Category: Bread

Bread, pizza and more!

Gluten Free “Mighty Tasty” Toasting Bread

GLUTEN FREE “MIGHTY TASTY” TOASTING BREAD

Adapted from a recipe by America’s Test Kitchen

Servings: 1 Loaf = about 16 slices

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One of my favorite gluten free toasting breads, this loaf gets a boost of whole grains from Bob’s Red Mill Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal mix.  A hot cereal breakfast staple, it can also be used to add fiber and whole grains to bread and muffin recipes.  I think it gives the loaf a nice flavor and texture reminiscent of corn bread.  Even your family members who are not gluten free will enjoy this hearty breakfast toast.  It’s on my breakfast menu at least one morning per week!

This recipe has been adapted to yield 1 loaf.  Yes, there are a lot of ingredients, and it will take time.  Embrace the magic of baking from scratch!  I would rather enjoy a slice of delicious, homemade bread than a cardboard loaf from the store.

The pan you see in the photos is a 9 x 4 x 4” loaf pan that is perfect for gluten free bread.  The higher sides are perfect for supporting the dense, gluten free dough as it rises.  Gluten free baking is finicky, which is why I recommend that you use a scale and weigh the dry ingredients to achieve the same outcome.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups warm water
  • 1 tablespoon instant yeast

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  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tbsp. canola oil
  • 2 tbsp. honey

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  • sesame and poppy seeds

Preparation:

Line a 9 X 4 X 4” loaf pan with parchment paper.  I always bake with parchment, not only to prevent sticking, but also to make lifting the finished loaf out of the pan easier.

Combine 1 ½ cups warm water and 1 tbsp. yeast together in the bowl of your stand mixer, and let it sit for 15 minutes while you gather the other ingredients.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients, white rice flour through salt.  Don’t be tempted to skip any of the ingredients.  Those seemingly tiny amounts of things like gelatin, psyllium husk and xanthan gum are what help to compensate for the body and elasticity normally provided by the gluten in wheat flour.

When the yeast has proofed, add the eggs, canola oil and honey to the bowl and beat with the whisk attachment until frothy.

Switch to the paddle attachment and add the dry ingredients to the bowl.  Beat on low speed for 4 minutes.  Next add the sunflower seeds and up to an additional 4 tbsp. of water, one tbsp. at a time as needed.  Beat for 1 minute longer.  You will have a thick, sticky dough that clings to the paddle like this.

Scrape the dough into the prepared loaf pan and use a spatula dipped in water to smooth the top. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for about 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 325º and place a pizza stone on the middle rack.  Remove the plastic wrap and mist the top of the risen loaf with warm water (this helps the seeds to adhere).  Sprinkle liberally with poppy and sesame seeds.

Bake for 75 minutes, or until the loaf reaches an internal temperature of 210º.  It may take a bit more (or less) time in your oven, so be sure to use a thermometer!  Hint, if it smells done, check it!

Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then grasp the parchment on either side to lift it out.  Remove the parchment and let it cool completely on a rack.  See how nicely the loaf shaped up in this pan?

Resist slicing into the loaf until it has completely cooled, or it may be gummy in the center. You’ll want to give it a few hours to rest and set up properly.  Here’s the crumb shot.  You can see that it’s very dense and speckled with whole grains and seeds. It’s perfect!

Like most gluten free breads, this one is best eaten the day it is baked.  Slice it up and toast for about 5 minutes, it’s divine with just a simple pat of butter or jelly.  You can store it at room temperature for up to 1 day, but it is best to freeze the leftovers asap.  I like to freeze mine in individually wrapped slices, so I can easily pull one out for breakfast.

Notes ♪♫ All of the grains used in the flour mix were from Bob’s Red Mill.  The brand is readily available in stores or online.

Originally published 05/05/2019                   Updated 06/17/2024

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Basic Gluten Free Sourdough Sandwich Loaf

Are you thinking about trying to bake gluten free sourdough bread?

There is nothing like good, homemade bread.  Especially when you are gluten free, and store-bought bread leaves so much to be desired.  No wonder so many of us have turned to baking our own bread at home.

This post is for all of you who have wanted to try making gluten free sourdough bread or are just looking for a solid recipe.  It’s a basic loaf, with no fancy shaping or scoring.  The bread is perfect for sandwiches and does not require toasting (but it’s delicious toasted as well).

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I used my Gluten Free Sourdough Starter and Better Batter Artisan Flour Blend in this recipe.  I baked my loaf in a small pullman loaf pan because the higher sides help the loaf to rise high and straight.  You can use a standard 1-lb. loaf pan if you prefer.  For best results, use a metal pan, not glass.

