How to Make Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Recipe (2024)

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By

Elizabeth Barbone

How to Make Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Recipe (1)

Elizabeth Barbone

Elizabeth Barbone develops delicious and creative recipes for the food allergic and gluten-free communities through her site Gluten-Free Baking. Author of three cookbooks: Easy Gluten-Free Baking (2009), How to Cook Gluten-Free (2012), and The World's Easiest Paleo Baking (2016).

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Updated September 26, 2018

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How to Make Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Recipe (2)

Gluten-free bread. I'm the first to admit it suffers from a bit of a bad reputation. The premade loaves tend to be expensive and homemade recipes often are dense and fall apart when sliced. What's a gluten-free eater to do? Live without bread? My answer to that is an emphatic "No!" Gluten-free bread can be wonderful! For my first column on Serious Eats, I wanted to share my recipe for Easy Sandwich Bread. In this column, I'll be baking all sorts of gluten-free goodies: cakes, cookies, pies, etc. But bread seems like the perfect place to start because sometimes in life, you just need a sandwich. Let's get baking!

Unlike wheat-based bread, which can be made with only flour, water, salt and yeast, gluten-free bread requires a few more ingredients. While I am happy there are more "exotic" gluten-free flours on the market, this recipe only uses two specialty gluten-free ingredients: brown rice flour and xanthan gum.

The one ingredient that might have made your ears perk is xanthan gum. Usually the follow-up question to, "Elizabeth, how do I make bread?" is "Why do I need to use xanthan gum?"

Simply put, you need xanthan gum because you don't have gluten in the dough. Gluten, which comes from the Latin word for glue, provides elasticity and strength to traditional wheat-based doughs. If you've ever kneaded dough or watched someone throw pizza dough over their head, you've witnessed the stretchiness of gluten in action. Without this rubber band-like protein, gluten-free bread dough is lacking the essence of what gives bread structure.

Enter xanthan gum. While I wouldn't go as far as calling xanthan gum a gluten replacement, it does prevent gluten-free bread from collapsing in on itself. Made from a microorganism called xanthom*onas campestris, xanthan gum becomes very viscous and sticky when combined with water. It doesn't have the same rubber band-like properties of gluten but it does a good job providing structure to gluten-free breads. If you accidentally omitted it, you would have a very short, very dense loaf of bread.

After a temporary hiatus, "Gluten-Free Tuesdays" are back. Elizabeth Barbone of GlutenFreeBaking.com will be joining us every other week with a recipe. (Elizabeth will be alternating Tuesdays with Shauna James Ahern, who will join us again next week.) Please give Elizabeth a hearty SE welcome! —The Mgmt.

Recipe Details

How to Make Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Recipe

Prep10 mins

Cook115 mins

Proofing Time60 mins

Total3 hrs 5 mins

Serves12 slices

Makes1 loaf

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups brown rice flour

  • 2/3 cup cornstarch

  • 2/3 cup dry milk powder[If dairy is a problem for you, dry soy milk or DariFree can be substituted. The finished loaf will be lighter in color.]

  • 1 tablespoon xanthan gum

  • 1 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

  • 1 3/4 cups warm water

  • 1 packet active dry yeast

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 2 large eggs

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, combine water and yeast. Stir to combine. Use a liquid measuring cup. (I use a 2-cup measure.) The water should be between 110-115 degrees F. Let the yeast dissolve in the water while you measure your dry ingredients.

    How to Make Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Recipe (3)

  2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. While using a scale to measure ingredients is the most accurate method, most American home bakers use cup measures. And so do I! (Just don't tell my professional baker friends. It can be our little secret.) The best way to fill a measuring cup is to "fill and level." Using a scoop, or a smaller size measuring cup, pour the flour into your measuring cup. Be sure to use a nested set of "dry" measuring cups. If your flour has been sitting around, it's a good idea to whisk it before measuring. This will lighten it and break up any clumps. Overfill the cup and then run a straight edge tool over the top of the cup. I like to use a small cake decorating spatula. This is what you are looking for: a level cup of flour. Use this method for any gluten-free flours and starches.

