Cookies are a common dessert or snack in American culture. Chocolate chip or oatmeal, double chocolate or ginger, they can bring a smile to almost any child's, or adult's, face. So it can be hard if you find out you are allergic to wheat or gluten or have an issue with sugar. Making wheat-free and sugar-free cookies at home is not much more complicated than baking regular cookies, but it is hard to find these types of cookies in the grocery store.
Identification
Sugar-free and wheat-free cookies should contain no sugar, wheat or any derivative of the two. Though some cookies are labeled "sugar-free" if they have no added sugar, they may have naturally-occurring sugar if they contain fruit or dairy. Wheat-free cookies may not necessarily be gluten-free, as gluten is a part of other grains that don't contain wheat, such as barley, rye and oats that are not certified gluten-free. If you have an allergy to wheat and not gluten, these other grains should not bother you, but if you are gluten-intolerant, make sure to stay away from all baked goods containing gluten.
Purpose
Health concerns are a major reason to eat a sugar-free and wheat-free diet. As Registered Dietitian Marlisa Brown notes in her book, "Gluten-Free, Hassle Free:
A Simple, Sane, Dietitian-Approved Program for Eating Your Way Back to Health," eating wheat when you have a gluten allergy can cause digestive issues and may lead to arthritis, osteoporosis, thyroid problems and autoimmune illnesses. Sugar worsens these conditions as it suppresses the immune system. Eating a sugar-free and wheat-free cookie gives you a chance to enjoy a food you used to without threatening your health.
Types
It is not easy to find store-bought brands of cookies that are both sugar-free and wheat-free. Nana's gluten-free cookies contain only natural fruit juice, but this is still considered a sugar, although it is not a refined form of sugar. It's easier to bake these types of cookies at home. Chef Kelly E. Keough offers many recipes in her book, "Sugar-Free Gluten-Free Baking and Desserts," including one called, "Allergy-free Chocolate Chip Cookies." The recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups sprouted buckwheat, 1/4 cup soaked flaxseeds, a chopped apple with skin, 3 drops of liquid stevia, 2 tsp. vanilla extract and 1/2 cup raw cacao nibs.
Considerations
Sugar-free and wheat-free cookies will taste different than regular cookies, so be prepared to acclimate to a different flavor. When you are baking them, recognize the texture, time to prepare and time to bake them will differ from traditional cookies. Work with a healthcare professional or nutritionist before drastically changing your diet, as symptoms may not stem from wheat or sugar issues.
References
- "Gluten-Free, Hassle Free: A Simple, Sane, Dietitian-Approved Program for Eating Your Way Back to Health"; Marlisa Brown, RD; 2009
- "Nana's Cookie Company": Gluten-Free Cookies
- "Sugar-Free Gluten-Free Baking and Desserts"; Kelly E. Keough; 2009