Ingredients:

Notes

♪ Although I have provided ingredient measurements by both weight and volume, I strongly recommend that you weigh your ingredients for best results!

♫ I used, and highly recommend Better Batter Artisan Flour Blend for this recipe.  It is a sorghum-based blend that is incredible for yeasted breads.  If you use a different blend, the flour to liquid ratio may need to be adjusted and the flavor will be different. 

*Get 30% off any non-sale purchase at Better Batter when you use my Code MGFC30 at checkout* 

Preparation:

For bread to rise properly without commercial yeast, your sourdough starter needs to be fully activated before mixing your dough (otherwise you will end up with a brick).  I find that my gluten free starter doesn’t jump out of the jar like a wheat sourdough, but when fully active it does increase in size and has hundreds of tiny bubbles, especially when I give it a stir.

When I am planning to bake, I take my starter out of the refrigerator 2 days before, feed twice daily and keep it in a proofing box at 78º.

(Read more about how I made my Gluten Free Sourdough Starter here.)

The day before baking, combine all of the dough ingredients in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment.  Increase the speed and mix for 5 minutes.

Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, cover and place it in a proofing box (or warm, draft free area) for 4 hours.  I try to time this step for late afternoon, so that it’s ready to go into the refrigerator overnight by around 8pm.

Here’s the dough after 4 hours, going into the refrigerator.

By the next morning, the dough should be puffed up and full of air bubbles.  Take the dough out of the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter to warm up a bit before you shape it.

Rub a cutting board with a bit of olive oil and turn the dough out.

Gently pat the dough into a rectangle, don’t press hard and do not use a rolling pin – you want to keep the air bubbles intact as much as possible.

Next use a bench knife to do a letter fold, like this.

Finally, use oiled hands to gently roll and shape the dough into a loaf.  Place it in the loaf pan seam side down, cover with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.  Preheat the oven to 450º.

Just before baking, brush the top of the loaf with 1 tbsp. olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt.  Use a lame or sharp knife to score 3 diagonal slashes across the top about 1/2″ deep.

Place the loaf in the oven and immediately throw a few ice cubes onto the bottom of the oven to create steam.

Bake for 55 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 210º (use a thermometer!).

Remove the loaf from the pan and let it cool for 8 hours on a rack before slicing.  The longer you wait, the better the texture will be.  After 8 hours you can place the loaf in a bread bag and store it at room temperature to slice in the morning.

Look at that wide open crumb!  Remember when I mentioned that you do not want to deflate the air bubbles when shaping the loaf?  Now you know why!

Sometimes it’s really hard not to slice into a loaf of bread as soon as it comes out of the oven, but your patience will be rewarded. I let this loaf cool on a rack for eight hours before cutting a few slices for dinner.  I put the rest in a bread bag overnight.  I have perfect slices with no gummy texture! Sorry you can’t taste it but take my word it was delicious!

Notes ♪♫ Troubleshooting gluten free bread can be tricky and sourdough even more so.  So here are a few hints.  If the loaf didn’t rise, it could be that your starter wasn’t fully active.  Try feeding more frequently for several days before making the dough.  If the bottom or center of the loaf looks gummy, it wasn’t baked long enough (did you check with a thermometer?) or your measurements weren’t accurate (did you weigh your ingredients?).  Also, be sure to wait for your bread to cool down and set completely before slicing, it takes at least 8 hours!  Feel free to reach out with any questions and I’ll try my best to help!

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Gluten Free Sourdough Pain d’Epi (Wheatstalk Bread)

My sourdough starter “Sophie” is in good form, and I’ve been feeding her for a couple of days in anticipation of another bake.  Instead of my usual round or oval loaf though, I decided to step out of my comfort zone with this beautiful Gluten Free Pain d’Epi, also known as Wheat Stalk Bread (ah, the irony).

Ever since I got my gluten free sourdough starter established (read about it here), I’ve had a few bucket list recipes that I wanted to make.  This is one of them.

For the flour, I used the Artisan Flour Blend from Better Batter and as usual it did not disappoint.  The flavor was fantastic, and the bread was perfect for dipping.  This was my first time making a gluten free version of this style loaf and it was SO good.

