Making the new Gluten-Free Cake for Starbucks

Starbucks took us inside their process of making the gluten-free Orange Valencia Cake: the cake that was put on store shelves today!  I didn’t get inside — literally — but rather virtually (along with many other blog readers) through Starbucks’ Ideas in Action blog.

Ensuring gluten-free cake stays gluten-free

Chris, the Lead Product Developer for the cake explained in the post the cake is made.  He says it all starts with seven ingredients: eggs, Valencia orange pulp, almonds, sugar, orange peel, gluten-free baking powder, and orange oil. Starbucks has been careful about cross contamination. Chris says the ingredients are blended and baked at a partner bakery. “Because gluten can easily contaminate through pans, tools and even in the air, the bakery has a special gluten-free zone with dedicated equipment, pans and washing stations.”

Once they are baked and wrapped, they go into an even more in-depth process, “We ensure the product is gluten-free by lab testing the cakes every day (less than 20 parts per million) before they are shipped to our stores.” He also says employees have been trained to keep the cake in the wrapper once a customer buys it.

It really is an informative blog post — along with pictures!  Check it out. They’re also on Twitter: MyStarbucksIdea.

Tags: cake, gluten-free, Starbucks