Sunday, January 13, 2013

Gluten-free Sandwich Bread

I make this and my children love it way more than earlier attempts at gluten-free bread making.  I am glad to say this tastes good, slices well, and has a good texture.

The dough is soft.
My flour mix (this varies depending on what I have on hand): 
1 part brown rice flour
1 part sorghum flour
1 part millet and buckwheat flour mix 
(I also add amaranth flour and flax meal if I feel like it, or use just millet and no buckwheat.)

Bread:
2 1/2 cups of flour mix
1 cup glutinous rice flour (aka sweet rice flour)
4 tablespoons brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum (or guar)
1 tablespoon yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup oil (I use canola)
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup warm water
Smooth the dough with wet hands.

In a stand mixer blend the flours, brown sugar, xanthan gum (or guar), yeast, and salt until combined.  Add oil, eggs, and water and mix on low, then medium high for about 3 minutes.  The consistency is not like bread dough made with wheat flour - it is much softer.  Scoop out into a lightly oiled bread pan and let rise for at least an hour, or until double in size.  Sometimes it takes a long, long time.  Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.  Let cool and then slice.  
This slices and freezes well. 
If you have more time, make a sponge first with 2 cups warm water, 2 cups flour, and the yeast and sugar. Mix until smooth and let it sit for at least 40 minutes or up to a few hours. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix with a stand mixer for about 3 minutes. Scoop the dough into pans and let rise and then bake. Making a sponge improves the flavor. 

Here is Laura's variation. It has no rice or millet, more xanthan gum, and is good with cinnamon and raisins.
4 cups sorghum flour
1 1/2 cup tapioca
1 1/2 cup potato starch
8 tablespoons sugar
4 teaspoons xanthan gum
2 tablespoons yeast
3 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup oil
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups warm 

Mix in a stand mixer for 3 minutes.

2 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing. This is just what I am looking for! I am not the best baker but will give this a try. Do you have any favorite brands? I just tried Bavarian gluten free whole grain and loved it.

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  2. I like to make my own bread because it is cheaper and better than many of the store bought ones. My kids like me to buy Udis, but it is so starchy I usually do not purchase it. I do use Pamela's bread mix to make bread when I do not have all the flours I want on hand. One idea to help with the rise of homemade gf bread is to use sparkling (carbonated) water in place of the water called for in the recipe. Another is to use a bread pan with tall sides to help give the bread shape and support. One of my sisters uses a smaller bread pan than I do and her bread rises very well. On a cold day I rise the bread in the oven on low.

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