Man cannot live on bread alone. Especially when he’s allergic to gluten.

Here to save you from cardboard cookie hell is Johanna Van Dorf of Defloured bakery. The self-taught baker churns out the single-best gluten-free cookies we’ve ever tasted, right here in Chicago.

Not a celiac sufferer herself, Van Dorf believes everyone has the right to good dessert, and her arsenal of sweets is a testament to her philosophy: chewy brownies packed with quality chocolate, cinnamon crumb cake that literally melts in your mouth, scarily addictive cookies like the Got a Hot Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Date.

Van Dorf uses brown rice and tapioca flours, potato starch, and xanthan gum to achieve ultimate texture and flavor.

Also in the lineup: snickerdoodles, cupcakes, and moist pumpkin cake. They put sliced bread to shame.

Available online at deflouredbakery.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Defloured