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Ingredients:

  • 200g Better Batter Artisan Flour Blend, about 1-1/2 cups
  • 4g salt, about 1 tsp.
  • 235g warm water, about 1-1/8 cups
  • 70g active GF sourdough starter, about 1/4 cup
  • 8g olive oil, about 1 tbsp.
  • 10g honey, about 1 tbsp.
  • more olive oil for brushing
  • coarse salt, for topping

Preparation:

Combine the flour and salt and whisk well.  Add the starter, honey and olive oil to the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Gradually add the flour mixture, alternating with the warm water.  Note: Use all of the water, the Artisan Blend flour needs more liquid than usual to fully hydrate.  Increase the speed and knead for 5 minutes to form a soft, supple dough.

Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and proof in a warm place for 4 hours.  I used my proofing box.

Here is the risen dough.  Place it in the refrigerator overnight to really develop that sour flavor.

The next morning, bring to room temperature.  You can see how nicely the dough has puffed up, and there are lots of happy air bubbles!

It smells so good already! Now transfer the dough onto an oiled cutting board and divide it in half.  You can use a scale or just eyeball it.

With oiled fingers, gently press each section into an oval shape.  Don’t use a rolling pin, you don’t want to deflate the air bubbles.

Use a bench knife to do a letter fold with each section.

Next, with oiled hands, roll each piece onto a log.  Cover with plastic wrap and rest for 15 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 425º.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and dust with cornmeal where you will lay out the loaves.

Once the dough has rested, you should easily (again, with oiled hands) be able to shape each log into a long thin baguette, about 15″ x 2″.  Lay them on the baking sheet, leaving space in between.

To create the wheat stalk pattern, use scissors to snip the loaves every few inches (don’t cut all the way through), and as you snip each section, pull it over to one side, alternating left and right.

Now brush the loaves with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt.  I infused my olive oil with garlic and rosemary, and the aroma as it baked was wonderful.

Bake for 30 minutes on the middle rack.  The internal temperature should read 210º.  Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

I was really pleased with how the loaves came out, especially with this being a first attempt.  The smell of freshly baked bread (REAL BREAD!) filled the entire house.

I recommend you allow the bread to cool for at least 4 hours before slicing, so the center won’t be gummy.  Trust me, you will have a hard time waiting!

And now for all my bread friends who have been patiently waiting, check out that crumb!  I made up some dipping oil with Tuscan seasoning, fresh garlic and rosemary.  My sister came over and we had a pasta dinner.  She said she couldn’t tell the bread was gluten free!

So, have you got your sourdough starter going yet?  It will take your gluten free baking to the next level with results you never dreamed possible.  Read about my sourdough starter Sophie here.

Notes ♪♫ This bread is best eaten the day it is baked.  Leftovers can be refreshed in the microwave or toasted.  Store at room temperature up to 2 days.

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Gluten Free Sourdough Discard Pancakes

My gluten free sourdough starter Sophie is getting more bubbly each week.  She turned one month old recently, and I was getting ready to bake another loaf of bread in the morning.  But first she had to be fed a couple of times, and there was the inevitable discard.  You know I don’t want a bit of this magical culture go to waste, so I thought I would test a small batch of Sourdough Discard Pancakes.

It was my first-time making pancakes with sourdough and I was pleasantly surprised.  The familiar sweetness of pancakes with just the right amount of savory sourdough flavor, who knew?  Using the sourdough discard seemed to give my pancakes an extra high rise too.  These pancakes were hearty and filling, guaranteed to satisfy big appetites.

I made 5 pancakes with my test batch, about 1/3 cup batter each.  Double the recipe for a family breakfast.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp. melted butter plus more for the griddle
  • 2 tbsp. sugar
  • 1/4 cup sourdough discard
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla
  • 2/3 cups milk (I used 2%)
  • 120g. gluten free all-purpose flour (about 3/4 cup)
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt

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Preparation:

Melt the butter in the microwave and set it aside to cool while you gather the other ingredients.

Combine the first 5 ingredients, butter through vanilla in a small bowl.  In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Use a batter whisk to stir the wet and dry ingredients together with 2/3 cup milk.  If the batter is too thick, you can add a little more milk, 1 tbsp. at a time to reach the right consistency.

Preheat your griddle or nonstick skillet for 10 minutes and let the batter rest.

Hint: Do you know why they say the first pancake always comes out a little weird?  It’s probably because the griddle wasn’t hot enough. 

When you are ready to begin, butter the griddle or skillet generously and begin spooning out your pancakes.  I like a nice big pancake, so I scooped the batter out with a 1/3 cup measuring cup.  You can make your pancakes as large or small as you like.

Keep a close eye and be ready to flip the pancakes over as soon as the bottom is set, time will vary depending on how large you make the pancakes.

You should get a nice rise as soon as you flip them over.

When the second side is set check the center for doneness with a toothpick.  I had to flip mine another time or two.

