Are Cracker Barrel Corn Muffins Gluten Free
Cracker Barrel is a popular American chain of restaurants that is known for its delicious southern-style comfort food, including its famous corn muffins. However, if you are someone who is sensitive to gluten or has celiac disease, you may be wondering whether these corn muffins are gluten-free or not.
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a type of protein that is commonly found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. For people with celiac disease, consuming gluten can cause damage to the lining of the small intestine and lead to a variety of symptoms, including bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. Even for those who are not gluten sensitive, consuming too much gluten can lead to digestive problems and inflammation.
Are Cracker Barrel Corn Muffins Gluten-Free?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. Cracker Barrel's corn muffins are not gluten-free. According to their website, the ingredients for their corn muffins include enriched corn meal, wheat flour, and buttermilk, all of which contain gluten.
Gluten-Free Options at Cracker Barrel
While Cracker Barrel's corn muffins are not gluten-free, the restaurant does offer a variety of gluten-free options on their menu, including:
- Grilled chicken tenderloins
- Country green beans
- Sweet whole baby carrots
- Homestyle sliced apples
- Apple cider BBQ chicken breast
- Steak fries
- Buttered corn
Additionally, Cracker Barrel offers a gluten-free menu that includes a variety of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, it is important to note that while the restaurant takes precautions to avoid cross-contamination, they do not have a separate gluten-free kitchen, so there is still a risk of gluten exposure.
Gluten-Free Corn Muffin Recipe
If you are a fan of corn muffins but need to avoid gluten, fear not! There are many gluten-free corn muffin recipes available online that are easy to make and delicious. Here is a simple recipe that you can try:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup gluten-free cornmeal
- 1/2 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a muffin tin with paper liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, vegetable oil, and egg.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each muffin cup about 2/3 full.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
- Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy your delicious gluten-free corn muffins!
Conclusion
While Cracker Barrel's corn muffins are not gluten-free, the restaurant does offer a variety of gluten-free options on their menu. If you are a fan of corn muffins but need to avoid gluten, there are many gluten-free corn muffin recipes available online that are easy to make and delicious. With a little creativity and effort, you can enjoy all of your favorite foods without sacrificing your health.