If you like to take breaks with this chocolate treat, but you’re also trying to avoid gluten, you may be wondering if KitKats are safe for you to eat. Are KitKats gluten-free? Are there other chocolate treats you should try to avoid? You can learn more about KitKats and the best treats for gluten-free diets below.
Are KitKats Gluten-Free?
Unfortunately, most KitKat products on the market are made with wheat flour. Gluten is naturally found in wheat products, and wheat is used to make KitKat’s wafer cookies. This means that all flavors of KitKat bars contain gluten.
With that said, more than 300 varieties of KitKats have been released over the years. Even if you can’t enjoy these crispy treats now, there may be a new gluten-free option at some point in the future.
They sometimes have limited edition products, but not bars, that are gluten-free. There was a gluten-free Easter bunny, gluten-free mini Easter eggs and in Germany, we even have a Kitkat advent calendar that’s gluten-free!
If you live outside of the US, google your country’s name + gluten-free Kitkats to see if Kitkat has any gluten-free products where you live.
In the meantime, there are plenty of tasty alternatives for you to try.
What Are Gluten-Free Alternatives to KitKats?
KitKats are made with gluten, but there are plenty of competing products on the market that are not made with wheat (the following products are all gluten-free at the time of writing – 12/2021). Some of the best options available include:
- Glutino Chocolate Wafers
- Elite Gluten-Free Chocolate Wafers
- Swoffle Waffle Cookies
- Schar Chocolate Hazelnut Bars
- Rip Van Wafels Chocolate Stroopwafels
Not only are all of these products gluten-free, but many of them are vegan as well. If there are people in your household with dietary restrictions, and you all love KitKats, these products are definitely worth picking up.
If you’re highly sensitive to gluten, you’ll need to check labels carefully before buying anything processed.
In the US and many other countries, common allergens used must be labeled on products. So if a gluten product is being used, it should say it on the label.
The label might also say something like: “may contain (traces of) gluten,” “processed in a shared facility,” or “made on shared equipment with gluten-containing foods.”
What Are KitKats Made From?
While the ingredients list of a KitKat can vary depending on the flavor you choose, these snacks generally have two main components. Inside a KitKat wrapper, you’ll find long, thin wafer cookies.
Those cookies are coated in milk chocolate. KitKats are designed to be broken apart, allowing you to enjoy your treat one piece at a time.
Gluten isn’t naturally found in pure chocolate, but it’s not unusual for chocolate products to include additional ingredients that contain gluten. Cookies can also be risky for people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease. Most types of cookies are made with wheat flour.
Can You Make Your Own KitKats?
While homemade KitKats may not be exactly like the real deal, they’re surprisingly easy to make. If you’re not much of a baker, or you’re pressed for time, you can try dipping gluten-free wafer cookies in melted chocolate or a chocolate-flavored spread, like Nutella. This is a quick and easy way for you to satisfy a craving for KitKats.
If you want to make something that’s a little more authentic, you can try making KitKat-shaped wafer cookies from scratch. Use a recipe for gluten-free wafers rather than just subbing in gluten-free flour, which likely wouldn’t work.
Once the cookies are prepared, melt some milk chocolate and add a few tablespoons of coconut oil. Place the cookies in molds and pour the melted chocolate over them so you can get that perfect KitKat shape!
What Are Some Other Gluten-Free Chocolate Treats?
If you can’t find a good KitKat alternative at your grocery store and you’re not up to making your own KitKats at home, there are plenty of other treats you can use as a replacement for KitKats. Some of the most popular chocolate products on the market (again, at the time of writing in 12/2021) are gluten-free, including
- Original Butterfinger Bars (standard bars, minis, and king size, but read the labels as they’ve recently changed the recipe!)
- Reese’s Fast Break Bar
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Heath Bars
- Dr. Schar Chocolate Hazelnut Bar
- Skor Toffee Bars
There are some candy brands that you’ll need to avoid if you’re staying away from gluten, but there are lots of other products that you can indulge in. Since the demand for gluten-free products has been increasing every year, it’s likely that even more brands will offer products without gluten in the future.
Instead of feeling down because KitKats aren’t gluten-free, treat this as an opportunity to sample all kinds of different snacks. From wafer cookies to chocolate bars, you have lots of different options. You may wind up finding something that you love even more than KitKats!
Homemade candy recipes
I have hundreds of gluten-free recipes and most of my candy recipes are gluten-free.
Here are some of my favorite gluten-free chocolate candy recipes:
- Paleo Fudge
- Healthy Peanut Butter Balls
- Chocolate Raspberry Truffles
- Paleo Peanut Butter Bars
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Football Truffles
I hope I’ve answered your question on whether or not Kitkats are gluten-free. :) If you have any other questions, definitely leave a comment below and I’ll be happy to help answer them.
