Category: Better Batter

Gluten Free Italian Torpedo Rolls

I’m pretty excited about these Italian Torpedo Rolls!  When I was a kid, we always had them, fresh from the Italian bakery at every party and family gathering.  I can still remember tearing one apart, the chewy texture of the crust giving way to the soft pillowy white bread inside.  This recipe is as close as I have ever come to replicating those bakery rolls.

Yes, they are gluten free!

You are going to love this recipe!  

Just 5 ingredients!  Mix up the dough, rest on the counter overnight and bake in the morning.  Use a stand mixer, or don’t!  Try it and see if anyone can guess that these rolls are gluten free.

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About the flour

My bread friends know that I am a big fan of Better Batter flour for bread baking.  So, which one is my favorite?  Their Artisan Flour Blend is at the top of my list.  It produces incredible breads with great flavor and texture every time.  But their new Bread Flour is a star in its own right, especially if you want a true white bread.

This recipe is another of my experiments with blending these 2 flours together.  I really think I have hit on the perfect flavor and texture of Italian Bread that I was looking for.  You can use all bread flour if preferred.

Remember to use my Promo Code MGFC30 when you shop at Better Batter, for 30% off full price items!

Enough talk, time to bake!

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Weigh all the ingredients (yes, even the water, use a scale!).  Combine the flours, salt and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk well.  Add the water and beat for 6 minutes on low speed with the paddle attachment.

No stand mixer?  You can combine everything in a large bowl with a dough whisk.  Be sure to turn the dough over on itself a few dozen times, while rotating the bowl to ensure the ingredients are well incorporated.

Now cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave it on the counter (room temperature) overnight for 12-13 hours.  I like to make my dough around 8pm, then shape the rolls while I’m having coffee the next morning, around 9am.

In the morning, preheat the oven to 475º with a baking stone on the middle rack.  Turn the dough out onto an oiled cutting board.  Use a bench knife to divide it into 4 sections.

Flour your work surface and gently roll each section into a torpedo shape (oval with tapered ends).  Arrange them on a lightly floured baking sheet lined with parchment or use a perforated loaf pan.  Score the rolls with a sharp knife or a lame positioned at an angle.

Place in the oven and spray the rolls and sides of the oven with water to create steam.  Bake for 35 minutes at 475º, then remove from the pan and bake directly on the stone during the last 10 minutes.

Rolls are done baking when the internal temperature reaches 210º.  The crust should be firm and dry, and you will get that hollow sound when you give the rolls a sharp tap.  Remove from the oven and place on a rack to cool.

Wait for at least 8 hours and up to one day before slicing.  Remember that bread, especially gluten free bread continues to release moisture when it comes out of the oven, so you want to give it plenty of time for the center of the loaf to fully set!

You are going to have a hard time waiting for these rolls, but I promise it will be worth your patience!

At long last, it’s time for tasting.  These rolls are generously sized.  Just like the bakery rolls of my youth.  And back then, I could devour an entire roll in minutes!  Here I’ve just sliced one up for dipping and to show you the crumb.

What would you do with a homemade, hot out of the oven Italian roll like this?  Dip it in olive oil, or slather with garlic butter and toast it?  Slice it thin for bruschetta?  Maybe load it up with veggies, cold cuts and cheese to make a panino (a/k/a sub, hoagie)!  And for big appetites, you can serve them as dinner rolls (mop up that sauce!) or sandwich rolls.

However you choose to enjoy them, these rolls are delicious!

Variation: Instead of torpedo rolls, shape the dough into 6 round bulky Italian rolls.  You will be the envy of the BBQ!  Be sure to adjust the bake time to 25 minutes.

Notes ♪♫ Like most breads, these rolls are best when eaten within 1-2 days.  I recommend freezing any left over after the first day.  You can reheat them in the microwave, but they will have the best their texture when toasted.

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Gluten Free Sourdough Discard Zucchini Bread

If you are of a certain age, you had that cookbook.  Maybe you still have a copy, the one with the checkerboard cover that every new bride had to have in her kitchen.  The recipes were straight forward and always tasted great.  No pictures, no stories, just ingredients and instructions.

This recipe is adapted from that same book; it’s an old favorite of mine that I used to make all the time before my Celiac diagnosis.

Why Sourdough Starter?

To adapt this quick bread to be gluten free, I knew that some additional liquid would be needed.  I considered things like yogurt, sour cream or applesauce.  But I had my starter in the fridge waiting to be fed so….

