Trader Joe’s Launches New Gluten-Free Baguette

The gluten-free community is abuzz with news that Trader Joe’s has launched a new gluten-free baguette in its nearly 600 stores nationwide in September 2024.

Trader Joe’s continually surprises and delights the gluten-free community by constantly launching new and exciting products. All of these products are just as or more delicious than the last, at least in my humble opinion.

I’ve loved the gluten-free madeleine cookies, gluten-free cookie dough, gluten-free pumpkin ravioli, and gluten-free chocolate donut holes, just to name a few of the new products launched by Trader Joe’s in the last few years. All of these products have made my [gluten-free] heart sing.

And now, Trader Joe’s has launched a unicorn gluten-free product: A gluten-free baguette.

Here are six things you need to know about the new gluten-free baguette:

(1) It’s a Bakery Item

The rustic loaf is shelf-stable (not frozen) and can be found alongside the other fresh-baked gluten-free breads in the bakery section. It has a beautiful outer crust and a soft center, just like you’d expect from a baguette.

(2) It Has a Simple Ingredient List

The baguette is made from a mix of tapioca starch and oat flour. Please note that only a small number of people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance cannot tolerate oats.

The good news is that most people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance can tolerate oats, and oat flour undoubtedly gives this bread its soft texture and smooth taste.

The ingredient list is clean and short. It contains water, tapioca starch, oat flour, sunflower oil, sourdough starter, xanthan gum, flaxseed meal, and sea salt.

It’s also gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, which will undoubtedly excite many people.

(3) It Offers a Slight Sourdough Tinge

The baguette is made with a gluten-free sourdough starter, giving it a slightly tangy sourdough tinge. I loved the flavor. It satisfies that rustic loaf taste I’ve so deeply missed.

(4) It’s a Steal!

The new gluten-free baguette costs only $4.99 for a 10-ounce loaf. This is a steal in gluten-free land!

(5) It Tastes Great, but…

I ripped off a chunk of the bread and didn’t warm it. I wanted to taste it in its natural state.

I loved the way it tasted. The sourdough tang comes through in every bite. It’s chewy thanks to the outer crust but still soft inside.

Trader Joe’s recommends warming it in a 400°F oven for about ten minutes before serving to make the crust crisp.

I warmed the rest of the bread in the oven and added a pat of butter before serving. Yes, I can attest, it’s even better warmed.

If you leave the baguette sitting out on your counter for a few days, it will harden like other fresh breads. Consume it within a day or two of buying it for the best results.

(6) It’s Versatile

I could see this baguette being enjoyed in many ways. Here are some ideas to inspire you:

• Cut the baguette into small slices, warm the pieces of bread in your oven, then serve it with olive oil (for tipping) or an olive tapenade.
• Enjoyed the baguette as a sub sandwich roll filled with your favorite sandwich fixings. Warm the sandwich in your oven before eating.
• Cut the baguette into slices, warm the slices, then top each slice with homemade bruschetta.
• Sliced the baguette in half lengthwise, smear it with butter and garlic, and bake it as a garlic bread loaf.

The possibilities are truly endless.

Can You Trust Trader Joe’s Products?

Did you hear somewhere online that Trader Joe’s products aren’t safe? This is untrue and a falsehood spread by people trying to make your life harder and less tasty.

The truth is, Trader Joe’s says it tests all of its “gluten-free” labeled products for gluten to ensure they meet the FDA’s gluten-free guidelines. Trader Joe’s isn’t exempt from meeting the FDA’s gluten-free labeling guidelines. Anyone who tells you not to trust Trader Joe’s is sorely misinformed about food labeling and regulations in the US.

I’ve also tested dozens of Trader Joe’s products with my Nima gluten-detecting device, and never has it found gluten when testing a Trader Joe’s product.

So go ahead. Live a little. There’s no need to deprive yourself of all the fun products Trader Joe’s offers. Enjoy!

Additional Reading

You might enjoy these articles, too:

• Can You Trust the Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Label?
• Trader Joe’s 10 Best Gluten-Free Pasta Options Ranked Best to Worst
• 10 Irresistible Gluten-Free Pumpkin Products at Trader Joe’s (2023)