    How to Make Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Recipe (4)

  3. Add yeast mixture, vegetable oil and eggs.

  4. Using an electric mixer, mix dough for five minutes on medium-high speed. (If using a stand mixer, remember to use the flat paddle attachment to mix the dough.) Your dough should be soft, thick, and sticky. The dough will not form a cohesive dough ball. If you are using a handheld mixer, the dough will try to "climb" the beaters. Be sure to use a rubber spatula to push the dough back into the bowl.

    How to Make Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Recipe (5)

  5. Lightly grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan with vegetable spay.

  6. Spread batter evenly into the pan.

    How to Make Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Recipe (6)

  7. Cover the loaf lightly with a piece of greased plastic wrap. (If you cover the loaf tightly, the dough will have trouble rising.)

  8. Allow dough to rise for 1 hour. Check it. If it has risen a little over the top of the pan, it is ready.

    How to Make Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Recipe (7)

  9. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. (Keep dough covered while preheating the oven.)

  10. Remove plastic wrap and bake for 55 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 208 degrees-211 degrees F. If the crust of your bread begins to get too dark before the internal temperature of the bread reaches 208 degrees, simply cover the loaf with a piece of aluminum foil. This will allow the bread to continue baking without burning the crust.

    How to Make Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Recipe (8)

  11. Remove bread from oven and turn it out onto a wire rack to cool. This will help to keep the crust crisp.

    How to Make Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Recipe (9)

  12. Allow the loaf to cool completely. Store at room temperature for two to three days or slice and freeze. Do not refrigerate--this will make for soggy bread!

    How to Make Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Recipe (10)

  • Yeast Breads
  • Gluten-free
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
197Calories
4g Fat
35g Carbs
5g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories197
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g5%
Saturated Fat 1g3%
Cholesterol 32mg11%
Sodium 214mg9%
Total Carbohydrate 35g13%
Dietary Fiber 2g6%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg1%
Calcium 57mg4%
Iron 1mg5%
Potassium 178mg4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

How to Make Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the trick to making good gluten free bread? ›

  • Use Psyllium Husk Powder as a binder for better Gluten Free Bread.
  • The benefits of letting your dough rest, my second tip for baking better gluten free bread.
  • Mix or knead your bread dough thoroughly.
  • For a better gluten free loaf, use less yeast.
  • Bake your bread in a tin with tall sides.

Which yeast is best for gluten free bread? ›

What type of yeast should be used to bake Gluten Free Bread? Active dry yeast and instant yeast both work well and are often interchangeable. Be on the lookout for any Rapid Rise yeast that is best for one rise. For most of us that's the way gluten free bread is baked, a single rise in the tin.

What is the biggest challenge of making gluten free bread? ›

One of the challenges is that when gluten-free dough is thickened with additives like starches and gums, it becomes sticky. Some bakers dust sticky dough with flour, but that's problematic with gluten-free formulations.

Why add vinegar to gluten free bread? ›

Apple cider vinegar or another acid lightens up the dough. You can add up to 4 Tbsp of acid for 500 g gluten-free flour. Don't worry, you won't be able to taste it afterwards. To lighten up a yeast dough even more, you can add a packet of baking powder or cream of tartar baking powder to 500 g flour.

What binds gluten-free bread? ›

The three most commonly used binders in gluten free recipes are xanthan gum, guar gum and psyllium husk. You don't need to understand the science of these ingredients to use them but a little bit of knowledge will help you when making decisions in the kitchen and lead to the excellent results you want.

What helps gluten-free dough rise? ›

Eggs are natural leaveners that help boost the rise and volume of bread. Eggs also add moisture, flavor, and protein to gluten-free bread recipes. If you select a gluten-free bread recipe that includes eggs, you have a better chance that the resulting bread will have good color, more volume, and softer texture.