The Flour

I used Better Batter original blend in my recipe, converted at 130 g. per cup.  It is my favorite flour for making muffins and quick breads!

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Adapted from the Better Homes and Gardens® New Cookbook (the not so new version 😂).

Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients

  • 195 g. gluten free all-purpose flour (about 1-1/2 cups)
  • 1.3 g. cinnamon (1 tsp.)
  • 3.3 g. baking soda (1/2 tsp.)
  • 1.6 g. salt (1/4 tsp.)
  • .75 g. baking powder (1/4 tsp.)
  • .6 g. nutmeg (1/4 tsp.)

Wet Ingredients

  • 105 g. granulated sugar (1/2 cup)
  • 47 g. brown sugar (1/4 cup)
  • 65 g. sourdough discard (1/4 cup)
  • 50 g. canola oil (1/4 cup)
  • 50 g. egg (1 large)
  • 1 cup shredded zucchini (about 1/2 medium)
  • zest of 1/2 lemon
  • pecan halves (optional)

Preparation:

For best results, I strongly recommend that you weigh your ingredients.  Traditional cup and spoon measurements are provided as well, but at the very least always weigh the flour.

Whisk the wet ingredients together in one bowl, and the dry ingredients in another.  Use a batter whisk to stir the wet and dry ingredients together, just until moistened.

Scrape the batter into a standard 1 lb. loaf pan misted with oil.

💡 Let the batter rest while you preheat the oven to 350º.

You can optionally add some pecan halves to the top like I did.

Bake for 45 minutes and test with a toothpick.  Let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

Remove from the pan and let it cool before slicing.

Check out the crumb, it came out so delicious and moist.  Every bit the traditional zucchini bread, and you don’t really taste the sourdough.

Leftovers can be stored at room temperature for a day.  Beyond that, I recommend you wrap slices tightly in plastic wrap and freeze (store in a freezer safe bag).

Notes ♪♫ For moist quick breads with no gritty texture, be sure to let the batter rest for 15 minutes before baking.

© Better Homes & Gardens

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Gluten Free Pumpkin Sour Cream Pancakes

With fall days arriving there are pumpkin recipes popping up everywhere.  I have my own traditions, like the Gluten Free Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins that I make every year.  Then there’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Pasta, Harvest Sauce and even Pumpkin Meatballs!

This post started as one of those “use it up” recipes.  I had just a little bit of sour cream, and a little pumpkin puree left over.  You know I hate to throw anything away. 😉 So who wants pancakes?

The recipe makes a small batch, breakfast for two.  I ended up with 5 full size pancakes and one mini pancake.  You can double or triple the recipe for a large family, or if you want extra to freeze for later.

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Ingredients:

Dry ingredients:

Wet ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 tbsp. sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tbsp. canola oil
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla
  • 2/3 cups milk (I used 2%)

+ Butter for the griddle

Preparation:

Preheat your griddle.  Be sure that it is nice and hot before you begin cooking. (Hint💡 Ever wonder why that first pancake is always “a little funny”?  The reason may be that your griddle wasn’t hot enough!)

Set up 2 bowls, whisk together the dry ingredients in one bowl (I strongly recommend that you weigh the flour), and the wet ingredients in the other.  Stir the wet and dry ingredients together, just until moistened.

Melt butter 1 tbsp. at a time on the griddle.  Scoop batter by 1/3 cups and add to the griddle, leaving space in between.

Cook for 5 minutes then flip.  Cook 3-5 more minutes.  Keep in mind that gluten free pancakes take longer to cook than regular pancakes.  Check if they are done by inserting a toothpick in the center.  If it comes out dry, they are ready.

If you have a little batter left over at the end, you can make a test pancake, here’s mine.  Just one bite!

You can serve the pancakes immediately or freeze for later.  I let mine cool completely on a rack, then wrapped them separately and stored in freezer safe bags.

They reheat beautifully, about 75 seconds in the microwave.  So, who’s ready for breakfast?

Notes ♪♫ I confess, I like a nice pumpkin on the front porch, but in the kitchen, I prefer out of the can.  It’s just easier and I think it tastes better. 🤷🏻‍♀️Look for canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling).  Pumpkin should be the only ingredient.  I used Libby’s.

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Gluten Free Ciabatta Rolls

If you follow me on Facebook, you will have seen these rolls before.  This is my go-to recipe for lunch sandwiches, and I make a batch every couple of weeks.

