Gluten Free Cake at Starbucks – An Exclusive Preview

Your eyes are not deceiving you – that is gluten-free cake at Starbucks!  While the national launch doesn’t hit stores until May 5, 2009, employees are getting a preview this week.  The Starbucks blog gives more information:

“The Orange Valencia Cake is a delicious moist citrus cake bursting with Valencia oranges and topped with crunchy almonds.  Not only is it gluten-free, it is also prepared with 7 simple ingredients: Whole Eggs, Valencia Orange Pulp, Almonds, Sugar, Orange Peel, Gluten Free Baking Powder, and Orange Oil.  Plus it delivers 30% of your daily value of vitamin C.

Keep on the look out for it in the pastry case with a sign that says “gluten-free.”  A single cake will be displayed unwrapped so you can see it clearly, but don’t worry.   They all come individually packaged to prevent cross contamination.  And with the ingredient list right on the package, it’s easy to see exactly what you are eating.  Whether you are gluten-sensitive or not, this product is delicious and satisfying and I hope you will all enjoy it soon.”

You can see in the out of focus cell-phone photo that each cake IS “wrapped for gluten-free goodness.”  Each cake is about the diameter of a baseball and is considered a “single-serving” [Nutritional info: Calories – 290, Fat – 16g, Carbs 52g (23g sugar), Protein 9g]

What a wonderful change – to have access to gluten-free food across the country without fear of cross-contamination.

And the best news?  My source on the inside says it tastes good – sweet and a little bit like orange but not overwhelming so.  It’s very moist and doesn’t crumble like many gluten-free cakes. She’s a gluten-glutton and gives it a thumbs up!  I should have one of my own to taste later this week.  Any one in the test market get to try it yet?

Let’s hope it’s such a smashing success that Starbucks and other chains continue to add gluten-free options to their menus!