Here’s breakfast!  This was a delicious and filling pancake; one was more than enough for me.  Look how thick it is!

Once they were cooled to room temperature, I wrapped the rest of the pancakes individually in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer safe bag.  They will keep for a couple of months in the freezer (at least) and can be defrosted and reheated in the toaster or the microwave.

Notes ♪♫ I used and recommend Better Batter Original Gluten Free Flour in this recipe.  It is a high-quality flour that will change the way you bake!

Use this link to shop Better Batter and remember to use my code MGFC30 at check out for 30% off your full price purchase.   

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Gluten Free Sourdough Discard English Muffins

The Adventures of Sophie the Sourdough

Recipes for sourdough discard are as plentiful as there are sourdough bread recipes.  These Sourdough Discard English Muffins were my first experiment using discard, as Sophie, my gluten free starter continues to develop.

So, what exactly is sourdough discard?  In simple terms, when feeding a new sourdough starter, you will be adding flour and water at least twice per day.  As your starter grows, part of the process requires that you discard some of the mixture.  This keeps the starter at a reasonable quantity while feeding the organisms that will eventually produce that wonderful sourdough flavor.

Even after your starter is well established and living in the fridge, you will still need to feed it regularly, and unless you are a prolific baker there will always be “discard”.

It’s all part of baking with sourdough, but that doesn’t mean your excess starter needs to be thrown in the trash.  I mean just look at those English Muffins!  I knew when I made this batch that Sophie and I were going to have some incredible BREAD adventures this year.

In some cases, recipes made with discard like this one are actually “sourdough enhanced”, meaning that they use the sourdough discard along with traditional leavening ingredients such as commercial yeast and/or baking powder.  When I first made these English Muffins, Sophie was about a week old.  Not mature enough to raise a loaf of bread by herself yet, but ready to enhance the flavor!  If you love bread like I do this recipe will make you very happy!

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Ingredients:

  • 75 g. (1/3 cup) milk (I used 2%)
  • 275 g. (1-1/8 cups) water
  • 15 g. (3 tbsp.) whole psyllium husk
  • 2 tsp. sugar
  • 2 tbsp. canola oil
  • 2-1/4 tsp. instant yeast
  • 140 g. (1/2 cup) gluten free sourdough discard
  • 240 g. (2 cups) gluten free flour (I used Better Batter Original Blend)
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tbsp. butter for the griddle
  • cooking spray
  • cornmeal for sprinkling

Shop Better Batter and use my Code MGFC30 for 30% off full price items!

Preparation:

Combine the milk and water together and microwave 30 seconds.  Whisk in the whole psyllium husk, yeast, sugar and canola oil.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.

Use a dough whisk to combine the wet and dry ingredients with the sourdough discard.  Turn it out onto a floured work surface and knead a few times to form a cohesive dough.

Shape into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and let it rest for 1 hour at room temperature.

Preheat the oven to 350º and heat a seasoned griddle on medium.

Butter the griddle and coat 8 muffin rings with cooking spray.  Arrange the muffin rings on the griddle and sprinkle cornmeal inside each.

(Note-muffin rings are optional, the muffins will hold together without them.)

Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces, about 95g. each.  Rub a little oil into your hands, then roll each piece of dough into a ball and flatten slightly with your palm.

Place one piece of dough into each muffin ring and sprinkle more cornmeal on top.

Cook on the first side for 5 minutes, then use tongs and a spatula to turn them over.  Carefully remove the rings with tongs and cook 5 minutes longer.

Transfer the muffins to a parchment lined baking sheet, and place in the oven for 10 minutes longer or until the internal temperature reaches 210º (check with a thermometer).

Cool several hours on a rack before toasting.  Wrap leftovers individually and place in freezer safe bags.

Notes ♪♫ I used and highly recommend Better Batter Original Flour Blend in this recipe (use the link for 30% off full price).  Remember, every gluten free flour blend is different, so if you use another brand you may need to adjust the flour to liquid ratio.

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Gluten Free Sourdough Starter

I have been a “Bread-head” for a very long time.  In fact, before my Celiac diagnosis, I baked my own bread every week, and even milled my own flour from organic wheatberries.  Eventually I began working with sourdough and had a very robust starter for 6 years.  But you know what happened next.  Once I learned that I had Celiac disease it all came to an abrupt end, and I had to go back to square one.

*In case you were wondering, you cannot convert a regular sourdough starter to gluten free.  Even after many feedings, the starter will still harbor gluten*

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That brings us to today’s post.  Gluten Free Sourdough bread has been at the top of my 2024 recipe bucket list, but first I needed an active starter.