They are the perfect texture, soft but not gummy inside.  You can toast them or not, they are delicious either way.

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This recipe was adapted from the Better Batter website, with permission from my favorite Chef, Patrick Auger.  Bet you’re not surprised to hear that!

Chef Patrick, who I consider to be “The Oracle” of gluten free baking created this recipe, and he knows my little secret.  When I first started making these rolls, I couldn’t decide which flour to use! 🤔

I am a huge fan of Better Batter Artisan Blend.  But I love their new Bread Flour too.  So, to put my own spin on this recipe, I mixed the 2 flours together.

Shop Better Batter with my Promo Code MGFC30 for 30% off your full price purchase!

I used half artisan blend and half bread flour.  And the flavor and texture of these rolls is SO good.  The best of both worlds really.

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Weigh the ingredients (yes, even the liquid).  Combine the water and oil in the bowl of a stand mixer.  Whisk together the flours, sugar, salt and yeast in another bowl.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix with the paddle attachment.  Then beat for 7 minutes on speed #2.

Scrape the dough down and transfer it to an oiled bowl.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, the dough should be nice and puffy.  Turn it out onto a floured cutting board.

Use a scale to portion the dough into 2.5 oz. pieces.  If you measured accurately, you should have enough for 13 rolls plus a little bit extra for a bite size piece.  Don’t throw it away, bake it up and use it for tasting!

Note ♪ You can make the rolls larger if you like.  I find that 2.5 oz. is just the right size for me, something between a regular hamburger bun and a sandwich thin.  Try it, especially if you don’t want to overdo it on the carbs.

Roll each section in flour to form a smooth ball, then flatten slightly with your palm.

Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper and sprinkle lightly with flour.  As you form each roll, place it on the sheet pan leaving a little space in between.

When all the rolls have been formed, cover the pan with plastic wrap and let the rolls rise for 45 minutes.  They will puff up but not double in size.

Preheat the oven to 475º.   Brush the rolls with milk, and sprinkle with seeds (optional).  I made a few each with sesame, poppy and everything bagel.  Use your favorites!

Place the rolls in the oven and spray the sides of the oven with water to create steam.

Bake for 10 minutes, then lower the heat to 375º and bake for another 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and transfer rolls to a cooling rack.  Allow them to cool for at least 6 hours before slicing.

Remember that little baby roll?  Time for a taste test!

How nice that these rolls do not have to be toasted.

But you can toast them if you like!

Notes ♪♫ The original recipe by Chef Patrick Auger can be found here.  Of course, you do not have to combine the 2 flours together.  I’m just showing you how I do it and I’m not kidding- the flavor is extraordinary.  You will think you’re eating regular bread.  And yes, gluten free flour can cost a few $$$, so be sure to use my Promo Code MGFC30 when you shop Better Batter, for 30% off your full price purchase!

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Gluten Free Briolata (Italian Sausage and Onion Bread Ring)

“Briolata” is an Italian sausage bread of Sicilian origin that is similar to a focaccia or calzone.  Also known as Bignolati, the bread is filled with sausage and caramelized onions then shaped into a ring.

I used the new gluten free Pizza Crust Mix from Better Batter to recreate this Italian inspired recipe.  Another gluten free makeover success story that was truly easy!

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Ingredients:

  • 454 g (1 lb. bag) Better Batter Pizza Crust Mix
  • 7 g (1 pkg.) instant yeast
  • 1-1/2 cups (340 g) warm water
  • 2 tbsp. (30 g) olive oil
  • 1 large, sweet onion, diced
  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • 2 sweet Italian sausage, casings removed (I used Premio)
  • fresh ground pepper
  • more olive oil, for brushing
  • coarse salt

Get 30% off your full price purchase at Better Batter with my Promo Code MGFC30.

Preparation:

Combine the Pizza Crust Mix, yeast, water and oil in the bowl of a stand mixer.  Knead for 5 minutes, then shape the dough into a ball.  Place it in an oiled bowl and turn to coat.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning take the dough out of the refrigerator while you prepare the onions and sausage.

Melt the butter in a large, stainless-steel skillet.  Dice the onions and add to the pan.   Cook them slowly on medium low heat, stirring occasionally until soft and caramelized, taking on a golden-brown color.

Set the onions aside to drain in a colander, and add the sausage to the same skillet, breaking it up with a spatula.  Continue turning and chopping the meat until browned all over and cooked through.  Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and combine with the onions to drain and cool to room temperature.

