One day, Liz Lovely just vanished. The company reportedly had financial issues and just closed their doors. Some other good dairy-free and gluten-free cookie options include Cybele’s Free to Eat Cookies, My Dad’s Cookies, and Maxine’s Heavenly Cookies.
This vegan cookie company used to make big billowing wheat-based cookies, but they’ve made a complete transition to only sell Liz Lovely Gluten Free Cookies.
What makes Liz so Lovely? In my opinion, it’s the way she truly understands the big soft cookie. She knows that it should not be cakey, fluffy, nor crispy. Rather it should be generously oversized, dense (but not hearty), and almost cookie dough-esque in nature. Liz mastered her formula and then made the switch to gluten-free. Truthfully, I really miss those original wheat-based cookies, which were largely unrivaled. The gluten-free ones certainly aren’t the same, but they are pretty good in their own right.
Tasting Notes on Liz Lovely Gluten Free Cookies
Chocolate Moose Dragon
With just the slightest tear into the package, the scent of freshly-baked brownies filled the air. While I am by no means a chocoholic, I do love the fudgy taste of dense brownies, and these cookies delivered just that. Rich, thick, soft, doughy, and coated in a generous dousing of sugar crystals. They were pure heaven. I kid you not, I completely forgot I was taste-testing a gluten-free cookie!
These cookies were certainly chocolaty, but not overly so. Rather than shooting for a bold bittersweet punch, Liz kept it tame and rich. She enhanced the flavor with occasional bursts of semi-sweet chocolate chips throughout (perhaps my favorite part). I would venture to say that this cookie is a good kid-friendly option. Yet, it’s sophisticated enough for those more mature dark chocolate-loving taste buds.
While I expected this flavor to come in third on my original list of Liz Lovely gluten-free recommendations, it could very well have been my favorite. My husband concurred. These just barely edged out the competition to take first place in his book.
Ginger Snapdragon
I love molasses cookies, and the three to four daily cups of ginger tea that I consume will attest to my love of this potent spice. Needless to say, I enjoyed this molasses ginger cookie immensely, but not quite as much as I expected. The sweet ginger spiciness was a huge hit with my taste buds, but at a few points I actually found it to be just a bit too much. I was yearning for just a little more of that rich molasses and sweet brown sugar balance.
The texture was nice and cohesive, soft and forgiving. Yet it leaned away from doughy, with a lighter, slightly grainy feel that just barely ventured into the cakey zone. Of course we are on the Liz Lovely scale here, where truly cakey cookies don’t actually exist. My husband commented that they tasted more like spicy gingerbread than molasses cookies, and I think he may have hit the nail on the head.
While I loved every delicious bite, and could easily devour another package, I was left wanting for the wheat-based Ginger Snapdragons of days past. That said, the massive size and delicious ginger spice of this decadent cookie will likely be a hit with any gluten-free foodie. And I think it could fool even the most devoted all-purpose flour cookie fans.
The Facts on Liz Lovely Gluten Free Cookies
Price: $2.49 per 6.3-ounce cookie
Certifications: Liz Lovely Gluten Free Cookies are Certified Vegan, Certified Gluten Free, Non-GMO Verified, and Certified Kosher Parve.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Liz Lovely Gluten Free Cookies are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, vegan / plant-based, and vegetarian. Most varieties are made without nuts and/or peanuts. The chocolate they use contains soy lecithin; cookies made without chocolate are soy-free. Nonetheless, always read the ingredient statement prior to consumption and check with the company on their manufacturing processes for all varieties if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. Processes and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company / product.
For More Product Information: Visit the Liz Lovely website at lizlovely.com.
Very sweet and rich
Originally the queen of jumbo vegan cookies, Liz later banished gluten from her facility. Though we miss the spot on texture and incredibly cohesive flavors of the wheat-based originals, the gluten-free varieties could certainly earn a best in class and were still devoured in no time flat. They’re very sweet, rich and potent, emphasizing the flavors within. And the bite is still soft and tender, as big cookies should be.