Meet Sophie

Take a look!  After 2 weeks of feeding, she is bubbling away and ready to go to work.  I’m so excited (and hungry) for all the breads Sophie and I are going to make together!  We are already having fun with sourdough discard recipes.  So, stay tuned for more of Sophie popping up in my kitchen adventures this year.  And when you do, you can always come back to this post to read about how it all “started” (hehe)!

 

Key takeaways for establishing a sourdough starter:

  • Maintain a steady 75-80 degrees.
  • Use filtered water (not tap water)
  • Use whole grain gluten free flour, either sorghum or brown rice
  • Feed twice a day 1/4 cup (30 g.) flour and 1/4 cup (60 g.) water.
  • Discard between 1/4 and 1/2 cup daily.
  • Be patient, it takes longer for a gluten free starter to activate.

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Ingredients/Equipment:

  1. dried starter
  2. sorghum flour (you can also use brown rice flour)
  3. filtered water (not tap)
  4. 2 wide mouth ball jars, quart size
  5. cheesecloth
  6. proofing box (see notes)
  7. measuring cups
  8. wooden spoon
DAY ONE – A STAR IS BORN!
  • I opted for a dried starter because I just wasn’t having any luck with flour and water alone.  Try without it if you’re brave!
  • I fed the starter with Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grain Sorghum flour.  You want to use a single whole grain flour, not a blend that contains starches and gums.  I love the flavor of sorghum, but you can use brown rice flour if you prefer.

  • I used bottled water (filtered) because our tap water isn’t the best.
  • You need at least 2 wide mouth Ball jars, so that you can transfer the starter to a clean jar every couple of days.

I ordered a proofing box.  I know, expensive but so worth it!

  • This proofing box was a game changer for me.  My New England kitchen is chilly during the winter, and I was not about to turn up the heat to 80º for 2 weeks!  This proofing box maintains just the right temperature and folds for storage when not in use.

  • You will need measuring cups for feeding your starter and measuring the discard.
  • About those wooden spoons-

**Old wives’ tale – you should never touch your starter with a metal instrument.  I am superstitious and only use a wooden spoon!

the process:

After several failed attempts at establishing a starter, I purchased this dried gluten free sourdough packet from Cultures for Health.  It worked like a charm, not a huge investment, and they have a 60-day guarantee.

Feeding schedule:

  • Feed 1/4 cup (30 g.) flour and 1/4 cup (60 g.) water every 12 hours.  Stir vigorously after each addition.  The consistency should be like a pourable pancake batter.
  • Cover the jar with cheesecloth and place in a warm 75-80º spot.
  • Each day, before feeding you will notice that a layer of liquid has formed on top of your starter.  It’s the alcohol (a/k/a hooch) formed during fermentation, and it gives the starter that sour taste and aroma.  Don’t throw it away, just stir it back into the starter.

  • After the first few days, you will need to discard between 1/4 to 1/2 cups each morning before feeding.  Stir the starter first, then measure out and discard 1/4 cup at a time until you have just one cup remaining in the jar.  Feed as usual and transfer to a clean jar.  This step is necessary to encourage growth of the wild yeast and good bacteria, I try to maintain about 1-1/2 cups of starter at all times.

(If you’re like me, you hate throwing anything away, so I’ll be sharing a few sourdough discard recipes!)

Gluten Free Sourdough Discard English Muffins
  • When the starter is ready to use it will be loaded with little air bubbles.  Mine was ready after 14 days of twice daily feeding.
  • Once your starter is established, you can store it in the refrigerator and feed it once a week.  Cover it loosely, never tighten the lid.

Notes:

♪ No proofing box?  You can try making an inexpensive one with a Styrofoam cooler and 25-watt bulb.  I had one like this that I used for years.  Alternatively, you can create a warm, draft free environment by placing your starter in the oven with the light on (may not be practical for the 10+ days needed to activate a starter).  Some people use the microwave or even the clothes dryer! (again, not practical if you do laundry every day).

♫ For the bread scientists 🙋‍♀️ I fed my starter with equal parts whole grain sorghum flour and water by volume (1/4 cup), but this is actually a 200% hydration starter by weight, that is, 60 g. water to 30 g. flour per feeding.

♫♪ With just a little care a starter can live for many years.  If you are not baking often, be sure to feed your starter on a regular schedule, discard the excess and move it to a clean jar every week.

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Gluten Free Sandwich Thins

When I hear people say that the gluten free diet promotes weight loss I have to shake my head! ????  The reality is that gluten free breads, pastas and cereals have as many or more calories and carbs than their wheat filled counterparts.

