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"Not Wheat Flour, Sun Flour!" by Hannah Kaminsky of Bittersweet...
Ask most run of the mill omnivores what they think of vegan foods in general, and most responses from the unenlightened are undoubtedly less than enthusiastic. Even as new vegan products gain popularity in mainstream supermarkets, it is still largely mistaken as a very spartan, restrictive path to follow. Ask again about a gluten-free diet, and any previous weariness is likely to transform into firm disapproval. Now, a gluten-free vegan...? It would seem incomprehensible, if not completely impossible. I won't lie - I still often see a diet without any gluten as being a challenge to follow, and since it's not a medical necessity for me to do so, it is really not a high priority to choose specifically gluten-free products. Many baked goods that exclude wheat flour rely more heavily on eggs, so I can see why vegans like myself might have trouble committing to such a diet. However, thanks to a growing number of innovative companies, it is becoming a more realistic, not to mention tastier, possibility by the day. Awareness of Celiac Disease is still fairly new to me. While I've successfully created a handful of wheat-less desserts myself, I still can't help but be impressed when experiments in this field actually produce not only edible, but delicious foods that show no compromise from their glutinous counterparts. Who would have thought that ground beans and legumes could be reconstituted into a cookie that might rival any containing tradition and non-nutritive white flour? Before trying to accommodate those with allergies, I would have perished the thought! I know many people who become reluctant to sample such goods upon hearing these unusual ingredients, but there's no way to prove their culinary value without taking the plunge. Now companies like Sun Flour Baking Company are helping the unadventurous swallow their fears along with their allergen-free cookies, brownies, and donuts, and proving that even the most unexpected but natural materials can create one hell of a treat. 
Unabashedly declaring on the front of every box "made without wheat, gluten, eggs, dairy...", it's clear from first glance that the producers take pride in not only what they put into their cookies, but also what they leave out. Having received many accolades and awards for their traditional vegan treats, they have dozens of animal-free cookies available for direct shipment at a moment's notice. More recently, they have also been increasing their sugar- and gluten- free offerings with which to treat people from all walks of life. My sampling of six varieties only scratched the surface in terms of their whole product line. For any garden-variety vegan, picking and choosing any cookie out there must make them look like a kid in a candy shop! Although my selection was a bit one-sided, I was intrigued and curious to see what you could do with such a limited number of ingredients. 
Overwhelmed by the number of choices, I decided to start by comparing the shortbread options in my possession. First up was the Vanilla, as I hoped to get a good base line of how this traditional, basic cookie would be translated without its usual staple ingredients. If this was any indication of things to come... Then color me disappointed. Admittedly, shortbread tends to be quite dry and crumbly under any circumstances, but once you bit off a chunk, it dissolved into this powdery dust that stuck to my teeth slightly as I tried to chew. The taste was... Vanilla, I suppose, but in some terrible irony it tasted completely unnatural, like those awful protein powders that try to pass themselves off as "vanilla" flavored. Maybe if they were dipped in chocolate they would be more palatable... But honestly, what wouldn't? Not exactly the culinary epiphany I had hoped for after hearing so many other rave reviews, but still I soldiered on. It's a good thing that I hadn't given up after this lack-luster biscuit, because things started looking up from here. 
More crumbly than any other cookie I would sample in this whole bunch, the Peanut Butter Shortbread looked like someone had taken a hammer to them! It may be partially the fault of rough shipping, but the pieces pictured were the only full cookies in the box. No matter, I don't take issue with it because that means you can pretend that you're eating twice as many!
Sporting a yellow-ish hue, this shortbread exuded a nice nutty aroma appropriate for it's designated title. The same textural issues were still present, but it was easier to ignore as these had much more flavor to distract the palate with. I found that they were actually quite pleasant - Sweet and salty, it had the best of both sides of the snack food spectrum. In fact, as I munched thoughtfully, I found that it really grows on you, and it was hard to take just one cookie at a time. The quality that I had expected finally manifested itself in these, because if you look very hard, you can see tiny pieces of the actual peanuts that contribute such great flavor and even a nice crunch every now and then. 
Best intact of all were the Lemon Shortbread, shedding fewer crumbs but still a bit powdery around the outside. Looking similar to the vanilla, it's no surprise that once again, that off-putting mouth-feel was still present, but this time it was accompanied by an almost buttery taste and feel. Paired with a bright citrus tang and only a vague sweetness, I truly enjoyed these alongside a nice cup of green tea. Perhaps not something I would seek out again if given the choice of anything made by Sun Flour Baking Company, but certainly not something I would turn down if it were offered to me. After the initial disappointment, things seemed to be looking up. Maybe shortbread just isn't my thing to begin with, so perhaps a different palate would enjoy these more anyways. Moving on to the softer varieties, I could scarcely imagine what might await my ready taste buds. Continue on for Hannah's review of the No Gluten Brownie Babies, Chocolate Chip Cookies and Cinnamon Cookies from Sunflower Baking Company. Where to Purchase: All of the vegan treats from Sunflour Baking Company can be purchased directly through their website. They do ship internationally.
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