Why didn't my gluten free bread rise? ›

Your bread will not rise if your yeast or baking powder has expired. A dense loaf could also be the result of not measuring your ingredients accurately. Weight measurements are best (I have to update my recipes). Otherwise scoop the flour into your measuring cup and level without shaking or packing the flour down.

Why is my gluten free bread so dense? ›

There are a few common reasons why your gluten-free bread may be turning out dense: Insufficient Leavening: Yeast or baking powder creates air pockets in the dough, allowing it to rise and become light. If you don't use enough leavening agents, your bread will not have enough gas bubbles to create that airy texture.

Can you mix gluten free flour with yeast? ›

In order to make your pre-dough, mix the yeast previously dissolved in water or milk with some gluten free flour. Add the remaining ingredients (e.g. raisins) and knead the mixture for 5 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and fine-pored.

What do gluten-free people eat instead of bread? ›

Most of these alternatives are entirely gluten-free, and many are also low-carb.
  • Rye bread. Share on Pinterest Rye bread is rich in fiber. ...
  • Sourdough bread. ...
  • Corn tortillas. ...
  • Gluten-free bread. ...
  • Gluten-free multiseed bread. ...
  • Sprouted bread. ...
  • Lettuce and leafy greens. ...
  • Sweet potatoes.

What is the downfall of gluten-free diet? ›

If you cut all gluten out of your diet, there's a risk that you could miss out on nutritious whole grains, fiber and micronutrients. Getting enough whole grains in your diet is especially important if you're at risk for heart disease or diabetes.

What temperature do you bake gluten-free bread at? ›

Once preheated, bake at 425 F (218 C) for 45 minutes, then turn the oven down to 375 F (190 C) for 30 minutes. Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before cutting into it.

What does cream of tartar do in gluten free bread? ›

Promoting Better Rise

Achieving a good rise is essential for light and airy bread. Cream of tartar acts as a natural leavening agent when combined with baking soda.

What vinegar is best for gluten free bread? ›

The ingredients for gluten free bread
  • brown rice flour (needs to be very finely milled, also called “superfine”)
  • buckwheat flour.
  • salt (adds flavour)
  • apple cider vinegar (gives the yeast an extra boost of activity by creating a slightly acidic environment)
Apr 2, 2020

What does egg white do in gluten free bread? ›

Developing baked gluten-free (GF) products is difficult since gluten is essential for many organoleptic properties like texture and taste. Egg white proteins (EW) show strong cohesive behavior with excellent foaming capacity and stability, which may improve both organoleptic quality and nutritional value of GF bread.

What makes gluten-free bread better? ›

The sources used for making gluten-free bread are packed with fibre. Rice Flour, Soy Flour, Starch (Tapioca, Potato, Corn) used in the gluten-free bread by The Baker's Dozen ensure that your gut is never low on dietary fibre. Dietary fibre has many benefits right from reducing obesity to helping in easing digestion.

What is the trick to baking with gluten free flour? ›

Gluten-free flours often contain fine starches, so they absorb more liquid than conventional flour. To address this, gluten-free recipes usually call for more liquid and produce looser batters. They may also call for a larger quantity of leavening, like baking powder, to help add volume and lighten the texture.

Why is my homemade gluten-free bread so dense? ›

There are a few common reasons why your gluten-free bread may be turning out dense: Insufficient Leavening: Yeast or baking powder creates air pockets in the dough, allowing it to rise and become light. If you don't use enough leavening agents, your bread will not have enough gas bubbles to create that airy texture.

How to make gluten-free bread not crumbly? ›

The gluten in traditional flour is what gives dough its stickiness. Without it, gluten-free products can be dry and crumbly. There is a way to compensate for this however — use xanthan gum. Some bakers also use gelatin or agar.

References

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