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Questions about our products:
Is there soy in any of your products? Yes soy lecithin is in some of our products. We never use soy flour of any type. Soy lecithin at times can contain small amounts of soy protein. Most, but not all, people with soy allergies are able to tolerate soy lecithin. Please consult your physician to determine the guidelines for your specific diet.
What do you use instead of wheat flour in your baked goods? In all of our products, we mix combinations of white rice flour, potato starch, corn flour, corn starch, tapioca starch, and xanthan gum.
Do you add preservatives to your products? No. We do not add any preservatives to our products.
Many companies claim to make the best-tasting products. How do we know A&J's tastes as great as they claim they do? We know that that is easy to say that we taste the best and hard to live up to. With our team of bakers, we believe that anything can be done. We blind taste-tested against the finest wheat-based products, and when our tasters could not tell the difference between the two, we knew A&J Bakery could make the claim that our baked goods are of the finest caliber.
Why gluten and wheat free? A gluten free diet is a diet that excludes the gluten protein. Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye. A gluten free diet is used to treat celiac disease as well as autism spectrum disorders. There are endless benefits to going gluten free, even if the initial start is frustrating. When gluten is not digested properly, the proteins in gluten cause inflammation of the small intestines of people with celiac disease. Eating a gluten free diet helps people with celiac disease control their symptoms and prevent complications.
Do you carry vegan items? Yes, we do. We are always looking to add to our vegan menu. We offer apple, apple crumb, blueberry, blueberry crumb, cherry, and strawberry rhubarb pies, as well as lemon, apple, and fig squares, allergen friendly brownies, and cookies. We also create delectable frosted sugar cookies in various shapes.
Do you have any dairy-free items? Yes. Our goal is to make products that cover a wide variety of specialized diets. For our dairy-free items, we make apple, apple crumb, blueberry, blueberry crumb, cherry, and strawberry rhubarb pies, and we also have apple and lemon squares. Our dairy-free menu also includes our moist pumpkin loaf and banana bread made with fresh whole bananas. Additionally, we have rich decadent chocolate brownies topped with our homemade fudge. To feed your craving for cookies, we offer chocolate and sugar cookies as well as shaped frosted sugar cookies. In need to bring something to a child’s party? You can pack our chocolate or vanilla cupcakes topped with rich buttercream frosting.
What is xanthan gum am why is it used? Xantham gum is a polysaccharide powder typically cultured on material from corn. When combined with a liquid, it adds thickness to gluten deprived batters, salad dressings, and even ice cream. It also adds integrity to gluten free baked goods, making them less crumbly.
Do you make yeast free items? Yes. All of our products are yeast free except for the following: all of our breads and rolls, pizza shells, pizzas, bread crumbs, croutons, and stuffing mix.
Do you have any soy free items? Yes, A&J Bakery offers a traditional holiday gingerbread house kit that is free of the top 8 major allergens. We also carry assorted shaped cookies, sugar and chocolate chip cookies, carrot cake, graham crackers, and several more items!
Questions about our facility:
Are there sesame seeds in your bakery? Our facility has no sesame seeds.
Do you take any precautions with regard to latex allergies? Yes. We understand that many people with food allergies may also be allergic to latex. Therefore, we only use non-latex gloves in our kitchen.
Do you take any steps beyond not using the major food allergens to minimize risk of cross-contamination? Yes. As one of the owners has food allergies herself, we have set up the facility and the entire production process the way we would want it done for us. We sanitize all of our equipment and small ware on a regular basis and our facility is cleaned multiple times every day.
Do you have a storefront? Yes. We are located at 1458 Park Avenue in Cranston, RI. (Across from Marchetti's Restaurant).
Is your facility completely nut and gluten free? Yes! We are a 100% peanut, tree nut, and gluten free facility. We are aware of the importance of a dedicated gluten and nut free facility because we understand the level of difficulty with food allergies.
Questions about our gingerbread houses:
Do your gingerbread houses contain any allergens? No. We strive to ensure that there are no allergens present in any of our allergen-friendly products, especially through means of cross-contamination. Our gingerbread houses are vegan, and do not contain any of the top 8 major allergens: peanut, tree nut, gluten, egg, wheat, dairy, shellfish & soy. They also do not contain sesame.
