Glazed flaky pie crust, sweet warm filling, Katz Gluten Free makes this childhood favorite easy for us gluten-free folks to enjoy once again with their mini fruit pies. I was a bit skeptical about how good these freezer to microwave sweets would be, especially after seeing how small they were. Would they be the same way too fake-sweet, overpriced baked good everyone else seems to sell under the “Gluten Free” banner?
Pockets Of Flaky Warm Goodness
Apple pie taste after just 15 seconds in the microwave? Is that even possible? Apparently it is possible, and Katz Gluten Free totally nailed it. The crust was flaky, and the filling was warm and sweet but not sickeningly sweet. Very much like a mini apple hand pie. The listed time worked perfectly in my microwave. No mouth-scorching or frozen chunks waiting to surprise you.
I give these teeny sweet treats a rating of 4 out of 5 pies. The only thing that would keep me from buying these again is the size of the pies. You get 4 tiny pies for around $4 at Sprouts. That being said, if you’re watching your calories, each little pie counts as a serving at 140 calories each.
More than anything else these mini apple pies remind me of the Home Run Pies or Hostess Turtle Pies I coveted as a kid. Without that weird mouth coating.
Allergy-Friendly
Besides great taste, Katz Gluten Free offers up allergy-friendliness. These pies, and many of their other frozen pastries, are great for people looking for sweets without many of the most common “problem” ingredients.
- Gluten Free
- Dairy Free
- Nut Free
- Soy Free
- Kosher
According to their website, they are Certified Gluten-Free by the Gluten Intolerance Group, and run a dairy and nut free facility.
More Yummy Options
I was surprised to find out how many different products Katz Gluten Free actually produces. The Katz family have been perfecting their recipes since 2006. Mrs. Katz has two gluten intolerant children of her own. So, it’s no surprise that they’re getting gluten free right.
These mini pies do contain eggs, corn, and palm oil. So, they are not vegan. The Katz Gluten Free website does have options to search for products that are corn free, vegan, rice free, sugar free, and soy free. So, they are aware of other allergies, diets, and intolerances and hopefully those sections will grow.
I was vegan for years and Miss M still is. So, I’d love to see that section grow especially.
- Cream Filled Cupcakes
- Cream Filled Snack Cakes
- Donuts
- Donut Holes
- Mini Pies
- Cinnamon Buns
- Fritters
- English Muffins
- Bread
- Dinner Rolls
- Multi-Purpose Dough
- Burger Buns
- Quick Breads
- Muffins
In addition to their ready made options, Katz Gluten Free also produces mixes for cookies, cakes, and breads, most of which ARE vegan!
Your Convenient, Go-To Gluten-Free Picks
I’m usually ready to bake when we want a treat, but for those times when you want grab-and-go or freeze-and-heat options, it’s nice to have the kind of selection Katz Gluten Free offers. Are there any snacks or treats you grew up with that are now off-limits because of allergies or other diet choices/restrictions? Let us know!
Did You Know?
Turtle Pies
I’m sure that some of our younger, older, or even just less geeky readers might have never heard of Hostess Turtle Pies. In 1991, the second movie in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film series was released. For excited The Secret of the Ooze fans everywhere, Hostess introduced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pudding pies, “filled with vanilla puddin’ power.” Some kids wanted them for the collectible stickers and cards inside each package, but I genuinely loved the taste and the fact that the glaze was green. Not a huge selling point for me these days.