Just a reminder for readers wondering why I don’t cover every new gluten-free baking ingredient: these reviews focus only on products I truly liked and those that were new at Expo West. Read on for the latest and most noteworthy finds, and please share your favorite baking ingredients in the comments—new or old!
See my intro to Expo and the philosophy behind my reviews, as well as other new-product write-ups for Granolas & Bars, Frozen Gluten-Free Breads, Gluten-Free Main Dishes, and Gluten-Free Cookies.
Gluten-Free Baking Ingredients
Enjoy Life – Mega Chunks
I’ve used Enjoy Life’s semi-sweet chocolate chips for years in my gluten-free, dairy-free baking. These morsels are made in a dedicated gluten-free, nut-free facility and are soy-free as well. They’re delicious and pair perfectly with allergy-free cookie recipes, but until recently they were quite small—more like “mini-chips,” which some bakers don’t prefer.
At Expo West, Enjoy Life introduced a solution: Mega Chunks. And they’re truly mega. Instead of standard-size chips, these pieces are closer to chocolate logs, each about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. They use the same allergy-friendly chocolate formula but in a larger size for serious chocolate lovers.
Trans-fat free, vegan, kosher, GFCF, and free of artificial ingredients, Mega Chunks come in two sizes and are ideal when you want baked goods that meet strict dietary needs. Whatever your family’s restrictions, these larger chips bring chocolate back to the table in an inclusive, satisfying way.
Justin’s Nut Butter
I enjoyed meeting Justin at the show—he’s personable and down to earth. Justin’s line includes convenient single-serve packets of nut butter in flavors ranging from maple-almond to chocolate-hazelnut, perfect to squeeze over fruit for a quick protein boost.
He also unveiled gluten-free, Fair Trade, organic Peanut Butter Cups—an indulgent but exciting addition. There’s a dark chocolate variety that’s dairy-free and particularly outstanding; it earned recognition among VegNews’ “Top 12 Hottest New Vegetarian Products.” Attendees and friends raved about these cups, and they made a lasting impression.
Earth Balance
Earth Balance is my go-to for baking because their spreads are gluten-free, vegan, and free of hydrogenated oils and trans fats. Their products reliably perform in recipes, which is why I was excited to hear about their new release at Expo West.
Earth Balance introduced a Coconut Spread that retains the brand’s clean ingredient profile while being soy-free and made with organic extra-virgin coconut oil. The spread delivers the benefits and flavor of coconut oil but with significantly less saturated fat—about 5 grams versus 14 grams in pure extra-virgin coconut oil per comparable serving. It’s certified organic and Non-GMO, and it was named a “Best of Show” pick by VegNews Magazine.
I had the opportunity to work with a prototype and develop recipes for it. The Coconut Spread makes fantastic gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, soy-free peanut butter cookies that drew enthusiastic reactions at the show—people kept coming back for more, and one non-GF attendee called them “incredible.”
At the booth Earth Balance also sampled the spread on Rudi’s sandwich bread, and both were well received. Look for this product to be available by summer, alongside new vegan mayonnaise varieties called Mindful Mayo™ (original, organic, and olive oil). For recipes that use the Coconut Spread, check Earth Balance’s recipe site where they’ll be posted soon.
Note: Another product recognized among VegNews Magazine’s “12 Hottest New Vegetarian Products” is MimicCreme’s Healthy Top. I recorded a video interview with MimicCreme about that product during Natural Products Expo East last season.