How are the houses packaged to arrive safely? Our houses are baked here at the facility and then allowed to cool before packaging them. The candy and toys are packaged in airtight plastic wrap, and then placed next to the gingerbread pieces in the box. The gingerbread pieces ,along with the candy and toys, are then shrink wrapped in ROP (reduced oxygen packaging). This is so that the house is fresh when it arrives to your home. The airtight package is then wrapped in bubble wrap and placed in the product box. When it is shipped, the product box is again wrapped in bubble wrap and placed in a shipping box to arrive to your home in a timely manner.
Is this product edible? Yes. The gingerbread house pieces and candy that comes with the kit are 100% edible. The toys that come in the kit are not edible. However, please keep in mind that there are no preservatives added to the gingerbread house pieces, and if they are left out for a long period of time then they may no longer be edible.
How can I preserve my house year after year? To preserve your gingerbread house, place it in an airtight bag and container to prevent damage, and keep in a room between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to keep your house away from extreme heat or cold to prevent melting or cracking. If you choose to freeze your house, be sure to place it in airtight packaging so that there is no damage to your gingerbread house from moisture.
My house is too hard/too soft. What can I do to fix it? Usually when a house is too hard or too soft it is due to the environment that it is in. If it is too soft, it is most likely due to the moisture in the air, so try moving your house to drier air.
Do the houses come pre-assembled or will I assemble it myself? No, houses are not pre-assembled. They are all "assemble-it-yourself" kits. We provide you with the materials necessary to decorate your house with warm spirits!
How long do the houses last and how long are they edible? If stored under optimal conditions, houses can last a number of years. Our houses can be edible for up to one year if stored in proper conditions. Recall that if they are on display, they will be collecting particles from the air and may not be optimal for your health if consumed.
Does the kit come with candies? Yes, all kits come with pre-packaged candies to decorate your house with.
Questions about gluten and casein:
What is celiac disease? Celiac Disease (CD), also known as celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is a genetically linked autoimmune disorder that can affect people of all ages. In people with CD, eating certain types of grain-based products set off an immune response that causes damage to the small intestine. This, in turn, interferes with the small intestine's ability to absorb nutrients found in food, leading to malnutrition and a variety of complications. The offending amino acid sequences are collectively called "gluten" and are fond in barley, rye, and to a lesser extent oats. Anyone who has celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity is gluten intolerant by definition.
Questions about casein: Casein is one of the major proteins in the milk of all mammals including cows, goats, and humans. To be casein-free you must avoid dairy. This means all milk products, including those labeled "lactose-free."
*For more information about common allergens, or to explore whether you have any food allergies,
please speak to your physician.
Questions about our pricing:
Why do some cookies cost more than other cookies? These unique cookies are more expensive to produce due to features of great value. In order to have the highest possible control over the quality and allergy safety of our products, we do not do the common, significantly less expensive practice of contracting with "co-packers," where someone else bakes and packages the products in a kitchen shared with other products. Rather, we have our own dedicated facility for our products only. In this way, we can design and supervise every aspect of staff, equipment, ingredients, baking, and packaging. We make our products from high quality, wholesome ingredients. We source all of our ingredients with great care, always choosing allergen safety over price. Additionally, we conduct allergen testing for peanut, almond, egg, and milk proteins in every batch of ingredients as well as on random batches of finished product. Finally, we bake in small batches, take time for allergy education, and donate regularly to food pantries and to allergy related organizations.
Do you offer products in bulk, such as for schools and other food service? Yes. One of our owners is a full time school teacher, and we know how tough it is for schools to get products that are allergen safe. To support all local schools' and other non-profits' effort to support our children, we offer discounted bulk rates to keep the cookies as affordable as possible for all of the children, and the kids without allergies will love them too.
Do you take credit cards? Yes. We accept most credit cards. There is an $8 minimum order policy for credit and debit cards.
Questions about shipping:
Do you ship outside of the United States? Yes, we do. If you live outside of the US, just fill out our contact form (link below). We would love to speak to you regarding an order.
What is your shipping policy? Please note, our products are made to order, so please allow us 3-5 days to prepare your order, plus the additional shipping time, which will depend on your choice of shipping. Our products are created and shipped with great care, and your satisfaction is very important to us. If you're unhappy with something you received, please contact us so that we may work with you to resolve the problem to your full satisfaction. **Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee a delivery time for any order placed on our site. Orders are shipped as soon as we can. Due to UPS regulations, we cannot offer refunds for delays caused by extreme weather conditions, incorrect, or incomplete purchases.
