With the rising rates of diabetes and obesity, many people are looking for healthier food options like sugar free cookies. Sugar free cookies allow cookie lovers to enjoy their favorite treat without all the added sugar. To find quality sugar free cookies, bakers like Cheryl’s are a great option to consider. But does the popular bakery Cheryl’s actually offer sugar free cookies? Let’s explore the details and find the answer.
An Introduction to Cheryl’s Cookies
For those unfamiliar, Cheryl’s is a popular bakery known for their fresh, soft, and decadent cookies. They offer a wide variety of classic cookie flavors like chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, and snickerdoodle. Cheryl’s bakes their cookies in small batches throughout the day so customers can enjoy warm, gooey cookies. The brand started back in 1981 in Westerville, Ohio when Cheryl Krueger began baking and selling cookies from her house. Demand grew enough that Cheryl opened a storefront in Columbus in 1999. Since then, Cheryl’s has expanded across the U.S. with over 100 bakery locations in 25 states. You can also order Cheryl’s cookies online and have them shipped fresh anywhere in the country.
So Cheryl’s has established itself as a popular, beloved cookie brand over the past 4 decades. Their cookies are considered affordable indulgences – they’re priced a bit higher than grocery store cookies but lower than artisan bakery cookies. Cheryl’s is especially popular for gift-giving because of their variety, custom packaging options, and nationwide shipping. The bakery has a classic, nostalgic Americana vibe that takes customers back to homemade cookies fresh from the oven. Between the smell of warm cookie dough, the cozy bakery ambiance, and their time-tested recipes, Cheryl’s has earned its reputation for quality, crave-worthy cookies.
The Growing Demand for Sugar Free Sweets
In recent years, consumer demand has grown substantially for reduced sugar and sugar free food options. According to recent surveys, nearly 71% of American adults say they actively try to avoid sugar in their diets. Research shows that excessive sugar consumption is linked to increasing rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. The average American eats over 17 teaspoons of added sugar every day, much higher than the recommended daily limits. The movement against excessive sugar intake has led to the popularity of low carb, Keto, Paleo and other diets that restrict sugar. The anti-sugar trend has swept through all categories of food, especially baked goods like cookies.
Many consumers still want to enjoy sweet treats but without all the guilt and health impacts of sugar. This growing audience has fueled the rise of sugar free cookies on grocery shelves and bakery cases across America. Sugar free cookies are often made with sugar replacements like stevia, monk fruit, erythritol, and allulose. These allow bakers to mimic the sweet taste of sugar while reducing calories, carbs, and blood sugar response. Popular mainstream brands like Oreo, Chips Ahoy, and Keebler have launched their own sugar free cookie lines to appeal to the health-conscious demographic.
Specialty bakeries have also tapped into demand for sugar free sweets. Customers want the same delicious flavor and soft, chewy texture of traditional cookies but without the added sugars. When iconic cookie brands like Cheryl’s get into the sugar free space, they attract a lot of customer interest and attention.
Do Cheryl’s Cookies Offer Sugar Free Options?
So let’s answer the key question: does Cheryl’s bake sugar free cookie options? The short answer is yes – Cheryl’s has responded to consumer demand and now offers a line of sugar free cookies.
Their sugar free lineup includes popular flavors like chocolate chip, peanut butter, and oatmeal raisin. These are sweetened using maltitol and stevia leaf extract instead of regular table sugar. Maltitol is a sugar alcohol commonly used as a 1:1 sugar replacement in sugar free baked goods. Though not completely carb and calorie free, maltitol has 75-90% fewer carbs and calories than regular sugar. Stevia extract comes from stevia leaves and contains rebaudioside compounds that offer a very sweet taste without calories or carbs. Combined, these two sugar free ingredients allow Cheryl’s to mimic the sweetness of traditional sugar in a reduced carb, lower calorie cookie.
