Gluten-Free Flour Mix Recipe | Frugal Farm Wife (2024)

FAQs

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

Use xanthan gum or guar gum: Gluten-free flours lack the elasticity and structure that gluten provides, so adding a binder like xanthan or guar gum can help to hold the ingredients together and give your baked goods a better texture.

This can be tricky because gluten free flours react differently in pretty much every recipe. But in general, use in place of all purpose or whole wheat flour in a 1:1 ratio. For extra binding (since there is no gluten) you can add a pinch of xanthan gum depending on the recipe, but I don't find it necessary.

Brown rice flour is about as close to a 1:1 substitute for all-purpose flour as it gets since it provides structure and a “wheat-like” flavor.

2) When adding xanthan gum to a recipe that doesn't already call for it (and baking with a gluten-free flour that doesn't include it), use about 1/4 teaspoon per cup of flour. Blend it evenly into your dry ingredients before mixing.

Gluten-free goods tend to brown faster and take longer to cook through. So they need to be baked at a slightly lower temperature, for a slightly longer time. Every recipe is different, but in general, try lowering the temperature by 25 degrees and baking the item for 15 minutes longer.

2 teaspoons of baking powder per cup of gluten-free flour is necessary to ensure proper leavening. Baking soda and buttermilk can be used to leaven instead of baking powder, but 1-1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar should be added for each 1/2 teaspoon baking soda used.

If the original recipe calls for 260 grams of all-purpose flour, substitute with 260 grams of your blend. Beat the batter more. Because gluten-free flours provide less structure than all-purpose, the batter or dough you make with them may require more beating than that which you are accustomed.

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.

Our Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour will work in any recipe that calls for gluten-free flour and an added stabilizer (e.g. xanthan gum), even yeasted breads. Bottom line: When following a recipe that calls for yeast and an added stabilizer, choose Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour to make high-rising, tender final products.

Buckwheat Flour

Though buckwheat has the word “wheat” in the name, it doesn't contain gluten. It's a complete, plant-based protein with lots of fiber, vitamins and minerals, and, like oat flour made from whole oats, it's low on the glycemic index, which helps slow digestion and control blood sugar levels.

What is the cheapest gluten free flour? ›

Yes, pure, uncontaminated oats are gluten-free. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration considers oats a gluten-free grain under its gluten-free labeling regulations and only requires that packaged products with oats as an ingredient contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten overall.

And actually, adding too much xanthan gum can compromise the texture of your baked goods, making them too sticky and gummy.

The ratio of cornstarch to xanthan gum is 1:1. So you can directly substitute one for the other while cooking. Be careful, as a little bit of xanthan gum goes a long way, so it's always best to start with a small amount and increase the amount used as needed.

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.

Xanthan Gum

It serves many roles in gluten-free baking. Because gluten-free flours have less protein than wheat flours and are not capable of forming the same network required to stretch and surround starch granules, they need reinforcement. Xanthan gum strengthens these networks and also makes them more elastic.

One of the most common gluten-free baking tips is “let your batter rest”. Letting the batter rest gives the gluten-free flours and starches more time to absorb the moisture. In theory, it will turn your dry, crumbly cakes into delicious, moist masterpieces.

The additional xanthan gum makes gluten-free dough slightly stretchy and allows it to capture carbon dioxide bubbles during bulk fermentation (the initial rise). Once the dough is deflated and transferred to a bread pan, the xanthan structure breaks down.