Cut a sheet of parchment paper and lay it out on the counter.  Sprinkle with flour and turn the dough out.

Roll out the dough into a rectangle, about 11″ x 14″.  You are going to love working with this dough.  It rolls like a dream, who knew gluten free could do that?

Sprinkle the dough with fresh ground pepper and spread half of the sausage and onions in a thin layer.  You don’t want to load it up with too much filling.

Now do an envelope fold.

Rotate the dough 90 degrees and roll out again into a rectangle.  Spread with the remaining sausage and onions.  Repeat the envelope fold.

Next turn the dough seam side down and shape it into a round.  Pinch the dough to patch any cracks and smooth with a spatula.

Here’s a trick to form the ring.  Gently insert one end of your French rolling pin into the center of the dough.  Rotate to open up the center!

Once you have formed the ring, cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes while preheating the oven to 500º with a baking stone on the middle shelf.

Just before baking, rub or brush the loaf with olive oil and cut slits in the dough for steam to escape.  You may want to trim the parchment paper, so the edges don’t burn.  I used a pizza peel to transfer the bread ring onto the pizza stone with the parchment.  Throw a few ice cubes onto the bottom of the oven and bake for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, carefully remove the parchment paper with long tongs.  Reduce the oven temperature to 450º, throw in a few more ice cubes and continue baking directly on the pizza stone for another 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 205º.

Remove from the oven and cool slightly before slicing.  SO GOOD!!!

This bread is best eaten while still slightly warm the day it is baked.  If you reheat it, I highly recommend using an air fryer to maintain the crunchy crust.  Microwaving will do in a pinch, but it does change the texture.  Refrigerate leftovers for up to 2 days or freeze slices for longer storage.

Notes ♪♫ If you thought that rolling and shaping gluten free dough was an impossible dream, pinch yourself!  With the new Gluten Free Bread Flour and Pizza Crust Mix from Better Batter, you can do all that and more!  Be sure to use my Promo Code MGFC30 when you shop at Better Batter, for 30% off your full price purchase.

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Espresso Hazelnut Chocolate Cake with Better Batter

You know I am a big believer in baking from scratch, but there are times when it is convenient to have a gluten free cake mix in the pantry.  In a pinch, I can always make something gluten free for an impromptu gathering or last-minute party dessert.

This yummy chocolate cake started with the Chocolate Cake Mix from Better Batter, but I wanted to zhuzh it up!  Nothing drastic, just a few small tweaks to bring out the chocolate flavor and make it special.

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I baked it in a long, skinny pan for diet friendly slices.  Check out this Pullman pan from USA Bakeware; I use it for cakes and quick breads.

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 325º.  Mist the bottom of the pan with cooking spray.

Beat the eggs in a stand mixer with the whisk attachment.  Add the oil, espresso powder and hazelnut extract.  Beat to incorporate.

Next add the cake mix, along with the milk and beat on low speed for 30 seconds (don’t overmix).

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and place in the oven on the middle rack.  Set your timer for 55 minutes.

Test with a toothpick.  In my oven it was done in 1 hour.

Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for 15 minutes then tip the pan gently to slide the cake onto a rack to cool.

Cool for 15-20 minutes longer then transfer the cake to a serving dish.  Dust with powdered sugar just before slicing.

I hope you enjoyed this post!  For more like this, check out my Lemon Blueberry Cake made with Better Batter Yellow Cake Mix.

Notes

♪ Can you use a regular loaf pan?  Yes, but you may need to adjust the baking time, depending on the size of your pan.  Keep in mind that the cake will cook faster in a dark pan.  Start checking with a toothpick at 45 minutes and keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t get overdone.

♫ When a box mix calls for water, add milk instead for a richer taste.  To personalize a mix, add extracts, spices or even liqueurs to zhuzh up the flavor! 😉

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Gluten Free Japanese Milk Bread

Gluten Free Hokkaido Milk Bread, a/k/a Japanese Milk Bread

Hokkaido Milk Bread, a/k/a Japanese Milk Bread is a soft, enriched bread that is great for sandwiches and so much more.  The recipe begins with what is called a Tangzhong, a type of rue.  Adding this bit of soft paste to the final dough is what gives the bread its fluffy texture.

Back in the day (before Celiac), I loved trying out different bread techniques, and I remember making this bread.  Is it even possible to make a gluten free version?  I am not exaggerating when I tell you I have been trying for over a year now!

