Ultimate Guide to the Best Gluten Free Bagels
If you're a gluten-free eater, you know how hard it can be to find delicious, satisfying bread products. Bagels, in particular, can be a real challenge to replicate without gluten. But over the past few years, several amazing products have hit the market. We've tasted countless options to bring you the very best gluten-free bagels out there. Whether you're looking for a classic plain bagel or something a little more adventurous, we've got you covered. Without further ado, let's dive in and discover the world of gluten-free bagels!
By Sam Silverman (aka @bagelambassador) and Erin Smith (aka Gluten-Free Globetrotter)
Bagel Point’s Gluten Free bagels are now available for Nationwide Shipping
Best Overall: Modern Bread & Bagel
Modern Bread & Bagel is hands down the best gluten free bagel on the market. The taste and texture most closely resembles a gluten-based bagel. We're not the only ones who think so. EverythingIsEverythnig.nyc, a project that rated over 200 bagels across NYC, ranked Modern Bread & Bagel as the #6 overall bagel in the city. Not just gluten-free bagels - all NYC bagels.
MB&B has an extensive menu of baked goods and other foods. The owner and baker behind these miraculous baked goods is Orly the Baker, who was driven to develop a gluten free baking product that didn't compromise on taste because of her food-centric husband living with celiac disease. She has succeeded with flying colors!
Everything at Modern Bread & Bagel is 100% gluten-free, and it's 100% delicious. They have locations in NYC's Upper West Side and Chelsea, LA, and offer national shipping.
$$: $20 per 6 pack (3.33/bagel)
Best Frozen: Flakely
Of all the frozen bagels we tried (Modern Bread & Bagel we picked up fresh), we found Flakely to be the most flavorful. It had a nice mouth feel with a good amount of saltiness. The bagels are on the smaller side and have a slightly odd shape, but they’re an overall a delicious choice if you're getting bagels shipped frozen.
Flakely Gluten Free is based out of Philadelphia. Chef Lila, who worked for Wolfgang Puck, The Food Network, and in some of the country’s best restaurants before being diagnosed with Celiac Disease, is committed to creating pastries that 'taste-identical' to their wheat flour counterparts.
You can find her bagels, croissants, breads, and pastries at her Manayunk based kitchen shop window every Saturday from 12-2, or through local Mainline area and Philadelphia delivery, as well as Nationwide shipping.
$$: $12.50 per 4 pack ($3.12/bagel)
Best Variety: The Greater Knead
The Great Knead's bagel are dense and flavorful. They make for a substantial meal. Greater Knead offers 12 flavors, ranging from the classics like everything, poppy, and salt, to an array of sweet flavors like chocolate chip, french toast, and snickerdoodle. This is the best option if you're looking to mix it up!
The Greater Knead is a bakery based outside of Philadelphia, PA. CEO & Founder Michelle Carfagno was inspired to make gluten free bagels when her sister and grandfather were diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2012.
$$: $12.60 - $15.60 per 4 pack ($3.15 - $3.90/bagel)
Most accessible: Trader Joe’s
While lacking flavor compared to the others on this list, Trader Joe's makes up for it in accessibility and affordability.
This bagel can be found in Trader Joe's nationally, and for just $4.49 per 4-pack it's affordable enough to make it an every day breakfast staple.
This bagel won't blow your socks off, but the convenience and reliability are tough to beat.
$: $4.49 per 4-pack ($1.12/bagel)
Best Newcomer: original sunshine
Original Sunshine is one of the newest entrants to the gluten-free bagel market. As of the publication of this guide, it's not yet available for retail but can be found at select stores in NYC and LA (check their website for details).
Original Sunshine looks the most like a classic New York bagel. Taste is on the sweeter side, but the texture is excellent. The everything toppings were a bit overpowering.
It’s worth noting that Original Sunshine is made with gluten-free wheat starch. According to the FDA, a food is gluten free if “an ingredient that is derived from a gluten-containing grain and that has been processed to remove gluten (e.g., wheat starch), if the use of that ingredient results in the presence of 20 parts per million (ppm).” Original Sunshine contains 5.3 ppm.
Original Sunshine is the brainchild of Brad Kent, a world-renowned food scientist and chef with established family roots in the food industry. Keep an eye on Original Sunshine, we have a feeling there'll be more to come from them in the future