands sell ready-to-eat gluten-free cookie dough in tubes. Double check the label that wheat is not listed and the dough is produced in a gluten-free facility.

Mix and Freeze

Fold cubes or small balls of the prepared gluten-free cookie dough right into your ice cream base. For best texture, let the mixture freeze completely solid before serving. The cookie dough will be chewier when fully frozen.

Get creative with mixins like chocolate chips, nuts, sprinkles or candy pieces. Just ensure any add-ins are also free of gluten sources. Enjoy scooping out your custom gluten-free cookie dough ice cream creation!

Avoid Cross-Contamination

Be very careful to prevent any cross-contact when working with wheat flour initially if baking regular cookie dough alongside your gluten-free batch. Thoroughly clean surfaces and tools before switching to gluten-free ingredients.

The Bottom Line

Most regular cookie dough ice creams contain gluten, making them unsuitable for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. However, there are now many brands offering gluten-free cookie dough ice cream, either certified or made with gluten-free ingredients. Carefully reading labels and contacting manufacturers is key to identifying truly gluten-free options. Those with celiac especially need assurances of proper protocols to avoid any cross-contamination. While it takes a little extra care when selecting, people requiring a gluten-free diet can still enjoy delicious cookie dough ice cream. Just be sure to confirm the product is a safe choice!

Leave a Comment