It got me to thinking, that back a few years “BC” (before Celiac) I had a great homemade recipe for the popular Sandwich Thin buns that everyone loved.  In this post I’ll show you how I recreated that recipe to a gluten free version for my lunch sandwiches.

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Mind you, I wanted my bread to be nutritious and wholesome, not just empty calories.  This recipe checks all my boxes- whole grains, small portions, great taste.  I used a muffin top pan to create perfectly shaped rounds that were all the same size, about 1.5 oz. each after baking.

The flour blend was a result of trial and error, largely based on my own taste buds as well as some sampling by my family.  Sorghum and brown rice are high on my list of favorites, and I use a combination of the two in many of my breads.  Dark teff grain has an earthy flavor that can easily overpower a recipe, but using just a little lends a wheat like flavor and color.  I also blended 3 starches together which worked great, but no corn starch as I don’t like it for baking (again, just my taste preference).

You might be interested to know that I used a coffee grinder for some of my ingredient prep.  Tiny grains like teff and chia seeds can be purchased in whole form, and ground into a flour just before baking for ultimate freshness.

You don’t need a special pan to make the buns, but this muffin top pan I used was a great for shaping and definitely helped with portion control.  The non-stick finish made for a very easy cleanup.  I liked it so much I ordered a second one!

 

 

 

 

Makes 12 buns

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp. yeast
  • 1 tbsp. chia seeds, ground
  • 1 tbsp. sugar
  • 1/2 cup warm water

………………………………..

  • 90 g. whole grain sorghum flour
  • 130 g. brown rice flour
  • 40 g. tapioca starch
  • 40 g. arrowroot starch
  • 40 g. potato starch
  • 15 g. teff grain, ground
  • 1 tsp. gelatin
  • 1-1/4 tsp. xanthan gum
  • 3/4 tsp. salt

…………………………………….

  • 1 egg
  • 3 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/2 cup warm milk
  • 1/2 cup warm water

…………………………………….

  • 2 tbsp. 1% milk, for brushing
  • sesame seeds
  • poppy seeds

Preparation:

Grind 1 tbsp. chia seeds in a coffee grinder and combine it with 1 tbsp. yeast, 1 tbsp. sugar, and 1/2 cup warm water.  Stir and let it sit for 10 minutes.

Grind 15 g. of teff grain in a coffee grinder.

Whisk together with the other dry ingredients.

Whisk the egg, olive oil and milk into the yeast mixture.

With the paddle attachment, mix in the dry ingredients along with the last 1/2 cup of water.  Beat for 3 minutes to form a smooth, wet dough.

Have a bowl of warm water ready for dipping your spoon and fingertips.  Drop a scant 2 tablespoons of dough into each well, dipping the spoon into the water each time to help manage the sticky dough.

Dip a small spatula into the water and smooth out the dough, spreading it in a circular motion to fill in the rounds.  Don’t skip this step, gluten free dough does not spread by itself!  If you are not using a muffin top pan, spoon the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment and spread into 4″ rounds.

Cover with oiled plastic wrap and let rise for 30 minutes.  Preheat the oven to 400º.  After 30 minutes, brush the tops of the buns with milk and sprinkle with sesame and poppy seeds.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until the buns reach an internal temperature of 205º.

Remember, gluten free bread takes longer to cook than regular, and if not cooked through the center will be wet and tacky.  Check the internal temperature with a thermometer!

Cool completely on a rack.  Buns are best the day they are baked, and leftovers should be frozen as soon as they reach room temperature.  I like to slice mine and wrap them individually in plastic wrap to store in freezer safe bags.  So easy to grab a roll for my lunch!  Here’s the crumb shot.

Just the right size for a light sandwich.  As I was baking, the kitchen really smelled like bread.  If you are gluten free you know what a big deal this is.  And the taste did not disappoint!  I have been enjoying my sandwiches knowing that I’m not overdoing it on carbs.  This recipe is a must try!  Please pin, like and share the recipe and let me know what you think!

Notes ♪♫ I placed my muffin top pans on top of another baking sheet for insulation.  This prevented the bottoms of the buns from burning before the centers were cooked through.  It worked perfectly!

Originally published 03/23/2019                   Updated 01/21/2024

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Gluten Free Multigrain Sandwich Loaf

Just look at that beautiful loaf of bread!  In the gluten free universe, this is what dreams are made of!  Not only does it taste great, but it is also nutritious and wholesome, made with a combination of grains that delivers real bread flavor without the gluten.

If you like to mix up your own flour blends, then this recipe is for you!