I have tested this bread so many times, with pre-blended flour mixes as well as my own combination of flours and starches.  Finding the right flour to liquid ratio was another piece of the puzzle.

As I’m sure you know, gluten free dough has a mind of its own, and there were a lot of failed bakes (that still tasted good) and do-overs that went into this recipe.  Every time I test baked, I came a little closer to achieving the texture that I wanted.  Special thanks to my favorite chef, Patrick Auger who has been cheering me on and offering advice along the way.  Thank you, Patrick, you inspire me!

*This recipe was adapted from the King Arthur Baking website.  For my adaptation I used Better Batter Original Blend gluten free flour*

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Ingredients:

Before you get started, know that this is a very fussy bread.  For success (and I want you to have success), use a scale to weigh your ingredients.

Tangzhong (Rue) Ingredients:

Dough Ingredients Dry:

Dough Ingredients Wet:

  • 1 large egg (50 g.)
  • 300 g. milk, warmed 15 seconds in the microwave
  • 3 g. apple cider vinegar
  • 56 g. unsalted butter (4 tbsp.), melted and cooled
  • all of the Tangzhong, cooled

For Finishing:

  • 1 tbsp. melted butter

Remember to use my Promo Code MGFC30 for 30% off at Better Batter!

Preparation:

The first step of this recipe is making the Tangzhong.  This is a water rue, and I have learned that the weights are very important.  Note that with gluten free breads you will almost always need to increase the amount of liquid used in a normal recipe.

Combine the flour and water in a small saucepan.  Whisk thoroughly until lumps are gone, then place on the stove over low heat.  Continue whisking for at least 5 minutes (don’t walk away!).  The mixture will gradually thicken, until it clings to the whisk, like this.

-Set the Tangzhong aside in a bowl to cool while you gather the other ingredients.

-Next melt the butter, so it has time to cool down.

-Weigh and combine all of the dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk together thoroughly.

-When your melted butter and Tangzhong have cooled to room temperature, whisk them together with the other wet ingredients.

-Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix on lowest speed for 30 seconds or so to incorporate.

When everything is moistened, increase speed and mix with the paddle attachment for 15 minutes to form a smooth supple dough.

Scrape the dough down, cover and let it rest for 20 minutes.

For my fellow perfectionists, now is a good time to get a total weight on your dough.  Place an empty bowl on the scale, tare it and add the whole dough ball.  Why?  So that when you divide it into 4 sections, you will know that they are of equal weight.

My total dough weight was 1000g. and I divided it into 4 sections of 250g. each.  Place the four pieces on a floured cutting board and pat them lightly with flour.

Then, working with one piece at a time, roll into a rectangle, about 4 x 6″.

Gently fold each piece in half, then place side by side in a 9 x 5 (1.25 lb.) loaf pan with the folded side facing up.  I lined the pan with parchment and misted with cooking spray.  This made it easier to lift out the finished loaf.

Note that in traditional Hokkaido milk bread recipes, the sections of dough are folded over several times and rolled into a cylinder.  I found that this caused more breakage and separations in the dough, so I modified this step by just folding the pieces in half.  It was much easier and did not affect the finished loaf.

Spray the top of the loaf liberally with warm water and use a spatula to smooth any cracks in the dough.  Cover and proof in a warm place until the dough has risen to just below the rim of the pan, about 40 minutes (I used my proofing box, set to 80º).

Preheat the oven to 350º with a baking stone set on the middle rack.

Before baking, brush 2 tbsp. melted butter over the top of the loaf.

Place it on the center rack and throw a few ice cubes onto the bottom of the oven.   Bake for 45 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 190º.

Grasp the parchment and lift the loaf out of the pan.  Remove the parchment and bake directly on the stone for 10 minutes longer.

Remove from the oven and let the loaf cool to room temperature.  When cooled, cover and let it rest, ideally for 18-24 hours.  Now is the time to admire your work (and maybe take care of the cleanup)!

I placed mine in a plastic bag overnight and sliced it up in the morning.

It was well worth the wait.  See that fluffy crumb?  No gummy texture here, that’s exactly what I wanted!

This will be a great sandwich bread and don’t get me started on French toast!

