If you’ve ever stayed at a DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, you’ve likely been the benefactor of its signature warm chocolate chip cookie.
Unfortunately, the cookie contains gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and sometimes oats, so those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance don’t get to enjoy this iconic welcome gift.
However, as of August 4, 2023, guests staying at DoubleTree Hotels in the U.S. are being offered a gluten-free chocolate chip welcome cookie thanks to the hotel chain’s partnership with Partake Foods.
Matt Schuyler, the chief brand officer of Hilton, said in a press release that the gluten-free cookie is DoubleTree’s effort to be more “inclusive” and “considerate” of the allergy community.
The cookies are not only gluten-free but also non-GMO, vegan, and free from the top nine allergens (wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, dairy, eggs, soy, fish, sesame, and shellfish).
Each cookie is individually wrapped and given to guests in a sealed package.
How Do the Cookies Taste?
When I found out about the cookies, I called my local DoubleTree Hotel to confirm that they had the cookies (they did). I then asked if I could have one, even though I’m not a guest, for research purposes for this article.
The front desk clerk said, “Yes, come on in!”
As it turns out, she’s gluten intolerant and understood why I wanted to try the cookie.
And when I rolled up to my local DoubleTree Hotel a few minutes later, the clerk happily handed me a cookie to try.
The cookie’s texture was soft but definitely falling apart and crumbling. It didn’t have the best texture and was a bit gritty.
As for taste, the cookies were meh. They weren’t great, but they weren’t bad. You know it’s missing something (i.e., gluten) when you bite into it.
I could also taste the oats, which gave the cookie a slightly nutty flavor even though it was nut-free.
And Partake Foods was cheap with the chocolate chips. It needed a lot more chocolate to be worthy of its calories.
The Bottom Line
I’m thrilled that the DoubleTree Hotel is giving gluten-free guests a signature gluten-free welcome cookie. I give the DoubleTree Hotel an A+ for its efforts to be inclusive.
However, I give Partake Foods a B- because, while it created a safe, gluten-free cookie for our community, the gluten-free community deserves a delicious chocolate chip cookie, too. I’m grateful for the cookie, but alas, there is more work to be done.
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