I adapted this recipe from one of my own, Gluten Free Sandwich Thins.  I always made them for lunch when I worked in an office, but now that I’m home most of the time I find that I like to have sliced bread in the house.  When you make a loaf, you can slice it as thin or as thick as you want for sandwiches, toast or just to go with dinner.

This bread is wonderful for sandwiches.  It doesn’t need toasting, doesn’t fall apart in your hands and the middle is not wet or tacky at all.  It’s a gluten free dream come true!

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Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp. yeast
  • 1 tbsp. ground chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp. sugar
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 127 g. whole grain sorghum flour
  • 183 g. brown rice flour
  • 56 g. tapioca starch
  • 56 g. arrowroot starch
  • 56 g. potato starch
  • 21 g. teff grain, ground
  • 1 tsp. gelatin
  • 1.5 tsp. xanthan gum
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tbsp. olive oil
  • 3/4 cup warm milk (I used 2%)
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 2 tbsp. milk, for brushing
  • sesame seeds
  • poppy seeds

Preparation:

Line a 1 lb. loaf pan with parchment paper and mist with cooking spray.

Combine the yeast, ground chia seeds, sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small bowl or measuring cup.  Let the mixture rest for 10 minutes.

In a separate bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients, sorghum flour through salt.

When the yeast has bloomed, add the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer along with the egg, olive oil, milk and water.

Whisk it all together, and then add the dry ingredients into the wet.  Mix for 5 minutes with the paddle attachment.  The dough will be heavy and wet.

Scrape the dough into the prepared pan, smoothing out the top with a spatula dipped in water.

Covered with oiled plastic wrap and let it rise for 30 minutes while you preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Brush the top of the loaf with milk, and sprinkle with sesame and poppy seeds.

Quickly make 2 diagonal slashes across the top of the loaf with a sharp knife.

Place the loaf on the middle rack of the oven, close the door and drop the temperature to 375º.  Bake 50-55 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 205º (use a thermometer).

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

Cool to room temperature, then bag it and let the loaf stand at room temperature overnight.  Resist the urge to cut into that loaf right away, and your patience will be rewarded with this amazing crumb!  It is truly worth the wait!

Notes ♪♫ You might be interested to know that I mill some of my flour from the whole grain.  In this recipe, I used my KitchenAid grain mill attachment to mill whole sorghum berries into flour.  For the teff flour, I ground whole teff grain in a coffee grinder.  Storing grain in its whole form will keep it fresh longer, great for those infrequently used ingredients.  If you would like to learn more about using a grain mill, check out this post.

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Everyday Gluten Free Dinner Rolls with Better Batter

Ah, rolls!  You know how when you go to a restaurant and they tell you they have gluten free dinner rolls, and you are SO happy?  Then they bring you a little hockey puck that tastes like cardboard, and charge extra for it?

Well forget about that!  Instead, make the BEST tasting dinner rolls, right at home with the Artisan Flour Blend from Better Batter.  This recipe makes great dinner rolls, breakfast rolls and sliders too!  Or make them larger for hamburger or hotdog buns.

Credit for this recipe goes to Chef Patrick Auger, who is the creator of the Artisan Flour Blend.  He is a shining star in the gluten free community, well known for both product and recipe development!

The original recipe appeared on the Better Batter website in 2017.  Follow Chef Patrick on Facebook Allergy Free Baking at Home and Instagram, Professional Allergy Baker.

And don’t forget, when you order the Better Batter Artisan Flour Blend from their website be sure to use my Code MGFC30 at checkout for 30% off full price!  All of their products are of the highest quality and will make a dramatic difference in your gluten free baking, I know it did mine!

Ingredients:

Preparation:

In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the warm water, yeast, honey and canola oil.  Let it sit for 10 minutes.

Add the flour and salt to the wet ingredients, switch to the paddle attachment and mix for 6-8 minutes.

Turn the dough onto a floured cutting board, cover with plastic wrap and let it rest 20 minutes (this is a good practice for any gluten free recipe, but absolutely necessary if you are using the Artisan Flour Blend).

Now you are ready to form the rolls.  Here are some guidelines for different size rolls.  Your total dough weight will be around 1150 g.

For large hamburger buns, divide the dough into 6 pieces, about 190 g. each.

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For medium rolls (pictured), divide the dough into 12 pieces, about 95 g. each.

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For sliders, divide the dough into 15-16 pieces, about 75 g. each.
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Using your palm, roll each piece of dough on a floured cutting board to form a ball, and place on a baking sheet or use a bun pan like I did.  For large buns press the tops down to flatten slightly.

