Gluten-free St. Patrick's day treat for child's classmate - Philadelphia
March 14, 2018 2:15 AM Subscribe
I'm making good luck/St. Patrick's Day shamrock cookies for my son's preschool class for Friday (they also have a performance that day, hence the "good luck" aspect). There is a gluten-free child in the class. For Valentine's Day, I lucked into some gluten-free heart-shaped cookies at Whole Foods, but I've struck out so far on gluten-free shamrock treats. They don't have to be cookies...
So far, I've tried Whole Foods, CVS (looking for, like shamrock peeps or some other themed candy-ish thing) and one Target. It has to be in Philadelphia (Fairmount, University City, Center City, East Falls or Germantown), today or tomorrow. Today I'll try another Target and Wawa and I'll have Grandma be on the lookout in her suburb.
In the past, the teachers/his parents have given him marshmallows when other kids get cookies or something, and the aforementioned gluten-free substitute cookie that I sent, but I'm not sure what else. I don't have time to make anything complex, but I could, e.g., buy some marshmallows and frost some green sprinkles on there if someone thinks that will work (I have the cookie decorating stuff already).
Halp?
So far, I've tried Whole Foods, CVS (looking for, like shamrock peeps or some other themed candy-ish thing) and one Target. It has to be in Philadelphia (Fairmount, University City, Center City, East Falls or Germantown), today or tomorrow. Today I'll try another Target and Wawa and I'll have Grandma be on the lookout in her suburb.
In the past, the teachers/his parents have given him marshmallows when other kids get cookies or something, and the aforementioned gluten-free substitute cookie that I sent, but I'm not sure what else. I don't have time to make anything complex, but I could, e.g., buy some marshmallows and frost some green sprinkles on there if someone thinks that will work (I have the cookie decorating stuff already).
Halp?
What about calling a gluten free bakery and getting something made, wrapped, and labeled for the child?
posted by tilde at 2:36 AM on March 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by tilde at 2:36 AM on March 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I promise I won't thread-sit - quick additional comment: I know about Sweet Freedom and I'm sure there are other similar bakeries, I just won't have time to make multiple trips and spend time ordering stuff. At this stage, I need to walk into a store and grab something that I can put together while I'm doing the cookies. Jelly beans are a great idea - I can't think of a bulk candy store in CC but the Easter stuff is in drug stores, which should be rainbow/pot-o-gold-ish!
posted by Pax at 2:56 AM on March 14, 2018
posted by Pax at 2:56 AM on March 14, 2018
The Pamela's Baking/Pancake mix makes excellent shortbread cookies.
posted by humboldt32 at 3:02 AM on March 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by humboldt32 at 3:02 AM on March 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Be careful with generic jelly beans, check for gluten-free labeling. Not all flavors of beans are okay, but Jelly Belly specifically does gluten free for every flavor of bean. Skittles brand jelly beans are too.
posted by Mizu at 3:06 AM on March 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Mizu at 3:06 AM on March 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Enjoy Life cookies are really good and allergen-friendly. See if a store near you carries them. I personally love the sugar crisp crunchy ones and the snickerdoodle soft ones. Could definitely add green frosting and sprinkles! (ETA: Send the box ingredient label along if you take them out and decorate them.)
posted by Crystalinne at 3:08 AM on March 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Crystalinne at 3:08 AM on March 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'm a person with Celiac and want to thank you for going out of your way to help this kid. Every single grocery and drugstore has lots of GF options, from cookies to candy and popcorn and snack treats. It should not have to be a treasure hunt to find anything.
I could, e.g., buy some marshmallows and frost some green sprinkles on there if someone thinks that will work
This is really kind of you, but unless your kitchen surface areas and tools are ALL GF and without traces of flour anywhere (this is highly unlikely), then please don't do this. Cross contamination is very real for people with Celiac and it makes us feel terrible when well-intended friends create cookies and breads and treats for us in their blenders and pans that have wheat flour residue, because we can't safely eat those.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 5:12 AM on March 14, 2018 [5 favorites]
I could, e.g., buy some marshmallows and frost some green sprinkles on there if someone thinks that will work
This is really kind of you, but unless your kitchen surface areas and tools are ALL GF and without traces of flour anywhere (this is highly unlikely), then please don't do this. Cross contamination is very real for people with Celiac and it makes us feel terrible when well-intended friends create cookies and breads and treats for us in their blenders and pans that have wheat flour residue, because we can't safely eat those.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 5:12 AM on March 14, 2018 [5 favorites]
Can you make Shamrock or other themed Rice Krispies Treats? While Brand Name Rice Krispies aren't GF, some generic/store brand Crispy Rice cereals are. Wegman's Store Brand Crispy Rice Cereal absolutely is.
As yes I said, yes I will Yes , if you can't do the kitchen cleaning prep, it may not be worth it, but if you can, it's a quick and easy treat to make that everyone can have.
posted by RhysPenbras at 5:44 AM on March 14, 2018
As yes I said, yes I will Yes , if you can't do the kitchen cleaning prep, it may not be worth it, but if you can, it's a quick and easy treat to make that everyone can have.
posted by RhysPenbras at 5:44 AM on March 14, 2018
Response by poster: Thank you, folks!
yes I said, yes I will Yes - I appreciate the warning about the surfaces! I always shake my head at the restaurants and products that say things like "99% gluten free" or something. I have a close friend with celiac disease who has told me the same thing you have - that tiny amounts can really cause pain. The gluten-"free" craze probably ends up hurting people with actual celiac disease.
Every single grocery and drugstore has lots of GF options, from cookies to candy and popcorn and snack treats. It should not have to be a treasure hunt to find anything.
Yeah, and I will resort to that - I was just looking for something festive in the St. Patrick's Day theme, knowing I didn't have time to special order or make something separate and elaborate.
Thanks again!
posted by Pax at 11:49 AM on March 14, 2018
yes I said, yes I will Yes - I appreciate the warning about the surfaces! I always shake my head at the restaurants and products that say things like "99% gluten free" or something. I have a close friend with celiac disease who has told me the same thing you have - that tiny amounts can really cause pain. The gluten-"free" craze probably ends up hurting people with actual celiac disease.
Every single grocery and drugstore has lots of GF options, from cookies to candy and popcorn and snack treats. It should not have to be a treasure hunt to find anything.
Yeah, and I will resort to that - I was just looking for something festive in the St. Patrick's Day theme, knowing I didn't have time to special order or make something separate and elaborate.
Thanks again!
posted by Pax at 11:49 AM on March 14, 2018
Best answer: Philadelphia you say? The obvious choice is OH RYAN'S IRISH POTATOES which are in every Wawa, supermarket and pharmacy now.
posted by WeekendJen at 12:56 PM on March 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by WeekendJen at 12:56 PM on March 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
If you're in a real bind, Skittles are GF too and their tagline is "taste the rainbow" which fits the theme of the holiday pretty well, I think.
posted by Mizu at 2:35 AM on March 14, 2018 [2 favorites]