The Best Starbucks Bakery Treat For Gluten-Free Foodies
As of June 2023, Starbucks has only one certified gluten-free bakery item on its menu, which is surprising when you consider how many of its beverages are, or can be made, gluten-free. Thankfully, it's a good one. The Marshmallow Dream Bar comes in its own packaging, with a gluten-free certification right on the label. Starbucks describes it as a "crispy, chewy marshmallow bar, made of ooey-gooey, soft marshmallows, [and] crispy rice." It's basically a fancy Rice Krispie Treat, and it's delicious.
The Marshmallow Dream bar contains 230 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 44 grams of carbohydrates, 24 of which are sugar. So, it's definitely not a diet food, but for anyone looking for a no-gluten indulgence that can be found at the nearest Starbucks, this bar is a dream come true. We love that Starbucks has at least one certified gluten-free item available in its bakery — and that it's a classic treat that can be enjoyed by adults and kids alike. There is also rumored to exist a gluten-free chocolate brownie available at limited Starbucks locations, but at this time, it is not on the menu and remains a foodie myth.
To find out if there are any other gluten-free goodies available at Starbucks, we combed through the menu and researched the brands it stocks, as well as the ingredients in the in-house baked goods and beverages. Here's what we found out.
What other foods at Starbucks are certified gluten-free
Starbucks does not guarantee that any of its unpackaged foods are allergen- or gluten-free. The only items that can safely be considered 100% free of gluten ingredients will be individually packaged and labeled as certified gluten-free. While the Marshmallow Dream Bar is the only bakery item that fits this category, there are a handful of other foods at Starbucks that are also certified GF. These are:
Justin's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Perfect Bar (dark chocolate chip or regular peanut butter), KIND Bars (blueberry vanilla & cashew or salted caramel & dark chocolate nut), That's It Fruit Bars (all flavors), Kettle Brand Potato Chips (all flavors), and Country Archer Hickory Smoked Turkey Jerky.
For those with gluten intolerance or celiac disease, it's imperative to check for gluten-free certification and to avoid any cross-contamination. Others who just prefer to eat less wheat or are not actually sensitive to gluten will find a wider variety of options they can have at Starbucks. While not certified gluten-free, these foods do not contain gluten ingredients. They are Egg Bites (kale and mushroom, bacon and gruyere, and egg white and roasted red pepper), Strawberry Overnight Grains made with chia seeds, Peter Rabbit Organic Fruit Pouches (all flavors), Rolled & Steel-Cut Oatmeal, Yogurt Parfaits, and Starbucks Butter Popcorn. Depending on the location, different salads and bowls, fresh fruit, and other pre-packing items can be found on a regional and seasonal basis as well.
How to order gluten-free drinks at Starbucks
There are plenty of gluten-free beverages on the Starbucks menu to choose from. Most (but not all) of the fresh-brewed, hot or iced coffee, espresso, and tea drinks are gluten-free. As are many of the milk-based, creamy drinks, like caffè latte and caffè mocha, chai tea latte, Americano and cappuccino, matcha crème Frappuccino, and the aptly named Pink Drink. The fan-favorite Soothing Medicine Ball Tea is also gluten-free. Note that blended drinks are made on shared equipment with foods that contain gluten.
The flavorings and toppings are where ordering gluten-free at Starbucks gets tricky. The syrups and sauces that are free of gluten include almond, caramel, cinnamon, coconut, hazelnut, mango, mocha, peach, peppermint, pumpkin spice, and toasted vanilla. While there are too many toppings to list that are GF-safe, those which are known to contain gluten are chocolate cold foam, chocolate cookie crumble, Java Frappuccino chips (which are the same chips in the double chocolaty chip frappuccino), and malt powder.
If you don't want to deal with all the complexities of ordering gluten-free at Starbucks, you can still enjoy the best of what one gluten-free bakery treat has to offer. It's easy to make your own copycat version of Starbucks' gluten-free Marshmallow Dream Bar by simply adapting your preferred Rice Krispie Treat recipe. The secret to making these gluten-free is to not use Kellogg's Rice Krispies, which contain non-GF malt made from barley. Whip up a batch using gluten-free crispy rice cereal, and you're on your way to your own personal marshmallow dream.