Gluten free baking that actually tastes good

[PauaPuffGirl]

Can it even be done!?

Anyone got any good recipes? Bread, cakes, pastry, anything would be appreciated please

I love gluten free cakes and always choose them when i can. I don't have a probkem with gluten.

Chocolate cloud cake is heavenly. Lots of eggs though!

Takes lots of practice, and there is a technique but now I often make GF cakes for the whole family not just my two grandkids.

This woman is amazing, never had a poor result from any of her recipes... https://glutenfreecuppatea.co.uk/

Imo recipes that use alternatives to flour like ground almonds often taste better than ones using gf flour.

Nigella's chocolate cloud cake - https://www.nigella.com/recipes/chocolate-cloud-cake

Smitten kitchen (half size) - https://smittenkitchen.com/2023/07/flaky-chocolate-cake/

They're flourless as opposed to GF but nonetheless absolutely delicious.

Yes it's difficult isn't it. Awhile ago I did some experiments with various gluten free flours, and I found millet flour is very good to bake with. You would need to add a little xanthan gum though. I used tapioca and/or potato flour with it, too and you can also use maize (corn) flour. They're the best ones to experiment with for baking.

I think for bread, I did end up making a GF sourdough (no wheat flour at all), can't recall where I got the recipe now, I no longer make it as I have developed other intolerances and can't eat it. In many ways I find it easier to accept I can no longer eat bread at all, because I dislike the supermarket brands and some make me react as they're so full of additives.

Yes, Santiago cake. Made with almonds, sugar, eggs, and lemons. There's lots of recipes online. You can make it using oranges instead, then brush the base with melted chocolate before drizzling with Grand Marnier. Or add a spoonful of cocoa for a chocolate version.
It's a traditional Spanish cake that just happens to be gluten (and lactose) free!

You can make chocolate brownies or many cakes with ground almonds instead of flour and it tastes great. It's expensive though.
https://www.nigella.com/recipes/chocolate-olive-oil-cake

Have a look at Becky Excel on Instagram. She puts up recipes and has published a couple of recipe books.

I make sausage rolls with the ready roll gluten free pastry and they’re very nice.

Some of our favourite GF bakes
Orange olive oil cake www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/orange-olive-oil-cake
Nigella’s apple and almond cake www.nigella.com/recipes/apple-and-almond-cake
Peanut butter cookies https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/flourless_peanut_butter_98822

Cakes: I bake gluten free cakes all the time. You need a good strong flavour imo, as gf floor has a bit of an aftertaste for those who are used to wheat flour, and they don't last as well so I tend to freeze and defrost as needed. I like Becky Excell's recipes as pp have said. My favourite is carrot cake loaf.

Bread: don't bother

Pastry: I've made Becky Excell's gf short crust pastry, worked fine. Jus roll gf puff is acceptable.

Biscuits: Becky Excell gingerbread biscuits work well, I've made her cookies too but I prefer cake

Also: gf Yorkshire's with 100% cornflour - took me a few attempts but mine are great now

GF baking depends upon a mix of starch and protein flours to work best. I make my own flour of 500g each of tapioca and sweet (glutinous) rice flours with 200g each of millet and chick pea. Arrowroot, potato and corn are other starches. Brown rice, quinoa (oat perhaps if you can), are protein flours. Lupin too and it bakes beautifully in the blend but is related to peanuts so care may be needed, Also, a tsp of teff bakes wonderfully. They don’t agree with me so I had to stop using them. Buckwheat (saracen flour in French) is also a protein but has a strong flavour. It makes the Breton galettes and blinis.

Soy I think is a protein and is a natural emulsifier so holds everything together so you don’t need much. However, I think it has a flavour I don’t like so don’t use it. Soy milk might do the same thing.

Xanthan or guar gum (I use a pinch of xanthan) are useful to provide the glue. A bit more a tsp of baking powder per cup of flour well sifted.

GF flours hydrate differently from wheat. Use a little less liquid and allow it to sit for wt least 1/2 an hour. You can add a little more liquid to loosen the batter if necessary.

I cook at 170 degrees rather than 180 and perhaps for a little longer but you will get to know your oven best. Allow to cool properly before cutting.

I make soda bread, pancakes and cakes and they work well. It took practice though.

Minimalist baker and theloopwhisk are good. The cinnamon buns from the latter were lovely

@TheSandgroper do you have a recommended soda bread recipe please?

I made Delilah smith flourless chocolate squishy cake and it was good, but next time I make I shall put some jam on each layer to add some more flavour, or put in cherry brandy soaked cherries on the bottom layer

also look for orange and almond cake recipes - there are several without flour, some require boiling of the oranges whole first, then add eggs and almond before baking - the house smells lovely

Please look up From The Larder. Her recipes are amazing. I made the gf chocolate fudge cake for a birthday recently and it was to die for.

https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/occasions/christmas/christmas-desserts/the-famous-chocolate-truffle-torte

this is rich and divine if you like real chocolate

I am absolutely loving Becky Excel’s recipe books - DH bought me three for Christmas and I’ve baked one (or more!) recipes from them every day since and not had a disappointing bake yet. Even my gluten eating family think her bread rolls, various biscuits and cakes are delicious.

Flour, baking powder, salt, dash of olive oil, rice milk. I don’t measure.

Mix, allow to rest for at least half an hour. I tend to make little rolls in a muffin pan.

Mary Berry's chocolate roulade is divine. You can make it with white chocolate, vanilla, strawberries and raspberries for a more summery feel, or black cherry and brandy cream for a more christmassy yule log.

I make it every year, even if our gluten free relative isn't coming for Christmas.