Here is a nutrition comparison of Cheryl’s regular chocolate chip vs sugar free chocolate chip cookies:
| Nutrition Facts | Regular Chocolate Chip Cookie | Sugar Free Chocolate Chip Cookie |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 140 calories | 100 calories |
| Carbohydrates | 20g | 13g |
| Sugar | 10g | 0g |
| Fiber | 0g | 2g |
| Protein | 1g | 1g |
As you can see, while not completely sugar free, Cheryl’s sugar free cookies cut the calories, carbs, and sugar substantially compared to the original. The addition of fiber also helps slow digestion and control blood sugar response. Customers who still want to enjoy the taste of a freshly baked Cheryl’s chocolate chip cookie can now do so with a reduced sugar impact. The bakery uses the same dough base and chocolate chips in their sugar free cookie so flavor and texture remain familiar.
Where to Buy Cheryl’s Sugar Free Cookies
Wondering where you can get your hands on Cheryl’s popular sugar free cookies? Here are a few ways to find them:
Cheryl’s Bakery Locations
Your best bet is to visit a Cheryl’s bakery location in person. There, you can find their full range of sugar free cookies baked fresh daily. Cheryl’s has over 100 bakery locations across 25 U.S. states, primarily in the Midwest and East Coast regions. You can find their bakery finder online to locate a Cheryl’s store near you.
Online Orders
Don’t live near a Cheryl’s bakery? You can conveniently order their sugar free cookies online to be shipped fresh anywhere nationwide. The Cheryl’s website makes it easy to select your preferred sugar free cookie flavors, quantities, and packaging. Online orders are baked and shipped within 1 business day. Shipping costs vary based on your location but start around $10-$15.
Retail Stores
Select retail stores also carry Cheryl’s sugar free cookies on shelves and in the bakery section. You may be able to find them at larger grocery stores like Kroger, Meijer, Safeway, and Publix. Availability can vary by location. Your best bet is to call ahead and ask your local store if they carry Cheryl’s sugar free cookie options before visiting.
QVC
Lastly, Cheryl’s sugar free cookies can be found on the home shopping channel QVC. They offer multi-packs of top flavors and frequently promote them on air. Purchasing through QVC allows you to easily find and order Cheryl’s sugar free cookies from the comfort of home.
Reviews of Cheryl’s Sugar Free Cookies
Cheryl’s sugar free cookies have garnered mostly positive reviews since their launch. Here are some of the most common compliments and critiques:
Pros
- Maintain the classic Cheryl’s cookie taste and texture
- Sweetened just right – not overly artificial tasting
- Softer and chewier texture than grocery store sugar free brands
- Free of the “cooling” aftertaste of some sugar free cookies
- Don’t spike blood sugar as much as regular cookies
- Allow cookie lovers to enjoy a treat with less guilt
- Very satisfying when a sugar craving strikes
Cons
- Still contain calories, carbs, and sugar alcohols so not truly sugar free
- Less crunchy exterior compared to original recipe
- Can have a mildly artificial sweetener aftertaste
- More expensive than grocery store sugar free cookie brands
- Only available from Cheryl’s (not sold in stores nationally)
Overall most customers agree Cheryl’s sugar free cookies are a tasty treat when you want the flavor of a baked good with less sugar. They praise the balance of sweetness and say the texture exceeds grocery store versions. Some wish they were even lower in calories and carbs for keto and low carb diets. And those who avoid sugar alcohols may want to skip them. But for a freshly baked, soft and delicious sugar free cookie shipped nationwide, Cheryl’s bakery is a top choice.
In Conclusion
Cheryl’s, known for their famously delicious cookies, now offers a line of sugar free cookies to appeal to health-conscious customers looking to reduce their sugar intake. Their sugar free options include popular flavors like chocolate chip, peanut butter, and oatmeal raisin sweetened with sugar alcohol maltitol and stevia leaf extract instead of regular table sugar. While not completely free of carbs and calories, Cheryl’s sugar free cookies have significantly less sugar than their original recipe. You can find these locally at Cheryl’s bakery locations or order online to be shipped fresh nationwide. Reviews praise the great taste and soft texture compared to grocery store sugar free cookie brands. So if you love Cheryl’s signature cookies but want to limit sugar, their sugar free lineup lets you enjoy the flavors you crave in a better-for-you option.