Notes ♪♫ As I studied traditional recipes for Hokkaido Milk Bread, I dreamt of my gluten free adaption having the smooth, pillow like top that you see in pictures from recipes made with wheat flour.  The truth is gluten free dough doesn’t have the elasticity to stretch like that.  There are going be cracks and craters in the surface of the dough.  When I finally accepted that and concentrated on getting the right crumb, I began to make progress.  There are so many factors that go into a good loaf of gluten free bread.  Ingredients, technique, temperature, pan size just to name a few.  I hope this post inspires you to keep trying and never give up!

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Gluten Free Sourdough Poppyseed Rolls

Baking with sourdough has really upped my gluten free bread game.  The long, slow rise really develops the flavor of the dough in a way that commercial yeast alone cannot accomplish.  It makes such a difference in the taste and texture of the finished loaf or rolls.

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Did you know that ever since Better Batter introduced their new Gluten Free Pizza Crust mix last year, devoted fans have been using it to make bread and rolls?  It’s true, this is one versatile mix that comes in a convenient one-pound bag!

With a mix like this, my sourdough rolls come together easily and with minimal ingredients.  No need to add salt or sugar- it’s all in the mix!

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Note-> You will need a fully active sourdough starter for this recipe.  You can read about my gluten free sourdough starter Sophie, in this post!

Combine the starter, water, oil, yeast and Pizza Crust Mix in the bowl of a stand mixer.  Mix for 5 minutes with the paddle attachment to form a smooth dough.

Gather the dough together in the mixer bowl, cover and let it rest for 20 minutes.

Scrape the dough into an oiled bowl and smooth the top with a wet spatula.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, up to 15 hours.

The next day, weigh the entire dough ball.  You should have roughly 1020g. or 36 oz.

Why do I weigh it?  It’s to give me an idea of how many rolls I want and what size they should be.  I was thinking small rolls for my lunch sandwiches, so I divided my dough into 12 rolls that weighed about 85g. or 3 oz. each.  You could do 2 oz. each for dinner rolls or sliders.  For hamburger buns, 4 oz. is a good size.

After weighing and dividing your dough (you can eyeball it), sprinkle a cutting board with flour and working with one piece at a time, roll the dough into a round.

Bring the edges into the center, pinching together to seal like this.

Turn the roll seam side down and rotate it in a circular motion to a smooth round shape.

Finally, use your palm to flatten it to about 3/4″ thick.

Continue with the rest of the dough, arranging your shaped rolls on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Cover the rolls and let them rest for 30 minutes while you preheat the oven to 475º.  Score the top of each roll.

Check out this cute little Kaiser Cutter tool, from Ateco!  My favorite Chef, Patrick Auger told me about it!

Just before baking, whisk the egg with 1 tbsp. water and brush the tops of the rolls.  Sprinkle with poppyseeds.  (If you don’t want to use an egg wash, you can spray the rolls with water.)

Place the pan on the center rack and throw a few ice cubes into the bottom of the oven.  Bake for 5 minutes, then lower the oven temperature to 375º.

Continue baking 10-15 minutes longer, or until the internal temperature of the rolls reaches 210º (check with a thermometer).

Cool in the pan for 15 minutes then transfer to a rack.  Allow the rolls to cool completely before slicing.

For best texture, I let mine cool to room temperature then store them on the counter in a plastic bag overnight.  In the morning, I slice them and wrap each roll individually in plastic wrap.  I left a few out for lunch and the rest went into a freezer safe bag.  Freezing is recommended if you are not going to eat them immediately.

Here’s the crumb shot.  The rolls don’t need to be toasted, but they are great either way.  Just the right size for me.

Notes ♪ Baking times given are for 3 oz. rolls.  If you make yours smaller or larger you will need to adjust accordingly.  Remember, the internal temperature should reach 210º, check- don’t guess, use a thermometer!

Notes ♫ For instructions on how to make a gluten free sourdough starter, read this post and meet my sourdough starter Sophie!

Notes ♪♫ It’s true!  The flour that I call “my little miracle in a bag” now has a gluten free pizza mix!  Better Batter fans have been anxiously awaiting this new product to come to market and it’s finally here.  Of course, I made pizza, but why stop there?

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Gluten Free Pane Bianco

Pane Bianco!

Have you seen this bread before?  Pane Bianco first appeared in the King Arthur catalog around 2018.  At the time, I had recently been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, and the thought of making breads like this seemed impossible!

I saved the recipe though, and as I was going through old folders recently, there it was.  That was the moment I decided to make a gluten free version of this gorgeous bread!

