By

Wendy Stoltz,

Hristina Polk / Last Modified On April 3, 2026

Yes, there's such a thing as gluten-free goldfish. And that's great news for most of us, because goldfish crackers aren't usually gluten free. Every variety made by Pepperidge Farm lists enriched wheat flour as the first ingredient, which means every flavor, every bag, every handful is off-limits if you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

And there's good (and tasty) news. There's a homemade recipe below that uses real sharp cheddar cheese and honestly tastes better than the original.

Are Goldfish Crackers Gluten Free?

No. Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers contain wheat and are not gluten free. Wheat flour is not a trace ingredient or a manufacturing cross-contact concern here. It is the primary ingredient. There is no flavor, variety, or sub-line of Goldfish that is safe on a gluten-free diet.

This covers every product in the Goldfish lineup:

• Cheddar Goldfish
• Original Goldfish
• Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar
• Flavor Blasted Sour Cream and Onion
• Pretzel Goldfish
• Goldfish Grahams (all flavors)
• Colors Goldfish
• Organic Wheat Goldfish
• Pizza Goldfish
• Old Bay Goldfish
• Frank's RedHot Goldfish
• Baby Goldfish

The word "organic" on the bag does not mean gluten free. Organic Goldfish are made with organic wheat flour. Wheat is wheat.

Can Someone with Celiac Disease Eat Goldfish?

No. A single serving of Cheddar Goldfish (55 pieces) contains approximately 20 grams of wheat flour. That is not a cross-contamination situation. That is a full gluten dose. No variety is safe for someone with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

If you are managing celiac disease for yourself or a child, Goldfish crackers are a hard no across the board.

What Happened to Gluten-Free Goldfish Puffs?

For a brief window, Pepperidge Farm did make a gluten-free product called Goldfish Puffs. They came in Mega Cheese, Cheddar Bacon, and Buffalo Wing flavors and were made from cornmeal instead of wheat flour. They were genuinely gluten free.

They have been discontinued. Goldfish Puffs are no longer available from Pepperidge Farm or any major retailer. As of April 2026, Pepperidge Farm does not make any gluten-free version of Goldfish crackers, and there has been no announcement of one in development.

If you see them referenced somewhere online, that information is out of date.

Why Can't Other Brands Make Gluten-Free Goldfish?

The fish shapes are trademarked by Pepperidge Farm. Other brands cannot produce a gluten-free cracker in the shape of a goldfish without infringing on that trademark. That's why every store-bought alternative comes in a different shape: ducks, stars, mustaches, smiley faces. Not fish.

The only way to get a gluten-free fish-shaped cracker is to make one yourself. There's a recipe for that below.

The Best Gluten-Free Goldfish Alternatives

We've tried the store-bought options. Some are better than others. These are the ones worth buying.

Qwackers Crackers

Duck-shaped cheddar crackers made in a dedicated gluten-free and peanut-free facility. Baked in the USA, made with real aged sharp cheddar cheese from rBST-free cows, and free from corn, soy, and artificial ingredients. Available in Cheddar Cheese and Cheese Pizza. You can find them at Walmart, on Amazon, and at select health food stores.

People who have been gluten free for years consistently call these the closest store-bought substitute to the original Goldfish experience. The cheese flavor is real, the crunch holds up, and the duck shape makes them a hit with kids.

MadeGood Star Puffed Crackers

Certified gluten-free, certified vegan, USDA organic, and free from the top 9 common allergens. If you are managing multiple food allergies alongside gluten, MadeGood is the safest pick on this list. Available in Cheddar, Pizza, and Sea Salt. Find them at Target, Kroger, Walmart, Whole Foods, and CVS.

The texture is lighter and puffier than a traditional cracker. Kids tend to love them. The allergen-free certification is hard to beat for school lunchboxes.

Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers, Farmhouse Cheddar

Grain-free in addition to gluten-free, with a clean, sharp cheddar flavor. No fun shape, but widely available at mainstream grocery stores. The better pick for adults who want a cracker that works with soup or a snack plate, not just for the lunchbox crowd.

Green Mustache Mustache Munchies

Mustache-shaped crackers in Cheddarish, Parmesan Rosemary, and Spicyish. Gluten-free, vegan, and USDA organic. The cheese flavor comes from nutritional yeast, making these a strong option if you are also avoiding dairy. Distribution is limited, so check Green Mustache's store locator or order online.

