Trader Joe’s has carried gluten-free pizza crust for a long time, but they recently switched to a new and improved recipe that has significantly improved the taste and quality of the crust.
I found this out while shopping for my Wisconsin Cheese pizza recipe at Trader Joe’s and noticed the new gluten-free crust in the freezer section.
The employees said this was TJ’s original gluten-free cauliflower crust in new packaging. They were wrong!
This crust is not the old recipe with just new packaging. I did a taste-test review of the original crust, and I can tell you this new cauliflower GF crust is ten times better in terms of taste, texture, and quality.
So, let me give you the full details and review of this new gluten-free pizza crust from Trader Joe’s because this crust may push the other brands of GF crusts out of your shopping list for a while.
Bottom Line
TJ’s gluten-free cauliflower crust comes in a pack of two and, at the time of this writing, is very reasonably priced at $5.99.
The main ingredient is cauliflower but it also has cornstarch and rice flour which make the crust nice and crispy.
It has no artificial flavors or preservatives, and it’s also Vegan.
This crust is one of the market’s most realistic-tasting and crispy cauliflower crusts.
Pros
- Tastes like wheat crust
- Crispy texture
- No harmful preservatives
- Gluten-free and Vegan
- Easy to use (10-13 minutes of baking)
- Great price (2 crusts for only $5.99)
Con
- Only available at Trader Joe’s
Taste, Texture, Smell, and Appearance
Taste
I made the Domino’s Wisconsin cheese recipe on this crust I mentioned earlier. The Wisconsin cheese pizza combines six cheeses: Mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, asiago, and feta.
It was the ultimate cheese pizza and TJ’s crust did not disappoint. It tasted like it was made with wheat flour, which perfectly paired with the toppings without any distinguishable cauliflower taste.
This is quite an improvement from the original cauliflower crust Trader Joe’s used to carry, which tasted and smelled like cauliflower, and required prebaking to even look like a pizza crust.
Texture
This is a thin crust similar to most ready-made gluten-free crusts on the market.
It holds up well to toppings without getting soggy. The bite is crisp, and it does not crumble.
It does, however, dry out if left out for more than 15 minutes, so don’t leave the pizza out for too long for the best taste and texture.
As far as the number of toppings, you can easily top it with multiple toppings without worrying about the crust being too delicate.
Smell
Honestly, when I first opened the package, I smelled a hint of cauliflower and cornstarch, but it faded away as soon as the crust was exposed to air.
Overall, this crust has no strong smell that’ll remind you of its main ingredients.
Appearance
Here are the pre and post-baked images of the crust so you can see it yourself.
Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Crust Ingredients
CAULIFLOWER, CORNSTARCH, RICE FLOUR, CHICKPEA FLOUR, SUNFLOWER OIL, THICKENERS (GUAR GUM, XANTHAN GUM), SALT, CONTAINS 1% OR LESS OF PSYLLIUM FIBER, POTATO FIBER, SUGAR, YEAST
Allergens: Soy
Trader Joe’s GF Crust Nutrition Facts
Calories and Macros Per 1/3 Crust
- Calories = 170
- Net Carbs = 30g
- Protein = 3g
- Fats = 3g
TJ’s Cooking Instructions
Here are the cooking instructions listed on the box. I will also share my experience following these instructions to let you know how it turns out and if any adjustments need to be made.
Conventional Oven
Preheat oven to 425 ° F
Remove crust from freezer
Allow to stand at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes
Top with your favorite toppings and bake directly on center rack of oven for 10-13 minutes or to desired level of crispness
My Baking Experience
The cooking instructions are perfect and there’s no need to make any adjustments.
However, even though baking time will vary depending on your oven, I still don’t recommend keeping this crust in the oven longer than 13 minutes because it can dry out quickly.
My pizza was ready and perfectly cooked in 11 minutes on the middle rack of my preheated oven set at 425 degrees.
And as always, I’d like to remind you that the best way to keep the airflow even to the crust is to place the crust on a baking rack before putting it in the oven. Baking racks allow air to circulate evenly to the top and bottom, resulting in a crispier crust.
Final Thoughts
I highly recommend TJ’s gluten-free crust for anyone looking for a delicious and healthier alternative to traditional pizza crusts.
It tastes great and has the perfect texture, making it a winner in my book.
Pick it up next time you’re at Trader Joe’s and test it out next time you’re in the mood for a homemade pizza.
You won’t be disappointed!