Pane Bianco literally translates to “White Bread”.  That sounds oh so dull and ordinary, when this eye-catcher of a loaf is anything but.  The S-shape looks so fancy, with the scored dough revealing a filling of sundried tomatoes, garlic, cheese and basil.  It’s a stunner as it opens up during baking, and don’t get me started on the aroma!

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Think you can’t roll and shape gluten free dough like this?  It’s all in the flour blend, and you can probably guess that for my gluten free makeover, I used Better Batter.  My personal favorite is their Artisan blend, but either that or their new Bread flour are great choices for this recipe.

Sometimes when I can’t decide I use some of each!  For this bake I used a 50/50 combination of the Artisan blend and Bread flour.  I’ve done some experimenting with this combination and I just love the flavor and texture.  You can use 360 g. of either flour, or a blend like I did.

Remember, Better Batter flour is now sold in 1 lb. bags.  So, if you wanted to try this recipe the way I made it you don’t have to make a big commitment.  Just grab yourself a 1-pound bag of each and bake along with me!

Use my promo code MGFC30 at checkout and get 30% off full price on your purchase at Better Batter!

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Whisk together the flours, yeast and salt.  In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the egg, milk, water and olive oil.  Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix for 5 minutes with the paddle attachment to form the dough.  Place the dough in an oiled bowl and let it rise for 45 minutes.  It may not double and that’s ok.

Measure a 2 ft. sheet of parchment paper.  Roll the dough out into a rectangle shape, approximately 22″ x 8″.

Spread with the sundried tomatoes, garlic, cheese and basil (I could not get fresh basil this time of year, so I used Italian parsley).  Go easy on the filling, don’t add too much or the bread will be wet.

Using the parchment to assist you, roll the dough into a log.

Pinch the edges together and if they don’t seal use a fork to smooth out the seam.

Place the roll seam side down on the parchment.  Use kitchen shears to cut down the center from one end to another, leaving 1/2″ on each end.

Carefully twist the dough into an S shape and tuck the ends underneath like this.  Go slowly, so the dough doesn’t break (just pinch together if it does).  Slide the loaf onto a baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and let it rise for 45 minutes.  Preheat the oven to 350º.

Bake for 45 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 200º (check with a thermometer).  Remove from the oven and brush with melted butter.

Cool slightly then slice and serve warm.  This is one of those breads you do not want to wait on.  That cheesy filling!  Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave or toaster (try these toaster bags!).

You can store the loaf at room temperature for up to a day, then freeze the leftovers.

Notes ♪♫ The original recipe for Pane Bianco appeared here on the King Arthur website.  Better Batter recommends that when adapting gluten bread recipes with their flour, you should increase the liquid ingredients by 50%.  My gluten free adaptation includes this adjustment.

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Gluten Free Applesauce Prune Muffins

Here is a hearty breakfast muffin that will satisfy your morning hunger.  Mildly sweet and loaded with fiber (because who doesn’t need more of that?), they are reminiscent of bran muffins, with flax standing in for the wheat bran.  The prunes are pureed with the applesauce and have a similar texture to raisins.  (If the idea of prunes doesn’t excite you, then raisins can be substituted, but I encourage you to give this a try.)

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I like to buy unsweetened applesauce cups for recipes like this one, because you don’t have to open an entire jar only to have it go to waste.  This recipe uses 2 of the 3.9 oz cups.

I prefer golden flaxseeds to brown.  I process them in a coffee grinder when needed for a recipe.  You can buy ground flaxseed meal, but if you don’t use it quickly it can go rancid. By grinding the seeds when you need them, they will always be fresh.

Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients:
Wet Ingredients:

Preparation:

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk well.

Puree the applesauce and prunes in an electric chopper or food processor.  Add to a separate bowl with the remaining wet ingredients and whisk to blend.

Preheat the oven to 400º.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet and use a batter whisk to combine.  Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula to be sure all of the dry ingredients have all been incorporated.

Let the batter rest while the oven preheats, then spoon into a 12-cup muffin tin.  Dip a small spatula in water and smooth the tops in a circular motion.

Bake for 20 minutes and check that they are done with a toothpick.

Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a rack.

If not serving immediately, you can cool to room temperature then wrap individually in plastic wrap and store in a freezer safe bag.  I usually freeze muffins to have for breakfast during the week.

Notes ♪♫ Better Batter Original Blend is my flour of choice for muffins, quick breads and cookies.  Remember to use my Promo Code MGFC30 for 30% off!

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