Gluten Free Baking For Beginners
Today I am sharing my guide to gluten free baking for beginners.
Gluten free baking has become more and more popular in recent years. Between growing numbers of people with sensitivities to gluten or celiac disease, and the many people who chose to eat this way by choice, there is no shortage of gluten free baking recipes out there.
If you are just starting out on a gluten free diet (be sure to check out my guide to going gluten free), and the thought of gluten free baking seems intimidating, this is the guide for you. You'll learn about the baking essentials that you need to have on hand, and the gluten free baking tips and tricks that I've learned in my 10+ years of eating gluten free.
If you are not gluten free yourself, but would like to bake for someone who is, this will be helpful for you as well!
Here is my guide to gluten free baking for beginners.
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Gluten Free Baking for Beginners.
Let's get started with some common questions.
What tools do you need for gluten free baking?
Baking Sheets, Liners, & Pans. If you are just starting a gluten free diet due to a health concern such as celiac disease, you may want to consider replacing your baking sheets, cake, bread, and cupcake pans to be extra careful. You can also just wash them really well if they have come in contact with gluten containing ingredients. These baking sheets and silicone liners are baking must-haves for me.
Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer. A must-have for any baker, gluten free or not! I did not buy a new stand mixer when I started eating gluten free, but I did give mine a good cleaning to make sure there wasn't any flour trapped in there. This KitchenAid mixer is the gold standard, and this hand mixer is great too if you are short on space or want a less expensive option.
Cookie Scoop. A staple baking tool for cookies. I like this one by OXO.
Spoons, Spatulas, Measuring Cups & Measuring Spoons. Again, you don't have to buy new ones, but give your current ones a good wash if cross-contamination could be an issue for you.
How is gluten free baking different?
Gluten free flours have a different composition than wheat flour, and so there are nuances to consider and some differences you can expect. Gluten free flour absorbs more liquid, so recipes may have more liquid than a traditional recipe to make up for this. Gluten free batters may also need to be mixed more, and they may need a longer bake time. This is why I always suggest using a tested gluten free recipe over substituting a gluten free flour into a regular recipe.
Can I just replace flour with gluten free flour?
Gluten free flour is simply made from grains or nuts that do not contain gluten (wheat, barley, rye, triticale). There are many different options out there, from rice flour to oat flour and even almond and coconut flour. All gluten free flours perform in different ways, so as I mentioned above, I don't suggest just taking a flour that says gluten free and substituting it into a favorite non-gluten free recipe.
Which gluten free flour is the best for baking?
If you plan to do a lot of gluten free baking, I would stock your pantry with these flours. There are many options, but these are the ones that I use the most.
1 to 1 Gluten Free Baking Flour. This type of flour is pre-mixed with several gluten free flours and is meant to closely mimic wheat flour. It is a must-have for any gluten free baker, especially if you are just starting out. You will not need to worry about purchasing multiple flours and binders such as xanthan gum or guar gum. My favorite is this one from Bob's Red Mill. I also like King Arthur Measure for Measure.
Almond Flour. Almond flour is another gluten free flour that I use pretty regularly. If you like to bake 'healthier' baked goods, you'll very often find almond flour in the recipe. Almond flour gives baked goods a different texture than one-to-one flour, so I would only use it if the recipe calls for it. Leave it in the fridge to keep it fresher longer!
Oat Flour. Oat flour is another type of gluten free flour that I use often. You can actually make this one yourself by grinding up gluten free oats, but I usually purchase it. It's one of the less expensive gluten free flour options and you can find it in most grocery stores. I usually get Bob's Red Mill. I also leave this in my fridge for freshness.
If you stock your pantry with these flours, you'll be ready to go.
Gluten Free Baking Tips and Tricks
Not all flours are created equal.
As I mentioned before, I prefer to use recipes that have already been tested with specific gluten free flours. You cannot just interchange gluten free flours such as oat, almond or rice flour. You need to use what the recipe calls for, for the most part. You can use any cup-for-cup gluten free flour in recipes that call for that.
Stick to the recipe.
Along the same lines, stick the recipe and measure carefully. Check that your flours are measured fairly exact, this will help the final product.
It takes some practice - and patience.
I've had lots of baking fails over the years, and it's definitely disappointing. Gluten free baked goods are not the same as regular. However, with patience and practice, you'll see that you can make pretty much anything your heart desires!
Utilize your freezer.
Your freezer is your best friend when it comes to gluten free breads and baked goods. Most freeze well and can be taken out and eaten whenever you like. Gluten free baked goods can also dry out quicker than regular, so sticking some in the freezer will help avoid any waste.
Start out simple.
If you are just getting started, start with something simple like a cookie. Save the pizza dough or bread for later on once you have some experience with gluten free baking.
If you don't want to invest in gluten free flours, there are other options.
If you are baking gluten free for someone else, and don't want to buy bags of gluten free flour, there are lots of recipes out there without flour. Try a flourless chocolate cake or brownie, coconut macaroons, or a simple peanut butter cookie.
My Favorite Gluten Free Baking Mixes
A great way to get started with gluten free baking is a pre-made gluten free baking mix. Nowadays there are lots of great options out there, many of which you can find in your local grocery store and are easy to whip up.
Gluten Free Cake Mixes
Betty Crocker makes a great chocolate cake mix. It's rich and delicious and it's easy to make.
Pillsbury makes a Funfetti cake mix that is so easy to make and tastes like the original - no one will know the difference! I use this for all of my kid's birthday parties.
Simple Mills has a lot of fantastic gluten free mixes. They are a bit pricier, but they have a clean ingredient list and they come out great. I love the chocolate cake and muffin mix and the pumpkin bread and muffin mix.
Gluten Free Cookie Mixes
Trader Joe's has an almond flour chocolate chip cookie mix that is good and very easy to make.
Sweet Loren's makes a delicious premade cookie dough - you literally just break apart and bake.
Gluten Free Bread Mixes
GoNanas makes delicious gluten free banana bread mixes in a variety of fun flavors. You only need the mix, a ripe banana, and a few simple pantry ingredients. (You can use code 'PAMELA' for 10% off!)
More Gluten Free Resources
I hope you find this guide to gluten free baking for beginners helpful. If you know someone who might benefit from this post, I'd love for you to share!
For more gluten free resources, check out my Beginner's Guide to Going Gluten Free, The Best Gluten Free Snacks, and My Favorite Protein Bars. All food content here on the blog is gluten free!
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