Babycakes Gluten Free Treats

If you're familiar with my other gluten free product reviews on Associated Content, you know that I'm often writing about things that come in boxes and bags. Thankfully, I live in New York City and I have local gluten-free resources as well. Perhaps the most exciting of these is Babycakes, a gluten-free, kosher, vegan bakery on the Lower East Side of Manattan.

Babycakes is a tiny shop with a fantastic selection. They have gluten-free cupcakes in multiple flavors (always lemon, vanilla and chocolate, but often carrot, ginger, pumpkin and red velvet as well), gluten-free cornbread, gluten free cookies and gluten-free cakes and muffins as well. Everything in the store is baked fresh daily, and none of it contains refined sugar - raw sugar is used in some cases and agave nectar in others. Every item on display is shown with a card indicating the type of sweeter used, whether it contains soy and whether it is gluten free or only wheat free.

Babycakes has a knowledgeable and friendly staff and the store also takes orders for gluten free birthday cakes and wedding cakes. All of the gluten free products look beautiful and taste excellent as well. Perhaps most remarkable are their gluten free brownies with raw sugar (they also have a gluten free version made with agave nectar). They are rich, moist and very chocolaty. Also amazing are their gluten free chocolate chip cookies which taste exactly like the ones my mother used to make (but with gluten!) when I was a kid.

Because Babycakes bakes fresh daily, they always have a different gluten free selection on hand, so if you need something for a special occasion it is best to call and place an advance order. Additionally because gluten free ingredients are more expensive than standard ingredients, some items at Babycakes can seem expensive, at least if you're not used to gluten free prices. Personally, I'm happy to pay $3.75 for a cupcake I can actually eat! Savvy gluten free shoppers know to look for their day old gluten free goods that taste just as delicious but cost half the price.

Babycakes has a tiny seating area (but tiny, I mean room for three close friends) and a cute 1940s vibe. There's always music playing and the place is often packed with grateful people who travel far out of there way in order to eat gluten free. Additionally, Babycakes usually does special gluten free treats for specific holidays including Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day and even St. Patrick's Day.

If you're not in New York City, never fear. Babycakes is working on opening up another gluten free location in Los Angeles and also provides gluten free products via mail order.