Has your gluten free baking left you more than discouraged? Join the club. In fact, I still, after all of these years, find myself feeling this way. You see, as much as food bloggers might lead you to believe that we have it all figured out, the truth is, we are all STILL figuring it out along the way. The benefit to you, is that it infinitely helps to shortcut your process by learning from our mistakes. And when it comes to gluten free baking, I would take as many gluten free baking tips as possible.
How do I know? Well, I have been in your shoes. I was new to gluten free with nothing good to buy off the shelf and an intense craving for something deliciously sweet. When I had kids, my desire to perfect my gluten free baking only increased. Not only did I have to provide a treat that tasted good, but it also needed to look good enough to compete with the sweet glutinous edibles available to all other kids.
Have I perfected my gluten free baking? Well, perfect is a strong word, but my baking has definitely caught the attention of raving fans and I am pretty proud of that. Plus, the delight in my son’s eyes when he comes home from school to a kitchen filled with fresh baked goods makes it all worth it.
Growing up, I always wished I came home from school to something delicious from my mom’s kitchen. Don’t get me wrong, my mom made many delicious things, but nothing that filled that after school “tell me about your day” precious time. You know, that small window in which you feel refreshed and ready to tackle motherhood again. That precious time between school pickup and the craziness of preparing for dinner.
So with all of the holiday baking that is quickly approaching and all of the things that I can’t wait to share with you, I thought I would compile a list of gluten free baking tips that will help you have more success in your gluten free kitchen. Whether you are new to gluten free baking or not, I am certain there will be at least one thing on the list that might help you.
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Gluten Free Baking Tip #1
Follow all recipes as they are written. Especially if you are new, please please don’t try to substitute or recreate an entire recipe and expect the same results. Running out of an ingredient, or realizing you don’t have something midway through is an exception to the rule. Just know that if you’re not satisfied with the end result, that is probably why. Follow recipes as they are written for optimal results.
Gluten Free Baking Tip #2
Do not double the recipe. With gluten free baking it is so much better to stick to the exact measurements the recipe calls for and think “smaller is better”. To ensure your baked goods don’t fall apart try to keep things small or thin. If you need a larger quantity, you are better off making two batches. Trust me, I have tried this many times and something always goes wrong. Also, don’t overfill cupcake and muffin cups.
Gluten Free Baking Tip #3
Make sure your ingredients are fresh. I cannot stress this enough. The freshness of your ingredients will directly impact the success of what is about to come out of the oven. Whether you keep your flour in the freezer or in an air tight container. Make sure you treat your ingredients well. They are the key component to your success.
Gluten Free Baking Tip #4
Know your flour! Last year, I was on a mission to find the perfect all-purpose gluten free flour. No such flour exists. What I have found is that one flour works well for some recipes and another flour works better in other recipes. I usually just mix my own. And as a gluten free baker, it is very common for you to have 5 different flours in your pantry at the same time. Don’t be alarmed by this, it really is very common. My current favorite gluten free all purpose mix is King Arthur’s.
But there is one very important thing you need to know about gluten free flours. Whether you are using an already mixed all purpose gluten free flour or you are mixing your own, you need to make sure you have xanthan gum in the mix. It is one of the most important ingredients in your gluten free flour. If it isn’t already in it, you will need to add it. Generally you’ll need 1/4 tsp per 1 lb of flour. This is just an estimate. Sometimes, I add a little more depending on what I’m making.
Gluten Free Baking Tip #5
Lowering your baking temperature is going to also help you get better results. Baking muffins at 325 for 30 minutes rather than 350 for 20, allows the muffins to rise at a slow and steady pace. The higher the temp the more likely your baked good will rise and then fall quickly.
Gluten Free Baking Tip #6
Consider getting an oven thermometer to help regulate the temperature in your oven. It is common for ovens to have a 20-40 degree discrepancy between the actual temperature and what the the temperature says on the oven door. If you are really feeling like you have tried it all, this might be the one thing that changes everything.
Gluten Free Baking Tip #7
This is probably THE single most important tip. Get yourself a scale! Baking requires precise measurements. A scale is the one and only way to achieve this. In fact, if you have more than one set of measuring spoons, put this to the test. Using the 1 cup from each set, measure 1 cup of flour using a scale, you will never get the same number. Using a scale also allows you to get the exact same results time after time.
Gluten Free Baking Tip #8
Don’t forget to reach out for help. I mean this with great sincerity. If you are constantly struggling send me an email at paola@stayglutenfree.com. I will happily help you.
Gluten Free Baking Tip #9
The more you practice, the better you will become. You might feel discouraged with your first couple of tries, but I promise it does get easier and better.
I really hope these gluten free baking tips help you. I encourage you to not let gluten free baking intimidate you. Just because gluten free baking seems like its own beast, doesn’t mean you have to feel defeated by it anymore.
Delicious gluten free treats are just around the corner from you, I just know it.