While you may have to give up a lot when you receive a diagnosis of celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or a gluten or wheat allergy, many ice cream treats are gluten-free. Familiarizing yourself with safe choices at the ice cream shop or grocery store can help you enjoy yourself without worry.
Ice Cream at Home
Look for natural ice creams with minimal additives and preservatives to reduce the risk of gluten containing ingredients. Vanilla, chocolate and chocolate chip ice creams by Edy's Grand, Edy's Homemade, Ben and Jerry's, Blue Bell, Blue Bunny, and Breyers are all typically gluten-free, according to Celiac Central. Avoid flavors with obvious gluten contamination, like oatmeal cookie, chocolate chip cookie dough or cookies and cream. Keep in mind that flavors may be produced on the same production lines and in the same facility. Consider your own gluten-sensitivity in this situation. Many soy-, rice- or coconut-based ice creams are also gluten-free, making them suitable for those on gluten-free diets.
Ice Cream Bars and Novelties
Fruit juice bars and popsicles, including Minute Maid fruit juice pops, Flintstones pushups, Edy's Fruit Bars, Skinny Cow Fudge Bars and Breyers Fruit bars are gluten-free. Many frozen novelties at Dairy Queen are also gluten-free, according to the Ventura County Celiacs website. Keep in mind that ingredients may change and you should check labels each time you purchase these products. Ice cream sandwiches are not gluten-free, unless labeled so. You can purchase gluten-free ice cream cones at specialty retailers.
Ice Cream Shops
Major ice cream shops do have gluten-free ice cream offerings; however, cross-contamination is a concern. At Cold Stone Creamery, cake batter, chocolate cake batter, cinnamon roll, cookie batter, brownie batter and Oreo ice creams contain gluten, as well as many mix-ins. Mixing stones and scoops may be contaminated by gluten. Many flavors of Baskin-Robbins ice cream are free of gluten, but again, scoops are used in various ice creams. Consider your own tolerance for cross-contamination before including a visit to an ice cream shop in your gluten-free lifestyle. Soft-serve ice creams at McDonald's and Dairy Queen are free of gluten, according to Ventura County Celiacs.
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