Cover the rolls with a damp towel while you preheat the oven to 450º.  Let the oven heat up for about 20 minutes, giving the rolls a chance to almost double in size.

To bake, remove the towel and place baking pan the center of the oven.  Throw 4 ice cubes onto the bottom of the oven, close the door and immediately turn the oven down to 375 degrees.

For large rolls (6), bake for 8 minutes, then throw in four more ice cubes and bake for another 20 minutes.

LARGE ROLLS

For medium rolls (12), bake for 7 minutes, add 4 more ice cubes and bake for another 18 minutes.

MEDIUM ROLLS

For sliders (16), bake for 6 minutes, add 4 more ice cubes and bake for another 16 minutes.

SLIDERS

When done, the internal temperature should reach 205º, if you’re not sure, check with a thermometer!

For a nice shine, try brushing the tops of the buns with melted butter as soon as they come out of the oven.

Cool to room temperature and store on the counter for up to 1 day, then freeze leftovers.

Look at that crumb!  They taste and smell like real bread and won’t fall apart in your hands like the rolls you get at a restaurant.  The recipe is easy enough for beginners too!

Notes ♪♫ If you only take away one tip from this post, let it be to always weigh your flour (use a scale!).  I do use measuring cups for liquids and measuring spoons for anything 1 tbsp. or less.  But for the flour, a scale is a must!

This recipe was adapted from “Perfect Artisan Baker’s Blend (Gum/Rice Free) Everyday Rolls”, created by Chef Patrick Auger, and published on the Better Batter website in 2017.  Many thanks to Naomi at Better Batter and to Chef Patrick who graciously gave me permission to share the recipe with my readers.

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Gluten Free Stuffed Bread Ring

What is a Stuffed Bread Ring?  I’ll tell you what it is- DELICIOUS!  Think of it as a cross between a pizza and a calzone, or just a fancy ham and cheese ring for grownups.  Great for a party or light meal.

The dough was made with my favorite Artisan Flour Blend from Better Batter.  This is THE flour you want for bread, pizza or anything with a yeasted dough.  The filling is a simple layering of prosciutto and provolone cheese.  By the way, this recipe is also a great way to use up those cute little charcuterie rollups you see in the deli section (that’s what I used)!

Meijer Frederik's Prosciutto & Provolone Cheese Charcuterie Rolls

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*** Shop Better Batter and use my Code MGFC30 for 30% off your non-sale purchase!

Ingredients:

For the dough:

For the filling:

  • about 12 slices of prosciutto, sliced thin
  • about 12 slices of provolone cheese, sliced thin or shredded
  • olive oil
  • fresh ground pepper
  • Italian seasoning

Preparation:

Combine all of the dough ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer.  Mix with the paddle attachment for 6-8 minutes.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 350º.

Lay out 2 large sheets of parchment on your work surface, mist with cooking spray and divide the dough into 2 equal pieces.

Rest for 5 minutes, then roll each section of dough into a large rectangle.  Brush liberally with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

Top with a single layer of prosciutto, followed by the provolone slices.  Leave a border around the dough, so the ends will seal.

Use the parchment paper to help roll up the dough from the long side to form a cylinder.  Pinch the seams closed with your fingers.

With seam side down, carefully form a ring, crimping the ends together.  Place a small, oiled Pyrex cup in the center to maintain the ring shape while the bread bakes.  Use a fork or docking tool to pierce the dough all over (or improvise like I did and use this).  Don’t skip this step, those little holes allow steam to escape so the bread ring doesn’t split open while baking.  Cover and rest for 10-15 minutes.

Brush the bread rings with olive oil and a sprinkle of fresh ground pepper.

Pick up the bread rings, parchment and all and slide them onto a pizza stone or baking sheet.  Bake for 45 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 200º.

Cool on a rack for at least 15 minutes before attempting to remove the Pyrex bowls (they will be very hot).  You may need to run a paring knife around the edges to loosen the bowls.

The bread rings need to set up for an hour or so, then you can enjoy them warm or at room temperature.

Leftovers can be refrigerated for several days; they will refresh nicely in the microwave, or you can reheat them on a baking stone.

Did I mention that this Stuffed Bread Ring is DELICIOUS?  Pair it with a salad for a nice lunch or light dinner, mangia!

Notes ♪♫ I used a dozen charcuterie rollups to make 2 bread rings, six slices each of prosciutto and provolone.  If you are buying cold cuts at the deli, be sure you have enough to cover the surface of the dough.  You can change up the filling and experiment with different meat and cheese combinations.  You can also add cooked vegetables that have been well drained, nothing watery.  Baby spinach leaves in the filling provide a nice color contrast.

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