How to Make Gluten-Free Goldfish Crackers at Home

This is the version we keep coming back to. Real sharp cheddar cheese, simple ingredients, no preservatives, and the only recipe that actually lets you cut fish shapes. It takes about 30 minutes start to finish, and the first batch rarely survives long enough to store.

A few tricks before you start: keep your butter and cheese cold right up until they go into the food processor. Cold butter and cold cheese are what give these crackers their crunch and help them puff slightly in the oven, the same way cold fat works in pastry dough. Don't use pre-shredded cheese from the bag. Stores add anti-caking agents that interfere with the texture. Shred it yourself.

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp cold butter, shredded or cubed
• 1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp xanthan gum (omit if your flour blend already contains it)
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp smoked paprika
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded and chilled
• 4 tbsp cold water, plus more as needed

Equipment

• Food processor
• Rolling pin
• Mini fish cookie cutter (or any small shape)
• Lined baking sheet (parchment paper)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set it aside.
2. Add the flour, xanthan gum, salt, baking soda, and smoked paprika to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times to combine.
3. Add the cold butter and chilled sharp cheddar cheese. Pulse 8 to 10 times until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs, similar to couscous. Do not over-process.
4. Add cold water one tablespoon at a time, pulsing between each addition, until the dough just comes together. It should hold when pressed but not be sticky.
5. Lightly flour a clean surface with gluten-free flour and roll the dough to about ¼ inch thick. You can also roll it directly on a sheet of parchment for easier cleanup.
6. Cut out fish shapes (or any small shape you have) and transfer them to the lined baking sheet. Gather the scraps, re-roll, and cut again. Work in batches if needed to avoid crowding the pan.
7. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are golden. The crackers will firm up as they cool, so don't overbake.
8. Cool to room temperature on the pan before serving or storing.

Tips for the Best Results

Keep everything cold. Cold butter and cold sharp cheddar cheese are the two things that matter most in this recipe. If either warms up too much before the dough goes together, the crackers lose their crunch. If you're working in a warm kitchen, chill the dough for 15 minutes before rolling.

Double the batch. These store in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days, but they rarely make it that long. If you're making them for kids, plan on working through at least two batches.

Do not freeze them. The texture suffers and the crunch disappears. Make them fresh.

Mini fish cookie cutters can be hard to find at local stores. Check Amazon for a small fish or ocean-themed cutter set. Any small shape works just as well.

Also worth trying: our gluten-free cheese crackers recipe, which is built to taste like Cheez-Its. Same real-cheese approach, different cracker. And if you are building out a snack spread, the gluten-free party foods roundup has everything that works alongside them. For the lunchbox crowd, the gluten-free lunchbox guide has a full system for making school lunches feel normal again.

Continue to Content

Yield: 40 crackers

Gluten-Free Goldfish

Print

These gluten-free goldfish are too good to be true and taste better than the real thing. The crispy and crunchy cheese flavors in these bite-size mini goldfish bring back memories of growing up.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp Butter, shredded and chilled
• 1 Cup Gluten-free All-Purpose Flour
• 1 tsp Xanthan Gum, omit if it is included in the flour
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 Cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded and chilled
• 4 tbsp Water, plus more if needed

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set it aside.
2. Add all ingredients besides the water to a food processor. Pulse until the mixture resembles couscous grains.
3. Add the water one tablespoon at a time until the dough is formed.
4. Flour a flat surface and roll out the dough into a ¼ inch thick rectangle. It doesn’t have to be even.
5. Press on with the tiny cracker cutters and transfer the shaped dough to the cookie sheet.
6. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes or until golden brown on the sides. Cool to room temperature before serving.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. They never cost you extra.

• 
  Fish Cookie Cutter Multi x5 – Plastic Red Fish Cutters For Cookies, Dough, Bread, Soft Fruits, Soft Veggies and More – Cutters For Mini Fish-Shaped Goods
• 
  Farberware Classic Wood Rolling Pin, 17.75-Inch, Natural
• 
  Boxiki Kitchen Non-Stick Steel 8x8 Square Baking Pan Durable, Convenient, and Premium Quality Non-Stick Baking Mold Bakeware.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

40

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 45Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 94mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g

This nutrition info is based on the exact ingredients and brands that I used at the time. It may not be 100% accurate. Please check your ingredients nutrition labels.