Your tips for gluten free pastry please

[LucindaT73]

I've been making it for years and every time it's like concrete.

Just made a quiche and i can hardly cut it :(

I use Dove' s Farm white flour, butter and water. I added a little xanthan gum powder today.

It's still hard to cut.

Any tips?

Buy the gluten free jusroll stuff. I've never been able to make my own gf pastry. Saying that I can now do gf pizza dough which is reasonable but I have to use super expensive flour at £15 a kilo which I buy from Amazon.

The Jusroll stuff is puff pastry. I've never found the shortcrust type.

@LucindaT73

The Jusroll stuff is puff pastry. I've never found the shortcrust type.

Yeah, it doesn't puff up though..I use it as shortcrust to make pies and it's fine for that.

It’s not a good idea to try to convert a regular pastry recipe into a gluten free one. I always follow the Tesco recipe and it always turns out well. All the ingredients should be cold, especially the butter. Some recipes recommend chilling the gluten free flour, and even the utensils, blades and mixing bowls but I don’t. Since all ingredients should remain cold, using a food processor for making the pastry is best to avoid creating heat by using your hands.

Becky Excell is your friend. Look up the blog Gluten free cuppa tea. Her book has amazing flaky pastry in it. Best GF I have tried.

I use 50:50 Dove’s GF and almond meal/ground almonds, butter, with a tsp of xantham gum - glaze with egg. It’s pretty good!

Sometimes an egg yolk can make it richer. Are you just mixing it to much? I try and handle as little as possible and fridge for 20mins before rolling. Roll between two sheets of cling film so it's easier to pick up and put in a tin. It's not exactly the same as glutenous pastry but I would say mine was crumbly rather than solid.

12oz gluten free plain flour
2oz gram flour
½tsp xantham gum
7oz fat - butter, dairy free block
1 large egg
Water to bind

This is enough to line two quiche dishes.

It rolls fairly easily. You do still need to roll between two bits of cling film or two silicone baking sheets

It will also press together well if there are gaps or cracks