DON’T purchase Gluten Free Cupcakes from Harvest Bakery, Bristol CT

When I found out I had Celiac Disease, I was desperate to find a bakery that made gluten free cupcakes. Harvest Bakery in Bristol, CT did, and they were really good. In fact, they tasted better than regular cupcakes.

1 ½ years ago, I was going to a party and decided to bring a dozen GF cupcakes with colored frosting, (mainly because I wanted them 😊). When I got to the party, I tried one and it was horrible. It tasted strange. Unfortunately, other people had grabbed a few but I took the rest away (thinking something was wrong with them). I brought them back to the store the next day and as soon as they saw them, they said, “These aren’t gluten free”. I was so angry, but they offered me store credit and I figured, everyone makes mistakes.

6 months later, we had another party to go to. Again, I ordered a dozen GF cupcakes but this time, I gave specific instructions, to make sure they were going to be gluten free. I opened the box, and they looked colorful, so I paid for them and went to the party. Only to discover (after tasting one), that they were not gluten free!... again!!! I was so angry; I just threw them out. I should have brought them back but instead I vowed to never go back there again.

One year later (this past weekend), I needed to bring gluten free cupcakes to a party. I called Harvest (since it’s the only place I knew that sold GF cupcakes near me). This time I asked the person to bold the words gluten free, star them, and let the baker know that they had to be GF. I called during the week to make sure the order was still correct, and they read it back to me; letting me know the stars and bold lettering were there. After picking them up, we went to the party. I took one out, split it in half and I could tell they were not gluten free…. again!!!! (I can’t tell by looking at them with the frosting, but I could tell when I split them open). When I brought them back to the bakery, they could tell right away that they were not gluten free. If they can identify them that easily, why are they not able to readily identify them when they are being packaged for pick up? I understand there are those that just want to be “gluten free” however for those of us that have true allergies, eating gluten can be DANGEROUS to our health.

For such a reputable company to make such a huge mistake not once, but three times, is unacceptable. I’m not sure how the other bakery items are at Harvest but I think they should get out of the gluten free side of it. After they investigated the order, I was finally able to go back and pick up my refund.

Do yourself a favor, if you need gluten free cupcakes, don’t go to Harvest Bakery. Go to Cake Gypsy (I finally found a better place!!!). Their cupcakes taste better, and the people there really care about their customers and their allergies.

I will not be going back to Harvest Bakery or recommending them to anyone.